[Perform-talk] Stream 3.1 free upgrade

[David Andrews]

Dear Victor Reader Friends:

HumanWare is please to announce the release of new Stream 3.1
software. Stream 3.1 is a free release that responds to popular
requests received from many Stream customers. New features include:
- Multi-level Talking Books bookshelf. The ability to create nested
folders on the Other Books, Podcast, and Text File bookshelves
introduced in version 3.0 has been extended to include the Talking
Books bookshelf. You can now optionally create nested folders within
the $VRDTB bookshelf folder and navigate the structure while browsing
the Talking Books bookshelf.
- For our friends in Spain we now support the Spanish braille
electronic text files with a file type of .BRA. At the time of this
announcement the Spanish 3.1 is not yet available but we are working
with our partner in Spain to release it as soon as possible.
- The popular percentage announcement on the Where Am I key that
informs you how much of the book you have listened to has been
extended to Talking Books and Audible books.
- When you set a start position for a Highlight bookmark the End
position can now be set with a single key press of the Bookmark key.
- The navigation UNDO feature has been extended to the Go To Page
function.
- We have introduced two shortcuts to reach the start or end of a
book. To quickly jump to the beginning of a book press the Go To key
once and then press the Rewind key once. To reach the end of the book
press the Go To key and then the Fast Forward key.
- When you press Cancel to end a recording the Stream will now ask you
to confirm. This prevents stopping a recording accidentally.
- Stream 3.1 will allow you to copy DAISY books from USB flash media
such as flash memory sticks or the NLS cartridges used by the NLS
library in the USA and the AFWA library in Western Australia. Each USB
flash book must be in its own folder. When you attach a cartridge or
flash media the Stream will automatically start playing the first
DAISY book on the media. Once the book is playing you can optionally
press key 3 to copy it to the Talking Books bookshelf of your SD card.
Stream 3.1 also includes several bug fixes. Please see the Release
Notes for full details.
Both the software and Release Notes can be downloaded from the Stream
support page at:
http://www.humanware.com/stream_support
Select the Software link on that page. You will find the Release Notes
at the top of the English 3.1 software download links. You can choose
from two English versions one with Samantha + Tom text-to-speech
voices and another with Samantha + Daniel (UK) voices. You can upgrade
to version 3.1 from any prior Stream version. To install the new
software, follow these steps:
- Download the software zip file
- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file from the zip file. You do not need
special unzip software. Simply press Enter to open the zip file and
you can then select the UPG file.
- Copy this UPG file to the root of your Stream SD card.
- Disconnect the Stream from the computer, connect it to AC power and
turn it on.
- The Stream will automatically start the update process which takes
about 2 minutes during which time it will announce intermittent
"please Wait" messages. The Stream will power off when the new
software is installed.
- When you power back on the UPG file will be automatically removed
from your SD card.
After the new software is installed, an html Release Notes document
will also be available in a HumanWare sub-folder of your Text
Bookshelf so you may read the Release Notes with your Stream. The html
version allows you to navigate the Release Notes section by section
using the 2/8 keys to select the level and keys 4 and 6 to move
between sections.
With this announcement, version 3.1 is available in Danish, Dutch,
English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish. As
other languages become available they will be posted on the same
download page. We also are working on a new version of the Stream
Companion software for Windows which will be announced on the Newswire
when it is available.
HumanWare values your continued support of the Victor Reader Stream.
We remain committed to our customers to make the Stream the most
powerful, flexible, and enjoyable product used for listening to
digital talking books, computer files, and music.

Thank you,
The HumanWare Team