[access-uk] Re: Milestone 311 digital recorder and MP3 player

  • From: "Ian Macrae" <ian.macrae1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 12:17:16 -0000

The main difference is that it doesn't require any interface software.  Having 
said that, I find the BC Transfer Tool intuitive to use.  The milestone's chief 
advantages over the BC would be its size and handiness and the fact that 
recording notes etc on it is more straightforward.  
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Marie Baisez 
  To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 11:02 AM
  Subject: [access-uk] Re: Milestone 311 digital recorder and MP3 player


  how would this piece of kit compare to the bookcourier I wonder? for ease of 
  use and friendly interaction with the pc?
  comments welcomed.

  Marie
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Ian Macrae" <ian.macrae@xxxxxxxxx>
  To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 5:25 PM
  Subject: [access-uk] Re: Milestone 311 digital recorder and MP3 player


  > Hi Clive,
  >
  > I've had one from the Swiss manufacturers for a few weeks now.  It has 
  > clearly been designed with the needs of visually impaired users very much 
  > in mind.  The buttons are highly tactile and strongly contrasted with the 
  > fasure.  All the functions and actions are spoken.  In short it is a very 
  > usable and accessible device if you have little or no sight.
  >
  > The information you passed on misses out some other important things.  The 
  > MP3 player relies totally on SD or MMC memory card storage.  Top Whack for 
  > these is, I believe, presently 2GB.  The unit will, I understand, be 
  > supplied with a 128MB SD card. If you are serious about MP3 and want to 
  > carry more than a few dozen tracks around with you, then you might find 
  > this very limiting.  However, if you want something on which to listen to 
  > the occasional audio book or odd album, and which is extremely easy to 
  > interface with your computer, then you might find the Milestone adequate 
  > for your needs.
  >
  > There is a small external speaker on the front of the unit which, for its 
  > size, produces reasonable quality, particularly for messages and notes 
  > recorded on the digital voice recorder.  However, be aware that the player 
  > is supplied sans headphones.
  >
  > One small frustration I've found is that the voice prompts are sampled 
  > recordings of a real female voice.  These are delivered at a rather slow 
  > rate.  If, like me, you're used to using synthesised speech at very high 
  > speeds, it can be frustrating having to listen to this.
  >
  > In short, this is a very accessible and intuitively usable piece of kit 
  > and will be of particular interest to people who are not massively 
  > friendly or confident with their PC.  It's easy to get stuff into it and 
  > you don't have to faff around with scripts for Jaws etc.  It interfaces 
  > easily with the PC.  But, given it's price to storage ratio, it's been 
  > said by people that, compared, for example with the iPod shuffle, it's 
  > rather highly priced.  More serious MP3 users are likely to find the 
  > iRiver/Rockbox combination and its 40 gig of space more attractive 
  > including on the price to storage ratio.
  >
  > If anyone would like a copy of the manual, please contact me privately at
  > Ian.macrae@xxxxxxxxx
  >
  > And I'd be happy to oblige.
  >
  > Hope this has been helpful.
  >
  > Ian
  >
  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf 
  > Of Clive Pallett
  > Sent: 24 February 2006 16:04
  > To: Access-UK
  > Subject: [access-uk] Milestone 311 digital recorder and MP3 player
  >
  > Hello listers,
  >
  >
  >
  > I read in the RNIB's February Technology Update that they will soon be
  > selling the Milestone 311 digital recorder and MP3 player.   For those
  > of you who don't receive this update, here is the info.
  >
  >
  >
  > The Milestone 311 is a portable digital voice recorder and MP3 player, the 
  > size of a credit card.  It can record up to 2 hours of voice notes using 
  > the internal memory, or up to 140 hours using an external memory card. 
  > You can organise your notes into five folders and label them with voice 
  > tags.  In addition, you can record from an external stereo source or a 
  > microphone in hi-fi stereo quality.  The Milestone 311 can connect to your 
  > computer to enable the transfer of audio files or books for listening on 
  > the move using the integrated MP3 player which is fully self-voicing.  An 
  > upgrade will be available later this year for customers wishing to play 
  > DAISY books.
  >
  > Dimensions: 85 times 54 times 14 mm (3.35 times 2.13 times 0.55
  > inches)
  >
  > Weight 49 grams (1.7 ounces)
  >
  > Price:  £180 excluding VAT
  >
  >
  >
  > I did a search on the web for more information and according to a review 
  > on the Blind Accessworld podcast this device has some limitations compared 
  > to other products such as the bookport.  If anyone has either heard or 
  > read about this device I would be interested to hear their comments.
  >
  >
  >
  > Best wishes,
  >
  >
  >
  > Clive Pallett
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
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