6. A system comprising: a processor; a display coupled to said processor; an input device coupled to said processor; an audio output device coupled to said processor; memory coupled to said processor, wherein said memory comprises instructions that when executed cause said system to perform text to speech conversion, said method comprising: prior to a user selection to play an audible version of a portion of text, predictively identifying the portion of text for conversion to speech format, wherein said identifying comprises performing a prediction based on information associated with a user's prior reading of at least one prior-read book and based on the portion of text being newly released for access, the prior-read book being different from the portion of text being newly released for access; performing a text to speech conversion on said portion of text to produce converted speech; storing said converted speech into a memory device of said portable device; executing a reader application wherein a user request is received for narration of said portion of text; and during said executing, accessing said converted speech from said memory device and rendering said converted speech on said audio output device responsive to said user request.
6. A system comprising: a processor; a display coupled to said processor; an input device coupled to said processor; an audio output device coupled to said processor; memory coupled to said processor, wherein said memory comprises instructions that when executed cause said system to perform text to speech conversion, said method comprising: prior to a user selection to play an audible version of a portion of text, predictively identifying the portion of text for conversion to speech format, wherein said identifying comprises performing a prediction based on information associated with a user's prior reading of at least one prior-read book and based on the portion of text being newly released for access, the prior-read book being different from the portion of text being newly released for access; performing a text to speech conversion on said portion of text to produce converted speech; storing said converted speech into a memory device of said portable device; executing a reader application wherein a user request is received for narration of said portion of text; and during said executing, accessing said converted speech from said memory device and rendering said converted speech on said audio output device responsive to said user request. 11. The system of claim 6 wherein said information comprises a playlist of books that is created by other users with similar attributes to said user.