Expanded version of WaveNet that awesomely transforms selected text into high-quality natural sounding audio.

Latest Version

Version
5.1.0
Update
March 1, 2022
Size
2.13MiB
Developer
Category
Users
25
Rating
2.5 ★
Manifest Version
3
Web Store Status
Languages Support
English (United States)
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Permissions
ContextMenus
Storage
Downloads
ActiveTab
Scripting
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BB WaveNet Extension

Aimed to help individuals with difficulty reading such as dyslexia, ADHD, to consume knowledge more efficiently through taking advantage of Google's awesome text-to-speech engine. To this aim, WaveNet for Chrome created by Michael Poirier-Ginter, has done a fantastic job.

I took his code, and design, hope that he doesn't mind, and implemented my own features that I found beneficial for me. I thought some users out there might find this customized tool useful. I also updated the extension to comply with the new manifest v3 requirements (thus version 5.1 vs Ginter's 5.0). Limitation remains the same as 5.0 when the user needs to get their own apiKey, instructions included (although slightly outdated; I might update the instructions in the near future)--although outdated, if you are patient and keep trying, you'll likely find it, I struggled finding it too, but I did finally found it.

My extension is different from the original as described below:

1) All captured text and synthesized audio are sent to 1 separate window (the TTS Panel). As manifest v3 no longer allows extensions to play audios in the background. The TTS Panel has some advantages in visual controls:
--To activate text-to-speech: (a) select text in the browser, right-click -> \"queue\", (b) set your desired shortcuts from chrome://extensions/shortcuts, or (c) press 'F2' on your keyboard (which I don't remember ever used in my life) -- sorry this is hard coded -- may implement more flexible options for shortcuts compared to Chrome browser's scheme, in the future if popular demands.
--On the TTS Panel,
--navigate \"speaking\" sentence using 'arrow keys' then 'enter' or left-click to select, click again to play/\"speak\".
--'K' or 'F2' to pause/play,
--'alt' + left-click to toggle captured text and \"phonetics\" text (generated from a manual phonetics dictionary). Without it \"MR angiography\" would be read as \"Mister angiography\"; phonetics version would be \"M R angiography\"; \"blood pressure is 108/60 mm Hg\" would be read as \"blood pressure is 1 hundred and 8 sixty-th m m H g\"; the phonetics version would be \"blood pressure is 108 over 60\" (no millimeters mercury) before it gets sent to Google's API to obtain the audio file. In case you encounter a weird sounding word/case, it could be my fault, or Google's fault. The \"phonetics\" text will let you know who to blame. Phonetics dictionary is hard coded, but you can turn it off. If you're on Windows and want to see the dictionary, go to: \"%userprofile%\\AppData\\Local\\Google\\Chrome\\User Data\\Default\\Extensions\" in File Explorer to find the extension and modify the javascript files as you see fit, and run as your own \"developer\" extension. You'd have to learn Regular Expression to efficiently and widely capture your use cases.
--'[' (open bracket) key to slow down and ']' (close bracket) to speed up by 0.25x on the fly. At install, I set my personal preference to 1.75x. 1.0x is way too slow to maintain my attention span.
--Left-click on any sentence to replay without having to make new requests to Google's WaveNet TTS API. Thus, save you some request costs, as the apiKey is obtained from a trial allotment or paid Google's platform. Click again to pause. Audio will advance to next sentence automatically.
--If you are too busy to get your own apiKey, or set up and maintain your paid Google's platform for the purpose of using this extension, I am happy to set it up and provide you the apiKey +market maintenance fee rate (same as what apple charges--30%). Google charges $16 USD per 1million characters per month after a 90day trial. This is low priority for me because you can get it yourself and sign up a new account every 3 months, but if there is demand, I'll re-prioritize.

2) Near future features would include saving the TTS Panel's page to a single HTML file, and you can listen again offline, even on browsers without BB WaveNet installed. For now, you can download all the audio media files as Opus encoded OGG files for each sentence at 1.0x, regardless of your speed settings. The purpose is to retain the flexibility to play at different speed offline. OGG files are native to Chrome and androids, and they can be played in VLC's playlist quite well, at the speed you desire.

3) Near future features will also include queuing texts from the computer's clipboard. This will allow you to listen to texts from offline apps that allow you copy texts.

4) Feel free to request any features, but I probably would direct those request to the original author, Michael Poirier-Ginter. ; D. New feature requests will be prioritized based on what I think can be beneficial to the masses, but feel free to caffeinate me by donating 1 or 2 cups of Joe, I'll get to your requests faster (after I add a donation button, again low priority).
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Source Manifest.json

