Right. I suspect that HIMS will not be able to meet any NLS standard since part of it is that the files won't be either (a) easily hacked or (b) easily duplicated and if Joe is right and there *is* a SDK, it's conceivable that someone could right a program to get around NLS encryption/authentication mechanisms.
Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "don bishop" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 7:57 PM Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy Mike, You're absolutely right about that. HIMS has to meet specific technical standards set by nls in order to get the permission they need to give the sense notetakers the ability to handle nls books. I don't know what those standards involve, but I know they definitely do exist. Hopefully they can be resolved to nls' satisfaction. My guess, and it's only that, is that it's somehow related to the whole copyright issue which seems to really dominate things at nls. Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Freeman" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 7:48 PM Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy >I dare say that whether HIMS implements the NLS digital talking books >is > not just up to HIMS but also NLS. > > Mike > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Terri Pannett" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 8:40 AM > Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy > > > Hi, Stacey, > > I know the BookSense isn't a notetaker. > > The questions I'm asking myself are: > > (1) Do I buy a unit which will be both a notetaker and an talking > book > player, like the Icon? It may not be rugged enough to stand up to > what > I > use it for and I have some uncertainty about connectivity to my > braille > display and to the internet. (I would not buy a BraillePlus at all > because > of its keyboard.) > > (2) Should I buy a unit that is a talking book player only, like the > BookSense? The price is mor affordable, but the BookSense has bugs in > it > which, I'm sure, will be fixed in later releases of firmware. That > means I > should wait a little longer before I buy it. I love Paul and Kate! > > (3) Should I buy the BrailleSense Plus qwerty? I like qwerty > keyboards, > and the BSP is probably rugged enough for heavy use. However, it's > very > expensive and I would still need to buy a unit that plays talking > books. > Hopefully, HIMS will come out with a software release making it > possible > for > the BSP to play NLS talking books. > > As far as speech goes, I think the BookSense has the best speech. I > don't > like Eloquence, which both the Icon and BSP use as much as Dectalk. > Should > I buy the BookSense for its speech alone? > > Decisions, decisions! > > Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stacey Robinson" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 7:19 PM > Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy > > >> Terri, >> The icon will play nls books, but th booksense isn't a notetaker. >> If you want a notetaker that plays nls books, I'd go with the icon. >> >> Have a blessed day, >> Stacey Robinson and GEB dog Chesley >> Eagleville, Tennessee. >> [email protected] >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Terri Pannett" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 8:51 PM >> Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy >> >> >>> Hi, Stacey, >>> >>> I was thinking if I bought an Icon I would connect it to my >>> HandyTech >>> BrailleWave, which has a large, comfortable braille keyboard. >>> >>> However, I'm not sure if the Icon will stand up to heavy use. I'm >>> wondering if it would be better to buy the BrailleSense QWERTY, even >>> though it's more expensive. >>> >>> But the BrailleSense won't play NLS dtbs and I need something that >>> will, >>> so that's why I'm also thinking of the BookSense. >>> >>> Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Stacey Robinson" <[email protected]> >>> To: <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 6:04 PM >>> Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy >>> >>> >>>> Terri, >>>> I had a braille plus and didn't like it all that much. The keys on >>>> the >>>> braille keyboard are very small and I could not braille rapidly >>>> It was incredibly difficult to Braille with any speed at all. >>>> Now you can buy a qwerty docking station though that you can put >>>> the >>>> plus into. I think it's $600. >>>> Taht will allow you to type things in I guess. >>>> >>>> Have a blessed day, >>>> Stacey Robinson and GEB dog Chesley >>>> Eagleville, Tennessee. >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Joe Giovanelli" <[email protected]> >>>> To: <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 6:24 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [GWN] what to buy >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hi, Terri, >>>>> >>>>> Well, the Book sense is not a notetaker. It reads various book >>>>> formats >>>>> and notes can be recorded. It does not have a Braille display. >>>>> >>>>> The Icon can read all kinds of books as well, but the way it >>>>> permits >>>>> you to write Braille is at best clumsy. The Braille plus is >>>>> better. >>>>> There is a Braille keyboard, but its keys are very small. It does >>>>> everything that the Icon does and the price is the same as that of >>>>> the >>>>> Icon. Maybe you have a way of using a Braille display with it, >>>>> and >>>>> that is a plus. >>>>> >>>>> I'm using the Braille Sense and it has the best Braille keyboard >>>>> of >>>>> any >>>>> Braille notetaker, bar none. The keys are comfortable to use. >>>>> Better >>>>> yet, there is no contact bouce. Many devices are poor in this >>>>> regard >>>>> so when you press a key a bit too hard or write too fast, the >>>>> resulting >>>>> document will likely have extra dots which you never put there. >>>>> >>>>> The Braille display is excellent. Like any device of this kinds, >>>>> there >>>>> is a certain amount of learning. Because of the orderly >>>>> arrangement of >>>>> menus, learning a few of them will give you a feel for the ones >>>>> you >>>>> perhaps have not studied. I have worked some some features >>>>> without >>>>> a >>>>> need to study the manual first. Of course, hot keys vary with the >>>>> application, swo they must be studied via the manual. >>>>> >>>>> I expect that before very long we will have some new features >>>>> which >>>>> will greatly enhance the use of this device. >>>>> >>>>> You'll get lots of opions and ideas from other readers. I hope, >>>>> howev >>>>> er, that I have been helpful. >>>>> >>>>> Joe G. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "Terri Pannett" <[email protected]> >>>>> To: <[email protected]> >>>>> Date: Friday, Aug 14, 2009 14:34:58 >>>>> Subject: [GWN] what to buy >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Dear List, >>>>>> >>>>>> My name is Terri, spelled with an i. Some of you know me from >>>>>> other >>>>>> lists. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm looking at the manuals for three products: the BookSense, the >>>>>> BrailleSense Plus Qwerty and the Icon. I need something which >>>>>> will >>>>>> play NLS >>>>>> books, but I would like a backup notetaker. I'm not sure how >>>>>> long >>>>>> the >>>>>> display on my present notetaker will last. >>>>>> >>>>>> My main needs in a notetaker are: word processing, calculation, >>>>>> playing mp3 >>>>>> and dtbs, and a calendar. I use my PC for the internet and >>>>>> email. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'd like to have an honest comparison between these three >>>>>> products. I >>>>>> realize the BookSense can't really be evaluated presently because >>>>>> there are >>>>>> still quite a few bugs that need to be worked out, but it's >>>>>> speech >>>>>> is >>>>>> the >>>>>> best I've heard! >>>>>> >>>>>> So, please emphasize the advantages of the BrailleSense Plus and >>>>>> the >>>>>> Icon. >>>>>> I realize the QWERTY model of the BSP hasn't come out, but you >>>>>> can >>>>>> give me >>>>>> general advantages and limitations comparison. BTW, if I buy the >>>>>> Icon, I >>>>>> would connect it to a HandyTech BrailleWave, thus having a >>>>>> braille >>>>>> display. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks for any help I can get. >>>>>> >>>>>> Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA. >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>>> signature database 4336 (20090814) __________ >>>> >>>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>>> >>>> http://www.eset.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >> signature database 4336 (20090814) __________ >> >> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> > > > > __________ NOD32 4343 (20090817) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > >
