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Re: Type N Speak Info Needed

Mike B
 

Hi David,
 
Thank you very much for this information, it'll help a lot.  This lady has never used any kind of synthesized voice, other than the talking clock I gave her, so I don't know how I'm going to show her how synthesized voices sound.  Oh wait, I can take her my wife's laptop and let her listen to Jaws!  Thanks again.

Take care.  Mike.  Sent from my iBarstool.

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 4:50 PM
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Type N Speak Info Needed

Mike,

The Type 'n Speak was produced by Blazie Engineering in the 1990s. I used to work for Blazie Engineering and I am, therefore, very familiar with this product and so I'll try to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability.

The TNS does have its own speaker, as well as a standard 3.5 headphone jack. I can't remember the name of the actual speech chip but voice parameters can be altered, such as pitch, rate, volume and tone. Its voice is rather robotic compared to today's speech synthesizers, even Eloquence, and this could be the one challenge this woman might have although we were all used to it back in the day.

You can find a manual for it at the above link.


David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org
On 2/26/2020 6:51 PM, Mike B wrote:
Hi All,
 
I don't know much of anything about the Type N Speaks, other than you can save notes, documents address books...
 
I'm looking into purchasing 1 for an elderly lady that could use something like this for her personal files and such.  Can anyone answer the following questions please?
 
Does the Type N Speak have its own speakers, or will speakers need to be provided as well?  And do the speakers use a, 3.5 MM, plug / port if necessary?
 
What speech synthesizer does it use?  Also, Can the synthesizer settings be tweaked much like JAWS & NVDA?
 
All input will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks much.

 
Take care.  Mike.  Sent from my iBarstool.
Re: Type N Speak Info Needed

David Goldfield <david.goldfield@...>
 

As the TNS isn't available to buy as a new device I would say that a fair asking price might be a few hundred dollars. I honestly wouldn't pay more than $300 for it but that's just me and what I feel that it's worth. Others may disagree. I believe that its original price was $1395. I really loved its keyboard.  

David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org
On 2/26/2020 7:53 PM, Dave Mitchel wrote:

Mike, here’s what I know about the TNS...now remember however that the last time I used one was about 1995.
it has it’s own speaker. there is a headphone jack that was 3.5 mm at that time.
you can adjust the tone etc. as far as the synthesizer goes but at that time it took some getting used to.
It is a very basic and very simple machine that I loved and it helped me get several degrees.
just out of curiosity what does one run for nowadays?
Dave
 
From: Mike B
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 3:51 PM
To: TechTalk
Subject: [TechTalk] Type N Speak Info Needed
 
Hi All,
 
I don't know much of anything about the Type N Speaks, other than you can save notes, documents address books...
 
I'm looking into purchasing 1 for an elderly lady that could use something like this for her personal files and such.  Can anyone answer the following questions please?
 
Does the Type N Speak have its own speakers, or will speakers need to be provided as well?  And do the speakers use a, 3.5 MM, plug / port if necessary?
 
What speech synthesizer does it use?  Also, Can the synthesizer settings be tweaked much like JAWS & NVDA?
 
All input will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks much.

 
Take care.  Mike.  Sent from my iBarstool.
Re: Kindle for PC question

Kerryn Gunness
 

thanks dave

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave" <dlh007@centurylink.net>
To: <main@TechTalk.groups.io>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 8:11 PM
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Kindle for PC question


Hello Karen,

<Smile> How to use Kindle for PC is a larger question, but I'll share
what it takes to get a Book and to start reading it.

I download the Accessible version of Kindle for PC, and installed it.

I then ran it once, just to take a quick look.

I did go to Amazon to purchase a Book. , once I received an Email
acknowledging my purchase, I then started up Kindle for PC.


You may need to Tab around till you come to a Table where all of your
purchased Books are listed.

If no Book is listed, and you have bought at least one Book, Press the
F5 key to force Kindle to check for New Books.

After doing this, the Book Title should appear in the Book list.

Move up or down with the Arrow keys to find the Book Title. Once on the
Title, press the Enter key.

This will download the New Book and open it to begin reading.

I use the Up and Down arrows to move through the Text, or I use the Read
to End in JAWS to sit back and listen to the Book getting read through
Jaws.

