FW: [victor] The Victor Reader Stream 3 is coming... sooner than you think!

#691

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mathieu
Sent: 19 January 2023 23:28
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [victor] The Victor Reader Stream 3 is coming... sooner than you think!

?

More answers:

Launch date: We'll be shipping out in February. Full transparency, we're still putting up the finishing touches so I don't have a set release date, but it will be sometime in February: it's looking like mid-Feb.

Multiple speakers on BT: No, only one connection.

WIFI chip: Yes, it's a more recent chip, with 5ghz support.

Mathieu

FW: [victor] Stream 3 pricing for North America, and other information.

#690

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mathieu
Sent: 24 January 2023 20:49
To: [email protected]
Subject: [victor] Stream 3 pricing for North America, and other information.

?

Hello all,

I know, I know. People want to know, how much. All I've said so far is that it's not that far off the current Stream 2 price.

I've finally had my announcement meeting with the dealers today for North America, so I can announce the pricing for the US and Canada. EU/UK/AU pricing will be revealed at later dates, but I think this list being mostly US-Canada centric, it shouldn't be a problem.

So, here are a few details.

RETAIL PRICING

For retail pricing, for the US, it will be priced at $550 USD. For Canada, the retail price will be $595. This is about 10% more than the Stream 2, but with all the new features we're adding, I think it's more than worth it!

PREORDERS

As we haven't announced an official launch date yet (besides "February"), I can't talk to exactly when we'll take preorders. We want to make sure we're good and ready to launch (see next point), but preorders will be available 7 to 10 days before launch. We'll announce it when we're ready.

LAUNCH DATE

So, complete transparency here: we are still very much working hard on polishing stuff, fixing bug, and completing features. It's possible that at launch, a few bugs slipped between our fingers, but we're trying to get you a product that works as well as possible, and we'll patch things as they come up post-launch. As we stand, the build that I and many of our testers (our beta is done with our employees) have in our hands right now is already fairly good, definitely usable, but it's missing a few puzzle pieces that will soon be done.

One of the key things that's not finished yet is Daisy Online and localizations other than English. So, we are looking at a launch in two tiers.

What we're aiming for is a launch February (towards the middle of the month) for the US, late February if we have to. Then, 4 to 6 weeks later, a global launch (Canada/UK/EU/AU etc), since at that point, we should be able to deliver Daisy Online and more languages (French, Spanish, etc).

(Daisy Online is what pretty much the whole world uses for libraries, like CELA in Canada. The US mostly uses Bookshare, BARD and NFB, which are NOT Daisy Online services, and are ready to go now).

So as not to delay the launch in what's our biggest market, we're doing it in two stages.

One of the things that changed for example in the last week is that the surprise I talked about previously for Internet Radio will be postponed a bit, unfortunately, we hit a bit of a technical snag, but it's close and should come after the release (perhaps at the same time as the global launch, or shortly after). I'm not saying more but I know people will love it. But now I'm glad I kept it as a secret since it'll be delayed a bit ;)

So here we go. Bill, to answer in terms of hardware, whether you get a unit day 1 or day 100, it will be the same hardware. The only reason we'd change hardware is if a component became unavailable. So there's no risk on ordering day 1 or even preordering once it's available.

Thanks all for reading this wall of text, hopefully, I was able to answer a few things!

Mathieu Paquette
Product Manager
Humanware

FW: [victor] comments concerning this new product manager

#689

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mathieu
Sent: 25 January 2023 19:07
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [victor] comments concerning this new product manager

?

Lois: you can always email info@...?:)

As for the Internet Radio surprise, it's not a fix. The service we use currently is ooTunes, and unfortunately, they're a small operation, so links aren't as well maintained as we'd like, and there's nothing we can do for that, on our end.

No, the "surprise" is something bigger. Can't talk about it now, but you'll be happy when it comes in. That should be at the latest in the spring. We just ran into a few technical issues, but it shouldn't be too long after launch :)

Mathieu

Re: new vr stream mark 3

#688

开云体育

Hi All.

I was going to repost a message sent out by Jonathan Mosen alerting us to the latest Mosen at Large for this weekend in which he will be interviewing someone from Humanware.? He has invited questions and I have emailed him one asking whether the new Stream will be able to access BBC Sounds.

Can we have a link or some info Adrian on discussions you have beeb following?? Especially the spec of the new VR.

Ray.

On 26/01/2023 02:49 pm, claire amoroso wrote:

Show quoted text

Have you got any official information regarding this new Stream? I’m not on the other list.?

Thanks?

