# GW Micro - Book Sense

Category: accessible Devices

## Post 1 by TheAsianInvasion (The Zone's invader) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 10:49:22

The new portable digital audio book player, Book Sense, lets users access information for education, information, and entertainment. Students can access school textbooks, people in the workplace can stay current with journals or business magazines, and anyone can enjoy newspapers, favorite novels, or a bestseller.
With a comfortable feel when held in your hand, Book Sense is very easy to use. Weighing only four ounces (115g), it is portable and powerful and easily fits into a shirt pocket, backpack, or purse, so you can take it anywhere.
Two models are offered ? Book Sense and Book Sense XT. Both models play audio files, DAISY content, and have an FM tuner, Secured-Digital (SD) memory card slot, and built-in recorder. The media player supports a variety of formats, such as MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV, WAX, MPC, and WMA.
The Book Sense model features an SD memory card with 1 GB of storage. Book Sense XT has internal 4GB storage memory and Bluetooth capability.
With Book Sense, you can access digital talking books from providers such as Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), BookShare, and Audible.
Book Sense makes it simple by utilizing the USB port to connect to your PC to transfer downloaded books and music directly to the Book Sense XT or to an SD memory card for use in either model.
The book reader mode supports several file formats, including txt, rtf, doc, docx, html, xml, and brf.
Pricing for Book Sense will be decided soon and shipping will start later this year.

## Post 2 by TheAsianInvasion (The Zone's invader) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 10:50:40

what are your thoughts on this product? Will it be compatition for the stream?

## Post 3 by motifated (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 19:40:29

Without a doubt. It'll be interesting to see. I've heard some complaints that the stream isn't proving to be too reliable for some people.

## Post 4 by KC8PNL (The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 21:51:44

The stream hasn't given me any problems, but I have no real need to buy a booksense. The 2 big advantages to it that I was told are the AM/FM radio and the clock.

## Post 5 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 22:06:49

I like my VRStream too, but this Book Sense sounds cool too.

## Post 6 by TheAsianInvasion (The Zone's invader) on Saturday, 04-Apr-2009 22:10:02

I plan to get one aftir it starts shipping. I've used a stream before, but this is something I'd really like to try out

## Post 7 by Nick6489 (11 years a Zoner) on Monday, 06-Apr-2009 18:28:38

If this has Eloquence as its TTS, it will have an instant leg up on the stream. I don't care for the VR Stream voice.

## Post 8 by Dirty Little Oar (I'd rather be rowing.) on Monday, 06-Apr-2009 22:03:39

I'm happy with my stream. There's really nothing extra with this product that will make me want to switch. I might consider a switch if the tts is better but I still think I'd stick with the stream. Eloquence would be sweet. I Don't give a rat's ass about a clock or radio though. I have a watch and commercial radio sucks ass so there's no temptation for me at all. Bluetooth would be kind of cool but not cool enough to justify a switch. It'll be interesting to see what the price is going to be.

## Post 9 by FutherMuckingPrincess (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 07-Apr-2009 13:46:21

I think the book sense will be competition for the stream. It sounds like both products offer the same features. It all depends on the quality and understandability of the synthetic speech, and ease of use and identification of keys on the keypad.

## Post 10 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 07-Apr-2009 13:46:43

I agree with the last poster.

## Post 11 by Feathered Serpent (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Wednesday, 08-Apr-2009 16:01:04

I would so like to get my hands on one as soon as it comes out. I am stuck with the bookport right now. I would just like to try it and get the feel for it in a few days.

## Post 12 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 02-Jun-2009 12:28:24

Does anyone have any updates to this device? I listened to the podcast and I'm impatient for more info. It's release? It's price?
My guess is it'll be out during the conventions.
I also wonder if they'll work out a deal with bookshare again. I believe it was the release of the braille note, with the last bookshare deal

## Post 13 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Friday, 19-Jun-2009 15:35:57

Realtime booksense presentation, June 30. Read more here:
http://www.gwmicro.com/News_&_Events/Upcoming_Events/?eventID=234

## Post 14 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 30-Jun-2009 13:55:35

Anyone go to the presentation? I'm waiting to hear the price. Hope the podcast is up tonight. *grin*

## Post 15 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Tuesday, 30-Jun-2009 20:07:08

Wooh-Hooh, it is finally revealed! The prices and all the specs. Anyone listen or participate? Whos purchasing?
Standard Model, $314 until Sept. 30.
XT Model, $449 until Sept. 30.
Not sure which one tempts me. I love the the thought of the radio in the xt model, but not sure if the extra money is worth it. Lol, I wish the xt model came in the ruby red color, how cool!
Hmmm...

## Post 16 by tealgreen (Generic Zoner) on Wednesday, 01-Jul-2009 3:58:24

I attended the presentation--but not that impressed by it for a couple of reasons. First, the response time was slow compared to the Stream and also, default voice is not eloquence voice as in Stream. It does however can record in both mp3 and wav formats and has an alarm feature as well as time and date. I ordered the one with the radio--so when I get to play with it, I might share something.

## Post 17 by proud_mama2009 (Veteran Zoner) on Saturday, 04-Jul-2009 4:56:08

I'm saving up money for the XT model. Fortunately the deal is on until September 31. The only drawback I saw was files have to be placed in particular folders. It probably helps with organization, but for all the VS users, correct me if I'm wrong, but you are able to place your various file types in a folder and they will play in their respective players?

## Post 18 by Miss Prism (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Saturday, 01-Aug-2009 16:11:37

I expect to get one of these, soon!
For me, the absence of a clock feature was a reason I saw no need to buy a VR Stream, (I use the clock on my Bookport all the time), and I dislike the Stream's voices. I've been satisfied enough with my BookPort, and would probably continue using it for years, if I hadn't seen a Booksense, in person! That's such pleasant, clear speech!
So, if anyone wants a Book Port...
Actually, I have two of them. I bought a friend's, when she switched to the Stream. I wanted a spare, in case mine ever fell into the pool, or met with some other disaster. LOL I really do use it every day, so I'd suffer great deprivation without it.
Someone mentioned this above, so I should say that mine, anyway, do not play daisy files. I suppose the only advantage to them now is that they cost much less than the alternative readers.
I'll post something more useful, and more on topic for the Booksense, once I have it.

## Post 19 by Alex (Generic Zoner) on Saturday, 01-Aug-2009 18:06:53

Word on the mailing list is that it's horribly buggy, so be warned. Gotta love access tech yeah?

## Post 20 by Polka dots and Moonbeams (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Monday, 03-Aug-2009 1:42:02

I absolutely love mine!
Keep in mind, I have no other experience with book port or victor stream or any of them. So my experience with the booksense is quite fresh!
It amazes me! Accessible mp3 player, accessible radio (xt model), reads library books and so much more I haven't played with!
And it is so flippin small! About the size of the nokia n82.