[nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader fortheblind
J.J. Meddaugh
jj at bestmidi.com
Fri Jul 30 05:41:14 UTC 2010
Apparently Target has them now, though you'd want to wait for the new models
in a month, if they end up carrying them.
J.J. Meddaugh - ATGuys.com
A premier Code Factory, KNFB Reader, and Sendero distributor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Petrous" <annpetrous at gmail.com>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 12:09 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader
fortheblind
>I have a stupid question. Is there a store I could go to in order to check
> this out when its released? I don't understand how the authors would be
> losing money on a device that is used by everyone including blind folks.
> The
> only difference would be that it would b reading out loud with the same
> device. Also the books are purchased legally, so I really don't understand
> what the problem is. I could just as easily purchase a scanner, the book,
> and have it read to me on my laptop or have it uploaded on to my book
> sense.
> The only difference between what we are doing and what a sighted person is
> doing, and that is using a synthesizer voice, in order to read these
> books
> which sin't the best in any case. Also its not like they are modifying the
> book so much that it can't be used by sighted people who are purchasing
> these same books. I don't find it fair, that I should have to wait, while
> others can grab any book they want and read at their lesure.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 10:16 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader
> fortheblind
>
> Hi,
>
> Here is an article about the new Kindle. If you read visually, it may be
> a
> little hard, but if you use a screen reader you won't have a problem.
> Sorry
> for the formatting.
>
> Amazon Unveils New Kindle: $139 WiFi-Only Model, $189 With 3G, Available
> August
>
> 27th
>
>
>
> By DEVINDRA HARDAWAR of [4]VentureBeat
>
>
>
> If you were hoping for a Kindle hardware refresh, today's your lucky
>
> day. Earlier this evening, Amazon unveiled [5]the latest generation
>
> Kindle e-book reader -- which offers better contrast, improved speeds,
>
> lighter weight, and double the storage and battery life, compared to
>
> the previous model.
>
>
>
> This time around, Amazon is offering two Kindle models: A $189 version
>
> with 3G and WiFi to replace the Kindle 2, and a cheaper $139 version
>
> that only features WiFi. The cheaper model is clearly a response to
>
> [6]Barnes and Noble's $149 WiFi-only Nook, and it brings Amazon one
>
> step closer to the magical $99 price-point. Amazon also ended up
>
> dropping the Kindle's price to $189 back in June when Barnes and Noble
>
> reduced their Nook 3G model to $199.
>
>
>
> Both new models are slated for release on August 27th, and are
>
> [7]available for pre-order now. The company will also release a UK
>
> version of the device for ?109 and ?149 respectively on the same date,
>
> and also announced a new UK e-book store.
>
>
>
> The addition of WiFi is also new for the more expensive Kindle.
>
> Previous Kindle models relied entirely on cellular data networks --
>
> first with Sprint's EVDO, and then AT&T's 3G network for the newer
>
> "international" Kindle 2. The addition will let owners of the new
>
> Kindle take advantage of their faster home wireless networks, and it
>
> will be particularly useful if they don't have decent cellular data
>
> reception near their home or work.
>
>
>
> The new Kindle will come in graphite (like the [8]Kindle DX) and white
>
> colors, is 21 percent smaller, and will feature the same 6-inch E Ink
>
> screen as previous models. While not much has changed with the basic
>
> screen technology, Amazon promises that page turns will be faster. It
>
> will run for a month with no wireless capabilities turned on, and 10
>
> days with wireless. Since you won't always need wireless connectivity,
>
> real-world battery life will rest somewhere in between those suggested
>
> battery times. The Kindle's on-board storage has also been doubled from
>
> 2GB to 4GB, which will let it hold up to 3,500 books.
>
>
>
> Both the Kindle's keyboard and five-way directional rocker have been
>
> modified. "The rocker is now more compact and flush with the device,
>
> and the side buttons have been modified in length to emphasize the
>
> forward paddles, while the back buttons have been downsized,"
>
> [9]according to Engadget, who had some hands-on time with the device.
>
>
>
> Amazon also added an "experimental" web browser based on Webkit -- the
>
> browser engine currently used in Safari and Google Chrome. It's
>
> purportedly faster than the previous Kindle web browser, and it now
>
> includes an "article mode" that lets users simplify web pages into
>
> text-based versions better suited for the Kindle.
>
>
>
> While the new Kindle's upgrades may seem minor, the most important
>
> aspect of this release is the cheap $139 model. Only a few months ago,
>
> the only available Kindle was $259. Soon, you'll be able to get one --
>
> albeit without 3G internet -- for more than $100 less. It's a sign that
>
> competition is keeping the e-reader market agile, and that even with
>
> the advent of the iPad, it's far too early to write off these devices.
>
>
>
> Check out a video below of Ian Freed, vice president of Kindle at
>
> Amazon, showing off the new device to [10]the Seattle Times.
