Spotify's latest Page Match feature can synchronize your audiobooks with print books.

      Scan a page from a physical book and continue your audiobook right where you left off

      Spotify has introduced a new feature named Page Match that enables readers to smoothly transition between a physical or electronic book and its audiobook. This new function enhances the existing audiobook Recaps feature, which provides a brief audio summary to help users return to the part where they previously stopped.

      Page Match aims to address a common annoyance for readers who frequently switch formats but find it challenging to keep track of the last page they read. Now, you can take a book, scan a page, and Spotify will direct you to the corresponding moment in the audiobook.

      How Page Match works on Spotify

      To utilize Page Match, launch the Spotify mobile app and search for the book you are currently engaging with. Within the audiobook listing, tap on the Page Match button, which will activate your phone's camera.

      Next, scan a page from your physical book, and Spotify will analyze the text on that page and correlate it to the corresponding section in the audiobook, commencing playback from the appropriate position.

      This feature also functions in reverse. If you've been listening to an audiobook and wish to return to reading, Page Match can navigate you to the specific page where you paused. In practice, aligning a page with the audiobook is relatively easy, but transitioning back from audio to print can prove more complicated.

      Initial tests conducted by The Verge indicate that pinpointing the exact page from the audio may not always be seamless, particularly if there are variations between editions. Sometimes, it can entail flipping through pages and overshooting the precise spot before settling.

      Despite these challenges, Page Match emphasizes Spotify’s commitment to making audiobooks feel more integrated with traditional reading, particularly for those who frequently alternate between formats throughout the day.

      The music streaming giant has been consistently rolling out updates to enhance user experience. Just yesterday, Spotify unveiled offline lyrics with translation support and has been utilizing AI to transform podcast discovery on the platform. With the addition of Page Match, Spotify feels increasingly intuitive across music, podcasts, and books.

      Manisha covers technology that is integral to daily life, ranging from smartphones and apps to gaming and streaming.

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