PART THREE: PORTABLE PLAYBACK DEVICES

Overview

The ten portable playback devices field tested as part of this study represent just a small fraction of the large, diverse, rapidly-evolving field of portable devices capable of playing digital audio content. Although there are many ways to categorize, compare, and contrast this device field, in this report they are listed in alphabetical order. Some of these devices, such as the BookCourier, Book Port, Scholar, Classic Plus, and Vibe, have been designed for and marketed to primarily the population of citizens who are visually impaired. Other of the devices field tested, such as the Digisette, MuVo, PTR1, and Soul Player, are designed for the general consumer market. Some of the devices are CD players, while others are flash memory devices. The file types (DAISY, MP3, WMA, etc.) each device can playback varies considerably. Some have embedded speakers, but most require headphones, ear buds, or external speakers to actually hear the digital audio content.

This set of field tests of these devices builds on an earlier feature analysis of a similar set of devices conducted in Project HAL (Handheld Accessible Libraries). The revised final report on Project HAL (March 2004) is available at the following URL:

http://www.tapinformation.com/HALfinalreport200403.htm

Audio Navigator

Description of the Device

The Audio Navigator from Audio-Read (http://www.audio-read.com.au/), a privately held Australian company, is a digital playback device designed specifically for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, physically challenged, or elderly. The model of the Audio Navigator tested by MIDTB volunteers contained 512 megabytes of memory and was preloaded with content, including several novels and an issue of a daily newspaper. The Audio Navigator contains an internal speaker, located at the top, rounded end of the device. A jack for headphones, ear buds, or external speakers is located on the left side of the device.

The Audio Navigator contains a rechargeable lithium ion battery. When fully charged, the device should play for approximately 24 hours. To recharge the battery, connect the device to your computer using the USB connector supplied with the device.

The Audio Navigator contains nine buttons on the face of the device. A USB port is located on the front edge of the device, the edge facing the user. In addition to the headphone port on the left edge of the device, there is a small switch for locking and unlocking the buttons.

The Audio Navigator automatically bookmarks only one location in each publication loaded on the device. The bookmark is placed either when you turn off the device or when you use the level one navigation keys to move to another publication. When you turn the device back on or navigate back to the original publication, playback will continue forward from the bookmarked point. The Audio Navigator will automatically turn off after twenty minutes, if no keys have been pressed.

Image of the Audio Navigator:

Praise and Positive Feedback

Simplicity: The best thing about the Navigator is its simplicity. It was easy to learn. “It wasn't arcane, it made accessing the information a pleasure instead of a chore.”

Buttons: The large buttons were much appreciated. Good placement of the buttons on the device. “I loved the audio navigator! ... I love the big buttons it and very user friendly!”

Nonlinear Navigation: The sample newspaper loaded on the trial devices (along with several novels) was appreciated as a way to test the nonlinear navigation functionality of the device.

Sound Quality: The clear, high-quality narrated voice was excellent.

Audible Clues: The fact that the device announced when it was turned on, how much battery charge remained, the book being read, what section was being jumped to, when the power was being turned off, etc. However, some volunteers found this feature annoying, especially after they had used the device for awhile.

Built-in Speaker: The built-in speaker is a plus. It had more than enough volume and performed well. It does not require the listener to lie or sit still.

Go Back: If you accidentally pressed the wrong button and jumped to another book without wanting to do so, you could always recover your fumble by pressing the "back" button as long as you did it before the new book began to be read.

Problems and Suggestions

Responsiveness: Faster response to commands

Improve the Sleep Timer: The automatic sleep timer shut off annoyed several of the volunteers. The unit shuts down after a period of time with no explanation. The end-user needs some way to override this automatic shutdown.

Variable Speed Playback: Add variable speed playback.

Improve the Bookmarking Feature: The ability to set bookmarks. Sometimes the automatic book marks didn't seem to be set.

Audible Clues: Some volunteers found the announcement of the book being read annoying, especially after the unit had been paused and resumed.

Rewind: Rewinding the content was a bit tricky.

No Commercials: Some volunteers did not appreciate the commercial message at the moment of powering off the unit.

Portability: Because the device had no handle, carrying strap, or case, some volunteers were afraid of dropping it.