Claire?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of adrien collins <adriencollins820@...>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 1:00:52 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [dap-uk] new vr stream mark 3
?

Hi

?

I don’t know if you have all heard but there will be a new stream mark 3 released sometime soon, it looks quite good, there has been a lot of traffic regarding it on the other victor stream group, Matthew from humanware Canada has been answering a lot of questions and is very or as open as he can be regarding the new stream. I am looking forward to seeing the new stream. There are a lot of improvements, obviously all the devices we use have their good and bad points and can al do different things so watch this space. ?

?

Regards

?

Adrien

?

Re: new vr stream mark 3

#687

开云体育

Have you got any official information regarding this new Stream? I’m not on the other list.?

Thanks?

Claire?

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of adrien collins <adriencollins820@...>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 1:00:52 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [dap-uk] new vr stream mark 3

?

Hi

?

I don’t know if you have all heard but there will be a new stream mark 3 released sometime soon, it looks quite good, there has been a lot of traffic regarding it on the other victor stream group, Matthew from humanware Canada has been answering a lot of questions and is very or as open as he can be regarding the new stream. I am looking forward to seeing the new stream. There are a lot of improvements, obviously all the devices we use have their good and bad points and can al do different things so watch this space. ?

?

Regards

?

Adrien

?

new vr stream mark 3

#686

开云体育

Hi

?

I don’t know if you have all heard but there will be a new stream mark 3 released sometime soon, it looks quite good, there has been a lot of traffic regarding it on the other victor stream group, Matthew from humanware Canada has been answering a lot of questions and is very or as open as he can be regarding the new stream. I am looking forward to seeing the new stream. There are a lot of improvements, obviously all the devices we use have their good and bad points and can al do different things so watch this space. ?

?

Regards

?

Adrien

?

test please ignore

#684

More on Internet radio - BBC to close Shoutcast streams in 2023

#683

We are not alone in being peed off with the BBC's doctrine of infalibility in its plans to force radio listeners online.? This article was sent to the UK Radio Listeners list.? Seems a good many internet radio listeners will be waiting to see if a technical rabbit will be pulled out of the hat, not just us.

I intend writing to Humanware again, and other manufacturers who provide easy pre-set interfaces to listen to radio very much like selecting a preset on an FM or DAB radio.

IN short the Beeb should be given more bad publicity over this one.

Forwarded article.

Internet radio - BBC to close Shoutcast streams in 2023
The Big Tech Question
By Barry Collins
16 December 2022

To be clear, the BBC isn’t switching off all of its internet radio services. It’s switching off a service called Shoutcast, which is used by a lot of older internet radios and some newer models too. The BBC will continue to use two other streaming standards called HLS and DASH.

If you’re hearing a message on your radio saying your stream is about to be cut off, it uses the Shoutcast technology.

Why is the BBC doing this? Frankly, it looks like a cost-cutting exercise and a data-gathering one.

To quote the BBC’s own information page on this decision, it says:

"As well as delivering better value, it will allow us to understand more on how our content is consumed. This forms part of our strategy for BBC Sounds and is important to help us improve the services we offer to our listeners."

It seems like yet another efforts to drive us towards the dismal BBC Sounds app.

Is there any way to continue getting BBC stations on my internet radio?

On its information page, the BBC rather unhelpfully states that you should contact your radio manufacturer. If you take a look out of your window right now you might see a buck flying past.

It appears the radio manufacturers were informed of this decision in the summer of 2022. But it’s not a simple job for the radio manufacturers to retrofit newer standards, especially on equipment that may now be a decade old or more.

For example, Cambridge Audio has put a statement on its website saying that:

"We are currently investigating if anything can be done from our side to ensure that once the Shoutcast streams have ceased in mid-2023 our older range of network streamers can continue to play these stations. We are unable to comment on if this will be possible at the moment, but we will update this page when we have more information."

In my opinion, the BBC has shafted the radio manufacturers, who are now going to be dealing with lots of angry customers.

Whether or not you’ll be able to continue receiving BBC stations on your current hardware will be down to your manufacturer’s ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat. It may be possible the firmware upgrade will solve the problem, but I would consider that unlikely, especially on devices that are more than a couple of years old.

There are, of course, other ways of getting BBC Radio over the internet. For example, Amazon’s range of Echo speakers all play BBC stations and they won’t be affected by the switch off. Likewise you can play via any web browser on the BBC Sounds website. The BBC Sounds app for smartphones and tablets also offers live radio.

However, it does seem the BBC is going to shove a whole load of internet radio hardware closer to the skip with this decision. Not least because where the BBC leads, others will follow.

