Spotify is developing a feature that automatically links audiobooks with printed books, The Verge reported on Jan. 20.
The Verge said it found a “Page Match” feature in code for Spotify app version 9.1.18.282. The feature scans the page a user is reading with a camera and automatically finds the corresponding section of the audiobook.
To use Page Match, users must unlock or buy the audiobook on Spotify and separately own the print book or an e-book. It uses OCR technology to detect the current page and match it to a specific audiobook timestamp. That would let users move between a print book and an audiobook without manually controlling the audiobook.
Spotify has not officially announced Page Match and it is not confirmed whether the feature will be formally released, The Verge said.
Because OCR accuracy is not perfect, improvements are needed, such as guiding users to scan another page if a particular page is not recognised, The Verge added. Amazon offers a Whispersync feature that syncs audiobooks with Kindle e-books, but it does not link to printed books.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr