Hi Tony, here's a longer article on the Kindle 2. Here is a story on the Kindle II. Includes specs, pricing and functionality. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/02/09/amazon_introduces_kindle_2_with_text_to_speech_feature.html Amazon today revealed its Kindle 2 wireless reading device that will go on sale later this month with a thinner design, longer battery life, faster page turns, more storage, sharper images, and a new text-to-speech feature. The new Kindle is virtually identical to the photos leaked last year and with features very similar to last week's predictions. In a press event at New York's Morgan Library, Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos told attendees that Kindle e-books now make up 10 percent of the online retailer's unit sales, and he was quick to point out the new Kindle is thinner than the iPhone by 0.12 inches, or 25 percent. "Kindle 2 is everything customers tell us they love about the original Kindle, only thinner, faster, crisper, with longer battery life, and capable of holding hundreds more books," he said. "If you want, Kindle 2 will even read to you -- something new we added that a book could never do. While we're excited about Kindle 2, we know that great hardware is useless without vast selection. That's why the Kindle Store offers customers over 230,000 books." During the press event a slide outlined Amazon's vision to make "every book ever printed in any language all available in less than 60 seconds" with the Kindle. Design New buttons on the "pencil thin" Kindle 2 make it easier to turn pages with either hand. Usability and clumsy navigation was a major complaint about the original Kindle (review), and Amazon is addressing those concerns with its latest design. A new "5-way controller" is intended for more precise note-taking and highlighting as well as faster jumps between articles and sections of newspapers. Unfortunately, the "official Amazon.com cover", with an integrated attachment hinge and leather cover, will be sold separately for $29.99. This is probably a concession to third-party suppliers, as Amazon also said that Kindle 2 covers will be sold by Patagonia, Cole Haan and Belkin. Kindle 2 New Features Amazon calls "Text-to-Speech" an "experimental" feature that will convert text on the page to spoken words, and also save the spot on a page in case a reader wants to switch back and forth between reading and listening. Users can choose between male and female voices and specify the reading speed. Anything that appears on the device's screen, from newspapers to blogs to books, can be read aloud. Meanwhile, Amazon's new "Whispersync" technology promises to sync Kindle 2 and the original Kindle automatically for easy transitions. Users can pick up a Kindle at home, read a chapter or two, then drive to work where they have a Kindle 2. Wherever you left off will be synced to the other device with no flipping forward and backward to find your place. Amazon says Whispersync will make it easier to transition to the new Kindle from the old model or to use both together. Eventually, support for "a range of mobile devices" will be provided, presumably smartphones, but no specifics are yet available. The New Oxford American Dictionary is also built in with 250,000 word definitions that appear instantly at the bottom of the page. Kindle 2 Display, Battery Life, and Connectivity Whereas the Kindle 1 offered only 4 shades of gray on the display, the Kindle 2 is capable of showing 16 shades on a six-inch, 600 x 800 electronic paper display. There is no backlight, helping provide 25 percent longer battery life. Amazon claims four to five days of reading on one charge with wireless turned on, two weeks with wireless off. The company also claims pages will turn 20 percent faster. The national 3G delivery network called Whispernet remains unchanged in a continuing partnership with Sprint that keeps the service available for no extra charge to Kindle owners. Amazon says it has been expanded to cover all 50 states with no PC, Wi-Fi hot spot, or syncing necessary. Storage The Kindle 2, with its 2 GB of memory, can hold more than 1,500 books compared to the original's 200. Books bought before are backed up to an Amazon.com account, so customers can wirelessly re-download previously purchased titles as necessary. Selection The original Kindle launched with 90,000 available e-books, while Kindle 2 owners will have more than 230,000 from which to choose. New authors added include John Steinbeck, C.S. Lewis, Beverly Cleary, Martha Stewart, Terry Goodkind, and Spencer Johnson. Author Stephen King has also written a plainly promotional novella, "Ur", whose protagonist "can't seem to get his ex-girlfriend's parting shot out of his head." The parting shot? "Why can't you just read off the computer like the rest of us?" The lovelorn college English instructor then places an order for a Kindle, and, we assume, lives happily ever after. Pre-orders will get the novella automatically downloaded to their device. Amazon has also rolled out support for more magazines, newspapers, and blogs. Newspaper subscriptions range from $5.99 to $14.99 fees per month, magazines are priced at $1.25 to $3.49 per month. Wireless blog delivery starts at $0.99 for each per month with a free two-week trial. Kindle 2 Pricing and Availability The Kindle 2 will sell for the same price its predecessor most recently went for, $359. (The original device launched at $399.) Customers still waiting on unfulfilled Kindle 1 orders will be automatically upgraded to Kindle 2, with the devices scheduled to begin shipping February 24. Current Kindle owners are also invited to pre-order before midnight tonight to receive priority. For everyone else, it's available for pre-order today. ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Tom Rash" <audiovisionradio.tomav@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:37 AM Subject: Re: Amazon's Kindle I think it is the Kindle Two. It isn't being released until the 24th of this month, I think. It just mentioned that there was a text to speech function so the Kindle can read the books to you. Just wondered if anyone had more info than that. I guess we'll have to wait. ----- Original Message ----- From: Stephen Guerra To: blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:03 AM Subject: RE: Amazon's Kindle Are you sure it's the Kindle two, or the original Kindle your speaking about Stephen A. Guerra Assistive Technology Specialist and Technical Operations Independent Living Aids LLC 200 Robbins Lane Building A, Suite 100 Jericho, NY 11753 Phone: (800) 537-2118-x3817 Direct Fax: (516) 450-3842 Read the <http://allthingsilatech.blogspot.com> All Things ILA Tech Blog Follow me on <http://twitter.com/TheILATechie> Twitter and see what i'm doing Visit <http://www.independentliving.com> Independent Living Aids on the Web Visit Soundbytes on the Web <http://www.soundbytes.com> From: blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Pam Drake Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 12:00 PM To: blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Amazon's Kindle Unfortunately all reports I have heard say that this device is not blind-friendly. It is optimized for easier viewing, making the text look more like a standard book, but it really isn't designed for listening only. I can look up a few posts I saved on the subject if interested. Pam -----Original Message----- From: blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:blindtech%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:blindtech%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Tom Rash Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 9:27 AM To: blindtech Subject: Amazon's Kindle Has anyone used the Kindle yet? I heard it has a text to voice feature that will read the books to you. Is the device blind friendly? Thanks for any info. Tom Rash, Executive Director AUDIO VISION Radio Reading Service for the Blind, Inc. 35242 Yucaipa Blvd. Ste. C Yucaipa, CA 92399 (909) 797-4336 tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:tom%40audiovisionradio.org> <mailto:tom%40audiovisionradio.org> www.audiovisionradio.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________ NOD32 3843 (20090210) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Blindtech is owned by Lynn White (www.lynnwhite.radioforlife.net). To unsubscribe from this list, please send an e-mail to blindtech-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx If you have any questions or concerns about the list, how it is being managed, or your subscription to it, please don't raise these concerns to the list or send test messages to it. Rather, please contact the administrators directly at blindtech-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and we will be happy to assist you.Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------------------ Blindtech is owned by Lynn White (www.lynnwhite.radioforlife.net). To unsubscribe from this list, please send an e-mail to blindtech-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx If you have any questions or concerns about the list, how it is being managed, or your subscription to it, please don't raise these concerns to the list or send test messages to it. Rather, please contact the administrators directly at blindtech-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and we will be happy to assist you.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindtech/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindtech/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:blindtech-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:blindtech-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: blindtech-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Sweeney" <tonysweeney1@xxxxxxxxxx> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:25 PM Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Kindle EBook reader. Hi Flor, Darragh & Steve & All, Thank you for that information! I first heard mention of the Amazon Kindle on Marian Finucane's programme last weekend. They hope to have incidentally a technology slot on her show every month or so! I wonder if there is anything that Vics or say NCBI should be doing in order to add their voice to "demanding" accessibility of The Kindle for blind persons. It always seems a shame that when we sometimes we think WE'RE THERE we are sometimes two steps behind! Tony ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Flor Lynch" <florlync@xxxxxx> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:38 PM Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Kindle EBook reader. > Hi Darragh and list: > > While the Kindle 2 does have text read aloud functionality, its menus and > controls are visual, and unfortunately are not speech accessible and do not > speak. here's an article from the US pertaining to it and the NFB's > [national Federation of the Blind] response to a 'concern' raised by a third > party. > > > National Federation of the Blind Responds to Authors Guild > Statement on the Amazon Kindle 2 > > Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2009): The National Federation of > the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the United > States, today responded to a statement put out by the Authors Guild > advising its members to consider negotiating contracts prohibiting > e-books to be read aloud by the new Amazon Kindle 2, which > incorporates text-to-speech technology. The Authors Guild argues that > the reading of a book out loud by a machine is a copyright > infringement unless the copyright holder has specifically granted > permission for the book to be read aloud. > > Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, > said: "The National Federation of the Blind supports all technologies > that allow blind people to have better access to the printed word, > including the ability of devices like the Kindle 2 to read commercial > e-books aloud using text-to-speech technology. Although the Authors > Guild claims that it supports making books accessible to the blind, > its position on the inclusion of text-to-speech technology in the > Kindle 2 is harmful to blind people. The Authors Guild says that > having a book read aloud by a machine in the privacy of one's home or > vehicle is a copyright infringement. But blind people routinely use > readers, either human or machine, to access books that are not > available in alternative formats like Braille or audio. Up until now, > no one has argued that this is illegal, but now the Authors Guild > says that it is. This is absolutely wrong. The blind and other > readers have the right for books to be presented to us in the format > that is most useful to us, and we are not violating copyright law as > long as we use readers, either human or machine, for private rather > than public listening. The key point is that reading aloud in private > is the same whether done by a person or a machine, and reading aloud > in private is never an infringement of copyright. > > "Amazon has taken a step in the right direction by including > text-to-speech technology for reading e-books aloud on its new Kindle > 2," Dr. Maurer continued. "We note, however, that the device itself > cannot be used independently by a blind reader because the controls > to download a book and begin reading it aloud are visual and > therefore inaccessible to the blind. We urge Amazon to rectify this > situation as soon as possible in order to make the Kindle 2 a device > that truly can be used both by blind and sighted readers. By doing > so, Amazon will make it possible for blind people to purchase a new > book and begin reading it immediately, just as sighted people do." > > ### > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Darragh" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:11 AM > Subject: [vicsireland] Kindle EBook reader. > > > Good morning, > > I heard some interesting news in Windows Weekly this morning about an EBook > reader from Amazon called Kindle version 2 that contains text to speech > functionality. I.e, it has the ability to convert text in an EBook to > synthesized speech. > > I only looked for some text to verify this for a moment so the link below > may not be the best source of information around but it's a start. > http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123419309890963869.html > > The device is a tad pricy and I doubt many would be interested but it's > great that the functionality is there. > > > Darragh > > =========================================================== > The vicsireland mailing list > > To unsubscribe at any time send a mail to: > > vicsireland-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > with the word "unsubscribe", without the quotes in the subject of the message. > > To contact the moderator send mail to: > > tim.j.culhane@xxxxxxxxx > > For mor information on the Visually Impaired Computer Society visit: > > http://www.vicsireland.org > =========================================================== The vicsireland mailing list To unsubscribe at any time send a mail to: vicsireland-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe", without the quotes in the subject of the message. To contact the moderator send mail to: tim.j.culhane@xxxxxxxxx For mor information on the Visually Impaired Computer Society visit: http://www.vicsireland.org =========================================================== The vicsireland mailing list To unsubscribe at any time send a mail to: vicsireland-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe", without the quotes in the subject of the message. To contact the moderator send mail to: tim.j.culhane@xxxxxxxxx For mor information on the Visually Impaired Computer Society visit: http://www.vicsireland.org