Hello all. There is a new ebook reaer in the works, and since it runs linux, and will cost around 320 dollars (us) I figured I'd drop a line here to ask if anyone would be willing to assist with porting speakup to this new device. I don't know what linux kernel they're going to use (yet) but I think it's at least partially open for discussion. It's going to be built by a major company, and the units that are going to be produced are actually for a group that hangs out at Baen's Bar (http://www.baens.com) in the baens bar section. And, since Baen provides all of their books they publish in paper format also in electronic format, what better company to spearhead such an undertaking. Admittedly, Baen is not officially involved with this ebook reader, but since all the bar flies (as we call ourselves) hang out on Baen's site, it's a good reason to give Baen at least some of the credit. Basically, it will be a handheld unit with a display, and using the linux os, so other applications can be added without further work by the user if they so desire. Anyone interested (Kirk can we interest you in helping?) Please let me know, and I'll pass along any information we can all pull together. This is an opportunity to get screen reading technology in on the ground floor of a new device, and one that might just make it possible to prove to some big name companies that talking solutions don't have to be expensive. The device already plays mp3 files, so speech output should be possible with the onboard sound system, though I've not (yet) confirmed this. I do not have one of the test units, so I don't know what they're capable of, but specs are on the project's web site (which I do not have handy at the moment) but if you go to baen.com, and click on the bar, browse down to electronic reader, then check out the messages in the aeb threads, all required information is available. But, again, I can also act as a go-between if folks aren't comfortable with getting involved directly in such a project. The units aren't yet ordered, so price is fluid at this point, but if we can get roughly a thousand users interested (over 300 are already signed up from the bar alone) it should be possible to produce the first commercial ebook reader with speech out of the box. Thanks for listening, and I hope folks more knowledgeable than I will step in to lend a hand in this process.
