Hi all, unless the "stream" means streamlined? In other words, it's a streamlined MP3 player? Just a thought.
Graham Page wrote:
Hi Ray. I know that Jackie will do a good enough job of this but I don't think that the number of buttons on the Orion is really too much of an issue, though I do question some of the implementation. On the unit itself you have on off button, a volume knob that twists in click steps that pushes in to pause play back or is held in for a second or so to set a book mark. there are also up/down buttons, an OK button and a cancel button. I think this is fine though having the pause button used to set book marks is hardly intuitive. Text to speech software can be built into a relatively small device, see the Victor Stream for example. For £279.00 I suspect a company could make a pretty good internet radio encorporating text to speech. why is the Victor Stream called the Stream? will the next generation actually be able to stream from the internet? It is nice and small but it doesn't stream anything at the moment! if internet streaming will be possible with the victor stream in the future , this could be interesting indeed. regards Graham Graham Page Home Phone: 0207 265 9493 Mobile: 07753 607980 Fax: 0870 706 2773 Email: gpage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx MSN: gabriel_mcbird@xxxxxxxxxxx Skype: gabriel_mcbird ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray's Home To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:53 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: Internet Radio latest Graham, agree completely with what you say belowe but one or two thoughts on this, and hope Jackie might find them useful too. If we want an accessible version of the internet radios you can buy at Argos with the many stations they offer, then what really is the way forward? I'm beginning to ask myself whether a pure and simple accessible internet radio will in fact appear, or at least one that goes beyond voice tagging. As I see it, you are realy talking here about something that is in essence not far short of a regular computer specialised to link to internet audio streams. So, I ask myself, if we want complete flexibility like we're accustomed to on our PCs, then maybe a laptop-like device is something like what we'll end up with. Then again one of the many specialized portable devices on the market could be adapted for the purpose, or the way things are going, a mobile phone? On reflection maybe in the TNAUK/Orion option things have been simplified and customised to offer what it is believed the market for this device is likely to want. Those wanting something more may have to waite a little longer and perhaps for another developer to look at a possibly younger and wider market? Cannot help but think of the Guide software as a sort of comparison here, and wonder if that model of limitation and keep it easy is what's being aimed at.From RayI can be contacted off-list at: mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Graham Page Sent: 25 March 2008 5:00PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: Internet Radio latest Ray, all I would say about modern voices such as Real Speak is that I have worked with a few new access technology users recently. I am used to working with a screenreader and prefer eloquence but many find RealSpeak Daniel better despite it being a little unresponsive. I think that using a high quality voice such as this would be a fair compromise that would allow an understandable voice to be used while allowing most people to work with it. Regards Graham Graham Page Home Phone: 0207 265 9493 Mobile: 07753 607980 Fax: 0870 706 2773 Email: gpage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx MSN: gabriel_mcbird@xxxxxxxxxxx Skype: gabriel_mcbird ----- Original Message ----- From: Ray's Home To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2008 2:47 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: Internet Radio latest Jackie, great news that you'l be doing a review of the talking internet radio. Your comments made me realise that I've probably not understood how this thing works, with voice tagging. I'd sort of assumed there'd be a TTS in there. this seems a serious limitation if adding voice tags is only doable by someone running a special program or something, or maybe it is done simply by someone hooking the thing up to a PC. I can see why they'd want to settle for human voice identification of stations if this unit's aimed at older people, though there are good human sounding voices these days. TTS would be so much more flexible and hassel-free though in use. What I would want is the ability to update myself. Maybe there is an Orion model that does allow for this, but I may contact them to see what the position is regarding this. Maybe you are planning to get an answer to this sort of question? I don't sub to Brian Hartgen's infotech, but wonder if he's looked at this. From Ray I can be contacted off-list at: mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Jackie Cairns Sent: 21 March 2008 9:44AM To: Access UK Mailing List Subject: [access-uk] Internet Radio latest Hi Listers I promised to report back to the group when I had something new to tell you about the saga of Internet radio, and more specifically, the device I was hoping to allow TNAUK, or Sound Talking, to let me try out. Well the Orion Webbox arrived yesterday for me to try out. I have it on the basis I can write a review, which Ted Davis needs to sanction before it is published. Nevertheless, I certainly intend to make it fair and honest, as always. But my initial thoughts are these. The box itself is flat, with a speaker on the top and five small round buttons, as well as a rotary volume/pause control. All the relevant sockets, including mains, phonos and RJ45 connection are on the back. When you turn on the Webbox, the lady from Solutions Radio, where the box is manufactured in Holland, announces the unit and offers a menu. This menu is full of TNAUK, RNIB, Calibre and other publication choices, but also local radio stations and national radio stations. Of course, I made a beeline for these. On this trial unit, there are lots of national BBC stations that you would expect to find on DAB or FM/MW, but some extras. Local radio stations include a selection from around the country. To be honest, if I was buying the radio, I would want its memory filled to capacity with as many stations as possible. The radio, in simple terms, is easy to operate. You go into menus, select what you want, and press the back key to get out of them and return to the previous layer. Based on what I've seen so far, there is an awful lot of work still to do. It's very TNAUK/RNIB/Calibre oriented, and that does worry me considerably. I can see why a lot of people would like to have the entire collection of subscription titles from TNAUK on there, as well as a variety of RNIB or Calibre books. But I think the radio side of it - which is my primary interest - will lag behind. Firstly, all stations are tagged, and we know what that means in terms of future-proof continuity. If you want a station included, Ted has assured me it can be added, but I have grave reservations about that in the long term. So folks, while I'm still exploring, and want to write something fair and constructive for publication, my advice is hang onto your dosh for now if you want more of a radio than a DAISY player full of books and magazines. Jackie Email: cairnsplace@xxxxxxx Skype Name: Cairnsplace __________ NOD32 2971 (20080325) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com
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