[Dtb-talk] digital player information

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Wed Sep 21 03:03:04 UTC 2011 

Steve:

I concur that the voices (Paul and Kate) on the BookSense text-to-speech
function are far easier to listen to than on other players. I also concur,
unfortunately, that the software is a bit sloppy at times. I had the problem
of a HIMS device charging intermittently but it was a BrailleSense Plus, not
a BookSense, and it turned out to be the adaptor, not the BS Plus itself.
Connectors seem tight in both BookSense and BS Plus.

I also agree with you and Dave that the recording feature is a bit more
versatile than on the Victor Reader Stream. However, I am with Dave that
overall, the Stream handles DAISY books with most aplomb and intuitively and
with the exception of using the Nuance speech, I even like the way it
handles text-to-speech better; certainly text search is far better than on
the BookSense. And the Stream will handle the complexity of a Bookshare book
that chokes the Booksense. But the latter is certainly smaller and does a
decent job and the upcoming Voice Recognition feature might help some with
manual dexterity problems although I should think the Stream's larger keys
would compensate somewhat.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 2:32 PM
To: Discussion of Digital Talking Books
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] digital player information

I also had to return one because of something being wrong in the record
circuitry that had been corrected.  Ironically, both of the units I've had
have had nice tight AC adapter connectors.  Go Figure.  I felt, though, that
in a better world, they shouldn't have released the BookSense when they did,
they should have gotten a few more bugs out of it.  However, I think they
would also have missed the market had they waited.  One would hope those
kinds of issues have been resolved, but it is a real bummer that your second
one has the same problem.  I, too, like the text-to-speech on the BookSense
much better as well.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:44:57 -0400, Kestrell wrote:

>I'm a BookSense owner but I've had ongoing issues with the power 
>adapter and it's jack, basically from the time I bought the BookSense.
>I had to have my first BookSense replaced after just a few months 
>because the adaptor was so loose that the BS kept voicing "adapter 
>connected/adapter disconnected" every other second (no exaggeration). 
>GW replaced it because, I was told, it was a known issue. My 
>replacement BS has the same issue, however, so I now have to use the 
>USB cable, a method which takes most of the day to charge.

>Since the BS spends most of the day sitting on my bookcase charging, 
>it's not like the issue comes from being tossed around a lot. All the 
>nice features don't make up for the less than robust hardware issues.

>Kes

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
>To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 3:04 PM
>Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] digital player information


>> Just to throw in another option, I've been pretty happy with the
BookSense 
>> after it got beyond the initial release.  It records better than the 
>> stream with
>> more options and it is smaller.  I would agree that the stream software
is 
>> more stable, though.  While the BookSense records better in my opinion,
it 
>> does
>> not have all of the options or ability to mark up recordings than does 
>> BookPort plus, but the battery life seems to be a little better.  .  It 
>> reads more
>> document types than the stream unless you add the extra document package 
>> to the stream.  The ability to use BlueTooth headphones on the Booksense
>> XT version which is more expensive  can be very nice, but there have been

>> some bugs associated with this although it has gotten better.  Believe it

>> or
>> not, I have found the ability to check the time with the clock in the 
>> BookSense to be something I miss when I use a stream even though I 
>> wouldn't buy it
>> just for the clock.  I find the speaker on the Booksense to have the 
>> ability to get a little louder than that on the Stream, but I think the 
>> Stream's speaker is
>> perhaps a little clearer.  I don't have enough experience with the 
>> Bookport plus to make a comparison.
>>
>> It is nice to have options as we do.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Steve Jacobson
>>
>> On Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:36:48 -0700, Jim Barbour wrote:
>>
>>>I would agree that the stream is a better device, some specifics
>>>below.
>>
>>>* I've never seen software stability issues with the stream.  It will,
>>>  once a year or so for me, corrupt its internal database and need to
>>>  be reset.  This is a minor issue, despite how it sounds <smile>
>>>
>>>* The stream is a much better book reader, feeling much more
>>>  comfortable and intuitive than the pocket.
>>>
>>>* The pocket does do wifi.  However, there is no web browser.  This
>>>  means that you can't use it with any public facing wifi, such as at
>>>  a starbucks.  This is because there's no way to enter a password, or
>>>  agree to terms of service.
>>
>>>* The pocket is a much better recorder.  If you're looking for a way
>>>  to organize class recordings, have books read, etc. then the pocket
>>>  becomes much more attractive.
>>
>>>* I would also have a look at the book port plus from APH.  They took
>>>  the Pocket and redid much of its firmware.  So, the commands are
>>>  different, and the features changed slightly.  I like the Book Port
>>>  more than the pocket, and I like the stream better than either.
>>
>>>Hope this helps,
>>
>>>Jim
>>
>>>On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 01:01:49PM -0400, Dale Leavens wrote:
>>>> All you say is true from my perspective too. The Stream has a better
and
>>>> louder speaker as well however we have some software stability issues 
>>>> with
>>>> the Stream. Just recently when copying DAISY content from CNIB discs
>>>> apparently works but the book does not appear in the bookshelf. When
>>>> attempting to copy it again one is prompted to overwrite the book which
>>>> apparently isn't there and doing so doesn't put it there either. There 
>>>> seems
>>>> to be issues around how the directory works and is organized. So far I 
>>>> have
>>>> not seen this sort of trouble with the PlexTalk Pocket. I do wish it
had 
>>>> a
>>>> more robust sound though and a better protective case for when I am 
>>>> wearing
>>>> it about my work in the shop and gardens.
>>>>
>>>> Dale leavens.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrews, David B (DEED)"
>>>> <david.b.andrews at state.mn.us>
>>>> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 12:16 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] digital player information
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> >They are similar devices, they do many of the same things  -- they
both
>>>> >have their strengths and weaknesses.  Personally I think the Stream is

>>>> >a
>>>> >better DAISY book player, its algorithms for speeding up a book
without
>>>> >changing the pitch are better, and it has very good battery life, and 
>>>> >is
>>>> >well thought out, and easy to use.  The Pocket is thinner and lighter,

>>>> >is
>>>> >probably a better recorder, and can now be connected for some things 
>>>> >via
>>>> >Wifi.  I don't find it as easy to use, and battery life isn't as good,

>>>> >but
>>>> >smaller.
>>>> >
>>>> >So, it depends on what is important to you!
>>>> >
>>>> >Dave
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >-----Original Message-----
>>>> >From: dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]

>>>> >On
>>>> >Behalf Of Sarah
>>>> >Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 10:41 AM
>>>> >To: dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> >Subject: [Dtb-talk] digital player information
>>>> >
>>>> >Hello. I have been using a Victor Reader stream for several years. I 
>>>> >would
>>>> >like to know the difference between the stream and the PlexTalk
Pocket.
>>>> >Thank you.
>>>> >   Sarah
>>>> >
>>>> >
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>>>>
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>>
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