Text-to-Speech and Dictation on macOS

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In macOS, Postbox has enhanced speech capabilities. It can read selected text aloud for you, and you can also dictate your messages.

Reading Text Aloud

Postbox can speak selected text when Speak Select Text keyboard shortcut is used. This can be great for listening to messages you’ve received and for proofreading messages you’ve written.

Using Speak Selected Text

  1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Speech
  2. Check Speak selected text when the key is pressed. By default, macOS uses Option + Esc to turn on this feature. (You can change it if you like.)
  3. Quit System Preferences.
  4. Return to Postbox and select some text in a message.
  5. Press Option + Esc (or the custom shortcut you’ve decided to use) to have macOS read the selected text aloud.

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Dictation

Dictation is great for capturing thoughts spontaneously, or for just giving your fingers a rest.

Using Dictation in Postbox  

  1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences… > Keyboard > Dictation
  2. Turn Dictation on. By default, macOS uses fn + fn as a shortcut to activate Dictation. (You can change it if you like using the Shortcut menu.)
  3. Quit System Preferences.
  4. In Postbox, open the Compose Window.
  5. Place the cursor in the body of the message.
  6. Use the Dictation shortcut to bring up the Dictation panel.
  7. Start speaking—Postbox transcribes your speech into the message.
  8. Use the shortcut again to turn off Dictation.

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