Greetings Walt and List Members,I just read the November 2006 APH Newsletter and it suggests the BP as a Christmas gift. The description states that it can play DAISY/NLS books. I pass this on in the hope that this clarifies the situation but it would still be comforting to get something official that puts our unease to rest and answers our questions such as "Will we have to purchase something so that the BP works with these books and, if so, how much will it cost?", etc.
Michael----- Original Message ----- From: "Walt Smith" <walt@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 1:29 PM Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
This is not exactly correct. APH does their own firmware and transfer software, so they are not dependent on Springer Design for that. Moreover, the arrangement between APH and Springer _must_ be cooperative, since I'mquite sure that APH sells more of these units as the Book Port than Springerdoes as the BookCourier. You're correct in that Springer actuallymanufactures the unit, but I'm certain that they don't maintain an absoluteveto over hardware design and requirements. And as someone else has already pointed out, NLS is concerned (rightly, inmy opinion) with pirating and security. I don't know how many NLS books I'veseen on Internet news groups that deal with audio books and these were clearly copied from their cassettes. Nothing is going to stop allpirating--anyone with a patch cord and a recorder is always going to be able to capture the audio output of a Talking Book and do whatever they want with it--but it's NLS's legal and moral responsibility to make it as difficult aspossible.----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill" <052338@xxxxxxxxxxx>To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 6:13 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta ProgramAs we all know, it is springer designs that designed, modify and manufacturethe bookport. It is up to them to make any hardware, firmware or software changes and no doubt they can make any changes to the unit that will meet our needs. APH can certainly have some influence on springer designs, and have doubtless done so in the past. But, they cannot dictabe what changes are to be made. The real "culprit" here, I think, is NLS. Why would they come out with a format for their book download program or for their newdigital player that is not currently widely used such as mp3? Is it because they must be different or are they just not living in the real world. Muchmoney wasted here I think. Give APH credit when credit is due. I think they've done a great job. BILL __________ NOD32 1.1786 (20061002) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com