[bookport] Re: a feature request
- From: "Sarah Cranston" <cranston.sarah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:42:54 -0600
After reading this thread, I'm reposting a message I sent a few weeks =
ago, the last time James told a new member to not bother with making =
suggestions and that they would be "shot down". Ibrahim, this is simply =
and utterly not true, as you will see in the message below. I don't =
know which suggestion James holds dear that hasn't been implemented, =
perhaps it's the one regarding a pronunciation dictionary. Apparently, =
since this hasn't been implemented, it is assumed that every and any =
suggestion made by any individual is disregarded by APH, and that =
assumption is entirely without basis in reality. Please, any new =
members, (I know there is a whole batch of new members after this last =
Holiday season, <Smile>), don't hesitate to make suggestions and ask =
questions. APH listens to all suggestions and implements those it can, =
when it can. It took almost two years for the Book Port to get as good =
as it is now, and it is truly getting better with every upgrade.
*** Original Message ***
There have been many suggestions made on this list which have been not =
only considered, but implemented. =20
Here are a few, taken directly from the "what's new" option in the =
transfer tool:
the Help command accessed with the E key.
subsection movement commands.
Announces the current sentence or heading in audio files when you use =
the navigation commands while the unit is idle.
=A0Removes the "Previous Folder" entries from folders.
=A0Modifies the First File and Last File commands so you may also move =
to the first and last folder in your list of files.
=A0Adds a means of entering text to find using a braille keyboard.
=A0Changes the behavior of files where the reading position is at the =
end of the file. The unit now resets a file's position back to the =
beginning of the file if you press the Read command while at the end of =
the file or if Auto File Advance moves to a file where the reading =
position is at the end.
=A0Changes the Status command to provide only the percentage of the file =
read.
=A0Protects from accidental recording by requiring the user to hold the =
E key down for one beep to record a memo.
=A0Adds the Lock Beep command to the menu to let you turn off the =
behavior of making keys beep when you press one of them while the unit =
is locked.
=A0Corrects a problem where pausing a memo during recording could cause =
unpredictable behavior.
=A0Adds support for files from audible.com
=A0Adds the Page Number status and command to the Book Port menu.
=A0Increases the range of the volume command. Now, the volume gets much =
lower than in previous versions.
=A0Corrects the problem where the unit displayed undesirable behavior if =
the user pressed a key or connected the unit to the PC while the =
double-beep shutdown sound was in progress.
=A0Corrects the Automatic File Advance function.
=A0Corrects all known issues with marks.
=A0Corrects an issue with the Save Settings command where the command =
did not save the proper time.
=A0Corrects an issue with not having the clock set and using the Record =
Memo button to create a memo. Book Port uses the date and time to name =
the memos you record, so it is necessary to set the clock before using =
the memo feature. In previous versions of the firmware, the unit moved =
you to the memos folder before checking the time. Now, if the clock is =
not set, Book Port says "Clock Not Set" and leaves you where you were =
when you pressed the Memo key.
=A0Announces the firmware's version number when you reset the unit.
These are all firmware modifications, most of the suggestions I see on =
this list have to do with changing the firmware.
I by no means agree with every suggestion I read about on the list. Are =
you saying that, if another list member disagrees with me, then I have =
been "shot down"? I whole-heartedly disagree with this reasoning. =
Perhaps you haven't been on the list for long enough to realize this, =
but the people at APH are doing everything in their power to make the =
BookPort the best device it can be. Some of the suggestions that have =
been made are just plain not feasible. Some other suggestions just =
haven't been taken as of yet.
Before you tell Dale, or anyone else, not to post, consider all the =
suggestions that haven't been "shot down".
Dale, keep those ideas coming. Everyone might not agree with them, but =
we all have the right to suggest things.
Just my two-and-a-half cents. I'll go crawl back into my BookPort now.
Sarah
-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of James Jolley
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 9:54 AM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: a feature request
Hi Mike,
It could be argued that people's inability to take on new concepts or=20
improve old ones prevents people like myself bothering to suggest =
features.=20
That's the only reason why I reacted. I suppose we do things differently =
hear in the UK. I guess that we want as much from a device as we can =
get.=20
The BP is great and offers a lot to those who can use it but my argument =
hear is why not just take it as far as we can? I paid I think 280 pounds =
for=20
mine and to be honest, it is expensive.
In my last message I have attempted to express views and offer new =
ideas.=20
Weather or not they are taken on or not is really irrelivant, I just =
feel=20
that for the most part, we like to sit on our lorals and say how good a=20
device the bp is but not really improve much on it's functionality.
Best
-James-
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Michael Massey" <micmey@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 3:44 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: a feature request
> Hi. From what I am reading on this list, nobody is criticizing you. =
I
> agree with book port users making valid suggestions. What I do not =
agree
> with are comments made to the effect of why bother making suggestions,
> you'll just be shot down, you will learn, nobody cares about your
> suggestions, etc., etc. Please keep making suggestions.
>
> Michael Massey
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <igucukoglu@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 7:24 AM
> Subject: [bookport] Re: a feature request
>
>
>> Hi.
>>
>> Look fellows, I was merely making a useful suggestion which might or=20
>> might
>> not make it in to the BP. I am fully aware that you can encode cd's =
in
>> other applications, I use Itunes for this purpose. I however believe =
>> that
>> the BP should have some easy way of importing large numbers of tracks =
say
>> from a CD simply and quickly from within the transfer tool. After =
all, I
>> do
>> see it as not only a portable reading device but also a portable =
media
>> player as well. Everyone uses these machines for different purposes =
and=20
>> I
>> don't believe I or anyone else should be criticised for making
>> suggestions.
>> It doesn't do anyone any harm and I always canvas opinions from other
>> users.
>> If I can't suggest features or comment on those features which I =
consider
>> should work differently or just generally participate without being
>> frobbed
>> off, I just won't bother wasting my time and everyone else's and
>> unsubscribe
>> from the list. I have helped many Book Courier users and have been
>> appreciated for the same.
>>
>> Warmest, Ibrahim
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----=20
>> From: "Walt Smith" <walt@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 2:08 PM
>> Subject: [bookport] Re: a feature request
>>
>>
>>>I fully agree with you, Clarence. In the relatively short period I've =
>>>been
>>> on this list, I've seen any number of user-requested features added =
to
>>> the
>>> Book Port. What we do *not* want is for the Book Port to lose its
>>> essential
>>> identity as a reading tool and this is what James apparently wants. =
We
>>> can
>>> have a scalpel or we can have a Swiss Army knife and most of us =
prefer
>>> the
>>> former--a reading machine that does what it does with a maximum of =
power
>>> and
>>> flexibility and a minimum of resources used to make the BP something =
it
>>> should not be. It's truly unfortunate that some people seem to feel =
that
>>> simply because they ask for something, they should automatically get =
it
>>> or,
>>> at a minimum, have their stated desires unreservedly approved by one =
and
>>> all.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----=20
>>> From: "Clarence Whaley" <clarence@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 8:49 AM
>>> Subject: [bookport] Re: a feature request
>>>
>>>
>>> And, that is probably one of the most unfair and unfounded =
statements I
>>> have seen. Many features that we've requested have been introduced, =
and
>>> you certainly have the right to post them and everyone has the right =
to
>>> express whether they agree with you or not. Larry and crew have =
been
>>> more
>>> than responsive to requests, and if you feel shot down then I =
personally
>>> am
>>> sorry, but consider the shootings simple disagreements and not meant =
to
>>> be
>>> fatal wounds. <smile>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> At 01:40 PM 1/8/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>>>>Hi,
>>>>
>>>>Don't bother requesting features you end up being shot down for =
them.
>>>>You'll learn
>>>>
>>>>-James-
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <igucukoglu@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 12:23 PM
>>>>Subject: [bookport] a feature request
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > Hi.
>>>> > I am really getting to know my book port and am simply amazed at =
how
>>>> > much
>>>> > it can do. I have just been playing with the Book Port Spider =
which
>>>> > is
>>>> > priceless as I often listen to news on the bbcnews.com website.
>>>> >
>>>> > Anyway, a particular feature I would like in the transfer tool is =
a
>>>> > transfer CD option. This option would work when an audio CD was =
put
>>>> > in
>>>> > to
>>>> > the CD Rom drive. It would ask you what range of tracks you =
would
>>>> > like
>>>> > to
>>>> > copy on to the flash card similar to the daisy option. It would =
then
>>>> > encode them in MP3 format in a negligible bit rate such as 128, =
164=20
>>>> > or
>>>> > 192
>>>> > and transfer the CD in to a music folder on the BookPort with the
>>>> > artist
>>>> > and album name as the folder name and the individual track names=20
>>>> > along
>>>> > with their numbers.
>>>> >
>>>> > I would like this feature as I am an avid fan of music and would =
like
>>>> > a
>>>> > simple and effective way of transferring my music without messing =
>>>> > with
>>>> > freeware, proprietary or other software titles.
>>>> >
>>>> > Just a suggestion, any opinions warmly welcome.
>>>> >
>>>> > Warmest, Ibrahim
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>> Clarence Whaley
>>> Training Division Manager
>>> GW Micro
>>> E-Mail: Clarence@xxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Direct Voice (615) 383-6248
>>> or 866-699-8901
>>> Direct Fax (260) 489-2608
>>> GW Micro Voice Number 260-489-3671
>>> http://www.gwmicro.com
>>> or press enter below to read all about our training program
>>> http://www.gwmicro.com/training
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>=20
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