[Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Sat Apr 28 18:20:30 CDT 2007


Perhaps you should ask NLS why it is proceeding as it does - or read its 
plan - before doing so. I can tell you this: publishers would just as 
soon kill the NLS program when they perceive there's money to be made by 
doing so as permit such a universal format.

Mike

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jennifer Aberdeen
  To: Discussion of Digital Talking Books
  Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech


  Maybe I will send an email to all four of my Representatives again 
with this
  suggestion.

  Jen


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
  To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
  Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:11 PM
  Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech


  > Hello Jennifer and listers,
  >
  > I'll be more supportive of the effort to get NLS its appropriation
  > provided
  > that Congress mandates that NLS and other producers of digital 
talking
  > books
  > enable their books to play using any player capable of playing books 
in
  > the
  > DAISY Digital Talking Book Format. If other countries are using
  > unencrypted
  > DTBS without all of the nightmares concerning DRM and encryption 
perhaps
  > the
  > U.S. should follow their lead.Had they  conversation occurred 
several days
  > before you wrote your letter you could have included a suggestion 
for this
  > mandate to your congressman. However, its good that you let them 
know that
  > the appropriation is needed for the conversion of NLS'S analog to 
digital
  > book format to be completed on time.
  >
  > Peter Donahue
  >
  >  ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Jennifer Aberdeen" <freespirit328 at gmail.com>
  > To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
  > Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 3:43 PM
  > Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
  >
  >
  > If I had known this a few days ago, I wouldn't have emailed my
  > representatives about this. I thought I was doing a good thing, but 
if I'm
  > going to have to buy a number of different players-I'd rather buy 
the
  > audio
  > books in the store.
  >
  > Jen
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
  > To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
  > Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:54 PM
  > Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
  >
  >
  >> Hello again Greg and listers,
  >>
  >>    Perhaps this is one reason why Congress is reluctant to 
appropriate
  >> funds for the digital talking book conversion program. Why should 
we ask
  >> the
  >> taxpayers to fund the creation of an encryption  system which will 
be
  >> cracked shortly after DTBS become available to NLS patrons? I'm all 
for
  >> urging them to give NLS the needed appropriations for the DTB 
conversion
  >> provided that these books can be played on all players capable of
  >> handling
  >> DTBS.
  >>
  >> Peter Donahue
  >>
  >>
  >> ----- Original Message ----- 
  >> From: "Greg Kearney" <gkearney at gmail.com>
  >> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
  >> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:49 AM
  >> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
  >>
  >>
  >> I have been working with Apple on Daisy playback integrated into 
the
  >> MacOS and in iPod. There are some issues that will have to be
  >> addressed for the playback of NLS books. As I understand it it 
comes
  >> down to this:
  >>
  >> NLS books will be encrypted, both the SIML files and the audio
  >> itself. Because the players will only be issued to NLS patrons they
  >> will be able to decrypt the books. The problem with computers is 
they
  >> will have to be able to detect that the user of the computer is
  >> somehow an "authorized" NLS patron as opposed to to just a general
  >> user. There are several ways to do this. The NLS could issue a key
  >> file to patrons who request it. this is how the RFBD system is 
done.
  >> This keyfile could be placed at the root level of the filesystem 
and
  >> could even expire every year or so. Software could ask for an NLS
  >> password and then check against a database of NLS users on the net.
  >> Books could use some sort of public/private key system like PGP to
