Hello Richard. To save settings, as I learned early in my Bookport
career, press D, E, and F often. Then, when it crashes, just pull the
batteries, put them back, and you're all set, except for the clock.
-Brian
On Sep 16, 4:28pm, "Richard Ring" wrote:
} Subject: [bookport] Re: My Last Word on Feature Changes
} No, I don't believe that all feature requests are a result of
} dissatisfaction, however I do sense that many individuals seem to feel
} that the unit is seriously flawed. All of the units specifications are
} public knowledge, and I simply feel that if those who feel that the
} device does not meet their needs had taken the time to find out exactly
} what the machine can and cannot do, they would not be as unhappy with
} their purchase as some seem to be.
} I am glad that the device plays MP3 files, I don't use it for that, but
} I am glad it does.
} I have experimented with its MP3 navigation, and I find it wonderful.
} I wish there was a way to save settings to the compact flash card so as
} to allow you to reload your previous settings after a crash, but that's
} about all I want.
}
} -----Original Message-----
} From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder
} Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 4:19 PM
} To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} Subject: [bookport] Re: My Last Word on Feature Changes
}
}
} Hi Richard. You may be right, but in my case my suggestions for
} enhancements have come not from a dissatisfaction with the unit
} but the very opposite - observing just how much the APH folks can
} make the unit do now that it didn't do when first I saw and
} purchased one. It was fantastic when I purchased it, but it
} couldn't handle MP3 very well unless it had come through the
} transfer software and now these play fine. I couldn't move files
} to different folders, but now I can. This is a fine fine machine,
} and I hope no one interprets observations and suggestions as
} regrets for a tremendous purchase.
}
} ----- Original Message -----
} From: "Richard Ring" <ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
} To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
} Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 3:55 PM
} Subject: [bookport] Re: My Last Word on Feature Changes
}
}
} I have one thought on this subject.
} It seems that many individuals on this list have purchased the
} Bookport
} who now find it lacking in many features they would like the
} device to
} have.
} Perhaps it would have been a good idea for individuals to
} research the
} product thoroughly before purchase so as to not become so
} disappointed
} and frustrated with the current unit.
}
}
} -----Original Message-----
} From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Neal Ewers
} Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 4:23 PM
} To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} Subject: [bookport] Re: My Last Word on Feature Changes
}
}
} Bruce, nice list. I didn't see it when you posted it originally.
} Thanks for sharing it again.
}
} Neal
}
}
}
} -----Original Message-----
} From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bruce Toews
} Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2005 4:14 PM
} To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
} Subject: [bookport] My Last Word on Feature Changes
}
}
} As my very last word ever on the subject of suggestions for new
} features
} and so on, I wil repost my annotated wish list, lest people like
} Walt
} think I am trying to turn the BP into something other than what
} it is.
}
} After this post, I assure you this is the last you'll hear from
} me on
} this
} list about not-yet-implemented changes.
}
} HIGH PRIORITIES:
} 1. USB 2-enabled; the speed difference is substantial.
} No functionality increase here, just a difference in speed for
} existing
} functionality.
}
} 2. A true lock mode that doesn't activate the unit every time a
} key is
} pressed; Again, no increased functionality here, just more
} efficient
} use of an existing
} function.
}
} 3. Seek to time feature; seeking by time is fine for short files,
} but
} seek to
} time would still, in my mind, be desirable.
} Yes, it's a new function, but it's well in keeping with BP's
} mandate.
} Searching
} through a long audiobook MP3 can often be better facilitated by
} jumping
} directly to a specified time.
}
} 4. Direct, no-vonversion-necessary, OGG Vorbis support.
} Nothing new to learn, just a little more versatility in formats
} that
} are
} allowable. Well with in BP's current mandate.
}
} 5. Option for an externally audible beep to indicate recording.
} The
} record
} feature is really nice, but it gets less convenient if you have
} to put
} on a
} pair of headphones each time to get the audible varification that
} you're
} recording.
} Nothing new to learn, unless the audible beep is configurable in
} the
} menu. Just
} making an existing function more convenient.
}
} 6. Independent volume controls for voice and audio.