Recharging: Provide an AC adapter as an alternative way to recharge the machine.

Transfer Content: Although the manufacturer claims that this device has been designed especially for older adults, one volunteer thought it would be difficult for older adults to transfer content onto this device. A device better suited for older adults is the Plextalk PTN1.

Overall Assessment

Nearly all of the volunteers who tried the Audio Navigator reported either a satisfactory or very satisfactory overall experience with it.

BookCourier

Description of the Device

The BookCourier (http://www.bookcourier.com/) from Springer Design, Inc. is a playback device designed specifically for individuals with a vision or learning disability that makes reading difficult or impossible. According to the User Guide (http://www.bookcourier.com/BookCourierUserGuide.htm), “BookCourier includes an MP3 player; a voice recorder; fast forward and fast reverse controls; bookmarks, jumps, and other smart navigation controls; a built-in alarm, sleep timer, clock, and calendar; plus easy-to-use controls for adjusting volume, reading speed, and more.”

The BookCourier can play DAISY-encoded content, MP3 and .txt files, and content from Audible.com.

To get help information about a specific key, first press the question mark key, then press the key about which you want information. The voice briefly explains the three functions invoked by the press-and-release, the press-and-hold-until-the-beep, and the shift-and-press methods of invoking functions. To listen to the user guide for the device, press and hold the question mark key until you hear a beep. The BookCourier will resume reading the user’s guide where you left off. To exit the user guide and return to the content you were listening to, press the 0 key.

To hear an announcement of the current battery level expressed as a percentage, press and hold the diamond key in the lower left for one beep.

The BookCourier has three ports. Two are located on the top of the unit. The left one is used to connect ear buds or headphones. Because the BookCourier contains no internal speaker, you will need to have a set of ear buds or headphones connected in order to hear anything.

The other connector on the top of the device is used for the USB connector with the PC. A software program called the BookCourier Transfer Tool is used to move files from a PC to the BookCourier. Within the context of the MIDTB study, you should not need to transfer files to the BookCourier you receive on loan.

The port on the right side of the device receives the compact flash memory card. Within the context of this study, there should be no need for you to remove the flash memory card.

The BookCourier contains 15 keys located in five rows of three on the top of the device. The first four rows are arranged and numbered like the keypad of a telephone. The bottom row keys are marked with a diamond, a plus sign, and a question mark. The plus sign key functions as a shift key and is slightly concave. The number 5 key is concave and slightly larger than the other keys.

Each key can perform up to three functions. Activate the primary function by pressing and releasing the key. Activate the secondary function by pressing and holding a key until you hear a beep. With the BookCourier device it is possible to record voice files in WAV format and save them on the compact flash memory card. Each voice file you create contains a date/time stamp and is stored in the same folder as the current file being accessed. To be able to create a voice recording, the user must be either listening to a file or in the library of files and folders.

Activate the tertiary function by simultaneously pressing and releasing the shift (plus) key and the other key.

According to the user guide, the BookCourier device enables the user to set an “almost unlimited” number of bookmarks in each file. The feature automatically creates a name for the bookmark consisting of the first five words of the file following the place where the bookmark was set. It is possible to move forward and backward from bookmark to bookmark, or you can access the entire list of bookmarks associated with a file, then select the desired bookmark.

The BookCourier has a date and time feature. Simultaneously press both the shift (plus) key and the question mark key.

The BookCourier contains a TTS function. According to the documentation, it is RC Systems DoubleTalk.

Image of the Book Courier

Praise and Positive Feedback

General: “The unit was light, balanced well, easy to use, and had excellent volume, battery life and nice speech quality.”

Sound Quality: The quality of the voice for both MP3 and Audible.com content was excellent. The quality of the narrated content was excellent—crystal clear.

Transfer Software: The software for transferring files from a PC to the BookCourier is easier and more intuitive than is the software for transferring files from a PC to the Book Port. “The fact that you could cue up files to be added to the Book Courier without having the unit actually connected was a nice touch.”

Buttons: The different shapes and sizes of the keys were much appreciated. It was easy to understand the functions and the various keys.

File and Folder Management: The volunteers liked the way the device provides file management.

Nonlinear Navigation: Navigating around within a document seems to conform to other DAISY players the volunteers had tried.

