I may be wrong but I don't think the firmware on the Stratus will in any case support Internet Radio or Podcasts, I think the Wi Fi module is for Daisy Online. That is my memory of the manual anyway.
It may be theoretically possible to transfer Firmware code from other Victor Devices , to the Stratus, depending on resources available on the device like ram and processor power, but even if the Stratus is up to spec I suspect it would require an awful lot of time investment and testing to achieve probably tiny extra sales.
In this case I don't blame Humanware if they make a pragmatic decision that there is not a business case which would support this investment of time.
I think that to get what you want we have to hope that there is improvement in the Stream 3 Firmware over the next months and years and possibly simply hook this device up to some reasonable speakers, either wired or Bluetooth.
If my wife was not pathologically opposed to noise of any kind, this is probably the approach I would take with getting some good spec Bluetooth speakers and using the Stream pretty much like a remote control to access the potential 1TB of media storage to play music etc whilst also using the Wi-Fi for Radio and Podcasts. Instead we tend here to each use earphones for our respective devices. She likes it quiet - I like it loud.
David Griffith
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From:
[email protected] <
[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2023 9:24 AM
To:
[email protected]Subject: Re: [dap-uk] Straitus Wi-Fi module
I suppose it will get me nowhere if I write to Humanware sales asking for the Wi-Fi module for my Stratus player to be made available here, even if I want only to listen to radio stations I can receive via streaming or podcasts, asuming it would let me do that.
Seems we have hit a brick wall with propper access to DAISY books from RNIB, unless you are prepared to go the Easy Reader route. Sticking my head above the parapet in my opinion this is down to a long history of on-line access to the TB library never having been implemented well. Also, just maybe the price we are paying for those who shouted in large numbers for free access to the TB library. I don't know if any one employed by the Royal are on this list, but I would expect them to keep quiet on this issue.
Ray.
On 27/07/2023 03:53 pm, Steve Nutt via groups.io wrote:
Yep, we're trying to get RNIB to give Bones a developer account for the Milestone, and we can't even get that far.
Bones would love to do it for the Milestone Wi-Fi, but they are being held back by RNIB.
All the best
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On
Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2023 3:45 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [dap-uk] Straitus Wi-Fi module
You echo my feelings David when it comes to RNIB. Seems almost everyone else around the world has got the online thing right, or is it thinking the other man's grass.....
Ray.
On 27/07/2023 03:29 pm, David Griffith via groups.io wrote:
I do have the stratus and used to use it for playing Audio Magazines from the RNIB on CD.
I agree it produces a nice sound. With Wifi and firmware development it could be transformed into a far more exciting device with a new lease of life playing internet radio, podcasts etc as available on the Stream. As far as I can tell there is a 0% chance of this ever happening.
Since the Audio Magazine service has been made available online I have stopped using the Stratus. I now access this through Speak On on my laptop by my armchair.
I suspect the lack of interest in Humanware in providing this module here is directly related to the equivalent lack of interest from the RNIB in supporting specialist players' Daisy Online.
For years I kept on hearing how this might happen eventually but in reality there has been no energy in providing this, despite it being technically possible for over a decade.
It is not only possible now on the Stream 3 but for years on other Humanware devices like the Stream 2 and Trek. More modern devices like the Evo 12 are setup to allow Daisy Online connection along with the Hims players and others.
However this is a technical capability the RNIB have always turned their back against.
They have instead focussed on other devices like the In Your Pocket Device, with terrible audio for hearing impaired users, terrible speech input for speech impaired users like me, and now seem to have sunk all their eggs into the dolphin Easy Reader basket despite this app being unable currently to access the Audio Magazine service.
If you look at your Victor Reader Stream 3 you will see that in the USA you would be able to access your eText Newspaper service, Newsline, your Daisy Online Library Bard, and eBook library Bookshare directly on your device through its WiFi capacity.
As far as I am aware only RNIB Bookshare may be available in the UK, by piggy backing on the USA service, and I am not certain about that. Certainly I can access the main Bookshare library as an international subscriber and find it very convenient on the Stream.
In Australia it makes perfect sense for Humanware to make this module available for the stratus as Vision Australia have enthusiastically embraced daisy Online.
Here, if the RNIB has been completely disinterested for other more popular players there is a miniscule chance that they will activate themselves for the small minority of us stratus users.
I would not hold your breath.
David Griffith
, not just for the Stratus but ever since the possibility of
integrating Daisy Online became possible with not jj
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2023 11:55 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] Straitus Wi-Fi module
Don't know how many here have a Humanware Stratus player or have even heard of it. Its a bit long in the tooth now, but it plays CDs pen drives and SD card - both audio and some text files.
I always knew there was supposed to be the optionof a plug-in Wi_fi module inside the small detatchable door on the bottom of the player, but I do not think it was ever available here.
Well, the Talking Tech podcast from Australia featuring David Woodbridge revealed the other day that in Australia at least this module seems to have been made available. So, why not here, apparantly? He spoke of it being able to access the Australian talking book library,. It would be nice if that could happen here, though I've always felt the RNIB TB library to be a bit of a mess.
I like the Stratus players, as dated as they may be. They sound nice and there larger size would appeal to many older listeners much more than the pocketable portable players most of us use.
So, anyone know anything more on this?
Ray.
