Here are some assorted items I picked up at the NFB convention.
VictorReader Stream
A small hand held device for reading DAISY books, text and HTML
files and playing and recording audio files (MP3) This $350 device
will read DAISY book from RFB&D and the NLS as well as non-
encrypted books. The Stream shows up on your Mac as an external
drive and you can install files to it with the finder. I expect to
have a Macintosh program which will simplify the installing and
backup of files to this device ready with in a week. This program
will permit MP3 and unprotected iTunes, such as podcasts, files to
be moved to the Stream.
Internet Radio
A hardware internet radio that can also stream DAISY from a server
permitting navigation of the same. Come with Ethernet and a built
in modem. You can configure up to 25 stations or libraries of
books into the device and then play them at will. You can change
the setup from a webpage. This is already in use by the RNIB and
TPB in Sweden. This would be very useful with a service like NFB
Newsline. Cost is less than $300.
Google book search
Starting on last Thursday Google book search will let you download
the full text of public domain books within their collection. Also
Google will start to index Bookshare, RFB&D and the NLS collections.
Readhoyouwant.com (Yes that is all one word.)
A commercial company that wants to offer on demand production of
DAISY, braille and large print books via Amazon. You will order
the book and tell Amazon how you would like it. Amazon will relay
the order to Readhoyouwant who will produce the book for you in
the desired format and send it to you. Publisher gets paid the
same as if he had sold a print book. The non-disabled will be able
to order DAISY books this way. Another reason why Mac DAISY
playback is vital. Also your friends will be able to get braille
books as gifts.
(Mary Beth, we need to get a Daisy player written and authorized
as soon as possible! The NLS is using the AMR-WB+ audio format is
there a mac way to play that?)
NLS Downloaded books
Starting in August you will be able to download NLS daisy books
from the library service. Contact your regional library for
getting on the list to do this. You will need an authorized
player, right now only the Stream player is authorized. Also on
the NLS front They were publicly showing the new players. Two
models a simple and an advanced one. There is a USB port on the
side of the units for connecting standard USB pen drives which
will play books who's files are on the root level of a pen drive.
My DTBmaker books play well in the new NLS players.
Braille keyboards that support Mac.
I was able to make some good progress with Alva's braille
keyboards and the Mac, I may well be able to get braille input
working on the Mac with them.
Priorities in light of the above information.
DAISY playback on the Mac. This is the single most important
unaddressed area. We need DAISY playback, playback that supports
all the standards and types. We need to get it as soon as we can
so that Apple can offer the support of DASIY playback when the NLS
and Readhowyouwant start offering the book in the late summer.
Macintosh support for VictorReader Stream. I am working on this
now and will have a utility program ready by weeks end.
MAc support for the Braille+ and Icon PDA's. Most of the other
braille note takers support mac by means of Missing Sync software
from MarkSpace Software. The Pacmate, Braille Sense and
BrailleNote all worked. I am in contact with APH about the Braille
+ There was a machine that uses Linux called the Elba. The people
displaying it would not permit me to connect to it to se if I
could make the Mac work with it. If anyone out there has one let
me know.
That's all I can think of right now.
Greg
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