Battery Replacement: The batteries were easy to replace.

File Transfers: “Initially, I imported an “NLS” “brf” file into the type ‘n speak, then printed this file as a “txt” file onto a floppy diskette, then imported that file into the Book Courier. The result was a file which read just fine, though it also announced each braile page. Since I am a Braille reader, this was a nice touch. The unit also announced each section or chapter as it was read.”

Auto Start: Several volunteers reported that they really liked the automatic start feature.

User Guide: The user guide contained very good explanations about functions and key sequences.

Placemarking: Even when the batteries are replaced, the BookCourier remembers where the user stopped listening.

Text-to-Speech: The volunteers appreciated the ability to change the TTS voice style and pitch. “The Artificial speech worked well. Other systems use better quality voices, but those implemented in the Book Currier were acceptable.”

Problems and Suggestions

General: Several volunteers were disappointed that some of the features of the BookCourier, such as links from the table of contents into the body of the book, were not yet implemented on the actual units they tested and used.

Internal Speaker: Have an internal speaker, or ship an external speaker with the device.

Power Source: Include an AC adapter with the device. Batteries are expended rather quickly

Text-to-Speech: Improve the quality of the TTS voices. Add AT&T voices from nextup.com.

File Types Supported: Make the device capable of reading more file types, such as Grade 2 Braille from WebBraille.

Spelling: Add a phonetic spelling feature. Apparently the spelling feature works in the main body of a book, but not in the table of contents.

File Transfer: Getting content onto the device was more difficult that some volunteers had anticipated.

Nonlinear Navigation: Add navigation at the chapter level.

Buttons and Functions: “The button functions were messy, both in lay out and number of functions assigned to each button. As many as three functions were assigned to each button, and some functions required the pressing of two buttons at the same time. I would have put the play button in an easier place to find, and would have put the button which had to be pressed for multiple functions in a place that was equally easy to find and hold down while other fingers were free to search. Maybe the bottom left corner so that the thumb could press it. Having the play button and the multiple use button both indented in the center was good. I would have put raised shapes on some of the other buttons too, arrows on the fast forward and rewind buttons, which should have been their primary functions. Go to next bookmark, and forward to end of file could have been on a separate button from fast forward to create less confusion, for example. The volume up and faster speech buttons were on the same button, and I would have also separated those functions.”

Reset: If the unit became jammed, it was annoying to have to reset the device, or even remove a battery if the reset did not work. “the Book Courier will hang up when an invalid set of commands are typed. The feature seems to be most prevalent with shifted functions. If an unsupported function, (not yet implemented such as jump) is accessed, the Book Courier will hang up and the only way to regain control is to remove the batteries and let the device reset itself. After all features are implemented, this problem should be mostly resolved, but the Book Currier should set itself to give an error beep and then be ignored when incorrect key combinations are pressed.”

Lock Feature: The user cannot tell if the device is locked unless he/she puts on headphones and presses a key.

Text-to-Speech: “The default voice "perfect Pete" is not as good as "Perfect Paul". The voice selections which use reverb quality to give a robotic sound were almost unintelligible.” The TTS voices were acceptable but not as good as those from eloquence or viavoice.

Variable Speed Playback: Provide variable speed playback capabilities for both the narrated and the TTS content.

Overall Assessment

The BookCourier was one of the more versatile devices used during this field test. Most of the volunteers who tried the BookCourier gave it an overall rating of somewhat satisfactory, satisfactory, or very satisfactory. Although there are a lot of functions and key sequences to learn, most volunteers found it easy to get started.

“If the Book currier gets all of its functions up, fixes the bug which can hang up the device, it should be worth considering as a possible device for those folks who need a small device for easy access to materials. If the Book Curier can be made to support larger memory cards, and use less energy, it would be worth considering for even more applications. The addition of an AC power supply would also be nice….”

“I love the device! I wish they could impliment it for us to use on loan and download stuff from the PC. I also think it would be cool if we could have the ability to use it on loan like we use the old library of congress tape recorders.”

“I liked this device over the others I have tried. I liked the size, ease of navigation. I liked the versatility.”

