- Spotify is testing a new tool called Page Match that syncs your physical books with their audiobook versions
- Using your phone’s camera to scan the page of the book you’re reading, Spotify will take you to the exact timestamp on the audiobook.
- The feature is still in its infancy, but will likely roll out to regions that support audiobooks if Spotify goes ahead with its rollout.
Spotify is always evolving its audiobook ecosystem and has been testing a new tool behind the scenes, which involves syncing audiobooks with physical literature and vice versa, and is giving Audible a run for its money.
The new tool, called Page Match, will let you switch between a physical book and its audiobook version on Spotify, a perfect feature for keeping track of your page numbers, especially if you like to float between physical and digital reading.
Although it’s not available yet and Spotify hasn’t shared any further details, Android Authority found a code reference to Page Match in the latest version of the Spotify app, as well as the line “match your progress from the book page to the audiobook, and vice versa,” which summarizes its purpose. The media also shares that if this feature were implemented, it would be available in regions where audiobooks are already supported.
On paper, it looks like it could become one of the most valuable tools if you’re a frequent user of Spotify audiobooks, saving you a lot of time needlessly searching for a book page that matches your audiobook progress, and the way it works is very simple.
If you want to go from a physical book to an audiobook and continue your progress, all you have to do is scan the page you’re reading with your phone’s camera. Spotify will then use optical character recognition (OCR) to read the text, which it will then compare to the timestamp on the audiobook version. It also works the other way around, something audiobook competitors haven’t yet taken advantage of.
For those of you who are primarily audiobook listeners, you’ll be able to use Page Match to switch from your digital version to a print version of the book you’re reading. Based on the code reference spotted by Android Authority, the outlet believes that Spotify will be able to tell you the exact page number of a book that matches your progress on an audiobook, which is a smart advantage.
Android Authority also provided a screenshot obtained from the Spotify app in its coverage (see below), showing how Page Match would work when scanning physical books.
A childish feature, but a bright future
It’s still early days for Page Match, but Android Authority’s take on the tool inspires confidence that it’s on its way. That said, there are some minor obstacles to keep in mind.
So far, it looks like Page Match will only work if you first unlock or own a Spotify audiobook, and you’ll be prompted to do so before using the tool. Additionally, Spotify’s OCR may have trouble identifying book pages when scanning them. If this happens, Spotify will ask you to scan a nearby page as an alternative. Frustrating, but also expected for a feature fresh out of the oven.
Spotify’s dedication to growing its audiobook ecosystem speaks for itself, and given last year’s launch of Audiobooks+, AI Summaries, and the Follow Along feature, it’s clear that Spotify isn’t giving up and, as a result, is quickly catching up to Amazon’s flagship audiobook service, Audible.
The Whispersync feature on Kindle gives you the ability to switch between your Kindle e-book and its audiobook version on Audible. Sure, Amazon got there first (Whispersync launched in 2012), but Spotify’s Page Match goes a step further with its ability to match physical books with their digital companions, something Amazon has yet to explore.
As someone who goes in and out of reading crises, I have to admit that Page Match is convincing me to switch from music to literature for a while, but we’ll see how long I can keep that up.
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