Apple pushed out a new version of iBooks Tuesday. Version 1.3 adds a major new feature for kids called “Read-Aloud” that will, as the name suggests, read the story aloud. Apple said the feature uses a real narrator and that some books will also highlight the words in the text as they are being read. Apple also added the ability to play audio and video files that are included with enhanced books.
Read-Aloud, as pushed on the new iBooks section of the App Store
Apple’s patch notes:
- Help your children learn to read with the new read-aloud feature included in select children’s books from the iBookstore. The read-aloud feature uses a real narrator to read the book to you, and in some books, it will even highlight the words as you read along.
- Enhanced books can now automatically play audio or video included with the book.
- Makes iBooks more responsive when opening very long books.
- Addresses an issue where some books may display the same page twice.
You can find Read-Aloud books on iTunes, or in the iBooks app in the store. iBooks is free, and version 1.3 is available now from the App Store.