Pressing Escape stops the reading, and if you choose to close Kindle at
this time, it will save your place.

The next time you start Kindle, it will start at the same place you left
off in the previous session.

If you want to close the Book, there are short cut keys to do this, but
since I can't remember it right now, pressing the ALT-F will open the
File Menu and arrow down till you find Close Book. Press Enter and the
Book will Close, and the Focus will be back in the area where all of
your Books are listed.

There are other features to Kindle, but this should get you going.

Now a comment about Books for Kindle-

I have bought books that do not read in Kindle. They are made for
Kindle, but Jaws will not read them.

I have bought other books that Jaws will not read, but the Reading
feature in Kindle will read them.

The kindle voices are not as good as the Jaws voices And moving around
in the Book is not as smooth as when Jaws is doing the reading.

Then I have the majority of my books that read just fine with Jaws, and
I have no problems getting around.


I will say that I have bought some Books for learning Computer
Programming, that read fine, but the Books have pictures of Screen
Shots, showing their Code. This is great for the person with Vision,
but not so great for someone using a Screen Reader.

Sometimes you can pay a good chunk of money for some of these books, and
then you find out they have pictures instead of Text when showing Code
examples.

I have not attempted to use the OCR feature in Jaws yet. so that might
be a way to grab the text in those pictures.

Although, the accuracy would need to be spot on, cause one wrong
character in a line of Code is not going to be helpful.


Over all, I find Kindle for PC to work. it has its quirks, and at times
can be fussy, but it works as long as I don't need to do something more
than just read the book.

Between the limitations of what Jaws will read, and perhaps some odd
things about Kindle, keeping it simple is the best way to use Kindle.

As for the Kindle App for Phones, someone else will need to advise you
on that as I do not own a Cell Phone. Shocking for sure, but I don't
need one bad enough to justify their Cost, or the Calling Plan.


this is my choice, and while I am sure I could find a use for a Phone, I
would hardly use it.


Grumpy Dave
Re: Type N Speak Info Needed

Dave Mitchel
 

Mike, here’s what I know about the TNS...now remember however that the last time I used one was about 1995.
it has it’s own speaker. there is a headphone jack that was 3.5 mm at that time.
you can adjust the tone etc. as far as the synthesizer goes but at that time it took some getting used to.
It is a very basic and very simple machine that I loved and it helped me get several degrees.
just out of curiosity what does one run for nowadays?
Dave
 

From: Mike B
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 3:51 PM
To: TechTalk
Subject: [TechTalk] Type N Speak Info Needed
 
Hi All,
 
I don't know much of anything about the Type N Speaks, other than you can save notes, documents address books...
 
I'm looking into purchasing 1 for an elderly lady that could use something like this for her personal files and such.  Can anyone answer the following questions please?
 
Does the Type N Speak have its own speakers, or will speakers need to be provided as well?  And do the speakers use a, 3.5 MM, plug / port if necessary?
 
What speech synthesizer does it use?  Also, Can the synthesizer settings be tweaked much like JAWS & NVDA?
 
All input will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks much.

 
Take care.  Mike.  Sent from my iBarstool.
Re: Type N Speak Info Needed

David Goldfield <david.goldfield@...>
 

Mike,

The Type 'n Speak was produced by Blazie Engineering in the 1990s. I used to work for Blazie Engineering and I am, therefore, very familiar with this product and so I'll try to answer all of your questions to the best of my ability.

The TNS does have its own speaker, as well as a standard 3.5 headphone jack. I can't remember the name of the actual speech chip but voice parameters can be altered, such as pitch, rate, volume and tone. Its voice is rather robotic compared to today's speech synthesizers, even Eloquence, and this could be the one challenge this woman might have although we were all used to it back in the day.

You can find a manual for it at the above link.


David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2019

WWW.DavidGoldfield.org
On 2/26/2020 6:51 PM, Mike B wrote:

Hi All,
 
I don't know much of anything about the Type N Speaks, other than you can save notes, documents address books...
 
I'm looking into purchasing 1 for an elderly lady that could use something like this for her personal files and such.  Can anyone answer the following questions please?
 
Does the Type N Speak have its own speakers, or will speakers need to be provided as well?  And do the speakers use a, 3.5 MM, plug / port if necessary?
 