  >> verify the user.
  >>
  >> All this said as the author of DTBmaker for Macintosh which does 
not
  >> make encrypted books and never will,  I think the whole business of
  >> encrypting books is a fool's errand. It inconveniences the honest 
and
  >> does nothing to deter the criminal. I am willing to wager that 
within
  >> 6 months of wide release there will be a means of breaking the
  >> encryption on NLS books. As a result many thousands of dollars of
  >> development funds will have be wasted.
  >>
  >> Further it seems to be a solution looking for a problem. In all the
  >> years that we have had four track tapes which are simple to copy 
has
  >> there ever been wide speared duplication of NLS books? The 
reasoning
  >> has always been that you needed a special tape player to play NLS
  >> tapes but those players are widely sold and can be found on ebay 
even
  >> NLS issued one:
  >>
  >> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270114582419
  >>
  >> Also anyone with good recording equipmetn could make a normal speed
  >> copy playable on any tape player. Finally while the NLS is spending
  >> time and effort encrypting books the publishers themselves are
  >> releasing those same book on CD in unencrypted format. I have been
  >> able to take these recording and produce Daisy recording will but
  >> small effort. If the publishers themselves don't care about
  >> encryption why should the NLS bother with it?
  >>
  >> Greg Kearney
  >> On Apr 27, 2007, at 21:42 , David Andrews wrote:
  >>
  >>> I believe that NLS has no plans to do a software player, whether 
or
  >>> not third parties do one is unknown to me.
  >>>
  >>> Dave
  >>>
  >>> At 07:29 PM 4/27/2007, you wrote:
  >>>> Hello Dan and listers,
  >>>>
  >>>>    Are they going to develop a software player for those who 
don't
  >>>> have the
  >>>> NLS player when it's made available? It only makes sense to me 
for
  >>>> them to
  >>>> do so.
  >>>>
  >>>> Peter Donahue
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>> ----- Original Message -----
  >>>> From: <DanFlasar at aol.com>
  >>>> To: <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
  >>>> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 6:11 PM
  >>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>> The download project will not be usable by most patrons because
  >>>> you won't
  >>>> be
  >>>> able to play the downloaded books until you get a player.     As 
I
  >>>> currently
  >>>> understand it - there will be 200 players available for home 
testing
  >>>> sometime
  >>>> early in 2008.  By the end of that year, there will be  5000
  >>>> production
  >>>> players sent to the various libraries (avg 100/library).   These
  >>>> will be
  >>>> distributed according to the state library affiliate.
  >>>>     The digital download site is already up and  running for the
  >>>> pilot
  >>>> program (we have modified Victor Readers) but it won't be  useful
  >>>> until you
  >>>> can
  >>>> play the books.
  >>>>       I hope this helps.
  >>>> Dan F
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>> ************************************** See what's free at
  >>>> http://www.aol.com.
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
  >>>> -------
  >>>> ----
  >>>>
  >>>>
  >>>> _______________________________________________
  >>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
  >>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
  >>>>
  >>>> _______________________________________________
  >>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
  >>>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
  >>>>
  >>>> __________ NOD32 2225 (20070427) Information __________
  >>>>
  >>>> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
  >>>> http://www.eset.com
  >>>
  >>> _______________________________________________
  >>> Dtb-talk mailing list
  >>> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
  >>
  >> _______________________________________________
  >> Dtb-talk mailing list
  >> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
  >>
  >> _______________________________________________
  >> Dtb-talk mailing list
  >> Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  > Dtb-talk mailing list
  > Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  > Dtb-talk mailing list
  > Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk

