I'm not quite sure what you're talking about in parts of the below messages. I can't give informed comment on equipment I haven't seen and, therefore, won't attempt to do so. Although as Lynne has just pointed out, there's one thing that's missing from this recorder and that is the ability to edit your library. Sure, you can create and manipulate playlists. But you cannot actually edit your recordings. So, for instance, you cannot trim out ads, modify the start and end points of your recording and change its name. That functionality is very much a part of the Sony HD/DVD recorder I've had for quite a few years now. The hard drive is a 7200 500GB SATA drive in that machine although when I get around to it I'm going to change that for a 2TB SATA drive. My Sony, although not a talking recorder, is quite accessible when you get used to its menu infrastructure. I'm certainly not arrogant enough to assume that I could use all of its functionality, because sadly that isn't the case and I'd say that any person without vision who claimed they could use all of its dynamic menu systems, let alone interact fully with every single editing function was either deluded or just telling untruths. ;-)
Neither am I in the least bit interested in participating in a "My Toy's Better Than Your Toy" debate. Nor am I suggesting that anybody else who has contributed to this thread is attempting to do so. Yes, I'm procrastinating a little, but that is necessary in order to make my meanings crystal clear. The Sony is lacking in several areas as well, not least its total lack of network capabilities. So I guess when it comes down to it, it's really a case of whatever floats your boat. The more I play around with the DTR, the more I'm getting to like it. Shame about the hard disk size but then again, once you've seen a TV programme and decided what you want to do with it, (keep it on other media or dump it), you have a lot of options. So the 500GB drive is probably big enough, at least for our needs in this machine. All that having been said, it would be very wrong of me to condemn what has been done in the case of this recorder. As a first attempt, it's very good indeed. Also there's a lot of scope for software enhancement as much of the hardware, including internet compatibility, is already in place. One can only hope that they release a future firmware patch to make the BBC iPlayer accessible. Currently it only works visually. Indeed, later on today I will be demonstrating all of that in the very in-depth podcast which will make the debut Techno-Chat Dot Net podcast. Whilst on the subject of podcasts, if anybody is interested in having their podcast hosted as part of Techno, just write to Lynne or myself off list. We'd be glad to do that for you. We will also ensure that your podcast appears in the iTunes store and is properly tagged in RSS. Now, to be clear, I'm not trying to suggest that we are better than anybody else. This is just a face value offer, take it or leave it, it's your call. Gordon On 19 May 2012, at 11:31, Dane Trethowan <[email protected]> wrote: Each to their own and whatever suits the user. I suppose from my point of view the "Strong" recorder was an extension to the video system I already use with Windows Media Centre on one of my Windows machines, this will make things one hell of a lot easier. I'm sure no doubt to face a few hurdles but I don't think anything will seriously get in my way of operating this machine if the manual is anything to go by. The "Strong" has many of the features most recorders have including LAN and Internet connectivity, USB 3.0 port and so on, only thing it doesn't have is wi-fi but that to me is the least anyone should be concerned about as one could use say an Airport Express or other adapter to get around this problem. On 19/05/2012, at 7:29 PM, Gordon & Lynne wrote: > Hi Dane > > I'm not complaining. I'm just making the point that the RNIB is not selling > the full range of available hardware. I will be getting to grips with the > review I'm working on later today and doing the audio version. I'll be > demonstrating the machine in basic and advanced mode. But as for network > access, currently although the BBC iPlayer is supported by this machine, it > is not accessible via speech. Hopefully that will be addressed. You can > connect the unit to the Internet, USB or over the air to download firmware > updates for it. So it is quite versatile in that respect. But the only > external media supported is photos which, for obvious reasons, isn't much > good for the visually impaired or, as some call us, the visually > disfunctional. > > All the same, I don't think it would be fair of me not to point out the > negatives as well as the positives. > > Gordon > > > ------------------------------ > > This message was sent using 100% recycled electrons; via Gordon's iPhone 4S: > +44 7907 823 971 > > ------------------------------ > > On 19 May 2012, at 03:47, Dane Trethowan <[email protected]> wrote: > > I've decided to go in a completely different direction here. > > Firstly I hope those of you who buy this recorder are happy with your > purchase and there's no reason why you shouldn't be, sound like good machines > and we're jealous! those machines are not available in Australia but all is > not lost. > > I've got one of the "Strong" hard drive recorders which connects to the Home > network. > > No, this doesn't give me full control of the machine but it gives me enough > to make the machine quite usable. > > Firstly I can access the machine's hard drive which gives me endless > possabilities, I can use my Netbook to play recorded video for example or set > the Fritzbox to stream the files from the recorders drive via its own media > server. > > Second to this the "Strong" recorder is compatible with Australia's ICE TV > service which is an interactive TV Guide facility. > > You can for example browse the guide from your iPhone and schedule a > programme to either watch or record. > > > > ======================================= > > The Techno-Chat E-Mail forum is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus > and worm-free > > To modify your subscription options, please visit for forum's dedicated web > pages located at > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/techno-chat > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Techno-Chat group at > either of the following websites: > > http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/techno-chat/index.html > > Or: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> > you may also subscribe to this list via RSS. 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