What speech synthesizer does it use?  Also, Can the synthesizer settings be tweaked much like JAWS & NVDA?
 
All input will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks much.

 
Take care.  Mike.  Sent from my iBarstool.
Re: Kindle for PC question

Dave
 

Hello Karen,

<Smile>  How to use Kindle for PC is a larger question, but I'll share
what it takes to get a Book and to start reading it.

I download the Accessible version of Kindle for PC, and installed it.

I then ran it once, just to take a quick look.

I did go to Amazon to purchase a Book. , once I received an Email
acknowledging my purchase, I then started up Kindle for PC.


You may need to Tab around till you come to  a Table where all of your
purchased Books are listed.

If no Book is listed, and you have bought at least one Book, Press the
F5 key to force Kindle to check for New Books.

After doing this, the Book Title should appear in the Book list.

Move up or down with the Arrow keys to find the Book Title.  Once on the
Title, press the Enter key.

This will download the New Book and open it to begin reading.

I use the Up and Down arrows to move through the Text, or I use the Read
to End  in JAWS to sit back and listen to the Book getting read through
Jaws.

Pressing Escape stops the reading, and if you choose to close Kindle at
this time, it will save your place.

The next time you start Kindle, it will start at the same place you left
off in the previous session.

If you want to close the Book, there are short cut keys to do this, but
since I can't remember it right now, pressing the ALT-F will open the
File Menu and arrow down till you find Close Book. Press Enter and the
Book will Close, and the Focus will be back in the area where all of
your Books are listed.

There are other features to Kindle, but this should get you going.

Now a comment about Books for Kindle-

I have bought books that do not read in Kindle.  They are made for
Kindle, but Jaws will not read them.

I have bought other books that Jaws will not read, but the Reading
feature in Kindle will read them.

The kindle voices are not as good as the Jaws voices And moving around
in the Book is not as smooth as when Jaws is doing the reading.

Then I have the majority of my books that read just fine with Jaws, and
I have no problems getting around.


I will say that I have bought some Books for learning Computer
Programming, that read fine, but the Books have pictures of Screen
Shots, showing their Code.  This is great for the person with Vision,
but not so great for someone using a Screen Reader.

Sometimes you can pay a good chunk of money for some of these books, and
then you find out they have pictures instead of Text when showing Code
examples.

I have not attempted to use the OCR feature in Jaws yet.   so that might
be a way to grab the text in those pictures.

Although, the accuracy would need to be spot on, cause one wrong
character in a line of Code is not going to be helpful.


Over all, I find Kindle for PC to work.  it has its quirks, and at times
can be fussy, but it works as long as I don't need to do something more
than just read the book.

Between the limitations of what Jaws will read, and perhaps some odd
things about Kindle, keeping it simple is the best way to use Kindle.

As for the Kindle App for Phones, someone else will need to advise you
on that as I do not own a Cell Phone.  Shocking for sure, but I don't
need one bad enough to justify their Cost, or the Calling Plan.


this is my choice, and while I am sure I could find a use for a Phone, I
would hardly use it.


Grumpy Dave
Type N Speak Info Needed

Mike B
 

Hi All,
 
I don't know much of anything about the Type N Speaks, other than you can save notes, documents address books...
 
I'm looking into purchasing 1 for an elderly lady that could use something like this for her personal files and such.  Can anyone answer the following questions please?
 
Does the Type N Speak have its own speakers, or will speakers need to be provided as well?  And do the speakers use a, 3.5 MM, plug / port if necessary?
 
What speech synthesizer does it use?  Also, Can the synthesizer settings be tweaked much like JAWS & NVDA?
 
All input will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks much.

 
Take care.  Mike.  Sent from my iBarstool.
Re: a piece of software. Plextalk recording software

David Goldfield <david.goldfield@...>
 

Penny, you can find the software at  http://www.plextalk.com/americas/top/support/ptp1/softwaredownloads/

     David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist

Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info

On Feb 26, 2020, at 12:23 PM, Penny Golden <pengold2@...> wrote:

    Does anyone know where the Plextalk Recording Software is downloadable from?

Sorry, I ended the sntence with a preposition.  I may have had a copy once on some CD that came with the units; now I'm a little clueless as to where to look. I asked on the list, but have not had an answer yet.

Thanks.

