Q Read alternative
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I wanted to share an open source Q Read alternative called Bookworm. It does not have bookshare support yet, nor does it support links, and headings, or tables, but still. It's a free option. The main website is below, where you can also read the manual. I'm adding this to the accessible apps github page when I have a moment.
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Sean
Thanks Robert. If they use the toolkits we know, we can send them PR. Example. WxPython. Open source is always great 😂.
Sean I'm student and programmer. I write often Python, sometimes Go and rare C++.
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io <nvda@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of Robert Kingett
I wanted to share an open source Q Read alternative called Bookworm. It does not have bookshare support yet, nor does it support links, and headings, or tables, but still. It's a free option. The main website is below, where you can also read the manual. I'm adding this to the accessible apps github page when I have a moment. https://mush42.github.io/bookworm/
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Mallard
Oh, thanks millions!
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I have Qread, bought at the very beginning of its life, but I-m always interested in ebook realing programmes. Ciao, Ollie
On 18/03/2020 14:26, Robert Kingett wrote:
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The initial developer didn't fix the broken manual link so I've included the correct link below. I left a PR though on their git page.
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Mallard
Many thanks.
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I-ve downloaded BookWorm, both installer and portable. Ciao, Ollie
On 21/03/2020 21:48, Robert Kingett wrote:
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Daniel Damacena
It would be so great if it respected the original formatting!
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I explain: it includes line breaks to make it more suitable for low vision users, but it makes you unable to navigate by paragraphs or sentences. I wish it has an option to choose between the original formatting and suitable for low vision users... But, off course, it is extremely good to read continuously! Em 21/03/2020 18:06, Mallard escreveu:
Many thanks.
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Kevin Cussick
Hi, I have this but it does not read text files.
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On 21/03/2020 20:36, Mallard wrote:
Oh, thanks millions!
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Jason White
Another option is to install Thorium Reader from the Microsoft Store. It supports EPUB books. Bookshare can be set so that it provides downloads in EPUB format.
From: <nvda@nvda.groups.io> on behalf of Robert Kingett <kingettr@...>
I wanted to share an open source Q Read alternative called Bookworm. It does not have bookshare support yet, nor does it support links, and headings, or tables, but still. It's a free option. The main website is below, where you can also read the manual. I'm adding this to the accessible apps github page when I have a moment. https://mush42.github.io/bookworm/
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David Griffith
I know I am biased because I have done a podcast series on this fantastic app but for me the best accessible ePub Book reader on a PC , either paid, or free , remains by a country mile remains the free Speak On Media Suite. I am continually amazed it is never ever mentioned as an accessible option for reading ePub books.
Just to mention a few of its features.
Customisation of book reading voice including on the fly adjustment of reading volume and speed of narration whilst reading a book through hotkeys. I know of no other book reader which does this. Able to easily navigate through a book by chapter structure , headings, 50 lines, paragraph, sentence line word or character. Ability to easily set markers in text of ePub books and copy and paste this text out of Speak On into a Word Processor. Alternatively control a and control c will copy the chapter as text. Ability to get single key press on book location and information. Ability to resume reading from last position read on any book even if file location has changed. Bookmark management - ability to set and delete bookmarks. It even has a virtual book creation function based on a search term which is incredibly useful for study purposes. Suppose you have a long academic book you need to search through to study a topic, you can in Speak On define a search term and Speak On will produce a smaller "virtual eBook” which will consists only of the chapters which contain the key phrase or terms in your defined search pattern. Again I know of no other accessible eBook reader which contains this feature. David Griffith
Just to mention just a few of the features.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Jason White via Groups.Io
Sent: 22 March 2020 00:25 To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Q Read alternative
Another option is to install Thorium Reader from the Microsoft Store. It supports EPUB books. Bookshare can be set so that it provides downloads in EPUB format.
From: <nvda@nvda.groups.io> on behalf of Robert Kingett <kingettr@...>
I wanted to share an open source Q Read alternative called Bookworm. It does not have bookshare support yet, nor does it support links, and headings, or tables, but still. It's a free option. The main website is below, where you can also read the manual. I'm adding this to the accessible apps github page when I have a moment. https://mush42.github.io/bookworm/
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The only thing I could find about speak on is the below website? The last update was 2016. Is there a newer version I'm missing? It seems like it's a media player rather than a book reader so if anybody has an updated link, put it in the thread.
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Jackie
I really do wish there were an alternative to QRead. I bought it at
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version 3.11. The 3.21 version is now messed up so badly that it's basically unusable, ie, the speech will not start from the last position anymore. So I downgraded & every 2 hours I get nagged about whether I want to update, which, obviously, h e hockeystick x 2 no, I don't. I have tried to contact the authors about the problem w/o success, so definitively QRead is not a program I can recommend anymore. Would it were otherwise, because it used to be really good & filled a large gap in terms of reading solutions, & I did indeed recommend it highly back in the 3.11 era, as I considered $30 a really reasonable price tag for what the program does. I just tried contacting the developers again--guess we'll see how that goes. The msg did go through this time so that may (or may not) be a promising development. Perhaps the shadow still knows as regards that. The truth is they probly weren't making enough money to make it worth their while, & I can understand that, & I understand as well they've been putting effort into NVDA Remote, but gosh, when an update seriously breaks something in a program, it would be nice if that situation could at least be remedied.