Ray.

Re: vr stream battery question

#682

Hi Ray

I know it used to work on the stream mark 1 but don't think it works as well on mark 2. 

Regards

Adrien

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: 13 December 2022 13:22
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [dap-uk] vr stream battery question

Adrian, I've had this problem too.  Sorry to say I think its pretty common and one of the weaknesses of the Stream and Trek.

Again sorry to say it, but Humanware do themselves no good at all when 
it comes to their record on this probolem, though of course they do 
repair - at a cost.

We can hope that the replacement when its announced is better in this 
respect as well as addressng other issues.

Ray.

On 13/12/2022 12:50 pm, adrien collins wrote:
Hi

On one of my Vr Streams, I have noticed that the battery low alert no longer sounds, the battery just dies when it gets to about 29 percent, when I charge it up, it starts at 1 percent, has anyone else noticed this? I have two stream mark 2, I haven't checked the other stream.
Regards

Adrien

Re: vr stream battery question

#681

Adrian, I've had this problem too.? Sorry to say I think its pretty common and one of the weaknesses of the Stream and Trek.

Again sorry to say it, but Humanware do themselves no good at all when it comes to their record on this probolem, though of course they do repair - at a cost.

We can hope that the replacement when its announced is better in this respect as well as addressng other issues.

Ray.

Show quoted text

On 13/12/2022 12:50 pm, adrien collins wrote:
Hi

On one of my Vr Streams, I have noticed that the battery low alert no longer sounds, the battery just dies when it gets to about 29 percent, when I charge it up, it starts at 1 percent, has anyone else noticed this? I have two stream mark 2, I haven't checked the other stream.
Regards

Adrien

vr stream battery question

#680

Hi

On one of my Vr Streams, I have noticed that the battery low alert no longer sounds, the battery just dies when it gets to about 29 percent, when I charge it up, it starts at 1 percent, has anyone else noticed this? I have two stream mark 2, I haven't checked the other stream. 
Regards

Adrien

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#679

Well said Pele.? I just wish some people could realise once and for all not all of us and not just the blind comunity, are finding it easy to use the Sounds app.? "Accessability" is not the issue here, its usability.

so, as someone who has been a long-time radio listener and uses presets a lot in listening to FM, DAB - and internet radio on my inaccessible Roberts Radio as well as specialist players - I want presets in Sounds to give me easy one button clicks to get quickly to all the variety of stationsI listen to.

Its sad this uncritical idea of "progress" or accepting change and an unstated idea that whatever is, is right, does not serve so many of our community well or at all.

Ray.

Show quoted text

On 06/12/2022 10:02 am, Pele West wrote:
Hi Steve

I also use BBC Sounds but I was interested to see if the Speech Radio app would be easy to use for someone who does not find BBC Sounds very easy to get on with.

Pele

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#678

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the tip.

I'll hold off trying the app until I hear it's ready for android 13, but I'll possibly give it a try when and if it becomes compatible with android 13.

Alexander Shannon

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On
Behalf Of Steve Nutt
Sent: Tuesday, December 6, 2022 9:41 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

Hi Alex,

Don't do it yet, it's really not ready for Android 13.

All the best

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On
Behalf Of Alexander Shannon via groups.io
Sent: 05 December 2022 21:14
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

Hi Ray,

I'm interested in this discussion of Speech Radio, as, although I generally
listen to radio via my Google Smart speaker, I notice that if I understand
messages on this thread correctly no-one has tested speech Radio on  a pixel
as yet.  I may therefore see if I can get it to work on my pixel 6.

Alexander Shannon

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>On
Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from
Wireless for Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to
easy radio listening and station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said
not to work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#677

Hi Steve

I also use BBC Sounds but I was interested to see if the Speech Radio app would be easy to use for someone who does not find BBC Sounds very easy to get on with.

Pele

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#676

Hi Alex,

Don't do it yet, it's really not ready for Android 13.

All the best

Steve

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Alexander Shannon via groups.io
Sent: 05 December 2022 21:14
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

Hi Ray,

I'm interested in this discussion of Speech Radio, as, although I generally listen to radio via my Google Smart speaker, I notice that if I understand messages on this thread correctly no-one has tested speech Radio on  a pixel as yet.  I may therefore see if I can get it to work on my pixel 6.

Alexander Shannon

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On 
Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from 
Wireless for Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to 
easy radio listening and station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said 
not to work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if 
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#675

Basically, they are not ready for Android 13 yet.