Penny
Re: Kindle for PC question

Kerryn Gunness
 

tell me about how kindle for pc works
also kindle for phones?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave" <dlh007@centurylink.net>
To: <main@techtalk.groups.io>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 2:13 AM
Subject: [TechTalk] Kindle for PC question


Hello,


When reading a Book in the Kindle for PC, is there any way to find the Copyright date of the Book being read?


I can go to the Table of Contents, or the Front Cover, or to a given Chapter, but I see nothing that will tell me the Copyright date of the Book.


Thanks ahead of time for the Help.


Grumpy Dave
Re: Accessible Podcasting Platform

Nimer Jaber
 

Hello,

thanks.

On Wed, Feb 26, 2020 at 11:25 AM Donna <mermaid7@...> wrote:
Yes, I have seen the videos uploaded to anchor &  Apple podcasts. I think that there is another one, but I forget.

Donna
>
> Can you upload podcasts if you've prerecorded them onto StreamYard?
>
>> On 26/02/2020 13:03, Donna wrote:
>> A lot of the blind YouTubers use StreamYard. They say that it is the easiest to use & the quality of their podcast are the best when compared to other blind friendly apps or websites.
>>
>> Donna
>>> Hello all, my brother, who is blind, is considering starting a podcast, and he wants to find a hosting service he can use.  Could anyone recommend a platform for hosting podcasts that is accessible and has an intuitive interface, as he is not very tech savvy.  Thank you in advance.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Samuel Wilkins
>
>
>
>






--
Best,

Nimer Jaber

The message above is intended for the recipient to whom it was
addressed. If you believe that you are not the intended recipient,
please notify me via reply email and destroy all copies of this
correspondence. Action taken as a result of this email or its contents
by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) may result in civil or
criminal charges. I have checked this email and all corresponding
attachments for security threats. However, security of your machine is
up to you. Thanks.

Registered Linux User 529141.
http://counter.li.org/

To find out about a free and versatile screen reader for windows XP
and above, please click here:
http://www.nvda-project.org

You can follow @nimerjaber on Twitter for the latest technology news.

To contact me, you can reply to this email or you may call me at (970) (393-4481) and I will do my best to respond to you promptly. Thank
you, and have a great day!
Re: Accessible Podcasting Platform

Donna
 

Yes, I have seen the videos uploaded to anchor & Apple podcasts. I think that there is another one, but I forget.

Donna


Can you upload podcasts if you've prerecorded them onto StreamYard?

On 26/02/2020 13:03, Donna wrote:
A lot of the blind YouTubers use StreamYard. They say that it is the easiest to use & the quality of their podcast are the best when compared to other blind friendly apps or websites.

Donna
Hello all, my brother, who is blind, is considering starting a podcast, and he wants to find a hosting service he can use. Could anyone recommend a platform for hosting podcasts that is accessible and has an intuitive interface, as he is not very tech savvy. Thank you in advance.


--
Regards,

Samuel Wilkins
Re: a piece of software. Plextalk recording software

Gene
 

There is no valid reason in English not to end a sentence with a preposition.  This is an example of how Latin usage was grafted onto English when rules of grammar were being constructed.  Just as there is no reason not to split an infinitive.  In Latin, and infinitive can't be split because it is a form of a verb and isn't indicated by a separate word as it is in English.  The word "to" is used in English, but in Latin, how a verb ends indicates an infinitive.  For example, amo, I love, amare, to love.
 
Gene

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 11:23 AM
Subject: [TechTalk] a piece of software. Plextalk recording software

    Does anyone know where the Plextalk Recording Software is
downloadable from?

Sorry, I ended the sntence with a preposition.  I may have had a copy
once on some CD that came with the units; now I'm a little clueless as
to where to look. I asked on the list, but have not had an answer yet.

Thanks.

Penny
a piece of software. Plextalk recording software

Penny Golden
 

Does anyone know where the Plextalk Recording Software is downloadable from?

Sorry, I ended the sntence with a preposition.  I may have had a copy once on some CD that came with the units; now I'm a little clueless as to where to look. I asked on the list, but have not had an answer yet.

Thanks.

Penny
Re: Accessible Podcasting Platform

Samuel Wilkins
 

Can you upload podcasts if you've prerecorded them onto StreamYard?

