Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for generating captions for audio content items. For instance, a system may store a user profile that is associated with audio content items. When a user associated with the user profile requests captions, the system may determine which audio content items have available captions and which audio content items do not have available captions. For the audio content items that do not have available captions, the system may determine priorities for the audio content items. The system may then cause the captions to be generated based on the priorities. When the captions are generated, the system may update statuses of the audio content items to indicate that the captions are available. The system may further store the captions in a database that is accessible to the user.

Abstract: This disclosure describes, in part, techniques for providing captions with audio content. For instance, an electronic device may receive first data representing audio content and second data representing captions that are available for the audio content. The electronic device may then select portions of the captions for display while outputting the audio content. In some instances, the electronic device selects the portions using timestamps represented by the second data. For instance, the electronic device may select a portion of the captions such that the portion of the captions begins at a first pause within the audio content and/or ends at a second pause within the audio content. In some instances, the electronic device may also display graphical elements that indicate the current location within the captions.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for providing a dictionary capabilities associated with foreign language learning content items. In some cases, a foreign language learning application operation on a device may cause definitions associated with a word to be displayed on a display of the device concurrently with the word and at least some text surrounding the word. In some cases, the definitions may be provided in the language of the content item and in a language native the user.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for extracting content from audio files. The device may determine starting and ending quotation marks in a text file, and a string between the starting and ending quotation marks. The device may determine that a verb is near the starting quotation mark or the ending quotation mark. The device may determine, based on the verb, that the string is attributed to a character name in the text file. The device may determine a first time in a first audio file including an audio representation of the text file, and may determine a second time in the first audio file, wherein the first time is before the first word and the second time is after the second word. The device may generate a second audio file by extracting audio from the first audio file based on the first and second times.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for determining the vocabulary of a user and identifying content items appropriate for the user based on the user's personal vocabulary. The user's vocabulary can be determined by analyzing user-generated textual items. Based on the analysis of such user-generated textual items, a list of words used frequently by the user in the user's own writings can be identified as being in the user's vocabulary. The list of words in the user's vocabulary can be compared to the words in various content items to determine a degree to which the words used in the content are in the user's vocabulary. Content can then be recommended or otherwise determined to be appropriate for the user's vocabulary, identified as challenging, too difficult, or too easy, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated analysis of audio recordings and/or automated recommendations of audio recordings. The audio recordings may be automatically analyzed based on power, frequency, tempo, complexity, dimensionality, other audio features, and/or some combination thereof. Automated recommendations of audio recordings may be provided based at least on the variability levels. User interfaces may be provided to receive user feedback of preferred audio recordings and to select audio recordings to recommend based on the user feedback and the automated analysis. The automated recommendations may be further based on user purchase data and/or listening history.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining user interface controls associated with hierarchical levels during media content playback. In some embodiments, instructions may be provided to display user interface controls associated with a level of media content, such as a chapter level. A change in the level of media content and/or the user interface controls associated with the level may be a response to a level change request. A level change request may be initiated by user input and/or may automatically be initiated by the current content playback position.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for initiating one or more actions based at least in part on an audio output device. Upon connection of an audio output device such as headphones one or more actions may be configured to occur. These actions may include playing at least a portion of an audio content, presenting information on a display, and so forth.

Abstract: A content alignment service is described that may generate content synchronization information to facilitate the synchronous presentation of corresponding audio content and textual content. In some embodiments, portions of body text (as opposed to front matter, such as a table of contents; or back matter, such as an index) in the textual content are identified and synchronized with corresponding audio content. In one example application, an audiobook may be synchronized with an electronic book. As the body text portions of the electronic book are consumed, corresponding words of the audiobook may be audibly presented.

Abstract: Various systems, processes, and techniques may be used to manage media content playback. In particular implementations, systems and processes may include the ability to generate audio output from media content at a user device and detect an indication to move from a current location in the audio output. The systems and processes may also include the ability to determine a number of location indicators for the audio output, the location indicators associated with different locations in the audio output, select one of the location indicators, and generate audio output beginning near the selected location indicator.

Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure enable synchronized content items, such as an ebook and corresponding audiobook, to be navigated via a rotational interface (e.g., a “jog wheel”). Specifically, a playback device is disclosed that enables a rotational interface to be used to select locations within an audiobook or other audio content. During selection of a location, the playback device can maintain an output indicator indicating one or more words within a textual content that match the selected location within the audio content. Thus, a user is enabled to easily and intuitively select precise locations within audio content. In some embodiments, an acceleration or speed of input to the rotational interface may modify how quickly locations within the content item are traversed.