 Really don't like these specialist apps I have to say. I just use BBC Sounds, or even my podcast app to play radio.

All the best

Steve

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Pele West
Sent: 06 December 2022 09:03
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

Hi alexander

So far I have not been able to get Speech Radio to work on my Pixel 4A. 
I wrote to Wireless for the Blind about it and was told it was a problem with Pixel phones and they were looking into it. I haven't heard back and, to be honest, I have not tried to use the app lately. It may be time for another go.

Pele West

On 05/12/2022 21:14, Alexander Shannon via groups.io wrote:
Hi Ray,

I'm interested in this discussion of Speech Radio, as, although I generally listen to radio via my Google Smart speaker, I notice that if I understand messages on this thread correctly no-one has tested speech Radio on  a pixel as yet.  I may therefore see if I can get it to work on my pixel 6.

Alexander Shannon

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> 
On Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from 
Wireless for Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to 
easy radio listening and station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said 
not to work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if 
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#674

Hi alexander

So far I have not been able to get Speech Radio to work on my Pixel 4A. I wrote to Wireless for the Blind about it and was told it was a problem with Pixel phones and they were looking into it. I haven't heard back and, to be honest, I have not tried to use the app lately. It may be time for another go.

Pele West

Show quoted text

On 05/12/2022 21:14, Alexander Shannon via groups.io wrote:
Hi Ray,

I'm interested in this discussion of Speech Radio, as, although I generally listen to radio via my Google Smart speaker, I notice that if I understand messages on this thread correctly no-one has tested speech Radio on  a pixel as yet.  I may therefore see if I can get it to work on my pixel 6.

Alexander Shannon

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On
Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from Wireless for
Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to easy radio listening and
station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said not to
work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#673

Hi Ray,

I'm interested in this discussion of Speech Radio, as, although I generally listen to radio via my Google Smart speaker, I notice that if I understand messages on this thread correctly no-one has tested speech Radio on  a pixel as yet.  I may therefore see if I can get it to work on my pixel 6.

Alexander Shannon

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On
Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from Wireless for
Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to easy radio listening and
station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said not to
work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#672

Thanks Ed.? Good that someone else has given Speech Radio a tryas I did yesterday.

I have a Synapptic adapted Samsung phone so I installed Speech Radio from the Play Store easily enough.? It works, but beyond getting it to play some BBC streams I did not experiment further. That was hit and mis, and it did not at first recognize my asking for BBC 6 music.? When I did get stations to play stopping them did not seem always to work.? As I recall when the app did find 6 music it came up with other suggestions but no way could I find a way of navigating these, either on the screen which I could see with its static large logo or swiping around the screen or generally exploring it either.

It saddens me to say BWBF have not had an impressive record so far with their apps.? When they and others in the charity world decided to go it alone with their Alexa skill for talking newspapers it had a less than impressive start, and even now they still are having to deal with bugs.? In contrast the skill previously used by our TN and some others from Jonathan Horniblow did seem to work well, and we had negotiated quite a good price with him for that service and were sorry to lose it.

iPhone users might report back here, I hope with their experiences.

I end by wondering just where speech Radio's feeds are coming from.? Could this app too go silent after the dropping of the BBC's Shoutcast feeds?

I would like to see a straight basic campaign for BBC Sounds to update Sounds to include a one button presses interface for their national and local radio streams that may or may not be built on by access tech providers enabling an easy hardware interface to mirror this.

ray.

Show quoted text

On 03/12/2022 11:07 am, Edward Green wrote:
Hi Ray,

The Android version is ok in my admittedly limited experience though I haven't tried it on my Pixel.  They could introduce a better method for controlling the playing stream.

The app does work better in my view with Talkback disabled, and I fed that back to BWBF.

Cheers,

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from Wireless for Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to easy radio listening and station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said not to work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.

Re: BWBF Speech Radio App

#671

Hi Ray,

The Android version is ok in my admittedly limited experience though I haven't tried it on my Pixel.  They could introduce a better method for controlling the playing stream.

The app does work better in my view with Talkback disabled, and I fed that back to BWBF.

Cheers,

Ed

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rea Lists
Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2022 9:50 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [dap-uk] BWBF Speech Radio App

I have been picking up discussion of the Speech Radio app from Wireless for Blind and it looks as if it might jut be a solution to easy radio listening and station hopping that many of us want.

Find out more about the app at:

It does appear the Android version is buggy and Pixel phones are said not to work with it propperly at the moment.

I believe tony who is on this list has tried it with an iPhone so if 
he's not commented here before then I hop hope he wil come in on this.

Ray.