Scribd is bringing its audio functionality to the Apple Watch. The new functionality will allow listeners to access Scribd audiobooks straight from their watch.
The new Scribd Apple Watch app will support standalone streaming. Users will be able to listen to audiobooks from their library over a cellular or Wi-Fi connection without the need for their iPhone.
Related Reading:
- How to listen to music offline on your Apple Watch without your iPhone
- How to remove downloaded music from your Apple Watch
- Music Therapy via Sonos Speakers and your wearable may be coming soon
Here are some of the features that Scribd announced this morning for the Apple Watch.
- Playback for audio titles from saved lists The app will allow users to access their saved titles directly from their watch.
- Playback Controls: The Scribd audio player on Apple Watch includes playback controls with a feature to skip forward or back and also includes a sleep timer for users who like to listen to audiobooks while trying to fall asleep.
- Users will be able to stream directly to a connected Bluetooth headphone or external speaker.
The standalone streaming functionality from Scribd requires Apple Watch Series 3 or later, and Scribd recommends watchOS 7+. Users will also need the latest Scribd app on their iPhones.
For $9.99 a month, Scribd offers access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazine articles, podcasts, documents, and more.
More and more app makers are supporting the direct streaming service to the Apple Watch. Spotify had released standalone streaming support to its Apple Watch at the beginning of this year. Pandora also released standalone streaming via its new Apple Watch app that was released in Feb this year.
With the numerous addition of new standalone streaming services, the Apple Watch is quickly becoming a trendy device for users to consume audio content.
Apple said it would launch Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels in June to “ensure the best experience for creators and listeners.” It will be interesting to see what, if any, new features Apple adds to its Podcast app for the Apple Watch to entice new subscribers.
