[access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility

  • From: "Dave Mack" <dcmack2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:43:18 -0700

Hello. all.
As a U.S. subscriber to this list who also uses Amazon's Accessible Kindle for Windows, I have gotten used to the male voice after a few changes to speed settings but also agree with the criticisms. I assume folks across the pond have a British variant to the two American voices available here in the United States - am I correct?
I have suggested Amazon make SAPI 4 and SAPI 5 voice access available in the Windows version but I do not know if that would conflict with any contractual arrangement with Nuance which provides the bundled voices of Tom and Samantha here in the United States and, I assume, any variant in the United Kingdom, etc.
Meanwhile, as I posted here a week ago or so, I have started a list to specifically address these topics in a united front as Amazon does not always respond in a meaningful fashion to individual inquiries. Please feel free to join the list which currently only has four members and no discussion has begun as yet.
However, there are other issues as well regarding accessibility and the Kindle which I also hope to see addressed in any upgrades. 

You may join the list at:
accessible-kindle-app-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by visiting the list page at http://www.freelists.org/list/accessible-kindle-app 

Best regards,
Grandpa Dave in California


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Karl" <grandtheogonist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 7:50 AM
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility


Yusuf,
Agreed re the personal preference.  The thing that grates for me over the
voice is it seems to fail to pause when moving in and out of dialogue.
Though, again, this is my personal opinion .

Regards
Karl
----- Original Message ----- From: "Yusuf" <yusufaosman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 3:09 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility
This is a really personal thing, I find the speech perfectly acceptable and 
have read several non-fiction and a couple of fiction titles on both the
Kindle and the PC software.
If you can bare the voice, the ability to buy books from a massive and ever 
increasing selection of books is really worth it. Twice now I've been able
to buy books just as they've come out, Agger's Ashes and the memoir of a
fighter pilot who served in Afghanistan.
Yusuf
If you have nothing better to do, why not take a look at my blog
http://yusufaosman.wordpress.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl" <grandtheogonist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:53 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility



Ibrahim,
For my 2 cents worth, I think the voice is pretty bad and with the
software's inability to deal with certain punctuation structures,
particularly dialogue, it can be a bit frustrating.

Again, my opinion only.  Need to find a way to convert kindle content to
text.

Regards,
Karl
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 1:55 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility


Hi Yusuf.

Yep, I think I'll do that, though from what I've  heard the voice is
pretty
dam awful.

All the best, Ibrahim.
-----Original Message----- From: Yusuf 
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:40 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility

As far as I know the only demo is of the Kindle itself, not the PC
software.
But I'm pretty sure that the voice is the same.
John Galegher's demo of the Kindle is on Blindcooltech I believe, also you 
could just download the Kindle PC software and get one of the free titles
to
test out the speech.
Yusuf
If you have nothing better to do, why not take a look at my blog
http://yusufaosman.wordpress.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:34 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility



Hi Yusuf.

Are there any demos I can listne to?

All the best, Ibrahim.
-----Original Message----- From: Yusuf 
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:29 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Kindle Accessibility

No you can't use Jaws or any other screenreader voice to read books on
the
Kindle. You will have to use the TTS that the Kindle supports.
Yusuf
If you have nothing better to do, why not take a look at my blog
http://yusufaosman.wordpress.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ibrahim Gucukoglu" <ibrahim_gucukoglu@xxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 12:15 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Kindle Accessibility


Hi Everyone.

I’m thinking of giving kindle a go, as in downloading and reading some
free
books on my laptop using the accessible kindle application from Amazon.

I appreciate this has been discussed a great deal over the last few
months,
however I just want to know whether the accessibility plug in for the
software will allow me to read books using jaws, or will I be expected to 
listen to a SAPI synthesiser voice like Daniel when reading any TTS
enabled
titles.

All the best and please feel free to write me off list to avoid
unnecessary
traffic.

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