Bryan, owning a VRS and a Book SEnse, I adamantly concur. Yeah, I know it's gadget overload, but I'll never need to buy a car with said payments being more than the price of one of these gadgets every month. I suppose that's how I justify the expense. LOL!!!!! I have put audiobooks on my iPod Touch, but I still enjoy listening to them on the Stream or Book Sense more. Like you, I can also operate these gadgets flawlessly while half asleep. As a matter of fact, I don't believe there is a designated sleep button on the iPod Touch or the iPhone for use while listening to books which, for me, is a necessity.
Choice is the key here though. Different strokes for different folks! n Jun 27, 2010, at 1:36 AM, Bryan Smart wrote: > Well, a Windows user might say that they can purchase a computer, far more > powerful than your Mac, and for less money, so why waste money on a Mac? Or > many people wonder why people bother buying iPhones, when the new Android > phones far outclass the iPhone in terms of specs and open operation? Cost > isn't always the point, though. > > I don't want to sound like I'm down on them making this program. I might buy > it. Actually, I wonder why I'm arguing this on a listserv, anyway. I know > that many blind tech people are rightly down on some of the over-priced > specialized blindness gadgets. But, seriously, this isn't a $5,000 note > taker. Most of the book readers aren't much more than $300. That is damn > cheap for a device that is optimized to be controlled with buttons and speech > feedback, rather than using touch-screen gestures to review and control a > visually-optimized interface. You're waiting for NLS support, which they may > never provide. Meanwhile, the Stream works with NLS, RFB&D, newsline, > practically all other major talking book libraries in the world, DVS movies > from places like SamNet, plays Daisy audio books in both MP3 and 3GP audio > formats (which this probably won't ever play, so probably no NLS support), > plays commercial audio books (including Audible), plays books that you rip > from CD yourself as books with all book features (bookmarks, notes, > highlighting, etc) still in effect (not just loading MP3s in to a media > player), reads Daisy books in text format, reads HTML and plane text with > full book navigation and note taking features, plays MP3, OGG, and > uncompressed music, and a bunch of other stuff, for 15+ hours at a stretch > (no add-on battery pack required), for $300. And it operates so simply that > you don't need hardly any sort of instruction to use it, and, without even > using this app, I can state with certainty that no iPhone app is ever going > to allow me to zip through menus like I can on a dedicated device. I can work > it half asleep, which I often do. These little devices are really something > for $300. So, just like getting a Mac instead of Windows, or an iPhone > instead of a Droid, you're buying it not because it's the rock-bottom option > in terms of cost, but because of the optimized user experience, and the fact > that it just works. > > Anyway, all this to make the point that, regardless of software, my > prediction is that, with no dedicated hardware for decrypting books, and no > hardware support for decoding the audio formats that some of them use, all of > that will be running in software, constantly running the CPU at max, sucking > down battery power, and you'll be lucky to get 4 hours out of a stock battery > before the phone goes from full charge to fully dead. Maybe a battery pack > could stretch it to 8. Even so, it will support far less content, and the > interface will be far slower to operate. I don't think that translates in to > a good book player. I hope that they can prove me wrong. > > I'd probably be willing to trade off some of the stream's long run-time and > sacrifice its great interface, if the iPhone app would actually do more than > a digital book player. Right now it does less in every regard. What I'd like > to see is this app become a blind version of Netflix, offering content on > demand. If you could start this reader app, and browse/stream content from > various providers like the talking book libraries, Bookshare, etc, then I'd > consider it superior. That would also get rid of the whole overhead of having > to make sure your phone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network (this > isn't always possible), and upload books to your phone over FTP. Basically, > these guys should stop trying to think about how to port a desktop Daisy book > reader to the iPhone, which is what they've done so far, and start thinking > of this like a rich client, which is how most all of the other media apps on > the iPhone operate. Just imagine how not fun Netflix would be if you had to > log on from your PC, find and download a movie, get your phone and PC on the > same hotspot, and upload the movie to your phone. There is no way most people > would bother with that. They want to have an impulse like "hey, I'd sure like > to watch an episode of Family Guy or see what new documentaries are out from > the Discovery Channel", bring up the app, type in a search query, and tap > play. All of that stuff with using a PC and re-uploading files takes all of > the spontaneousness out of finding something entertaining to enjoy while you > have some down time, and turns it in to a project. > > Anyway, here's hoping we get a BlindFlix, or AudioZone, or something for > audio what Netflix is for video and the general population. The person that > makes that will have my money for sure! > > Bryan > > -----Original Message----- > From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com > [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Scott Howell > Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 