Abstract: Systems and associated processes for guiding users to provide more useful reviews are described. These systems and processes can provide guided reviews in certain embodiments by presenting questions to a user in the form of an interview. The questions can be relevant to the item being reviewed, and as such, may be specifically and dynamically selected based on the particular item under consideration. Many other criteria may be used to select the types of questions presented to users, examples of which will be described below. Presenting review questions to users can have the effect of reducing or eliminating the “blank page” effect of having to write a review from scratch, with no guidance. Accordingly, review questions can potentially elicit more thorough and useful feedback than existing review systems in some embodiments.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for presenting multiple content items based on one or more rules defining how the multiple content items are to be presented. One content item may be a primary content item, and any number of additional content items may be related to or supplement the primary content item in some way. Rules may define which related content items may be presented and, in the case of multimedia content (e.g., content with both audio and video elements), which elements of the primary content may be overridden by or mixed with related content, and which may not. References to related content may be embedded in the primary content item, or references may be accessed at a content management system or service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed enabling recommendations of content items available in multiple formats based on an expected difficulty of a user in comprehending individual formats of the content item. For example, a user wishing to increase reading fluency may be provided with a recommendation for a multi-format content item including both an e-book and an audiobook. The recommended multi-format content item may be selected such that the e-book is expected to be somewhat difficult for the user to comprehend, and such that the audiobook is expected to be relatively less difficult for the user to comprehend. Thereafter, the user may simultaneously consume multiple formats of the recommended content item (e.g., by listening to the audiobook simultaneously to reading the e-book) in order to increase reading fluency.

Abstract: A content alignment service may generate content synchronization information to facilitate the synchronous presentation of audio content and textual content. In some embodiments, a region of the textual content whose correspondence to the audio content is uncertain may be analyzed to determine whether the region of textual content corresponds to one or more words that are audibly presented in the audio content, or whether the region of textual content is a mismatch with respect to the audio content. In some embodiments, words in the textual content that correspond to words in the audio content are synchronously presented, while mismatched words in the textual content may be skipped to maintain synchronous presentation. Accordingly, in one example application, an audiobook is synchronized with an electronic book, so that as the electronic book is displayed, corresponding words of the audiobook are audibly presented.

Abstract: A computing device may provide a control interface that enables the user to manage the synchronized output of companion content (e.g., textual content and corresponding audio content). For example, the computing device may display a visual cue to identify a current location in textual content corresponding to a current output position of companion audio content. As the audio content is presented, the visual cue may be advanced to maintain synchronization between the output position within the audio content and a corresponding position in the textual content. The user may control the synchronized output by dragging her finger across the textual content displayed on the touch screen. Accordingly, the control interface may provide a highlight or other visual indication of the distance between the advancing position in the textual content and the location of a pointer to the textual content indicated by the current position of the user's finger.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating user format preference data and using that data to select and/or deliver a specific format of a work. For example, a dynamic format delivery service can dynamically collect data representing a user's preferences respecting specific contexts and formats, and can store this data in association with the user. The dynamic format delivery service can then make use of that data to dynamically select a format for a requested work in order to provide the user with a format tailored to that specific user's consumption habits. Moreover, data representing preferences of a population of users, context attributes, or device-specific format preferences may further contribute to selecting a work format.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to one or more configured computing systems identifying when decoupled content includes a companion content pair (e.g., a first content and a second content) that can be synchronously or interchangeably presented. Further, aspects of the present disclosure relate to notifying a user of the availability of companion content. Notifications can be displayed to a user at any number of notifications triggers that indicate the user may be interested in acquiring companion content. Further, notifications may correspond to an offer to acquire at least a portion of companion content, such as a trial of the companion content. If a user accepts such an offer, synchronization information may be used to begin presentation of the companion content from a last consumed position of a corresponding first content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating a sample of electronic content for transmission to others. For example, a user may select a portion of an electronic content file to be transmitted as an excerpt file to another user. In some instances, transmission may be prohibited based on various criteria.

Abstract: Features are disclosed for automatically facilitating knowledge sharing using information collected during meetings. Collected information may include both the content and context of a meeting. The meeting content may comprise text collected by automatic speech recognition or entered manually at a user device. The meeting context may comprise information such as the identities of meeting participants and subject matter from a meeting agenda. The content and context information may be used to identify relevant topics for which knowledge is available, and the available knowledge may be presented to one or more of the meeting participants.