When I first read about this skill the info indicated that the name of
the skill is NFB Newsline and not National Federation as this
announcement indicates. However, I can confirm that both names are
recognized and either one will trigger the skill. When you open the
skill for the first time you will be able to say "log in" to enter your
ID and passcode. This information is entered by speaking the correct
numbers and you will be prompted for your ID first, followed by your
passcode. Once you are logged in Alexa will ask you what you would like
to read. Once you specify the newspaper you want to read you will hear
the voice you'd hear if you called into the service by phone. The voice
uses the same pitch and speed which are set up when calling into the
service. Sadly, the TV schedules are not available yet but the president
of the NFB indicates that this is being worked on. NFB Newsline is a
really amazing service and I love everything about it. In fact, as I
recently signed up with Xfinity Voice I started using the service again
on my standard touch tone phone, which I haven't done in several years,
and forgot how incredibly fast and efficient using it this way really
is. I also enjoy the iOS app but I have never had a chance to try it on
a Victor Stream. However, for kicks I might try it on my Plextalk Pocket
at least once just to see what it's like.
On 12/15/2018 10:45 PM, David Goldfield wrote:
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The following announcement comes from the Web site of the NFB of Texas. While Texas is specifically mentioned in this announcement the skill is available anywhere and should allow you to access all of the newspapers and, I'm assuming, magazines.
NFB-NEWSLINE® Alexa Skill for Amazon Echo Speakers Now Available
December 12, 2018
The NFB-NEWSLINE® Alexa Skill for Amazon Echo speakers is now available!
You can now access NFB-NEWSLINE® content on Amazon Echo speakers with your voice by saying, “Alexa, open National Federation.” Read the over 500 publications available to NFB-NEWSLINE® subscribers on Alexa enabled devices with your own voice. Browse Texas newspapers, national papers, magazines and more with Alexa commands like:
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to list papers from Texas”
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to read the Houston Chronicle”
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to speak a little slower”
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to change voices”
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to go to the next section”
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to add this to my favorites”
* “Alexa, ask National Federation to email me this article”
More tutorials and information about the NFB-NEWSLINE® Amazon Alexa skill will be coming soon. Listen to President Riccobono demonstrate the new skill on Presidential Release number 478 dated Wednesday, December 5, 2018. Check it out online at this link <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/podcast/presidential-releases-en/2018_12_english.mp3>.
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David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com