Book Port

Description of the Device

The Book Port (http://www.aph.org/products/bp_bro.html) from APH (the American Printing House for the Blind) supports many file types, including TXT, HTML, BRF, BRL, Audible.com (type 4), MP3, WAV, DAISY 2.x and 3.x, Microsoft Word, and RTF. Some content already has been loaded into the root directory for your use. If you actually owned a Book Port, the Book Port Transfer software would be used to move content from your PC onto the device.

The unit contains three ports. One is a jack for ear buds or head phones. Another connects the USB cable to your computer. The third is a slot for a compact flash memory card. Book Port comes with a 64MB Compactflash card.

The Book Port contains 18 keys located in six rows of three on the top of the device. The first four rows are arranged and numbered like the keypad of a telephone. The remaining two rows are lettered A-F.

Image of the Book Port

Praise and Positive Feedback

Batteries: The device had a good battery monitor and the batteries were easy to replace.

Buttons and Ports: “The Bookport numbers were easy to read and accessible. I could easily locate the jacks for the headphones and the USB cable.”

Portability: The size, shape, and weight of the device were much appreciated. “very durable; portable; excellent for use when walking or on an exercise equipment.”

Spell Check: At least one tester praised the functionality to check the spelling and punctuation of a text being read.

File Types: The testers really appreciated all of the file types that the Book Port supports.

File Transfer Software: “The Book Port transfer software works very well and has some nice options, especially the ability to compress audio files and mark phrases.”

Placemarking: One tester really liked the ability to move between various files on the device and then return to a previously accessed file and continue on from where she left off.

Sound Quality: Most testers rated this good to excellent. “The quality of the narrated voice was excellent. With Bookport, it was easy to control pitch, volume and speed of voice.”

Variable Speed Playback: This was a very popular feature among the testers.

Problems and Suggestions

Complex Commands: Some testers found the command sequences to be too complex, especially when in reading mode. They suggested that the commands be simplified and streamlined.

Erratic Behavior: Several of the volunteer testers reported that the Book Port device crashed or engaged in erratic behavior. “I found that the system often switched into strange modes and became unresponsive. Sometimes I received an error message when I pressed the "2" key to read, and nearly every other key simply beeped. I only emerged with persistence, trial and error, and frequent visits to the manual.”

Audible Help: “I would like a help mode for new users in which pressing a key or combination of keys, or holding keys down until their extended functionality is triggered, tells you what they do.”

Reset: One problem with the Book Port is that it resets to the default settings when the batteries are removed for more than a few seconds. Occasionally the BookPort needs to be reset when the user is moving around.

Text-to-Speech: Some testers found the default TTS voice to be difficult for pleasure reading. “I wish there was a way to change pronunciation of words that are mispronounced by the synthesizer.” “I would like to see the addition of voicing Adobe documents as well as other forms of ebook.”

Nonlinear Navigation: Some testers found the nonlinear navigation features to be too complex. In general, there was some frustration and disappointment about this feature of the Book Port. “It would also be nice if you could navigate by section in Audible[.com] books, using the sections defined by Audible[.com] in addition to the other navigation possibilities.”

Memo Feature: Several testers noted that it is too easy to inadvertently activate this feature, which basically switches the device from playback mode to memo mode.

File Transfer: At least one tester who tried the file transfer software found it to be too intrusive. Others suggested that the file transfer software be improved, especially the way navigation among folders is accomplished. They would also like the file transfer software to work in non-Microsoft operating systems, such as Linux. “the transfer protocols do not work very well on computers that are in a managed environment; they do work on home computers or on laptops not managed. I found though, that if I ran the transfer program when I first booted up the computer in the managed environment, it seemed to work better.” “I tried to download a song but the Bookport was full. When clicking on the icon "Book Port Spyder" I received a malicious scrip detected from my Norton Antivirus software. It states that the script is a high risk and recommends stopping the script from opening. The other two desktop icons, Book Port Transfer and Book Wizard Reader were functional.”

Delete Functionality: “I would like that function to give you a third warning before deleting as I have accidentally deleting a few books from the unit.”

Overall Assessment

Generally, the volunteers who field tested the Book Port reported an experience that overall was somewhat or very satisfactory.

