Hi Simon, I know that ABBYY Fine Reader on the Fujitsu ScanSnap supports very fast dual sided multi-page scans and automatic page orientation and two-page scanning, but since that is the version of the app that is bundled with the manufacturer's product (which is not flatbed, but page fed like a Fax machine), and since that does not support VoiceOver, I can't generalize from that product. So far I've been reading the commentaries on macintouch's reader report pages for OCR, and they seem to be quite positive. If you want to monitor these yourself, the web page URL to OCR reader reports is:
http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/scanners/topic2038.html Use item chooser menu (VO-I) to look for "Dennis Hill" and you'll be at the beginning of the discussion related to the ABBYY Fine Reader OCR. Just read down the page from there. Incidentally, there is no trial version yet available (as you've read from the current thread's comments), but according to the (later) macintouch posts ABBYY is planning on making one available. (They didn't expect the level of interest they've received.) At least one of the macintouch commenters purchased the app in Europe for 89 Euros. The comments are very positive from people who have purchased this, with simply a note that a few features that are present in the Windows version are not present in the Express edition of ABBYY Fine Reader (i.e., the ability to correct OCR errors in the ABBYY window). Combined with the information from Greg and the original poster (Christos) that the manufacturer has verified the product has been tested with VoiceOver, this looks very interesting, indeed. The SDK version for the Mac has been around for quite a while, but only for software developers. The reports on accuracy are particularly impressive -- someone reported that he was able to scan a 2-page FAXed spreadsheet in tiny 7 point type and have ABBYY Fine Reader Express generate an EXCEL spreadsheet that was perfectly formatted with no errors when none of his other OCR software programs on the Mac had ever able to accomplish this. Happy reading. Cheers, Esther Simon Cavendish wrote: > > Dear Esther, > > This is very interesting. Do you know whether Abbyy supports automatic > page orientation and multi-page scanning? Does it support two page > scanning as in an open book on a flat-bed scanner? Does it append > pages to the end of the document by default, or does one have to move > one's cursor there? > > I shall check this application out. > > With best wishes > > Simon > On 3 Aug 2009, at 01:03, Esther wrote: > >> >> Hi Jonathan, Rossy, Chris, and Others, >> >> I found an announcement of a coupon code discount of 20 per cent off >> the price of ABBYY Fine Reader Express for the Mac at the Mac App >> Deals page. You enter the coupon code SMBTM when you check out, >> which drops the price from $99.99 to $79.99 for U.S. buyers. Here's >> the link to the Mac App Deals web page, dated July 22, 2009, just in >> case I made a typo in the coupon code: >> >> http://macappdeals.com/?p=2104 >> >> Also, if you check the description of this application at: >> >> http://www.abbyy.com/finereader_for_mac/ >> >> use VO-space to expand the descriptions of "Key Features", "FAQs", >> "Typical Use", and "System Specifications" so you can read the >> details. >> >> Here's another page at the ABBYY web site that summarizes some of >> this information on a page that doesn't require expanding the >> headings: >> >> http://www.abbyyusa.com/shop/FREXMac.htm >> >> I'll excerpt a part dealing with multi-lingual support: >> >> <begin excerpt> >> The application supports 171 recognition languages, including >> English, German, French, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, >> Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, >> Polish, Slovak, Malay, Indonesian and many others. Of those, 36 >> languages have dictionary support to provide the best possible >> conversion results. It also accurately recognizes multi-lingual >> documents containing up to three different languages. >> <end excerpt> >> >> Cheers, >> >> Esther >> >> >> Jonathan C. Cohn wrote: >>> >>> I have been using the older version that came bundled with my epson >>> perfection scanner. Any chance of getting a discount for an upgrade? >>> The version I have is not written in Cocoa I believe. I am able to >>> get >>> minimal functionality. When I open the main application, there is a >>> box that comes up with a group of buttons and the entire group of >>> buttons are labeled as "Unknown". If I then interact with the >>> group I >>> find "Scan and Read popup button", "Read pop up button", "Scan popup >>> button" and "save popup button". None of these appear to work. >>> >>> However if I go to the menus I get most of the functionality, though >>> the Twain driver itself when it pops up I can just hit enter and am >>> unable to change any of the settings like "DPI", color vs bw.... >>> >>> This version is quite old, as the directory not only has >>> ABBByFineReaderX" but also AbbyFineReaderClassic >>> >>> There is an upgrade button within the application, I will try to >>> get a >>> discount and test the new stuff. >>> >>> Jon >>> >>> christos hux wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> There is now a new ocr application avilable for >>>> the mac >>>> platform. >>>> it is the abby fine reader express version for the mac. it costs >>>> $99 >>>> & I did email the us based sales company & got back the answer from >>>> the parent company that the app had been tested with voice over. >>>> right now there is not a test version of the application like >>>> there is >>>> for all their other applications. I have been thinking about >>>> purchasing it since I have had a hard time with readiris. This ocr >>>> program works with all twain drivers, digital cameras & even with >>>> faxs. So thankfully now there is another mac ocr program to chose >>>> from. >>>> >>>>> >>> >>> >> >>> > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