5:34 AM > To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com > Subject: Re: Answering a few questions about Daisy Bookworm for iPhone > > Personally I would not spend the money on a Victor Stream or any other > product, if I can get an app for the iPhone. I still have hope that something > may be done to play NLS content for example on the iPhone and it is still a > possibility. The point is I could purchase the best possible battery pack and > still spend less money then if I purchased one of the accessible book reading > devices. > Sure you would not one to drain your communications device down since having > it always ready to communicate is important, but there are always at least > two solutions to every problem. > On Jun 26, 2010, at 3:39 AM, Chris Moore wrote: > >> What reader do you have? Well this may be a good app for the iPod Touch >> which still works out cheaper then the Victor Stream. >> On 26 Jun 2010, at 07:47, Bryan Smart wrote: >> >>> Maybe it's how you read books. >>> >>> I read the most when I'm traveling. A book is a great way to pass the time >>> on a plane, in a terminal, or on a bus. I like the entertainment of a book, >>> but would not want to risk draining down my phone, which I'd certainly need >>> during, and more importantly toward the end, of my trip. Some days I spend >>> 8 to 10 hours traveling. Even with a battery pack I seriously doubt that an >>> iPhone could read books for that long, and still have enough charge left >>> for important calls, GPS, and e-mail. If you only occasionally read books, >>> and for short periods of time, the app would probably work out great. I >>> read a lot! While traveling, while doing laundry, sometimes when eating, >>> when going to sleep, etc. I'd kill an iPhone battery. >>> >>> Bryan >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >>> [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ricardo Walker >>> Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 2:59 PM >>> To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >>> Subject: Re: Answering a few questions about Daisy Bookworm for >>> iPhone >>> >>> Hi, >>> >>> I personally would find that of little concern. It would just be 1 less >>> thing to carry and 1 less thing to spend money on. Those things out way a >>> 15 hour battery life in my opinion. It's kind of silly to compare. The >>> iPhone does more so should have lower battery time. And the IOS 4 update >>> has fixed the standby bug so many people are having more than double the >>> battery life than they had pre update. >>> On Jun 25, 2010, at 2:13 PM, Bryan Smart wrote: >>> >>>> Well, nice as it is, a Victor stream will play for 15 hours or more on a >>>> single charge. How long do you think that your iPhone will play? >>>> >>>> Bryan >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >>>> [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Moore >>>> Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 7:40 AM >>>> To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com >>>> Cc: macvoiceover >>>> Subject: Re: Answering a few questions about Daisy Bookworm for >>>> iPhone >>>> >>>> Sounds great and at such a low price too (don't think I will be buying a >>>> victor stream now). tHIS ftp thing, is there no way you could add support >>>> for iDisk for those of us who have it? That might be much easier then >>>> establishing a FTP connection. >>>> >>>> Seems like this year might be the start of many good accessible apps >>>> for the iPhone >>>> >>>> Is there anything on the iPhone that reads MS Word documents via VoiceOver? >>>> On 24 Jun 2010, at 09:38, Greg Kearney wrote: >>>> >>>>> I'll try and answer a few questions that have come up about Daisy >>>>> Bookworm for iPhone >>>>> >>>>> Loading Books >>>>> Loading books is done via an FTP connection between your computer and the >>>>> iPhone Daisy Bookworm has a built in FTP server which you connect to and >>>>> then upload the book's directory to the phone using any FTP client on any >>>>> computer. Needless to say you need a wireless network to connect the >>>>> phone to. You do not need your own FTP server, Daisy Bookworm has a built >>>>> in FTP server. >>>>> >>>>> Book compatibility >>>>> Daisy Bookworm for iPhone will read any audio only and full text full >>>>> audio unencrypted DAISY book. This includes books from Association for >>>>> the Blind of Western Australia, Vision Australia, RNZFB, CNIB, RNIB, TPB >>>>> and most other world talking book libraries. It will not read NLS >>>>> encrypted books. We have asked the NLS about how to have these devices >>>>> authorised but have yet to receive any reply. We are working on RFB&D >>>>> playback and text only DAISY playback (Bookshare) in the next release. >>>>> >>>>> Accessibility >>>>> Daisy Bookworm for iPhone is fully accessible with VoiceOver screen >>>>> reader. >>>>> >>>>> iPad >>>>> Daisy Bookworm is compatible with the Apple iPad. >>>>> >>>>> Where do you get Daisy Bookworm >>>>> Daisy Bookworm will be available this summer from the iTunes App Store. >>>>> It will cost less than $5 when released. >>>>> >>>>> Is this Voice of Daisy >>>>> No. Voice of Daisy or VOD is a different program from a different >>>>> developer in Japan. >>>>> >>>>> Hope this clears things up. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Gregory Kearney | Manager Accessible Media Association for the >>>>> Blind of WA - Guide Dogs WA PO Box 101, Victoria Park WA 6979 | 61 >>>>> Kitchener Ave, Victoria Park WA 6100 >>>>> Tel: 08 9311 8246 | Fax: 08 9361 8696 | www.guidedogswa.com.au >>>>> Tel: 307-224-4022 (North America) >>>>> Email: greg.kear...@guidedogswa.com.au >>>>> Email: gkear...@gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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