1. A mobile device news reader, comprising: at least one processor; at least one database coupled to the at least one processor; a text-to-speech engine embedded in the mobile device and executable by the at least one processor to convert text data stored in the at least one database to a speech-based output; a speech-to-text engine embedded in the mobile device and executable by the at least one processor to process a voice command input received from a user of the device and generate data in the form of text that corresponds to the received voice command input; and non-transient memory coupled to the at least one processor that stores program instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive text-based news articles and text-based headlines associated with the news articles over a network from a remote server, store a list of the received news articles correlated with a list of the received headlines in the at least one database, and without utilizing a connection to the network, (a) retrieve the list of headlines from the at least one database, (b) incrementally convert text of one headline in the retrieved list of headlines to speech using the embedded text-to-speech engine and provide a speech-based output of the converted one headline to a user of the news reader, (c) following output of the converted one headline, enter into a first listen mode for a predetermined pause time during which the at least one processor will await receipt of a particular affirmative voice command input from the user, (d) if the particular affirmative voice command input is not received from the user during the pause time, convert text of a next headline in the retrieved list of headlines to speech, provide a speech-based output of the converted next headline to the user, and re-enter the first listen mode for the predetermined pause time during which the at least one processor will again await receipt of the particular affirmative voice command input from the user; (e) repeat “(d)” until either the particular affirmative voice command input is received during one of the pause times or all headlines in the list have been output to the user, (f) use the text-to-speech engine to output one or more application options, the application options being distinct from the converted headlines and including as least one of a navigation option or a user-adjustable setting that causes the news reader device to enter a mode other than output of converted headlines or converted news articles; and (g) following output of the one or more application options, enter into a second listen mode, during which the at least one processor will await receipt of the particular affirmative voice command from the user to select one of the application options.