} The volume differences between synthetic speech and audio are
} really
} quite
} profound, and if you have the volume set right for a piece of
} audio,
} you might
} miss error or warning messages the machine tries to give you.
}
} 7. More memory in the unit and a more modern processor, so that
} things
} like necessary conversions, grade two translation, etc. could be
} done
} in the
} unit and on the fly.
} Offers speed increases and more flexibility for APH programmers.
} Essentially it
} allows the BP itself to do what the software previous had to do.
} What
} if you
} don't have an hour to transfer a large book to your unit?
}
} 8. 4-GIG CF card support.
} No new functionality here, just more potential versatility for
} those
} who want
} it.
}
} 9. Correct mapping of the stereo channels to the correct
} speakers.
} Simple fix of a hardware bug, no new functionality.
}
} 10. Still-finer control of volume.
} No increased options to learn, just a finer control over how loud
} you
} want your
} unit to be for those of us whose ideal volume is between two
} existing
} volume
} levels.
}
} 11. Eliminate transfer limit of 250 MB
} Just the removal of a restriction that inhibits transfering of
} DAISY
} books on
} CD. No new functionality.
}
} 12. Ability to sort directory listings automatically so files
} play in
} correct order.
}
} Again, BP's mandate is served by this, some purchased MP3 books
} are
} numerically
} named and it is helpful to know what order you're going to hear
} your
} book in.
} No new outward functionality, but a smoother reading experience.
}
} Lower-Priority:
} 1. Third battery to run the clock.
} This could be a small watch battery which would probably last for
} years, since
} it's just running a clock, not displaying or saying anything.
}
} 2. Ability to write error messages to files so that line numbers
} need
} not be
} memorized.
} Handy for beta testing.
}
} 3. Memorize latest point read in a file in case that point was
} inadvertently navigated away from; should work for audio and text
} files.
}
} Not terribly ground-breaking, just a way to get to the last point
} read
} in case
} you inadvertently lean on the go-to-top feature or something.
}
} I utterly fail to see what is so outrageous about these
} suggestions,
} or how
} these suggestions turn the BP into something other than what it
} is.
} With the
} exception of the rewiring to correct the switched stereo channels
} and
} a clock
} backup battery, everyon one of these suggestions is directly
} relevant
} to book
} reading. I am not asking for PDA functions, for Internet support,
} or
} anything
} else that doesn't directly fit into BP's reason for being. My
} list
} isn't
} suggesting radios, external speakers, WIFI support, spell
} checkers,
} dictionaries, blood pressure gauges, dehumidifiers, or anything
} else
} like that.
} I was very deliberately thinking of the BP's mandate, what it's
} here
} for, and
} what its potential, with redesign, could be to improve on its
} existing
} features
} and purposes.
}
} --
} Bruce Toews
} E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: dogriver@xxxxxxxx
} Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries):
} http://www.ogts.net Info on the Best TV Show of All Time:
} http://www.cornergas.com
}
} On Thu, 18 Aug 2005, Scott D. Henning wrote:
}
} > Hi,
} >
} > I only drop in sometimes, this discussion is interesting. The
} Pocket
} > PC is the machine many are envisioning for raw horsepower and
} > connectivity. The battery life is poor, but they are very
} mature
} > devices now. If someone wrote a screen reader for it...we
} could
} > experience true Windows power and frustration. Devices with
} a
} focus
} > like Bookport can be more stable and can be easier to use, due
} to a
}
} > lack of ambiguity. I actually feel the Bookport may already
} be
} too
} > many things. I have hundreds of keystrokes to remember (so
} does
} > everyone else here, smile), I actually think menu driven
} software
} and
} > devices make sense when so many options are availible.
} >
} > The Bookport can evolve, should evolve, but I do not think it
} should
} > lose it's basic function in a wealth of features.
} >
} > Scott D. Henning
} > Cheif Engineer
} > KSUT Public Radio
} >
} >
} >
} >
}
}
} --
} Bruce Toews
} E-mail and MSN/Windows Messenger: dogriver@xxxxxxxx
} Web Site (including info on my weekly commentaries):
} http://www.ogts.net Info on the Best TV Show of All Time:
} http://www.cornergas.com
}
}
}
}
}
>-- End of excerpt from "Richard Ring"