“This is an excellent device bcause it can be used by a wide variety of students. Beginners can have books preloaded; more advanced users can load their own materials. The device is durable and reads many useful file formats; it promotes a healthy lifestyle because of its portability and rugged construction.”

“The Book Port is a fantastic reading device and well worth the money.”

“Bookport represents the way blind people should be able to read in the near future.”

A long overall assessment was provided by one volunteer tester:

“BookPort reflects the probable reading systems of the

future.It is signifficantly more advanced than any competative

system i have tried. Its only drawbacks are price and current

lack of linux support for book download.

Bookport provides blind readers with a look at what using true

fully implemented Daisy books will be like.

Its ability to move through even nonmarked digital audio books

by sentance and paragraph is quite remarkable. I look forward

with excitement to being able to have the ease of listening of

digital audio books with the access speed and flexibility of

etext books.

The controll functions are well designed and laidout and there is

less of a difficult learning curve with Bookport than with many

other modern electronic devices.

I did not test BookPort's transfer software with an accessible

windows computer as such is not available to me at this time.

However no difficulty was had by my sighted wife in setting up the

software and transferring files to Bookport.

The software shipped with this evaluation unit was an old

version. We downloaded and installed the latest version from the

AFB site with no difficulties.

One minor complaint, on uninstalling the BookPort Wizzard and

Transfer software at the end of this evaluation was that the

software was unable to install several files. These had to be

uninstalled manually and it was unclear whether particular files

might be used by other applications. Better windows applications

either uninstall everything they installed, or provide a list of all

files they are responsible for so that the user knows for sure

what should be removed. Hopefully future users of BookPort will

not need to uninstall the transfer software so this should not be

a large issue.

Other hardware suggestions, besides linux software support, might

include:

A setting which could decrease the frequency response of the

audio system at either trebel or bass. (tone control) Some

digital books have too much bass, and with good quality

earphones, the TTS engine has some slightly annoying noise at

high frequencies. Adjustment of the system's frequency response

could make listening in noisy environments even more efficient

and comfortable.

a mechanism which would keep Bookport turned off if no earphone

plug were in the jack.

A microphone jack might be nice for recording notes with a hnoise

canceling mike in very noisy environments.

A female voice in the TTS engine.

Additional features which would be helpfull might include:

the ability to change Speed and pitch in digital audio files.

(This may not be technically possible.)

Ability to reference a bookmark to either a voice note (memo) or

perhaps notes entered into a simpple text file editor with the

braille keyboard.

Linux transfer software.

A key identification mode

A scientific calculator using braille keyboard.

A basic text file editor using the braille keyboard.

Minor dissappointments include:

The use of a non-standard USB connector requiring a custom cable.

A poor selection of voices in the TTS engine. Although the

two voices I used are quite adequate, a female voice would be a

nice change. Several of the included voices must be considered

as gimmicks whose use for other than giggles is hard to imagine.

I would rather see the programming and memory taken up by these

gimmick voices used for 1 or two female voices.

during my evaluation, BookPort crashed a couple of times, getting

into modes where all keys caused only "error" beeps. When this

happened, on one occasion the reset command was successfull in

returning BookPort to normal operation. On another instance, it

was necessary to remove a battery for a few seconds. In neither

instance BookPort did not lose its reading place in either digital

audio or etext books. BookPort's ability to turn its self off

after a few seconds of activity and restart exactly where it was

left is one of its many advanced features. This is exciting to

me, even though, as an engineer, I understand how it is done.”

Digisette Duo-64

Description of the Device

The Digisette DUO-64 is a digital playback device designed for the
general consumer market. It is shaped like an audiocassette tape. 
It can be played in two ways. It can either be played as a 
standalone digital player, or it can function as a mock audiocassette
tape inserted into an audiocassette player.




 
 
The Digisette is capable of playing back narrated digital audio 
books provided by Audible.com. In addition to Audible audio files 
the Digisette also plays MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) 
formatted files.




 
 
The Digisette contains eight buttons and five ports. The 
on/off/record slider button is located on right side of the edge facing 
away from you. The main six buttons are located on the top of the 
device in the upper right hand corner. A head control slider button 
is located on the bottom of the device. The jack for ear buds or 
headphones is located on the right edge of the device, as is a 
remote control slot. The port for the USB connector is located on 
the front edge of the device. The port for the direct current charger 
connector is located on the left side of the device toward the front of 
that edge. The memory card port is located in the center of the far 
edge of the device. 




