So it sounds like it's going to be when I'm using Bookshare, that I'm going to see the biggest possible need for BRL and BRF file formatted content. On Jul 8, 2013, at 7:28 AM, "Clifford Blackwell" <blackwell3@ameritech.net> wrote: In my case, I tend to use braille to write though not to read. I only use braille reading for notes and labelling. ----- Original Message ----- From: "kb7uengene" <kb7uengene@gmail.com> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 8:12 PM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
Thanks for not taking offense at my question. I wasn't sure how some people would feel about it. I'm very much in support of braille literacy, even though I don't use it myself.
On Jul 7, 2013, at 7:49 PM, "Clifford Blackwell" <blackwell3@ameritech.net> wrote:
I think it may be a question of availability of certain titles. However, I don't know for sure. Personally, I've never found it to be a limitation. ----- Original Message ----- From: "kb7uengene" <kb7uengene@gmail.com> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 7:28 PM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
Okay, I'm going to ask questions thats probably going to cause some people to wrinkle up their noses, but if you're not going to emboss from BRF or BRL files, then how is it still technically Braille? What can you get in BRL and BRF format that you can't get anywhere else. I guess I'm confused on the importance of these formats if you're not going to emboss with them.
On Jul 7, 2013, at 3:49 PM, "Clifford Blackwell" <blackwell3@ameritech.net> wrote:
That's true, but that's not the Plextalk business model. ----- Original Message ----- From: "kb7uengene" <kb7uengene@gmail.com> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 11:39 AM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
Companies do sell products at a loss, Amazons good example of this. They make up for that loss by selling lots of content to play a read on that product.
On Jul 7, 2013, at 10:45 AM, "Clifford Blackwell" <blackwell3@ameritech.net> wrote:
Companies won't produce a product that loses money. I don't know how many units they produce but it has to be enough to make the unit profitable. They may well have a non-accessible market for the hardware with a different firmware. I don't know.
Once APH got them, probably through contract, to produce the accessibility firmware, it probably wouldn't have taken much to tweek it for their own products. ----- Original Message ----- From: "kb7uengene" <kb7uengene@gmail.com> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2013 9:32 AM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
They probably don't, And rely on their more expense products with higher profit margins to offset the loss. If they are making profit, It would be very large.
On Jul 6, 2013, at 7:36 PM, "Flor Lynch" <florlync@iol.ie> wrote:
Truth to tell, when I first got to using/exploring my Plextalk Pocket I wondered how they could make a profit on this line of products, it being to a rather limited market, etc.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Clifford Blackwell" <blackwell3@ameritech.net> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2013 3:15 PM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the particular licenses involved in this situation. However, it is Plextald that licenses various products with various capabilities for it's line of products. Humanware licenses their products differently.
I suspect that when APH first contracted with Plextalk for the hardware/firmware package that became the Bookport, it said that it wanted exclusivity for the ability to read .brf and .brl books to limit competition from others using the same hardware. IRTI was selling the Pocket at the time and then Freedom Scientific got into the market. I presume APH saw this as a way to try to corner more of the market.
Plextalk didn't need to sell the exclusive license to APH, but they were trying to sell as many units as possible. With their distribution network, APH was able to extract exclusivity for their product.
It all comes down to economics not a desire to keep us from reading .brf and .brl content. These are all economic ventures that want/need to sell products to stay alive.----- Original Message -----
From: "Flor Lynch" <florlync@iol.ie> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2013 8:32 AM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
but aren't Humanware also a competitor (with the Victor Stream, or perhaps they have a different licence obtained for their own line of products?) , and they're doing it? I think they or APH might accept payment, like. And not all .brf files are written necessarily according to the same Braille rules - they differ between countries, (UK Braille and North American Braille in english, for example, are presently different).
----- Original Message ----- From: "Clifford Blackwell" <blackwell3@ameritech.net> To: "Plextalk User Discussion List" <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2013 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update?
> You said it yourself. Licensing. APH holds the license for a certain > device and they've shown no inclination to allow a competitor the > ability to do what it can. > ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "John J. Jacques" <kg7fa2@juno.com> > To: <plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org> > Sent: Friday, July 05, 2013 9:51 PM > Subject: Re: [Plextalk] Firmware update? > > >> Hi all, I don't see the problem, since the Victor Stream can read >> them! I >> was told it was a licensing issue, but why can these other devices do >> it >> and not the Plex-talk? >> >> John Jacques >> Amateur Radio Station: KD8PC >> "Where Cat Is, Is Civilization!" >> ____________________________________________________________ >> Want to place your ad here? >> Advertise on United Online >> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/51d788ce810558ce4fb9st04duc >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Plextalk mailing list >> Plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org >> http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/plextalk > > > _______________________________________________ > Plextalk mailing list > Plextalk@lists.hodgsonfamily.org > http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/plextalk
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