Comments on: iPod Shuffle with TTS http://mindtrove.info/ipod-shuffle-with-tts/ Collecting ideas since 1980 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:18:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Peter Parente http://mindtrove.info/ipod-shuffle-with-tts/comment-page-1/#comment-2010 Peter Parente Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:45:37 +0000 http://mindtrove.info/?p=186#comment-2010 I think the input controls are still on the physical device in the form of a single button. The TTS is limited to announcing upcoming song names and artists before they play. From what I've read, Apple just synthesizes the "voice jockey" speech as separate tracks on your computer and loads them into the shuffle. The shuffle UI is still limited to blinking lights on the device. My take is the TTS is a step in the right direction, but a very minor one. The reduction of all input to a single button I see as a step backward, but independent of the new TTS feature. I think the input controls are still on the physical device in the form of a single button. The TTS is limited to announcing upcoming song names and artists before they play. From what I’ve read, Apple just synthesizes the “voice jockey” speech as separate tracks on your computer and loads them into the shuffle. The shuffle UI is still limited to blinking lights on the device.

My take is the TTS is a step in the right direction, but a very minor one. The reduction of all input to a single button I see as a step backward, but independent of the new TTS feature.

]]> By: Bryen Yunashko http://mindtrove.info/ipod-shuffle-with-tts/comment-page-1/#comment-1997 Bryen Yunashko Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:11:17 +0000 http://mindtrove.info/?p=186#comment-1997 Interesting. And it is great news that text to speech is available now. One sad side effect though. The device is now inaccessible to hearing-aid wearers. :-( I use a Music-Link headset (see http://www.tecear.com/Music_Link.htm) which uses audio-loop to transmit from the headset to the hearing aid. If all the controls are now in the headset, the Music-Link is rendered useless. As are any other audio-loop headsets. Looks like Apple just swapped accessibility from one group to another. Interesting. And it is great news that text to speech is available now. One sad side effect though. The device is now inaccessible to hearing-aid wearers. :-(

I use a Music-Link headset (see http://www.tecear.com/Music_Link.htm) which uses audio-loop to transmit from the headset to the hearing aid.

If all the controls are now in the headset, the Music-Link is rendered useless. As are any other audio-loop headsets.

Looks like Apple just swapped accessibility from one group to another.

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