Amazon updates Kindle app with new accessibility features

kindle iphone sss

Amazon today announced a nice little update for its Kindle iOS app, bringing the title to version 3.7. The update includes a handful of bug fixes and improvements, but the biggest change has to be the new VoiceOver support.

Tapping iOS’ Accessibility features, Amazon has made it much easier for blind and visually impaired users to navigate their way around the Kindle app through the use of VoiceOver. More details and full change log after the fold…

What’s new in Kindle for iOS 3.7:

-Accessibility features make it easier for blind and visually impaired customers to navigate their Kindle libraries, read & interact with books, and more. Enable VoiceOver in your device settings to begin.
-Easily rate and review books by accessing ‘Before you go…’ directly from The ‘Go to’ menu
-Enhancements to ‘Before you go…’ including the ability to download a free sample and email yourself a reminder about -recommended books.
-Additional Font Selection for Japan – Hiragino Mincho ProN (Serif)
-Bug Fixes/Stability improvements

VoiceOver is essentially a gesture-based screen reader, enabling users to interact with their device without needing to see on-screen menus or details. Amazon also uses it in a read aloud option, which turns e-books into audio books.

Users will also be able to use the new accessibility features to navigate their Kindle libraries, and access in-book actions like dictionary lookups, and X-Ray—a newer feature that allows you to explore the structure of a book.

voiceover ss

To activate these options, you’ll have to enable VoiceOver in iOS. To do this, open up your Settings app, tap the General tab, and then select Accessibility from the bottom of the list. Here you can turn on VoiceOver and other elements.

I feel like Amazon took way to long to implement these features into the app. But hey, better late than never. If you want to check them out, you can find the new Kindle app in the App Store, for the iPhone and iPad, for free.