On 26/02/2020 13:03, Donna wrote:
A lot of the blind YouTubers use StreamYard. They say that it is the easiest to use & the quality of their podcast are the best when compared to other blind friendly apps or websites.

Donna
Hello all, my brother, who is blind, is considering starting a podcast, and he wants to find a hosting service he can use. Could anyone recommend a platform for hosting podcasts that is accessible and has an intuitive interface, as he is not very tech savvy. Thank you in advance.


--
Regards,

Samuel Wilkins
Re: Accessible Podcasting Platform

Donna
 

A lot of the blind YouTubers use StreamYard. They say that it is the easiest to use & the quality of their podcast are the best when compared to other blind friendly apps or websites.

Donna


Hello all, my brother, who is blind, is considering starting a podcast, and he wants to find a hosting service he can use. Could anyone recommend a platform for hosting podcasts that is accessible and has an intuitive interface, as he is not very tech savvy. Thank you in advance.
Accessible Podcasting Platform

Samuel Wilkins
 

Hello all, my brother, who is blind, is considering starting a podcast, and he wants to find a hosting service he can use.  Could anyone recommend a platform for hosting podcasts that is accessible and has an intuitive interface, as he is not very tech savvy.  Thank you in advance.
Kindle for PC question

Dave
 

Hello,


When reading a Book in the Kindle for PC, is there any way to find the Copyright date of the Book being read?


I can go to the Table of Contents, or the Front Cover, or to a given Chapter, but I see nothing that will tell me the Copyright date of the Book.


Thanks ahead of time for the Help.


Grumpy Dave
six dot braille label maker case

heather albright
 

Hello, I do not want to pay 100 dollars for the 6 dot label maker case. Does anyone know of a different place to purchase a case for it! My ensureance did not purchase a case for the device woe! Or any ideas of a case that if you have one it might fit in. The only reason for a case was to keep everything together and dust free and it would be easier to travel with too! Thanks Heather

 
This week on Eyes On Success: When a Smart Phone Is Just Not for You

blueskies11
 

This week’s episode of eyes On Success is:

2009 When a Smart Phone Is Just Not for You (Feb. 26, 2020)
Show Notes
Although many people really enjoy having the power and flexibility of a smart phone right in their pockets, smart phones aren’t for everyone. Sometimes a simple phone with buttons and without all the frills will do the trick. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Jones about what options are available if a smart phone isn’t for you.

 

As usual, the audio, show notes, and much more can be found at:

www.eyesOnSuccess.net

 

Check out the podcast on Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Also try listening on your Amazon or google smart home device by saying “play eyes On Success podcast”.

 

Check out Eyes On Success (formerly ViewPoints)

A weekly, half hour audio program for people living with vision loss.

Find out more about the show and get links to past episodes at:

       www.EyesOnSuccess.net

Find the podcast on iTunes or use the URL:

       www.EyesOnSuccess.net/eos_podcast

Find us on social media at:

       www.facebook.com/EyesOnSuccess

       www.twitter.com/@_EyesOnSuccess

       www.audioboom.com/EyesOnSuccess

Subscribe to the announcements-only list by sending an e-mail to:

       EyesOnSuccess+Subscribe@...

Subscribe to the listener discussion group by sending an e-mail to:

       EOS_discuss+Subscribe@...

Send suggestions or comments to:

      hosts@...

 

 
Re: A Huge Thunderbird Issue

Steve Matzura
 

In this modern day and age, why would you not be using iMap?


The reason you're getting mesages from days gone by is probably because on your other system you set up POP3 not to delete the messages from the server. I'm not using POP3 so I can't guide you to where that checkbox is in Thunderbird, but what I'd do if it were me is to delete the account and re-create it with iMap, then after everything's been downloaded and you've processed those messages that are important to you, select all and press Shift+DELETE, which will bypass sending everything to the trash folder and just make it all go away from both your machine and its serving system.

On 2/25/2020 8:05 AM, lynn white wrote:

Sent from my iPhoneI just set up a new laptop. When I downloaded Thunderbird, I started getting messages going back to 2015. I configured this for pop settings and all I wanted was current messages. I also keep getting these messages about remote protective view. How do you turn this off? Thanks. Oh, and is there a way to delete this mound of messages that apparently is on the mail server?
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