I have created a series of bookmarklets that adds text to speech functionality to Google Chrome. You can select a block of text within Chrome and speak it aloud or convert it to an MP3 file and send it to your iPod or MP3 player for listening offline.

The way it works is the javascript code sends requests, including the text from the current page to my desktop application, Text2Go, which also needs to be running. Text2Go receives the requests (it has a very simple web browser built in) and either speaks the text aloud or creates an MP3 file.

The bookmarklets are available here.

I'd be very interested in any feedback you may have.

The technique can be used for other situations where you want to send information from the browser to a desktop application. Note that all communication is one-way, from the browser to the desktop application.

If anyone's interested, I'll write up an article describing all the ins and outs of the technique used.

Sounds cool... it would be even cooler if it wasn't a 30 day trial

I've posted an article on CodeProject.com that describes the technique discussed above. It includes a simple application that will speak aloud any text highlighted in Google Chrome. Full source code is included for both the sample application and the bookmarklets.

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/IP/bro...sktop-app.aspx

is gooooood

it really helps users like us who need to read tons of data, now we'll listen instead of tiring reading, it will helpful for an online copywriter like me. thanks

This plugin really cool for me cause I will have to write tons of article for my tennis secrets site. It will be helpful for me and i'll suggest it for my team.