Your Kindle is hiding 5 secret instruments you will want you turned on sooner

Kindles are among the finest single-use units in the marketplace. I hate to even say single-use, since I learn a lot greater than Amazon’s e-books. However at their core, Kindle units function a platform for distraction-free studying with out straining your eyes, irrespective of the time of day or how a lot daylight is thrashing down on the display screen. E Ink actually is well worth the hype, I concern.

What I really like most about my Kindle is its simplicity. But inside that simplicity, there isn’t any scarcity of settings and accessibility choices to make the studying expertise my very own. Amazon toes the road completely — it provides simply sufficient customization to maintain issues contemporary with out overwhelming readers with selections.

Everybody is aware of you possibly can change the font measurement. Listed here are 5 of my favourite (however far more unusual) instruments that your Kindle has in its arsenal.

Phrase Smart

A gentler, extra handy dictionary

The primary time I learn the Harry Potter books, I used to be enthralled by JK Rowling’s phrase selections. Nevertheless developed my vocabulary was, seeing phrases like “incumbent” and “tumultuous” at 12-years-old nonetheless threw me for a loop. Whereas I used the built-in dictionary that pops up once you maintain down on a phrase, it interrupted my studying circulation. Phrase Smart would not.

Here is how one can flip it on:

1. Faucet the highest of your display screen.
2. Faucet Aa.
3. Tab over to Extra.
4. Scroll right down to Phrase Smart, and toggle the change to on.
5. Faucet out of the menu and again into your e book. If it would not activate immediately, faucet Phrase Smart within the decrease right-hand nook of your display screen.

Once you activate Phrase Smart in your Kindle, you will discover that the road spacing grows wider. That is to make room for the concise definitions and explanations that may populate over tougher phrase selections on the web page. To disable it and make the traces return to regular, faucet Phrase Smart once more and choose Cover.

Assistive Reader

Audiobook, or focus device?

Assistive Reader is a more moderen accessibility characteristic that reads your textual content aloud whereas highlighting it as you go. Basically, it is a focus device that helps readers who get distracted simply. To make use of it, you will need to join your Kindle to Bluetooth headphones or a speaker, because it would not have exterior audio system or headphone jacks. Assistive Reader provides adjustable speeds and some totally different voice tones so you possibly can personalize it to you.

To make use of Assistive Reader, comply with these directions:

1. Faucet the highest of your display screen.
2. Faucet Aa.
3. Tab over to Extra.
4. Toggle Assistive Reader on.

Upon getting it enabled, you possibly can benefit from the narration and highlights to comply with alongside. And also you’re in management — pause, play, rewind, and pace management are all inside your grasp.

I do not advocate Assistive Reader as a full audiobook substitute — it really works finest as an assistant moderately than a alternative. When you’ve ever listened to a professionally produced audiobook, you already know nothing fairly compares. Nonetheless, as an audio learner, I discover it extremely helpful for staying centered throughout longer or extra complicated studying classes.

Assistive Reader is obtainable on eleventh Era Kindles and better, Kindle Scribe, or Kindle Colorsoft. It additionally solely works with books which have Enhanced Typesetting, so ensure that your e book has that earlier than you attempt.

VoiceView (Paperwhite solely)

Communicate, Kindle — converse!

Earlier than I dive in, please observe that VoiceView is simply obtainable for Kindle Paperwhite fashions tenth technology and newer and Kindle Oasis fashions through Bluetooth.

VoiceView is barely totally different from Assistive Reader — moderately than functioning as a spotlight device, it is designed to make the Kindle accessible for blind or low-vision readers. It narrates menus, books, and interface components aloud.

Some folks wish to name VoiceView an Audible or normal audiobook alternative, however don’t desire you to get your hopes up — the voice is considerably robotic and just a little sluggish in case your consideration span is on the shorter aspect. Nevertheless, I can’t understate its worth as an accessibility lifeline for readers who cannot depend on imaginative and prescient alone.

To entry VoiceView, comply with these steps:

1. Faucet the highest of your display screen, and choose the three-dot menu within the higher proper.
2. Choose Settings from the dropdown.
3. Faucet Accessibility.
4. Faucet VoiceView display screen reader.
5. Toggle it on, and connect with your Bluetooth speaker or headphones.

As soon as it is enabled, you will discover its accessible-nature instantly. When you attempt to faucet the again arrow like regular, your Bluetooth system will say, “Again button — double-tap to pick out.” Comply with the prompts to get again to your e book, the place the voice will start narrating instantly. When it is time to flip the web page, you will hear a clicking sound indicating the transition.

Admittedly, VoiceView makes Kindle’s interface clunkier and a bit irritating to make use of — no less than, at first. However, for blind or low-vision readers, it solely provides to Kindle’s potential to incorporate all types of readers, no matter potential.

Panorama Mode

Facet-readers, rejoice

Panorama Mode is a gamechanger, particularly should you like studying in mattress late at night time or on a towel on the seaside. Panorama mode is precisely what it seems like: a horizontal studying expertise that flips your display screen’s orientation so you possibly can learn it lengthy methods moderately than in portrait mode (and like a conventional e book).

Some readers find it irresistible as a result of it reduces eye pressure — you don’t have to leap from line to line as usually. It is just like watching a film in your telephone in mattress: should you roll onto your aspect, you need the display screen orientation to roll with you. I like utilizing panorama mode essentially the most once I’m staying up means too late (generally 4AM) studying — there’s simply one thing so cozy about studying ‘yet one more’ chapter in panorama.

To enter Panorama Mode, comply with these steps:

1. Begin inside a e book you are already studying. Faucet the highest of the web page to open the menu choices.
2. Faucet the Aa choice.
3. Choose the Structure tab.
4. Underneath Orientation, faucet the second choice depicting Panorama mode.
5. Faucet out of the menu, and your textual content will reorient.

OpenDyslexic

Tiny change, enormous impression

OpenDyslexic is an open-source font developed to attenuate letter confusion and maintain readers’ focus. It was initially designed for dyslexic readers, and contains heavier bottoms to anchor every letter and particularly spotlight the distinction between b, d, p, and q.

Dyslexia is a studying distinction that may make studying difficult or exhausting. Accessibility options like this do not simply make studying extra comfy for dyslexic readers — they open doorways to total libraries of tales. OpenDyslexic is a font that everybody can get pleasure from — the bottom-heavy letters truly preserve me extra centered than if I had been to learn Helvetica or Occasions New Roman.

Here is how one can change your font to OpenDyslexic:

1. Faucet the highest of the web page in your present learn.
2. Faucet the Aa within the menu banner.
3. Choose the Font tab.
4. Underneath Font Household, faucet the arrow on the far proper.
5. Among the many selectable fonts, select OpenDyslexic.
6. Exit, and your e book ought to convert to the brand new font.