[vicsireland] Re: Amazon Launch Kindle Software for PC with Accessibility Features

  • From: "Tim Culhane" <tim.culhane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:06:46 -0000

Hi,
 
I don't think this is a case of  visually impaired people being
descriminated against here.  Its simply the case that nobody outside the US
can buy kindle material on amazon.com.    Must be copyright issues.
 
Tim
 

-----Original Message-----
From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ciaran Ferry
Sent: 20 January 2011 10:03
To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Amazon Launch Kindle Software for PC with
Accessibility Features


That's a real pity Tony.
 
Hopefully it won't be too long before it's available this side of the pond.
 
Wonder what the issue is - i would've thought that if electronic versions of
books were available in a certain jurisdiction that there'd be no problem
using this software to read them. Do you know if it's a copyright thing, or
just Amazon being awkward and / or lazy? 
 
Do you know if different versions of the application are required for each
store i.e. one for amazon.com, one for amazon.co.uk etc?
 
Ciaran
 
  _____  

From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Scanlon, Tony
Sent: 20 January 2011 09:49
To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: Amazon Launch Kindle Software for PC with
Accessibility Features



Hi Ciaran 

This was discussed on the UK Access List and it appears it will not be
available outside of the US.

This was the response from Amazon. 

Tony

 

Here is the response which I received from amazon.com regarding accessible

Kindle for PC

 

 "

 Thank you for your inquiry about Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin.

At this time, we are unable to offer this software to our international

customers.

 To successfully register the application and purchase digital content from

 Amazon.com, the 1-Click payment method listed on the Manage Your Kindle
page> must be a credit or debit card issued by a U.S. Bank with a U.S.
billing

address.

 

 We value our international customers and hope to make Kindle for PC with

 Accessibility Plugin available internationally in the future.  To receive

 emails from Amazon when updates on this topic are available, please send an

email to blind-interest@xxxxxxxxxxx

 

> For additional information, please visit

> www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility/help.

> 

> Thanks for your interest in Kindle."

> 

> I would recommend that as many people as possible contact Amazon
requesting

> that this application be introduced here. The more e-mails they received
the

> more likely it is to have an impact.

 


  _____  


From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ciaran Ferry
Sent: 20 January 2011 09:24
To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vicsireland] Amazon Launch Kindle Software for PC with
Accessibility Features

 

http://www.fredshead.info/2011/01/free-kindle-software-with-accessibility.ht
ml 

Amazon.com has released Kindle for PC that adds accessibility features
designed for blind and low-vision customers. 

Kindle for PC with Accessibility Plugin is a free, downloadable application
for your Windows PC. It provides the following accessibility features:
text-to-speech reading with adjustable voice settings, voice-guided menu
navigation, large font sizes, high contrast reading mode, keyboard
navigation, and accessible shortcuts. 

With this software, for the first time ever, the entire collection of
English language books in the Kindle Store can be read aloud. With over
750,000 English language titles, Amazon offers the largest selection of
accessible ebooks. In order to use the text-to-speech feature, an external
screen reader program must be installed and running on the Windows PC. 

"We welcome your feedback at kindle-PC-accessibility-feedback@xxxxxxxxxx".

The free download is  <http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility> available
at http://www.amazon.com/kindle/accessibility. The download is large because
it comes with Nuance Tom and Jenifer 22khz voices. Important keyboard
shortcuts to know include: 

*       ctrl-r, reads using the supplied voice, not your installed software
synth. 

*       ctrl-d, adds or deletes a bookmark 

*       ctrl-shift-v, switches between Tom and Jenifer 

*       ctrl-shift-c, switches between continuous and single page reading 

*       F5 syncs reading position with a Kindle on your account 

*       Left and right arrows move back and forth by page 

*       ctrl-I provides limited instructions 

 

 

Ciaran Ferry, Business Solutions, ESB ITS, 27 Lwr Fitzwilliam St, Dublin 2,
Ireland.

Tel: +353-1-(70)27945 | EMail: Ciaran.Ferry@xxxxxx | Web:
<http://www.esb.ie/> http://www.esb.ie

 

This e-mail and any attached files are from FAS and are confidential. This
E-mail is intended only for the addressee indicated in the message. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy, distribute or
use the information but please delete the email as soon as possible. Any
views or opinions expressed in the email are those of the sender only and
not necessarily those of FAS. FAS - Training and Employment Authority P.O.
Box 456, 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6070500,
Fax: 353-1-6070600, Email: info@xxxxxxx 

Other related posts: