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
Click on the link below to go to our homepage.
http://www.icanworkthisthing.com
Manage your subscription by using the web interface on the link
below.
//www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover
Users can subscribe to this list by sending email to
macvoiceover-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by logging into the Web
interface at //www.freelists.org/list/macvoiceover
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database:
269.10.1/889 - Release Date: 7/6/2007 8:00 PM
