Coalition Protests Kindle 2 Text-to-Speech Being Disabled
(Amazon Kindle 2 News Article - by Joe Tracy, copyright 2009) The Author’s Guild won a major victory when it got Amazon.com to agree to disable the text-to-speech feature on Kindle 2 books whose authors don’t want the feature enabled. But now both the Author’s Guild and Amazon.com are hearing from the Reading Rights Coalition, which wants the feature enabled on all Kindle books for blind and disabled readers that highly benefit from the text-to-speech feature.
“The blind and print-disabled have for years utilized text-to-speech technology to read and access information,” says Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “As technology advances and more books move from hard-copy print to electronic formats, people with print disabilities have for the first time in history the opportunity to enjoy access to books on an equal basis with those who can read print. Authors and publishers who elect to disable text-to-speech for their e-books on the Kindle 2 prevent people who are blind or have other print disabilities from reading these e-books. This is blatant discrimination and we will not tolerate it.”
The Reading Rights Coalition represents people who can’t read print and will be holding a protest on April 7, over the threatened removal of the Kindle 2 text-to-speech feature, The protest will take place at the Authors Guild headquarters in New York City at 31 East 32nd Street from noon to 2:00 p.m.. Amazon.com was praised when it first introduced the Kindle 2 in early February with a text-to-speech feature for all books sold on the Kindle 2. But then Amazon.com caved to the demands of the Author’s Guild that it remove the text-to-speech feature from books whose authors don’t want the feature enabled. The Authors Guild compared the feature to “audio books”, which is a big market for many authors.
Meanwhile, the Reading Rights Coalition is calling the upcoming dismantling of the Kindle 2 text-to-speech feature an act of discrimination against the blind, people with dyslexia, seniors losing their vision, and people with spinal cord injuries.
“Removing the text-to-speech features closes the door on an innovative technological solution that would make regular print books available to tens of thousands of individuals who are blind or visually impaired,” says Mitch Pomerantz, president of the American Council of the Blind
Amazon.com has been facing many battles over its Kindle 2 since releasing in in February 2009. Earlier this month they had a lawsuit filed against them by Discovery Communications, claiming Amazon.com is infringing on their ereader patent. Amazon.com hasn’t given any indication that it will reverse its agreement with the Authors Guild and as a result, both Amazon.com and the Authors Guild are targets of the Reading Rights Coalition.
“Knowing full well that not everyone can see, the Authors Guild wants the right to be seen, but not heard,” says James Love, director of Knowledge Ecology International. “By bullying Amazon to change the technology of Kindle 2, the Authors Guild will either deny access to people who are disabled, or make them pay more. By attacking disabled persons in this way, the Authors Guild is attacking everyone who would otherwise benefit from the contributions this community has the potential to offer.”
The Reading Rights Coalition includes: American Association of People with Disabilities, American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, International Dyslexia Association, Association on Higher Education and Disability, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Disability Rights Network, Burton Blatt Institute, Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) Consortium, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), IDEAL Group, Inc., International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet, International Dyslexia Association–New York Branch, Knowledge Ecology International, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Federation of the Blind, NISH, and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
New Amateur Review of Kindle 2
(Amazon Kindle 2 Reviews) This is an amateur review of the Kindle 2 done by Candy. She likes the size of the Kindle 2, the text size (and how clear it is), and how quick you can download a book with the Kindle 2’s wireless connection. Her disappointment is that there is no back lighting. She adds that you shouldn’t take it in the water. :-) Here is the full review…
Cali Lewis Unboxes Kindle 2
(Amazon Kindle 2 Reviews) In this video Geek Brief host Cali Lewis takes a fully boxed Kindle 2 and unboxes it live on camera, providing her first reactions and thoughts on Amazon.com’s newest and next generation ereader device. She likes the packaging, but like with us, thinks it looks like a microwavable meal. View on…
