Hi Ray,
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Have TNs considered smart speakers?
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If for example, a TN created an Alexa skill, then one could say ¡°Play The North Herts Talking Newspaper¡±, or whatever. Then you can jump forward and back by track etc.
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Google devices would also do this, and they are really not expensive devices.
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All the best
Steve
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For once I tend to agree with you Steve.
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I was chided some time ago for criticising the first set of USB players that went out to TN listeners - and they were cheap, cheaper than the ones that Kings Audio no longer sell.
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I am all too familiar with the problems of giving out players to our listners most of whom I am guessing would not be on our circulation list if we did not supply them free of charge.? Even to distribute them at a subsidised cost would be too much to many of them.? In fact we post out a dozen or more CD copies of our TN to listners who put them in a DVD player to listen.? Even taking into account free postage and donations we get toward running costs it is still a headache keeping it all going.
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Very few listen on the internet - and some who do get help doing that.? I have often wished for an easy to use internet player with (dare I say) buttons! but no sign of a cheap one in the offing and come to that, an easy and really cheap internet connection to allow this to be done.
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All that is just to flag up the issues we and so many talking newspapers have catering to what is, in the great majority, an elderly audience.
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I could and often have been tempted to suggest making TNs more entertaining and maybe even getting a licence to use limited amounts of copyright music, but I fear that would go down like a led baloon!? Many of the groups producing TNs are a rather conservative lot who have been doing it for years, and want things to stay more or less as they are.? That's not to be overtly critical of them.? Many have given years to regularly putting out the news and for no financial gain.? I know that all too well.? I have been doing it for more than 20 years.? Given the regular comitment no wonder there are very few volunteers coming forward these days, though I will say that mobile phones and tablets have made the recruiting of readers much easier, and younger ones at that.
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Enough of the nuts and bolts, but TN listener or not this Cobolt offering looks like a good alternative to the much higher priced alternatives, but I have doubts as to how durable it will turn out to be.
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Ray.
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On 15/02/2023 02:11 pm, Steve Nutt wrote:
Hi Ray,
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I think the problem is that we are asking for cheap and bells and whistles. We are not going to get that.
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For example, cheap USB players don¡¯t folder hop.
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So the question to all TNs really, is what would be the highest price one would pay for such a device.
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I could be manufactured with folder hopping, but you wouldn¡¯t get it for 20 quid.
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All the best
Steve
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This rather small and inexpensive player has had a mention recently on the Talking News Federation email list.? As you will see from the description pasted below, it does quite a lot for the ?19.95 asking price.? A downside? is it has a micro USB socket
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Its smallness probably means those with dexerity problems might find it hard going to operate.
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Many will be aware the Sovereign players formerly sold by a UK retailer are no more so talking newspapers are scouting around for a cheap replacement.? Other have been found but often the lack of a facility to skip between folders on a pendrive is lacking.? Many TNs use folder structures to separate the main news part of their papers from any additional magazine material they may offer.
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Ray.
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Talking USB Player
This compact 2¡± cube USB player will allow you to listen to audiobooks and music. With its sleek design, lightweight and rechargeable battery, it is ideal for travel. The unit has a built in FM radio, bluetooth connectivity, a micro SD card reader and an AUX port. The device has a loudspeaker and a headphone port for private listening. You can change modes with the touch of a button. The device will announce its current position ie: ¡°play via USB¡±. The unit requires a Micro USB lead (included), and it supports MP3, MP4 and WAV files.
