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CLEMMONS, NC - As an aircraft restorer, Michael Kohuch works in a highly specialized profession that is often uniquely demanding, but he is luckily able to meet many of those challenges using the power of Text to Speech and TextAloud, the leading software from NextUp Technologies (http://www.Nextup.com).

Priced from only $29.95, TextAloud is an easy, affordable program that enables PC users to translate their reading from screen to sound, turning written text into natural-sounding computer-generated speech with just a few mouse clicks. TextAloud enables users to transform almost any imaginable reading format into speech - from documents and PDFs, to e-mails, articles, books, websites, and more - turning reading into an activity that is infinitely portable, and whose resulting sound files can be played on any iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, CD, or other device.

Like many other Text to Speech users, Michael Kohuch discovered that TextAloud wasn't just great for reading - but also for both study and instruction. As the Vice-President of the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association, Kohuch is in charge of the restoration of the Avro Lancaster FM212, a heavy bomber from the Second World War, and he deeply loves the rich history behind his work. "These aircraft were used by the British RAF, and played a major role in the Allied victory in Europe," Michael comments. "They were also used in the food drops in Operation Manna, which fed the starving people of Holland at the end of the war. Now, however, out of over 7,000 of these planes once built, only a dozen or so remain in the world today." Michael's proud duty is to oversee the restoration of such treasured old aircraft for safekeeping, and he discovered that TextAloud was the perfect tool for reading aloud his instructions to him as he worked.

"Needless to say, restoring an old aircraft has its challenges," comments Michael. "But TextAloud has been extremely helpful to me in my work since 2006." TextAloud helps Michael to manage his time more efficiently, as he uses the program for listening to the many e-mails he receives from other aircraft restoration specialists from around the world. "I also use it to read procedures from the service manuals as I work," he comments. "I find that listening to the instructions as well as reading them reinforces the information in my mind."

Michael also makes thorough use of the program's many helpful tools and options, which are accessible and simple for PC users of all skill levels. "The 'read to file' option, for instance, is really handy for me," he comments. "I can take the audio file of the text and burn it to a CD so that I can listen while driving in my car." Best of all, TextAloud accomplishes these tasks at only a fraction of the cost of expensive alternatives like e-book readers and gadgets, and with far more flexibility.

Michael's favorite vocal choice for listening to his reading and instructions is Premium Voice "UK Audrey," from AT&T Natural Voices™. "Listening to a UK accent like Audrey's only seems fitting with the work that I do," adds Michael. "The clarity of the voice is great, and the accent is amazing. By using TextAloud's pronunciation editor to fine-tune technical words and phrases, I have achieved great results that I can even use in presentations on my laptop computer when I travel."

Thanks to TextAloud, Michael is able to succeed in his work to restore aircraft that serve as powerful and important historical treasures. "I recommend TextAloud to anyone who manages a heavy reading workload or busy schedule," he adds. "It's a great product that is easy and productive -- and a lot of fun as well!"

About TextAloud
TextAloud has been featured in The New York Times, PC Magazine, Writer's Digest, on CNN, and more. Hailed by critics and users alike, TextAloud is priced at just $29.95, and is compatible with systems using Windows (R) 98, NT, 2000, XP and VISTA. The program is available for fast, safe and secure purchase via /purchase.html.

NextUp.com also offers TextAloud with optional premium voices from AT&T Natural Voices™, Nuance®, Acapela® and Cepstral® for the most natural-sounding computer speech anywhere. Available languages include U.S. English, U.K. English, Indian Accent English, Scottish Accent English, Arabic, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Belgian Dutch, Faroese, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German, Greek, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Castilian (European) Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

About NextUp.com
NextUp.com, a division of NextUp Technologies, LLC, provides award-winning Text to Speech software for consumers, business customers, educators, and those with visual or vocal impairment, or learning disabilities.

In addition to TextAloud, NextUp.com markets other innovative Windows software designed to save time and deliver vital information. NextUp Talker is an easy and affordable program that allows people who have lost their voices to use the latest in high-quality computer voices to communicate with others.

Note to Editors:

Evaluation copies of TextAloud are currently available upon request. To receive a review copy, or for more information on NextUp.com or TextAloud, please contact publicist Angela Mitchell at (904) 982-8043.

All companies and products referenced in this press release are the trademarks of their respective owners.