Yep, I'm with don here. I had been concerned with the nls aproach as well but now, as a beta tester for the digital talking books, I feel much better about how they're going about things. I think most folks will be quite pleased with the end results. Also, since APH which does their own software work on the BP, by the Way, is also a dtb producer, I can't imagine that they won't come up with some solution to accomodate those books. Lou ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Barrett" <donter@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 7:30 AM Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program > Bill, copyright is the main issue for the need for a specialized format. > NLS has no choice or they wouldn't be able to publish materials freely; > Spring will do whatever APH pays them to do. I really have to disagree with > your take on this. > > "-----Original Message----- > "From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > "[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bill > "Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 6:14 AM > "To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > "Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program > " > "As we all know, it is springer designs that designed, modify > "and manufacture the 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 new digital 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. Much money wasted here I think. Give APH credit when > "credit is due. I think they've done a great job. > " > "BILL > " > "----- Original Message ----- > "From: "Michael Bowman-Jones" <mikebowmanjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > "To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > "Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 7:41 PM > "Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program > " > " > "> Greetings, Everyone. > "> > "> I alluded to this issue quite some type in another message > "indicating that > "> NLS and DAISY could really have an impact on the Bookport. > "However the > "> unit is modified, I hope that APH will give existing customers a > "> significant price decrease (free is better, of course but maybe not > "> feasible) when this occurs. > "> > "> Michael > "> ----- Original Message ----- > "> From: "Don Barrett" <donter@xxxxxxxxxxx> > "> To: "Bookport" <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > "> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 5:08 PM > "> Subject: [bookport] NLS Beta Program > "> > "> > ">> I've been off of the list for a bit so if this has already > "been covered, > ">> someone please straighten me out, but if not, it really is > "time for it to > ">> be > ">> addressed directly by APH. > ">> > ">> As you know, the NLS beta program testing the facility to > "download and > ">> read > ">> digital books is proceeding quite well. I am told that the > "site may be > ">> available > ">> to all NLS patrons sometime around the middle of 2007. Since the > ">> handling > ">> of these materials by the BookPort will require hardware, > "firmware, and > ">> software > ">> changes, it would seem that time is of the essence if the > "Bookport is to > ">> undergo a redesign, pass all of the rigorous beta and other > "testing, and > ">> make > ">> a smooth transition to allowing its owners to read > "NLS-produced materials > ">> in > ">> digital form when the site becomes available. Can you all > "shed any light > ">> on > ">> this? I can just imagine that when the NLS site goes live, > "any device > ">> that > ">> is not ready to deal with those materials will suffer much > "negative press > ">> to > ">> say nothing of decreased sales > ">> and popularity. Since the BookPort is probably the coolest device > ">> invented > ">> since the electric coffee-maker, I would hate to see it > "undergo such a > ">> bumpy > ">> transition. NLS implementation time just is not that far > "off, and I > ">> believe > ">> APH has a responsibility to its customers to make a public > "commitment to > ">> support this reading system for the blind which will be free and > ">> available > ">> to all non-print reading citizens. As I say, I may have missed this > ">> discussion, so if this has already happened, I will gladly > "back off, and > ">> wait for it all to play out. > ">> > ">> On the other hand, APH has been alluding to a new unit for > "literally > ">> years, > ">> and given the true closeness of the NLS implementation date > "(perhaps half > ">> a > ">> year or there abouts to if all goes well), we really need > "the real deal > ">> and > ">> soon. Please what is going on. > ">> > ">> Don Barrett > ">> > ">> > ">> > ">> > ">> __________ NOD32 1.1786 (20061002) Information __________ > ">> > ">> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > ">> http://www.eset.com > ">> > ">> > "> > "> > "> > " > " > " > >