Last updated: January 18th, 2024 at 13:03 UTC+01:00
The latest update to Google Chrome on Android is set to enhance user experience with the introduction of a built-in ‘Listen to this page’ text-to-speech (TTS) capability. According to a recent report, the Google Chrome Android app will include this feature in its three-dot overflow menu, providing users with a convenient option to have web pages read aloud.
Once users select the ‘Listen to this page’ option from the three-dot menu, a mini player will appear on the screen. This intuitive player comprises a circular play/pause button, the title of the page, the site name, a progress bar, and an option to close the player. The TTS feature also provides a detailed playback control sheet with rewind and fast forward buttons, alongside the ability to adjust playback speed with several speed options, ranging from 0.5x to 4x.
In the Chrome beta version 121, the ‘Listen to this page’ TTS feature emerges, suggesting that it will soon be available to a broader audience. The mini player also includes functionalities such as “Highlight text & auto-scroll” and voice selection. The robust design ensures that the playback continues across different user actions, such as opening a new tab or locking the device. Playback only ceases upon closing the browser or when a user returns to the homescreen, which is consistent with the ‘Read aloud’ behavior observed in devices like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Reports from 9To5Google reveal that although a ‘Read aloud’ flag (chrome://flags/#read-aloud) previously existed, this new feature is specifically crafted for Android and debuts in Chrome version 120. To access this advanced ‘Listen to this page’ feature, users need to acquire the most recent Chrome beta 121.