Kindle 2 and iPhone Kindle App Review
(Amazon Kindle 2 Reviews Blog) In this Kindle 2 review, by Shawn Collins, both the Kindle 2 and the new Kindle iPhone App are given simple reviews. Collins likes that the Kindle 2 syncs with the Kindle iPhone application. He doesn’t like that the Kindle 2 shipped without a cover. Here is his amateur review…
Hands-On Kindle 2 Demonstration by MacWorld
(Kindle 2 Videos) In this video, assistant MacWorld editor Ginny Mies gives a hands-on demonstration of Amazon.com’s Kindle 2, highlighting the differences with its older brother, the Kindle. The biggest changes are the moving around of buttons, removal of the SD slot, addition of navigation joystick, and the new e-ink technology. Here’s Genny with the story…
USA Today Takes a Look at Kindle 2
March 19, 2009 by Joe Tracy
Filed under Commentary
(Kindle 2 Commentary) In his “Tech Talk” segment for USA Today, Ed Baig offers his opinion on the Amazon Kindle 2. In short, he is happy with the look and functionality of the device, but disappointed with the price, particularly when Amazon removed two features from the original Kindle - replaceable battery and SD card slot. Here’s his take…
Patagonia Amazon Kindle 2 Case
March 19, 2009 by Joe Tracy
Filed under Accessories
(Kindle 2 Accessories) The video below is an amateur review of the Patagonia Kindle 2 Case. The Patagonia Kindle 2 Case was made specifically for the Kindle 2. It is water-resistant (but not waterproof) and uses elastic polyester “catch straps” to hold your Kindle 2 for easy viewing while in the case. The case also has a document pocket. Here’s a closer look from one person who bought the case…
Patagonia Kindle 2 Case at Amazon.com
Amazon Kindle 2 vs Sony PRS 700 (Comparison)
March 19, 2009 by Joe Tracy
Filed under Comparisons
(Kindle 2 Comparisons) The video below is a comparison between the Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony PRS 700. It’s professionally done by CNET in it’s “prize fight” segment. The units are each rated, by three judges, in five categories: Sexiness, Readability, Connectivity, Content, and Additional Features. One of these readers wins three of five rounds and the judges scorecard. So who will it be - the Sony PRS 700 or the Amazon Kindle 2? Watch to find out…
Rumors: Kindle Touch on the Way?
(Amazon Kindle 2 Reviews) The rumor mill is churning with news that Amazon.com has been working on a touchscreen Kindle that it could deliver before the year is over. Amazon reportedly has been working on the touchscreen Kindle with knowledge that Apple may be unveiling a touchscreen e-reader product by the end of the year.
It’s unknown if Amazon would consider this the Kindle 3 or if it would be a vertical market product with its own name (i.e. Kindle Touch) and branding.
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Note: The Rumors section of the Amazon Kindle 2 Reviews website should be taken with a grain of salt. Items are put in the Rumors section that do not contain at least two verifiable sources. As such, rumors could contain inaccurate information.
Lawsuit Filed Against Amazon.com Over Kindle
(Amazon Kindle 2 Reviews blog) Discovery Communications has filed a lawsuit against Amazon.com, alleging that Amazon’s Kindle and Kindle 2 infringe on electronic delivery book system patent held by Discovery Communications.
“The Kindle and Kindle 2 are important and popular content delivery systems,” says Joseph A. LaSala, Jr., General Counsel of Discovery Communications. “We believe they infringe our intellectual property rights, and that we are entitled to fair compensation. Legal action is not something Discovery takes lightly. Our tradition as an inventive company has produced considerable intellectual property assets for our shareholders, and today’s infringement litigation is part of our effort to protect and defend those assets.”
The court papers filed by Discovery Communications, alleging patent infringement, are 102 pages long. According to the lawsuit, on November 20, 2007 Discovery Communications was granted a patent (no. 7,298,851) titled, “Electronic Book Security and Copyright Protection System”. The lawsuit states that Amazon has consistently and willfully infringed on the patent. The lawsuit wants a court to find that Amazon has infringed on the patent and award “damages adequate to compensate Discovery for Amazon’s infringement.” The lawsuit also wants Amazon barred from further infringement. Discovery Communications is seeking compensation, treble damages, pre-judgment interest, and all court costs.
If Amazon.com is found to have infringed willfully with the Kindle and Kindle 2, the costs to the company could be monumental. Amazon has yet to respond to the lawsuit which was made public on March 17, 2009.
Discovery Communications is the parent company of Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel.