Attention Streamers: HumanWare Releases major Upgrade to Victor Reader Stream

On Monday, July 14, HumanWare released software version 2.0.3. This represents a major upgrade to the portable, versatile Victor Reader Stream.

The upgrade includes the ability to read five additional file types and many features requested by Stream customers. New features include:

1. The addition of a podcasts bookshelf. This bookshelf allows for easy manipulation of Podcasts. The user can create subfolders for various podcast categories and then put the podcast files into those categories. The stream will remember where the user left off in a podcast as it does for other books. The user can delete the podcasts after listening and the subfolder structure will be kept intact for receiving future podcasts.
2. A dedicated bookshelf for Audible books. This makes the use of Audible books more like the use of the other book types with the Stream.
3. The Stream can now play .brf files. It will work with both contracted and non-contracted Braille files. The user can choose from a variety of Braille translation tables including the Unified English Braille Code.
4. The Stream will also play rich text files, unprotected WMA version 9 audio files, and FLAC and Speex (SPX) Audio files. Note that the Stream is still unable to play protected WMA files such as those used in the Unabridged lending program provided through the National Library Service. HumanWare is still working to allow the Stream to play these files which would probably require a user key.
5. The Undo command. If you’ve ever pressed a navigation key in an older talking book that is not well-marked you’ll appreciate this one. The undo feature works if pressed within ten seconds of the inadvertent keystroke.
6. Spell mode. This works in all non-audio files. This is very convenient when precise reading of complex texts is required.
7. Increased user customization.
   HumanWare has incorporated many customer requests into this upgrade. Along with the spell mode and undo command already covered, the user can now control the beeps that accompany keystrokes, sleep command announcements and randomly play selected groups of music files. The user can also delete all of the file types from any bookshelf, obtain more detailed information through the where am I function and determine free space on an SD card.

Along with Version 2.0.4 of the Stream software, HumanWare simultaneously released version two of the Stream Companion. The Stream Companion was produced to facilitate transfer of files from the computer to the Stream. Version one of the Companion was useful for transfer of only two of the many file types, talking books and notes. Version two adds music, other books, Audible, podcasts and text files. Furthermore, HumanWare has added two very nice features to the Stream Companion.

1. The companion can now automatically unzip digital talking books. When digital talking books are downloaded from the National Library service, they must be unzipped before they are transferred to the Stream. This process proved frustrating for some Stream users. The new feature has transformed this process into an easy one-step keystroke.
2. Automated creation of play lists for music files. I have more than 60 folders of music of various types on my Stream. I had some thoughts of creating playlists in order to play selected tracks, but never quite got around to creating them. Creation of playlists involves very carefully listing exact file paths for the desired tracks. This new feature completely automates this process. The user is presented with a list of all music files. You select the files you want included in a playlist and simply hit the create playlist button. It worked flawlessly on my storage card. I created two playlists, love songs and tracks to relax.

Overall, this represents a major improvement for the Victor Reader stream. It is interesting to note that HumanWare had attempted to release version two of the software back on June 30. But it caused problems with BookShare books. HumanWare quickly pulled this release upon learning of this bug which was exterminated before the re-release on July 14. I imagine that HumanWare was especially unhappy about this turn of events especially given that version two was not ready for the NFB and ACB conventions. Stream users had been chomping at the bit for this upgrade and HumanWare had hoped to release it in conjunction with the consumer conventions. Obviously, software development can be rather stressful work.

The Victor Reader Stream represents a revolution in reading and listening to music for persons who are blind or visually impaired. My only regret is that this technology was not available when I was a college student. To learn more about the Victor Reader Stream, go to www.humanware.com and click on the Victor Stream link. To download version 2 of the software and version two of the Stream companion, go to victor stream version two upgrade