[bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
- From: "Hope Hein" <hmhein@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2006 10:36:15 -0500
Hi Annette!
I read the NLS report of how the new reader will rol out. It appears as though
they want it to work with the alternative formats that are availible. Maybe
they will create softwhare similar to RFB&D which will work with the Bookport
transfer softwhare.
My ideal dream would be a Bookport that could read the alternative formats plus
have the sound quality of the IPOD. Wishful thinking. But I do love the
Bookport.
We will have to see how it plays out.
Smile.
Hope
-----Original Message-----
.From: "Annette Carr"<amcarr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
.Sent: 11/5/06 9:45:13 AM
.To: "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
.Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
.
.It is very true that publishers are serious about protecting copyright, and
.you can't blame them. As the coordinator for alternative text at a
.university, I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating it is to get PDF
.files from the publisher that are locked so tight that there is nothing we
.can do to unlock the file, thus rendering the file unusable by screen
.readers, the BookPort and other pieces of assistive technology. In order
.for NLS to continue providing the disabled community with access to books,
.they must protect copyright. They have been working with the Victor product
.because the manufacturer won the grant proposal to develop a new system for
.delivering e-books from NLS. Personally, I was not impressed with this, but
.maybe I'm letting my personal feeling influence my professional opinion. I
.guess I'm human.
.
.Yes, those of us who have come to love our BookPorts will be at a
.disadvantage for a while as we will end up with 2 different devices for
.reading books. Yes, yet another device to carry around with us, not a
.pleasing thought. But that is what happens when technology advances. This
.is what happened when the mainstream went from VHS to DVD. This is what the
.Talking Book user went through when we moved from vinyl to cassette. And
.now we are going to have to go through another transition as NLS moves from
.cassette to an e-format. Tell me, are you still reading books on cassette,
.or have you abandoned that format? Personally, I do try to avoid cassette
.books, but sometimes I have to give in and use them. So the reality is that
.I'm still using 2 devices, and I'm sure I will be for a while yet until the
.BookPort is up to speed. Am I happy about this, no, but that is life in the
.age of advancing technology.
.
.As in the past, NLS will provide the user with a free device, so we will not
.have to lay out extra money at first. This will be a user choice to
.purchase a second device that does it all, is smaller, or for other reasons.
.I do believe that APH will provide a product that can play the new NLS
.format, but it will take a while.
.
.Also keep in mind that just because the technology will be available to play
.the new NLS e-format, The books have to be converted into that format. Does
.anyone know the time line for doing this?
.
. Ok, I think that is it for my 2 cents. This is just food for thought.
.
.Annette
.
.
.-----Original Message-----
.From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
.On Behalf Of David Tanner
.Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 11:56 PM
.To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
.Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
.
.The reason NLS needs a different format is for copyright protection reasons.
.If they used a standard format like MP3 then anyone could access the files
.without necessarily being legally blind or reading handicapped. It is the
.same reason that the NLS cassettes had to be of a different format than
.standard stereo cassettes.
.
.It would be nice if NLS could use a standard format, but publishers and
.authors would never be willing to let their books be made available through
.NLS if it were possible for anyone to read them with a normal MP3 player.
.
.
.----- Original Message -----
.From: "Bill" <052338@xxxxxxxxxxx>
.To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
.Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 5:13 AM
.Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
.
.
.: As we all know, it is Springer designs that designed, modify and
.manufacture
.: the bookport. It is up to them to make any hardware, firmware or software
.
.: changes and no doubt they can make any changes to the unit that will meet
.: our needs. APH can certainly have some influence on Springer designs, and
.
.: have doubtless done so in the past. But, they cannot dictabe what changes
.
.: are to be made. The real "culprit" here, I think, is NLS. Why would they
.
.: come out with a format for their book download program or for their new
.: digital player that is not currently widely used such as mp3? Is it
.because
.: they must be different or are they just not living in the real world.
.Much
.: money wasted here I think. Give APH credit when credit is due. I think
.: they've done a great job.
.:
.: BILL
.:
.: ----- Original Message -----
.: From: "Michael Bowman-Jones" <mikebowmanjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
.: To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
.: Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 7:41 PM
.: Subject: [bookport] Re: NLS Beta Program
.:
.:
.: > Greetings, Everyone.
.: >
.: > I alluded to this issue quite some type in another message indicating
.that
.: > NLS and DAISY could really have an impact on the Bookport. However the
.: > unit is modified, I hope that APH will give existing customers a
.: > significant price decrease (free is better, of course but maybe not
.: > feasible) when this occurs.
.: >
.: > Michael
.: > ----- Original Message -----
.: > From: "Don Barrett" <donter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
.: > To: "Bookport" <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
.: > Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 5:08 PM
.: > Subject: [bookport] NLS Beta Program
.: >
.: >
.: >> I've been off of the list for a bit so if this has already been
.covered,
.: >> someone please straighten me out, but if not, it really is time for it
.to
.: >> be
.: >> addressed directly by APH.
.: >>
.: >> As you know, the NLS beta program testing the facility to download and
.: >> read
.: >> digital books is proceeding quite well. I am told that the site may be
.: >> available
.: >> to all NLS patrons sometime around the middle of 2007. Since the
.: >> handling
.: >> of these materials by the BookPort will require hardware, firmware, and
.: >> software
.: >> changes, it would seem that time is of the essence if the Bookport is
.to
.: >> undergo a redesign, pass all of the rigorous beta and other testing,
.and
.: >> make
.: >> a smooth transition to allowing its owners to read NLS-produced
.materials
.: >> in
.: >> digital form when the site becomes available. Can you all shed any
.light
.: >> on
.: >> this? I can just imagine that when the NLS site goes live, any device
.: >> that
.: >> is not ready to deal with those materials will suffer much negative
.press
.: >> to
.: >> say nothing of decreased sales
.: >> and popularity. Since the BookPort is probably the coolest device
.: >> invented
.: >> since the electric coffee-maker, I would hate to see it undergo such a
.: >> bumpy
.: >> transition. NLS implementation time just is not that far off, and I
.: >> believe
.: >> APH has a responsibility to its customers to make a public commitment
.to
.: >> support this reading system for the blind which will be free and
.: >> available
.: >> to all non-print reading citizens. As I say, I may have missed this
.: >> discussion, so if this has already happened, I will gladly back off,
.and
.: >> wait for it all to play out.
.: >>
.: >> On the other hand, APH has been alluding to a new unit for literally
.: >> years,
.: >> and given the true closeness of the NLS implementation date (perhaps
.half
.: >> a
.: >> year or there abouts to if all goes well), we really need the real deal
.
.: >> and
.: >> soon. Please what is going on.
.: >>
.: >> Don Barrett
.: >>
.: >>
.: >>
.: >>
.: >> __________ NOD32 1.1786 (20061002) Information __________
.: >>
.: >> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
.: >> http://www.eset.com
.: >>
.: >>
.: >
.: >
.: >
.:
.:
.:
.:
.:
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.
.
.
.
.
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