  _______________________________________________
  Dtb-talk mailing list
  Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
  http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
-------------- next part --------------
Perhaps you should ask NLS why it is proceeding as it does - or read its plan - before doing so. I can tell you this: publishers would just as soon kill the NLS program when they perceive there's money to be made by doing so as permit such a universal format.
 
Mike
 
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:freespirit328 at gmail.com Jennifer Aberdeen
To:
mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Discussion of Digital Talking Books
Sent:
Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:21 PM
Subject:
Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
Maybe I will send an email to all four of my Representatives again with this
suggestion.
Jen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Donahue" < mailto:pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net
>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" < mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
> Hello Jennifer and listers,
>
> I'll be more supportive of the effort to get NLS its appropriation
> provided
> that Congress mandates that NLS and other producers of digital talking
> books
> enable their books to play using any player capable of playing books in
> the
> DAISY Digital Talking Book Format. If other countries are using
> unencrypted
> DTBS without all of the nightmares concerning DRM and encryption perhaps
> the
> U.S. should follow their lead.Had they  conversation occurred several days
> before you wrote your letter you could have included a suggestion for this
> mandate to your congressman. However, its good that you let them know that
> the appropriation is needed for the conversion of NLS'S analog to digital
> book format to be completed on time.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jennifer Aberdeen" < mailto:freespirit328 at gmail.com freespirit328 at gmail.com
>
> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" < mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>
> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 3:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
>
>
> If I had known this a few days ago, I wouldn't have emailed my
> representatives about this. I thought I was doing a good thing, but if I'm
> going to have to buy a number of different players-I'd rather buy the
> audio
> books in the store.
>
> Jen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue" < mailto:pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net
>
> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" < mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>
> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
>
>
>> Hello again Greg and listers,
>>
>>    Perhaps this is one reason why Congress is reluctant to appropriate
>> funds for the digital talking book conversion program. Why should we ask
>> the
>> taxpayers to fund the creation of an encryption  system which will be
>> cracked shortly after DTBS become available to NLS patrons? I'm all for
>> urging them to give NLS the needed appropriations for the DTB conversion
>> provided that these books can be played on all players capable of
>> handling
>> DTBS.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Greg Kearney" < mailto:gkearney at gmail.com gkearney at gmail.com
>
>> To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" < mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>
>> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 9:49 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
>>
>>
>> I have been working with Apple on Daisy playback integrated into the
>> MacOS and in iPod. There are some issues that will have to be
>> addressed for the playback of NLS books. As I understand it it comes
>> down to this:
>>
>> NLS books will be encrypted, both the SIML files and the audio
>> itself. Because the players will only be issued to NLS patrons they
>> will be able to decrypt the books. The problem with computers is they
>> will have to be able to detect that the user of the computer is
>> somehow an "authorized" NLS patron as opposed to to just a general
>> user. There are several ways to do this. The NLS could issue a key
>> file to patrons who request it. this is how the RFBD system is done.
>> This keyfile could be placed at the root level of the filesystem and
>> could even expire every year or so. Software could ask for an NLS
>> password and then check against a database of NLS users on the net.
>> Books could use some sort of public/private key system like PGP to
>> verify the user.
>>
>> All this said as the author of DTBmaker for Macintosh which does not
>> make encrypted books and never will,  I think the whole business of
>> encrypting books is a fool's errand. It inconveniences the honest and
>> does nothing to deter the criminal. I am willing to wager that within
>> 6 months of wide release there will be a means of breaking the
>> encryption on NLS books. As a result many thousands of dollars of
>> development funds will have be wasted.
>>
>> Further it seems to be a solution looking for a problem. In all the
>> years that we have had four track tapes which are simple to copy has
>> there ever been wide speared duplication of NLS books? The reasoning
>> has always been that you needed a special tape player to play NLS
>> tapes but those players are widely sold and can be found on ebay even
>> NLS issued one:
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270114582419 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270114582419
>>
>> Also anyone with good recording equipmetn could make a normal speed
>> copy playable on any tape player. Finally while the NLS is spending
>> time and effort encrypting books the publishers themselves are
>> releasing those same book on CD in unencrypted format. I have been
>> able to take these recording and produce Daisy recording will but
>> small effort. If the publishers themselves don't care about
>> encryption why should the NLS bother with it?
>>
>> Greg Kearney
>> On Apr 27, 2007, at 21:42 , David Andrews wrote:
>>
>>> I believe that NLS has no plans to do a software player, whether or
>>> not third parties do one is unknown to me.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>> At 07:29 PM 4/27/2007, you wrote:
>>>> Hello Dan and listers,
>>>>
>>>>    Are they going to develop a software player for those who don't
>>>> have the
>>>> NLS player when it's made available? It only makes sense to me for
>>>> them to
>>>> do so.
>>>>
>>>> Peter Donahue
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: < mailto:DanFlasar at aol.com DanFlasar at aol.com
>
>>>> To: < mailto:dtb-talk at nfbnet.org dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>
>>>> Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 6:11 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] NLS Digital Happenings Speech
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The download project will not be usable by most patrons because
>>>> you won't
>>>> be
>>>> able to play the downloaded books until you get a player.     As I
>>>> currently
>>>> understand it - there will be 200 players available for home  testing
>>>> sometime
>>>> early in 2008.  By the end of that year, there will be  5000
>>>> production
>>>> players sent to the various libraries (avg 100/library).   These
>>>> will be
>>>> distributed according to the state library affiliate.
>>>>     The digital download site is already up and  running for the
>>>> pilot
>>>> program (we have modified Victor Readers) but it won't be  useful
>>>> until you
>>>> can
>>>> play the books.
>>>>       I hope this helps.
>>>> Dan F
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ************************************** See what's free at
>>>> http://www.aol.com http://www.aol.com
.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> -------
>>>> ----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>>> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>>>>
>>>> __________ NOD32 2225 (20070427) Information __________
>>>>
>>>> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
>>>> http://www.eset.com http://www.eset.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>>> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Dtb-talk mailing list
>> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dtb-talk mailing list
> mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk
_______________________________________________
Dtb-talk mailing list
mailto:Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org Dtb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/dtb-talk


More information about the Dtb-talk mailing list