 
 
Note: because this device also functions as a mock audiocassette 
tape, it also contains two sprocket wheels in the center area of the 
device, as well as an audiocassette tape head in the center of the 
front edge closest to you.




 
 
The Digisette has a power save feature. If the device is turned on 
but not playing back any file, after ten minutes the device will 
automatically enter into its power save mode. To resume play, 
assuming that the on/off/record slider button is still in the on 
position, press and release the play button twice. 




 
 
The Digisette includes an audio recording functionality and a built-in 
microphone. The microphone is located on the top of the device in 
the right corner closest to the user. In other words, the microphone 
is located close to the port for ear buds or head phones. The 
device records in ADPCM format. A typical voice recording 
requires 1 megabyte of available flash memory for every 4.3 
minutes.




 
 

Image of the Digisette Duo-64

Praise and Positive Feedback

Portability: Users liked the extreme portability of the device.

Dual Purpose Transitional Device: The dual nature of the device was appreciated. Users liked being able to insert the MP3 player into a cassette tape deck.

Battery: The rechargeable battery worked well.

Nonlinear Navigation: It was easy to jump from one part of a book to another.

Sound Quality: “I liked the quality of the sound. It was very good! The music was great and the audio speech was fine!”

Problems and Suggestions

Storage Capacity: The storage capacity is very small by current standards. It will hold only a few chapters of a digital audio book.

Transfer Software: The transfer software contains plenty of keyboard shortcuts, but users of screen reader software found it difficult to operate because they needed to use the screen reader mouse keys to switch between the two views.

Buttons: The layout and small size of the buttons were frustrating for some users. In particular, the on/off switch was mentioned often as being poorly designed. “I'd like to see the buttons on the Digisette slightly more tactilely noticeable.”

Overall Assessment

The Digisette Duo-64 is a good device for the transitional era between audiocassettes and flash memory digital playback, but we are at the tail end of that era now. Poor button design and small storage capacity decrease significantly the accessibility and usefulness of this device for listening to audible ebooks and digital audio books.

“It's a novel concept, but I think we can get more features getting directly away from cassettes.”

MuVo

Description of the Device

The MuVo is a small, light, portable plastic unit shaped like a 
cigarette lighter, less than three inches long, one and a half inches 
wide and less than an inch thick. The entire package of the device, 
one AAA battery, and earbuds weighs only a couple of ounces. 




 
 
The MuVo plays back narrated digital audio books provided by 
Audible.com. In addition to Audible audio files (the MuVo supports 
Audible formats 2 and 3), the MuVo also plays MP3 and WMA 
(Windows Media Audio) formatted files, such as the digital talking 
books from OverDrive.
 
According to the manufacturer, the MuVo will run up to 12 hours on 
a single alkaline AAA battery. 




 
 
There are a total of six buttons on this model of the MuVo device. 
Three are located on the top of the device, and three are located on 
the front. Of the three buttons on the top of the device, the 
rightmost button, which is smaller than the other two buttons on the 
top, has several functions. This button turns the device on, pauses 
playback, and turns the unit off. To turn on the MuVo, press and 
hold this button for approximately 5 seconds until you hear audio 
content. To pause, press and release the same button again. To 
resume playback, press and release the button yet again. Turn off 
the unit by pressing and holding this button for 5 seconds.




 
 
Just to the left of the on/pause/off button is the forward button, and 
left of that is the back button. While listening to content you can 
press and release the back or forward buttons to cycle through the 
audio files on the device. Pressing and holding either of these 
buttons moves you backward or forward through whatever file you 
are listening to at the moment. Snippets of audio can be heard as 
you move through the file. 




 
 
There are two long rectangular buttons on the front side of the unit. 
The right button increases the volume and the left decreases the 
volume. 




 
 
The small round button in the right front corner is the repeat button. 
It has several functions. One function is to repeat a portion of an 
audio track. While listening to a file or track you press and release 
the small round button once to mark the beginning of the portion of 
audio you wish to repeat. Press and release the small round button 
again to mark the end of the portion of audio you wish to have 
repeated. To resume normal playback, press the small round 
button a third time. 




