It looks like Spotify is working on a novel feature that will allow audiobook listeners to drop into a physical book. Android Authority Version 9.1.18.282 of the Spotify app reportedly includes code references to a Page Match beta feature that can quickly sync audiobooks across the platform with their paper and e-book counterparts.
Using PageMatch will require users to unlock or purchase an audiobook on Spotify, and one of the paper or e-book versions of the same book. The feature works by scanning the page you’re currently reading with your device’s camera, using optical character recognition (OCR) to identify passages that then match a specific timestamp in the audiobook.
It’s meant to save you from having to fast-forward and manually flip, but it looks like Page Match can also work in reverse. The code snippet shows that Spotify will also display the page number that corresponds to your current audiobook position, making it easier for bibliophiles to quickly jump between listening and physical reading. This is supported by Spotify’s own description of the feature, which “can match your progress from an audiobook to a book page. Page numbers may vary by book edition, however, which can cause some complications.
Spotify hasn’t announced PageMatch yet, so there’s no guarantee it will end up publicly. OCR is also not always reliable for page match Android Authority Notifying this Spotify will ask you to scan a nearby page if it is unable to identify the passage you are reading.
Amazon has a similar feature called VesperSync for Voice that syncs Audible audiobooks with Kindle eBooks, but this solution doesn’t support syncing with paper books or eBooks on other platforms. PageMatch doesn’t have those limitations, which can make it easier for people to keep their physical books and continue listening while driving, cooking, and doing other activities.