On 3/21/20, Robert Kingett <kingettr@gmail.com> wrote:
The only thing I could find about speak on is the below website? The last --
Subscribe to a WordPress for Newbies Mailing List by sending a message to: wp4newbs-request@freelists.org with 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by visiting the list page at http://www.freelists.org/list/wp4newbs & check out my sites at www.brighter-vision.com & www.mysitesbeenhacked.com
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hurrikennyandopo ...
Hi
It does all it mentions and is very easy to use.
he also done the speech hub program where you could install other packages of synths like all in the one place like a hub. But the add on needs to be updated so it works with the newer nvda 2019.3
The developers name is Isaac Porat He also done a calculator program which I think is hosted off the same website.
Have not seen him on list That would be the latest version as it done all he wanted.
he does have a email list that you could contact h him on.
Gene nz
it to doRobert Kingett wrote:
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JM Casey
David. It sounds like a neat programme, but I’m wondering how advantageous it would be for a braille display user who does not really use speech to read all that much. Any thoughtson that?
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io <nvda@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of David Griffith
Sent: March 21, 2020 9:38 PM To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Q Read alternative
I know I am biased because I have done a podcast series on this fantastic app but for me the best accessible ePub Book reader on a PC , either paid, or free , remains by a country mile remains the free Speak On Media Suite. I am continually amazed it is never ever mentioned as an accessible option for reading ePub books.
Just to mention a few of its features.
Customisation of book reading voice including on the fly adjustment of reading volume and speed of narration whilst reading a book through hotkeys. I know of no other book reader which does this. Able to easily navigate through a book by chapter structure , headings, 50 lines, paragraph, sentence line word or character. Ability to easily set markers in text of ePub books and copy and paste this text out of Speak On into a Word Processor. Alternatively control a and control c will copy the chapter as text. Ability to get single key press on book location and information. Ability to resume reading from last position read on any book even if file location has changed. Bookmark management - ability to set and delete bookmarks. It even has a virtual book creation function based on a search term which is incredibly useful for study purposes. Suppose you have a long academic book you need to search through to study a topic, you can in Speak On define a search term and Speak On will produce a smaller "virtual eBook” which will consists only of the chapters which contain the key phrase or terms in your defined search pattern. Again I know of no other accessible eBook reader which contains this feature. David Griffith
Just to mention just a few of the features.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Jason White via Groups.Io
Another option is to install Thorium Reader from the Microsoft Store. It supports EPUB books. Bookshare can be set so that it provides downloads in EPUB format.
From: <nvda@nvda.groups.io> on behalf of Robert Kingett <kingettr@...>
I wanted to share an open source Q Read alternative called Bookworm. It does not have bookshare support yet, nor does it support links, and headings, or tables, but still. It's a free option. The main website is below, where you can also read the manual. I'm adding this to the accessible apps github page when I have a moment. https://mush42.github.io/bookworm/
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David Griffith
It is not a media player rather than a book reader but both and a lot lot more.
I will send a list of my Podcasts on it in a minute,
David Griffith
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Robert Kingett
Sent: 22 March 2020 01:44 To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Q Read alternative
The only thing I could find about speak on is the below website? The last update was 2016. Is there a newer version I'm missing? It seems like it's a media player rather than a book reader so if anybody has an updated link, put it in the thread. http://www.speakon.org.uk/SpeakOn.html
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David Griffith
OK My actual Podcasts on Speak On are being distributed by Talking Computers on a monthly basis and will appear on the Speak On website a month later but you can find all the recordings below on SendSpace links which will hopefully not be an issue. If there is an issue then I will try and put them also on Open drive.
The main Speak On app is being continuously maintained by Isaac the Program developer though he has no intentions to do major revisions of the app.
The series is not complete as there will be further Podcasts on the RNIB Daisy magazine Service, using the Podcasts app and the Music app to follow. I actually intend to replace and re-record the eBook Podcasts as half - way through the volume increases which is a little distracting.
Speak On Resources You can download Speak On media Suite from http://www.speakon.org.uk/SpeakOn.html
Speak On Media Podcast
01 Introduction Speak on Media Suite.mp3 This Podcast covers setting up Speak On Media, changing the default synthesiser to a more friendly voice and introduces you to the range of apps available by default, and then the further apps available through additional optional plugins. https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/otzppu
02 Getting an Audio Books into Speak On Media Suite.mp3
This Podcast describes how shortcuts and the send to menu in File Explorer can be utilised to make it much easier to import books and other content into Speak On Media. https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/v7dhkt
03 Playing Daisy and Audio Books in Speak On.mp3 This Podcast covers loading and reading of Daisy and Audio Books. It explains Speak On navigation options, bookmarking, and varying the speed and volume of playback. It also introduces Speak On’s context sensitive help feature.
