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Whispersync for Voice connects e-books and audiobooks

Whispersync for Voice is a literary lifesaver for commuters who can't put down that new best-seller.

The program connects a Kindle e-book with an Audible audiobook. It allows you to read a Kindle e-book and then pick up the story right where you left off in the audiobook version. When you go back to reading, the e-book will advance to where the audiobook stopped. (Note that Whispersync for Voice is separate from Amazon's Whispersync program, which allows multiple devices to synchronize purchases, notes and bookmarks.)


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Although the program is compatible only with Kindle e-books, a Kindle device is not required. Whispersync for Voice also works with Kindle apps, which are available for a range of smartphones, tablets and computers.

When I set out to try Whispersync for Voice, I had just finished the Netflix original series "Orange is the New Black," and I was desperate for more. The series is based on Piper Kerman's memoir chronicling her 15-month stay in a women's prison. I downloaded the source material — in Kindle and Audible formats — and began switching back and forth.

The program works well and is convenient for those moments when you can't sit and read a book but can listen while doing something else. A couple times when I opened the audiobook version, the prompt to go to the location matching where I left off reading didn't pop up. A quick tap on the sync button fixed that.

Whispersync for Voice requires you to pay for both Kindle and Audible editions, which can get pricey for readers on a budget. The audiobooks are discounted, ranging from $4.95 to $12.95. I paid $11.99 for the Kindle edition of "Orange is the New Black" and $4.99 for the narrated version.

More than 20,000 Amazon titles are compatible with Whispersync for Voice. Any best-seller or book from a well-known author is likely to be available for use with the program, but it's somewhat difficult to see on mobile devices which titles are available. It's easier to use a computer to search for compatible titles on Amazon's website: Click on the Kindle edition and look for a promotional box advertising the program.

Copyright © 2016, Orlando Sentinel
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