LOL I know where to come for advice when my Victor Stream arrives Brian. On 28 Jun 2010, at 23:03, Bryan Smart wrote:
> The Stream has a sleep timer, controlled with one oval shaped button. Each > time you press it, it adds 15 minutes to the sleep timer, up to a max of one > hour. When the sleep timer runs down to 0, the Stream shuts off and saves > your place in the book. That way, you can listen to a book as you go to > sleep, but not wake up to find that you're now all the way at the end of the > book, and be forced to find your place again. > > When I go to sleep, I might set the sleep timer for 30 minutes. Since the > sleep timer is controlled by one button that is easy to identify with touch, > if I lay in bed for a while, but am not dropping off to sleep right away, I > can reach over and tap the button to throw another 15 minutes on the sleep > timer without really having to wake up all of the way. > > Most of the other book readers have sleep timers, as a feature, but get the > implementation wrong. I remember looking at the BookSense at a trade show. > The rep was showing me all of the advanced features (Bluetooth headset > support, FM radio, etc). The drawback is that you work it all with a tiny set > of buttons and lots of menus. I asked him about the sleep timer. He started > telling me how you could go in to the menus, navigate to a sub menu, find the > sleep timer settings, and select the time. I thought that, by the time that I > do all of that to add another 15 minutes, I'd be awake again. > > Products aren't just features. Think of how many people rarely used the timed > record features on VCRs back in the day because a bunch of buttons and a > small one-line LCD made the process to cryptic? Or how backup software for a > computer has been around for a long time, but it took Time Machine to make it > so simple that you didn't need to learn how to do it. For a laugh, compare > the size of the iPhone manual against manuals of other smartphones. They're > is less to explain about the iPhone, because more of it works as you'd > expect. The reason that products have manuals in the first place is to > explain the parts that you won't naturally understand. In many cases, it's > true that, the larger the manual, the larger your design failure. Technology > that many people will use on a daily basis shouldn't ever require a manual or > a course in order to comprehend. If it does, you should have designed it to > operate differently. > > Bryan > > -----Original Message----- > From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com > [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ricardo Walker > Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 5:43 PM > To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com > Subject: Re: Answering a few questions about Daisy Bookworm for iPhone > > Sleep button for audiobooks? What does this do? > On Jun 28, 2010, at 5:30 PM, Kimberly thurman wrote: > >> 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 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