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/ye758q
04 Reading eBooks on Speak On This covers. -Loading an eBook into the Speak On Directory through the Send To Menu. -changing the Reading Voice. - Navigation levels available in the eBook. - Managing Bookmarks and getting book size information. -Tabbing through the Player Bookmark list and Library view. - Adjusting the speed and volume of book playback on the fly. - Copying and pasting text from an eBook into Notepad. - Saving Sections of the book as text files. - Creating a "virtual eBook" based upon a search term.
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/akbva2
05 Speak On and Internet Radio This Podcast covers - Using a free or paid Tunein account to access Radio in Speak On. - Using the optional VI Radio app. - Importing Radio Streams into the Other Media app to create a 3rd Customised Internet Radio app.
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/sgqix8
Link to a Radio Streams folder to import into Speak On. https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/p7xu1m
06 Using Speak On and the RNIB Reading Service.
This Podcasts covers downloading a daisy Book from the new RNIB Reading Service and playing it in Speak On. https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/j006ie
07 Speak On and the RNIB Newsagent Service Part 1 - Newspapers.
This Podcasts covers. 1. Advantages of using Speak On to easily access the eText Newspaper service, including its Virtual Reader function to streamline reading. Installing the task and logging into the eText service. Loading of Newspapers, navigation and adjustment of speed and volume of playback. Setting up favourite papers. Bookmarking and extracting articles into text files. https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/d40tj7
08 Speak On and the RNIB magazine Service
As unfortunately the RNIB have broken links to some of the Magazines and not updated information to Speak ON, there is a need in some cases to download and import Magazines manually . This Podcasts describes this workaround and explains why you would still want to use Speak On to read your magazines in this use case.
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/jsp0da
From: nvda@nvda.groups.io <nvda@nvda.groups.io> On Behalf Of David Griffith via Groups.Io
Sent: 22 March 2020 13:41 To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Q Read alternative
It is not a media player rather than a book reader but both and a lot lot more.
I will send a list of my Podcasts on it in a minute,
David Griffith
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: Robert Kingett
The only thing I could find about speak on is the below website? The last update was 2016. Is there a newer version I'm missing? It seems like it's a media player rather than a book reader so if anybody has an updated link, put it in the thread. http://www.speakon.org.uk/SpeakOn.html
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Christo de Klerk
Hi David
I had never heard of Speak On Media
before until you told us about it and on your recommendation I
downloaded and installed it. It looks amazing.
I just have one issue with it and
wonder if you have any information about this that can help: It
does not seem to see any of my non-English SAPI voices. I would
very much have liked it to read books in my language for which I
have a SAPI installed which is recognised by everything else that
works with SAPI. Do you have any idea how I could overcome this
issue or what might be causing the limitation?
Kind regards
Christo
On 2020/03/22 03:40pm, David Griffith
wrote:
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David Csercsics
Yes, I'd like a decent reader for braille, as well, because sometimes large books will either be completely unresponsive in things like adobe reader, or cause it to crash entirely. Epub is good too. I'll have to try that one from the Windows store possibly.
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john s
David, does speak on handle NFB Newsline content?
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Also, can the program use my screen reader?
At 09:56 AM 3/22/2020, David Griffith, wrote: OK
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For Braille readers, even though some of the paragraph breaks are weird, I'd suggest bookworm. And, best part? Any braille coder can code better support into the software because it's open source. The initial homepage is below. Yeah, Chris stopped updating is Q software ages ago. For now, this one is being maintained.
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David Griffith
Speak On was developed in the UK so the only direct connections it has to download is content from the RNIB eText and Audio Newsagent service and it also connects directly to TuneIn Radio if you have an account with them. However it does have a “Virtual Reader” function which interacts with the automatic eText digital content generated by for Newspapers and Magazines in the UK which makes for a more pleasant reading experience. If Newsline produces material in ePub2 format then it may be worth importing the content into Speak On and try reading it with the RNIB eText Newsagent app anyway to see if this provides a good experience. If you wanted to do this you would need to first of all add the RNIB eText app from the add plugins section of the Tools menu and then place your Newsline content, assuming it is epPub2 into the Current Reading directory under the RNIB etect directory under My Speak On media folder.
Of course you can also read the ePub also using Speak On’s eBook function – one of the worst decisions Isaac took was to name this app Text Publications which disguises it utility as an eBook reader.
David Griffith
So it cannot, as far as I am aware connect Sent from Mail for Windows 10
From: john s
Sent: 22 March 2020 14:59 To: nvda@nvda.groups.io Subject: Re: [nvda] Q Read alternative
David, does speak on handle NFB Newsline content?
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