 
 
Image of the MuVo




 
 





 
 

Praise and Positive Feedback

Short Learning Curve: Many users reported that this device was easy to learn and use right out of the box.

Portability: This device was very portable. It was easy to handle.

Access to Battery Compartment: “I did not replace the battery but was easily able to open and close battery compartment and change battery if necessary.”

Sound Quality: good to excellent. “The voice was adequate for listening. I would say it was comparable to a good-quality disk book or a fresh cassette from the Library of Congress. There was music included with the audio at points, and the data compression really made the music sound pretty lack-lustre. Still, you could tell it was music, and the overall quality was acceptable.” “Very good, some "digital fur" or sampling/compression distortion, but not a problem.”

Volume Control: “I thought the volume control was great, providing a wide range of volume from very soft to plenty loud.”

Placemark: “I think it's also worth mentioning how reliably the device kept my place, even in multiple files, from one use to the next.”

File Transfer: Although most of the MuVos that were sent out were preloaded with content, some users had access to their own MuVos. They praised the device for the ease with which content can be moved onto and deleted from this device. The fact that it can function as a standard USB drive is a real plus.

Problems and Suggestions

DAISY Support: “It does not read "daisy" formatted books and does not have the sophisticated navigation facilities available in devices like BookPort.”

Button Design: The buttons should be larger and more distinct. “I wish it had round, slightly protruding buttons….”

Size and Weight: Some users found the MuVo to be too small and lightweight. They would have preferred having it be a little larger and heftier. “Muvo takes smallness to an almost rediculous extreme. As it is relatively low cost and simple, it might be adequate for reading when traveling where absolutely minimum size and weight are necessary.”

Orientation with the content: “Could not tell when a chapter began or ended. Did not know where I was in the novel.” “The narrator did not announce or read table of contents, chapter breaks or page numbers.”

Audible Clues: One tester suggested that the device provide audible confirmation when certain key functions (i.e., turning the device on or off) had been successfully completed.

Variable Speed Playback: Several of the volunteers who field tested the MuVo suggested that a variable speed playback option would enhance the usefulness of this device. “I would like the ability to speed up listening (without raising pitch of the voice)”

Fast Forward and Rewind: “I found the tendency of the fast-forward/fast-rewind features to start out extremely slow and then rapidly increase in speed to be brustrating. It was hard to back up just a little in the recording if I happened not to catch a sentence or two for some reason. I would either find that I hadn't moved back appreciably at all or that I had leapt over the point I wanted. The speeding up of fast-forward/fast-rewind function can be useful, but perhaps it would be good if you could switch it on and off at will.”

Memory: Several users lamented that the MuVo model tested had only 128MB of space in flash memory, with no options for adding memory.

Overall Assessment

Responses to the MuVo generally were satisfactory or very satisfactory, but a few testers thought it was too small and simplified to serve as one’s primary digital audio book playback device.

Suggested improvements included better navigation among files and tracks, and variable speed playback.

One tester questioned some of the basic design decisions that included some frivolous functions and excluded some more valuable functions. “Some of the features appear silly, such as the ability to mark and repeat a portion of a track. Other features which could be implemented are not there such as bookmarks. There are no provisions for linked navigation or for features like tables of contents or indexing.”

“In conclusion, I would not consider MUVO as a serious reading system except perhaps in circumstances where its extremely small size and long battery life are absolutely required.”

“It was light, fit into any pocket, could be connected to a stereo system with a tape deck, and sounded darn good. Much better than expected.”

“Very nice little device. I wouldn't mind having one myself. It appears to play a wide variety of material and is wonderfully compact.”

PlexTalk PTR1

Description of the Device

The PTR1 contains five ports plus a PC card drive. The PTR1 can accept Type II PC memory cards, also known as PCMCIA cards. Three ports are located on the left side of the unit: a jack for headphones, a jack for an external microphone, and a line input jack. An audio cable can be plugged into the line jack to record from another source (e.g., TV, radio, or boombox). At the top of the device are ports for the power cord and the USB cable.

