Show HN: Orate – On-device neural text-to-speech queue for Mac

3 hours ago

Orate is a Mac app that reads selected text aloud using on-device text-to-speech
Capture text from any app by selecting it and pressing L or right-clicking
Collected items go into a listening queue with on-device rendering and natural pauses
Playback controls include play, pause, scrub, speed adjustment, and voice changes via menu bar
The app lives in the menu bar to avoid dock clutter and allow quick access
Orate processes everything on-device with no account, cloud, or tracking for privacy
Includes 14 built-in voices (American & British), an optional HD voice, and speed from 0.5x to 2x
Offers a real queue with up next, tags, notes, and resume-where-you-left-off features
One-time payment of $4.99 for a perpetual license with minor updates included, free 14-day trial
Beneficial for users with dyslexia, low vision, ADHD, eye strain, or when hands-free listening is needed
Works fully offline on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later

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