{ "background": { "service_worker": "B/serviceworker.mjs", "type": "module", "minimum_chrome_version": 94 }, "content_scripts": [ { "all_frames": true, "js": [ "B/waveNet_CS.mjs" ], "matches": [ "http://*/*", "https://*/*", "*://*/*", "*://*/*.pdf", "", "file:///*/*" ], "run_at": "document_start" } ], "action": { "default_icon": { "16": "assets/images/icon_16.png", "19": "assets/images/icon_19.png", "38": "assets/images/icon_38.png", "48": "assets/images/icon_48.png" }, "default_popup": "popup/popup.html", "default_title": "BB WaveNet" }, "commands": { "clipboard": { "description": "Queue text from clipboard, and speak", "suggested_key": { "default": "Alt+Shift+H", "mac": "Command+Shift+H" } }, "queue": { "description": "Queue selected text, and speak", "suggested_key": { "default": "Alt+Shift+B", "mac": "Command+Shift+B" } }, "toggle": { "description": "Toggle speak/pause", "suggested_key": { "default": "Alt+Shift+U", "mac": "Command+Shift+U" } } }, "description": "Expanded version of WaveNet for Chrome that awesomely transforms selected text into high-quality natural sounding audio.", "homepage_url": "https://github.com/wavenet-for-chrome/extension", "icons": { "128": "assets/images/icon_128.png", "19": "assets/images/icon_19.png", "38": "assets/images/icon_38.png" }, "manifest_version": 3, "name": "BB WaveNet", "host_permissions": ["*://*/*"], "permissions": [ "contextMenus", "storage", "downloads", "activeTab", "scripting" ], "update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx", "version": "5.1.0"}
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How to download and manually install BB WaveNet extension for Chrome

Looking for a way to install BB WaveNet extensions for Chrome, you can search for them in the Chrome Web Store, clicking the "Add to Chrome" button, and following the straightforward process.

However, you may need to install BB WaveNet extensions manually, this article outlines two simple methods to effortlessly install BB WaveNet extensions, whether they come as unpacked folders in compressed formats like .zip or as .crx files.

Method 1: Download BB WaveNet extension and manually install through Drag &Drop

If you ever need to manually install a BB WaveNet extension for Chrome, don't worry, it's a simple process. Just follow these easy steps, and you will have your extension ready to use in no time.

Step 1: Download the BB WaveNet Extension by clicking the "Download CRX" button on the website.

Look for the BB WaveNet extension you wish to install. Go to the website and download the BB WaveNet extension package, which is usually a .CRX file and comes in a zipped file. Here ".crx" file is the format for BB WaveNet extension that contains all the data.

Step 2: Extract &Arrange Files

Once the file is downloaded, extract that file into its own folder. Similarly, give that extension files a permanent home. In other words, keep it in a folder that you don't accidentally delete it because these files will be needed to make that extension work.

Step 3: Go to the Chrome Extensions Page

Open Google Chrome and in the address bar, type chrome://extensions; it will open the Google Chrome extensions page. Make sure that "My extensions" is selected in the sidebar.

Step 4: Drag and Drop the Extension

Now, go to the folder where you extracted the BB WaveNet extension and drag &drop the extension file from there anywhere onto the extension page within Google Chrome.

Step 5: Complete the Installation

Once you drag and drop the extension file, follow the steps that Google Chrome takes you through. Similarly, if the extension file is of .crx file format, you will be required to review the permissions and then add the extension.

Now, you can manage that added extension as you would like to with any other Chrome extension that you added through Chrome Webstore. Its icon will also appear in the Google Chrome Menu on the right side of the address bar once you activate it.

Method 2: Download BB WaveNet extension for Chrome and install in Developer Mode

This is another method to install BB WaveNet extension manually, but the twist is that here, you install by enabling the developer mode option provided in Google Chrome. This mode is commonly used for testing extensions or running unpublished tools.

Step 1: Download the BB WaveNet extension file

Select and download the BB WaveNet extension by clicking the 'Download CRX' button on the website.

Step 2: Extract the downloaded contents

Convert the file to a ZIP file if it is in CRX format then extract the BB WaveNet extension zip file or folder that you downloaded. Make sure you extract it using the same folder name and keep it safely in another folder, so you don't delete it by mistake. The extracted folder will be needed to keep your BB WaveNet extension running.

Step 3: Open Chrome Extension Setting Page

In the address bar of Google Chrome, type chrome://extensions and open the Chrome Extension Page.

Step 4: Enable Developer Mode

After opening the Chrome Extension page, look at the top right side, and you will find the toggle option of "Developer mode."Simply enable that developer mode option.

Step 5: Load the Unpacked Extension

Once you enable the developer mode option, you will see the menu of Load Unpacked, Pack Extensions and Update. From that, select the option "Load unpacked."

Step 6: Select the Extension Folder

Once the pop-up opens upon clicking Load unpacked, select the BB WaveNet extension directory and click on the "Select Folder "button.

Step 7: Confirm and Install

After you select an extension folder of a Google Chrome extension you're installing manually, confirm its installation for the final time and let the installation complete.

Conclusion

Here we've made a step-by-step guide on How to manually install BB WaveNet extension in 2 ways. We hope this guide proves helpful.

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User reviews

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J L (ID: 000000a51ba5377e) Voted 3 ★ - Updated 10/15/2023 Useful for long texts, but without the neural voices and no ability to download, it is hardly a replacement for the original extension. Good innovation with the queuing, though! I wish you two would put your heads together and make a new one that has full functionality and is more reliable. :-)