>
>
>
> Tags: [11]ebooks, [12]ereader, [13]kindle
>
>
>
> Companies: [14]amazon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Ann Petrous
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:01 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader
> fortheblind
>
> I really hope so. I'm frustrated with the limited amount of books that I
> have access to. I'm a huge fan of books. I can forget about life for a
> while, and go off on adventures, while I'm reading. I love books where i
> can
> truly care about the characters. I reallyhope this goes through. I'm tired
> of only beign able to read part of a series or having to stop due to the
> poor quality of the books that were scanned.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:58 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader
> fortheblind
>
> Hi Ann,
>
> If things go as advertised, this will, indeed, allow faster and broader
> access to books from Amazon. According to the release, the menus talk and
> the present inaccessible model would provide Text to Speech (TTS), so the
> new model should do the same.
>
> NFB, as part of the reading rights coalition is working on the copyright
> issue. The Librarian of Congress just said that blind people must have
> access to all books. So, J.J.'s point is correct, we will see, but I
> expect
> that we will see an improvement in access, even if it is an incremental
> gain. If the machine works, as advertised, we will certainly have more
> books available than we do now. The quality and quantity is the real
> question.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Ann Petrous
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 6:50 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader
> fortheblind
>
> I see. Well, I hope that it will give us the ability to use it like
> sighted
> folks. It would be nice to be able to purchase any book I want, and not
> have
> to wait forver to finish a series or to start one, only to have to wait
> half
> way through.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of J.J. Meddaugh
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 6:40 PM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader
> fortheblind
>
> There's still a long way to go. We'll know more when it's released, but
> many
>
> publishers still disable TTS access for their titles.
>
> J.J. Meddaugh - ATGuys.com
> A premier Code Factory, KNFB Reader, and Sendero distributor
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ann Petrous" <annpetrous at gmail.com>
> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 6:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader for
> theblind
>
>
>> Does this mean that we will be able to purchase ebooks through amazon and
>> then we would be able to use the kindal? Woot woot and that is a great
>> price
>> this makes me very happy because I will no longer have to wait for books
>> to
>> be uploaded on to bookshare or the NLS website. If this means that I will
>> be
>> able to download and purchase any book I want even on the day of it
>> release,
>> I'm most excited, and say its about time.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
>> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 5:21 PM
>> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] FW: creative writing Kindle book reader for the
>> blind
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: explorations-in-creative-writing at googlegroups.com
>> [mailto:explorations-in-creative-writing at googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
>> Phil
>> Vlasak
>> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 1:32 PM
>> To: explorations-in-creative-writing at googlegroups.com
>> Subject: creative writing Kindle book reader for the blind
>>
>> Hi Folks,
>> The new Kindle will be more blind friendly than the current version.
>> Kindle Wireless Reading Device,
>> Price: $139.00
>> Our all-new Kindle will be released on August 27th 2010.
>> Read-to-Me
>> With the Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read English newspapers,
>> magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book's rights
>> holder
>>
>> made the feature unavailable.
>> You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your
>> spot
>> is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is
>> being
>> read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and
>> female
>>
>> voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. In
>> the
>> middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply
>> turn
>> on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
>>
>> Voice Guide
>> With Text-to-Speech, Kindle can read out loud to you. New Text-to-Speech
>> enabled menus allow customers to navigate Kindle without having to read
>> menu
>>
>> options. In addition to listening to books aloud, users now have the
>> option
>> of listening to content listings on the home screen, item descriptions,
>> and
>> all menu options.
>> Other features:
>> Wi-Fi, 6 inch Display,
>> Eight adjustable text sizes for comfortable reading
>> Battery Life of Up to One Month with wireless off,
>> Double the Storage - Up to 3,500 Books,
>> Storage approximately 3GB available for user content,
>>
>> Massive Selection,
>> Over 630,000 books,
>> including 109 of 111 New York Times Best Sellers,
>> plus audiobooks, periodicals and blogs.
>> Over 510,000 books are $9.99 or less, including 80 current New York Times
>> Best Sellers.
>>
>> Free, Out-of-Copyright Books
>> Over 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are available
>> such
>> as Pride and Prejudice.
>>
>> Listen to Music & Podcasts
>> Transfer MP3 files to Kindle to play as background music while you read.
>> You
>>
>> can quickly and easily transfer MP3 files via USB by connecting Kindle to
>> your computer.
>>
>> Audio 3.5 mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.
>> Content Formats Supported
>> Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), MP3,
>> unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG,
>> BMP through conversion.
>>
>>
>>
> http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Graphite/dp/B002Y27P3M
>>
>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "Explorations in creative writing" group.
>> To post to this group, send email to
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>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
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>> For more options, visit this group at
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>>
>>
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