The PTR1 contains a total of 26 keys. Twenty are located on the face of the unit. Twelve of those are arranged in the usual configuration of a telephone handset. To the left of the 12 “telephone” keys are four diamond-shaped keys. The top key of the four is the information key. Next is the heading key, which is used to listen to heading information and to move to the heading specified by the numeric keypad. The page key is used to listen to page information and to move to a specific page. The bottom of the four diamond-shaped keys is the bookmark key, used to attach bookmarks and to move to an existing bookmark.

Five keys are located on the front of the device below the CD slot. The three keys on the left are unique among all the devices reviewed in that they toggle between two distinct functions by pressing them in. The left-most key controls both the recording level of the sound being recorded and the monitor volume, which enables you to hear and adjust the volume level of the sound being recorded. The next button to the right controls both the playback speed and the tone of the output. The next button to the right controls both the playback volume and the volume of the voice guide. The next key is a slide key that locks and unlocks the keys. Note: the device is designed so that the audible descriptions of what functions the keys perform can be invoked only when the keys are locked. The right-most key on the front of the device is the eject key for the CD drive.

The on-off slidebar key is located on the left side of the device.

The PTR1 device also contains seven LED (light emitting diodes): three record level LEDs, a power LED, a battery LED, a recording LED, and an LED on the front of the device that indicates when the CD drive is busy.

All of the buttons on the top of the PTR1 device are rubberized. A visual clue to the functions of each key is embossed on the top of each key, but the visual clues apparently have no tactile corollary. The number five button contains a slightly raised nub in its center (it could be a little larger), as an aid to overall orientation on the keyboard. The two, four, six, and eight keys contain raised semicircular lines, again evidently as an aid to tactile navigation. Most of the keys are circular, but a few are diamond-shaped, triangular, or rectangular. All of the keys except the record key are slightly convex.

The buttons on the sides of the device either slide from left to right (for example, the on/off button and the lock/unlock button), push in (for example, the button that ejects the CD), or both rock from left to right and push in, where the act of pushing the key in functions as a toggle switch.

The PTR1 contains a separate sliding lock/unlock button on the front of the device, left of the rectangular CD eject button. Note: Locking the keys also enables the audible key describer function. When the keys are locked, press and hold any key to hear an audible description of the function(s) of that key.

The open-slot CD drive is located at the front of the device. The CD is manually inserted into the drive until a motorized mechanism grabs the disc and moves it into position. If the user accidentally inserts the disc upside down, a female voice announces that an “improper or damaged disc” has been inserted, and the disc is not automatically ejected, as it is in the Victor Reader Classic Plus.

Image of the PlexTalk PTR1

Praise and Positive Feedback

Placemark: “i like the fact that the plextalk remembers your place in a cd when you turn the device off, no matter if it's a daisy book, mp3 cd, or audio cd.”

Audible Clues: One user liked the fact that audible confirmation is emitted when the device is connected to an AC power outlet, and again when it is disconnected.

Nonlinear Navigation: “Navigation was great, and it was good to be able to lock the buttons during transport.”

Recording Feature: Another user liked the ability to record audio directly onto a CD.

Problems and Suggestions

Complexity: “It was a very complex machine. I'm sure that elderly individuals would be confused by all the controls. If one can deal with the complexity, the options and features are great.”

Volume Control: Device is designed so that the volume of the guide voice can vary from the volume of the playback of the audio content. According to one user, this dual volume control feature was not working on the device tested.

Sound Quality: At high volume levels (at approximately volume setting 13 and higher) the internal speaker vibrates. When variable speed playback is used to speed faster than normal, sometimes the speaker’s voice becomes garbled.

Overall Assessment

The volunteer testers of this device generally were very impressed with it. It is a complex device with many added features.

Soul Player DMP-206b

Description of the Device

The Player is a clamshell type portable CD player. It can be powered either by two AA batteries or an adapter plugged into a wall outlet.

The Soul Player contains four ports all located on the right side of the device. The one closest to the front of the device is for ear buds or headphones. The next one appears to be for firmware upgrades. The third one is labeled “line out.” According to the FAQ on the website, “The LINE OUT jack is strictly for connecting your player to an external set of speakers or a stereo system, where the sound adjustments are made on that external device.” The fourth port, closest to the back of the device, is for the cord connecting to the wall outlet.