From a thread I was asked to do a review on the new device that this forum helped me purchase. Through a month of fundraising I was able to obtain a device that will allow me to listen to audiobooks, files, music, web radio, podcasts, etc. What is so special about that one might ask. Well the device is geared to those who have low vision or are blind. What is this doing in a flashlight forum? Well as mentioned in another thread….if it has and LED in it….review it. Here are some pictures of the device from the American Printing House For The Blind:
https://shop.aph.org/wcsstore/APHConsumerDirect/Attachment/products_secondary/1-07191-00_BookPort_Plus.jpg
https://shop.aph.org/wcsstore/APHConsumerDirect/Attachment/products_secondary/1-07191-00_BookPort_Plus_3.jpghttps://shop.aph.org/wcsstore/APHConsumerDirect/Attachment/products_secondary/1-07191-00_BookPort_Plus_2.jpg
https://shop.aph.org/wcsstore/APHConsumerDirect/Attachment/products_secondary/1-07191-00_BookPort_Plus_4.jpg
https://shop.aph.org/wcsstore/APHConsumerDirect/Attachment/products_secondary/1-07191-00_BookPort_Plus_7.jpg
The Book Port Plus is about the size of my flip phone or an iPod Touch 4th generation but thicker. It is made of plastic and feels rather slick in my hand. The device runs on Windows CE Core 5.0 for an operating system. It was designed in Japan but made in china.Book Port Plus dimensions are: 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches and weighs 3.9 ounces.
What does this thing do? What it does is allows me to listen to audiobooks provided to me through the NLS/BARD website. These are books, magazines, music scores, etc that are read by volunteer humans from all over the country. If the service has the books that I want, I simply download it and listen to the book being read to me just like a book on cd. The device works with another service called Bookshare. This service offers a lot more content BUT the content is not read by humans. The download is in the form of a DAISY bIn a nutshell it is a text file that the device reads to me like a book but with a synthetic electronic voice.
The device has wireless capabilities with a built in wireless network chip. This allows listening to web radio stations and podcasts. Due to the wireless features, the device can be a stand alone device and does not NEED a computer. You can download from NLS/BARD or bookshare right to the SD card in the device.
Thats great you might be thinking but the device does not have a screen, so how the heck do you use it? The Book Port Plus is made to be used by feel. When you touch any key the device talks to you in the same voice that is used for Siri on your iPhone or iOS device. you navigate the device using the keys.
The Book Port Plus plays many different file types which include:
Braille (brf)
Microsoft Word doc and .docx
HTML
Text
EPUB
Daisy 2.x
Daisy 3.x
Web radio playlists including pls, m3u, and asx.
Podcast feeds (opml)
mp3
wav
ogg
Wav
wma
AMR WB+
The device also supports recording via a built in mic or a jack to plug in your own mic. You can plug in headphones or use the built in speaker. The device will take notes as well. You enter text into the unit using the same T9 language that you use for an older style cell phone. The device will save that text and you can have it read back to you later. You can also use the keypad with braille. You enter notes/data using the braille code which the device will then save and read back when you are ready. I do not know Braille yet but will learn that from the Rehab center for the blind that I will be attending.
Via the USB port on the bottom of the unit you can use the small usb cable supplied with the unit and connect thumb drives, usb cd/dvd drive, or hard drive. If the device supports any files located on those drive….you can listen to or read the content.
The unit comes with a 3.7 volt 1430 MAH 5.29 WH Li-ion battery pack. It can be charged via the supplied AC power pack or via the built in USB. The paperwork says it charges in about 4 hours. The unit does have two small holes with four small LEDs. One area shows if the unit is in wi-fi or airplane mode and the other flashes red/green for charging or green when charged. You do not need the LEDs at all however because you can get that information with a key press. If you connect the Book Port Plus to a W1nd0w$, Mac, or Linux machine basically what happens is the device becomes an SD card reader. AT that point you drag and drop the files you want into the right folder which fits the system structure the device uses. If you do not use a computer, then you use the built in wireless to search for and download the content you want by using the various buttons and all without eyesight. Lets say you have the username and password for Bookshare already set up on the device. You connect to Bookshare and then have to use the T9 or braille via the number pad to find what you are looking for. It would be easier and faster to use a computer BYT the device will work alone which is pretty cool.
The device was $355 out the door with shipping. That sounds like and is a lot of money. Think about people who live on a fixed income. Sure when compared to an iPod the price is similar but it is still a lot of money. I am still learning how the machine works. There are menues, folders, sub folders, etc to go through. While the method is the same no matter what you are listening to or reading, it is taking time to learn. The unit does the same commands and uses the same keys no matter if you are listening to an MP3, and audiobook, or it is reading you a text file. I know that ai will enjoy using it. Right now I am going through the learning curve with it. Thanks again for all the help and support.
Doing some more looking around the Book Port Plus of a rebadged unit. The unit that my device is based upon is called a Plextor Plextalk Pocket. The hardware is exactly the same. The difference is in the firmware. The Plextalk Pocket is marketed to more areas of the world and thus has support for many languages. The Book Port Plus was tweaked for The American Printing House For The Blind. the firmware is different to appeal to a USA customer base. So the firmware is a little different and it does not have support for foreign languages. The Book Port Plus is marketed for a USA audience. Both units cost the same and both were designed in Japan yet made in China.