Hi to all. When I had an apex, I used to read a few bookshare titles
in braille. However, I find reading the bookshare books in daisy
format much easier. You still have the option to read the book in
braille if you wish. I never liked the auto scroll feature of the
apex and never used it. This was because I could never get it to work
quite right for me. It was either to fast, or to slow. Also, if you
download a bookshare book in daisy format, you have the option of
either reading the book in braille, or listen to the book with speech.
The touch handles daisy bookshare titles much better then the apex
ever did. Most of my bookshare collection is in daisy format. This
is because I'd download the books via my victor stream. I know people
want the touch to match the apex, and it will, it will just take time.
I really think for being as new as the touch is, it has come a very
long way.
On 11/14/17, Vicky Collins <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I, too, am glad to still be able to access Bookshare on my Apex.-------------------------------
Although I don't have a BrailleNote Touch, I do have the Polaris.
And, I've never opted to use an app to download books from
Bookshare with that unit, opting to go to the web site directly
and download the BRF files I want. And, I'm then able to read
them with either braille or speech on the Polaris.
----- Original Message -----
From: andy shields <ashields2@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To: braillenote@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date sent: Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:04:43 -0800
Subject: [BNU] Re: upgrading from the Apex
Hi,
Thanks to all of you who responded quickly and specifically. I
hadn't forgotten you, it just takes me a while to get back to
things in the midst of other concerns from work and home.
I'm going to answer a couple of folks directly, but in general,
let's just say that detailed research and comparison has me even
more dismayed. (Then again, maybe I just need an Attitude
Adjustment.) This is mainly because, aside from everything
work-related, more than half of my time and use with the Apex has
to do with downloading and reading books; almost always in the
BRF format, unless I want it so much that audio or DAISY text are
the only choices. I've compared the Touch with the HIMS Braille
Sense Polaris, and both obviously have lots of handy
DAISY-ORIENTED features, but-unless I'm missing something-there
doesn't seem to be a product any more that will let you do a
straightforward download-and-read of the BRF format, using the
device itself. (A figurative wave good-bye to the Apex and the
Braille Sense U2.) It seems that another part of the transition
away from "stand-alone notetakers" is this increasing focus on
devices as players, with fewer Braille formats supported and less
"stand-alone" reading in the configuration I'm used to. Yes,
I've heard that upgraded apps are on the way-I'm checking the
Touch "release notes" ongoingly-and it can't happen too soon if
some of that flexibility can be restored. Also, this is for
Rick: I never thought about "automatic scrolling" much until one
of my thumb keys started getting a little temperamental, but as
you said, think about the amount of use they get in just a few
long books. It's a wonder they don't show this kind of wear
sooner and more often. So I've been converted, most of the time,
to the automatic-reading mode, and now I wonder what I waited
for. And yes indeed, why did they take it away?
So, research continues. If the option does exist for a work
upgrade, I objectively agree that the Touch seems to be the most
versatile. I also think that for the reasons mentioned above,
I'll be using the Apex for reading, and for downloading as long
as possible (not much longer, I'd say, but then, we were supposed
to lose Bookshare on June 30. I appreciate it every time I can
still access it.)
Andy
-------------------------------
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of products from Humanware.
Website: www.braillenoteusers.info
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-------------------------------
BNU: BrailleNote Users - a forum for users of BrailleNote family of products
from Humanware.
Website: www.braillenoteusers.info
IMPORTANT: By default, replies will be sent to individuals. If you feel that
your reply would be useful for others, please use "reply to all" feature in
your email client.
If you wish to unsubscribe from this list, send an email with the subject
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You can also visit our list page at:
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