Welcome to the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader information and download page. On this page you’ll learn about this new access method and find information about, and links for, the application download that is used to retrieve your publications. We will also discuss how to read the publications on the new audiobook players provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).
Feature Information
Do you have the new digital talking-book player provided by NLS? Would you like to listen to your favorite publications on the NLS player, enjoying the player’s speaker and portability? The NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader will allow you to download publications in a file formatted for use with the cartridges that work with the new NLS players. Getting your favorite publications is simple, too once you’ve installed our application and selected your favorite publications, connect the cartridge to your PC and launch the software. Your favorite newspapers and magazines will be placed on your device automatically for you to read later – it’s as easy as that!
Download Information
To make use of the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader, you will need to download our free software application; this application creates DAISY III files of our publications that you can then place on a cartridge used by the new players provided by NLS
To begin, please select one of the below links that will download the software for this access method to your PC. Please note the difference in the file size for these two options; the first download includes the Java software for those who do not have it already installed on their computer. If you are uncertain which option to choose, it is best to select the file that includes the Java software. The file without Java included is 588KB, and the file that has Java packaged is 21.3MB.
NFB-NEWSLINE NLS DTB Downloader Version 1.7 - Java Software Included (Recommended)
NFB-NEWSLINE NLS DTB Downloader Version 1.7 - Java Software Not Included
This will open up the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader setup wizard; follow these steps to have the program installed on your computer.
1. A dialog box will pop up asking you if you want to run or save this file. Choose “run.”
2. A second dialog box will open stating that the publisher could not be verified and asks if you want to run the file. Choose “run” again.
3. The NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader installation program will open. Select “Next” to begin the installation process.
4. To save the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader file on your computer, choose “next” again and then on the next screen click “Install”
5. To finish the installation wizard and complete the process select “Finish.”
Feature Usage Information
NOTES:
1. At this point, the software that supports this access method is only compatible with PCs.
2. Information about how you may acquire a blank cartridge is provided below, in the section titled “Reading Publications Using Your NLS Digital Talking-Book Player.”
3. The USB extension cable that will need to be used provides one USB A male connector and one USB A female connector. To use, connect the female end (the wider end with the flanged edges) of the cable to the cartridge and insert the male end into the USB port on your computer. The extension cable may be purchased at electronics stores such as Radio Shack or general merchandisers such as Target; they are also available through online retailers.
4. If desired, you may also download the publication content to a USB Flash drive that can be inserted into the slot on the side of the NLS digital talking-book player. In these instructions, please consider references to “cartridges” to include these USB drives and follow directions accordingly, noting that the use of a USB extension cable is not applicable/necessary when using a USB Flash drive.
5. The voice and rate of speech heard when reading a publication on the NLS player is determined by your settings for the phone-access method. If you wish to change to a different voice or change the speech rate, you will need to call into the NFB-NEWSLINE® service to make those changes. This may be accomplished when listening to an article by pressing the “seven” and “nine” keys to slow down or speed up the rate of speech respectively; to select your preferred voice, press the “eight” key to cycle through the voice options. Modifications to the tone and speed may also be done using the NLS player’s controls.
6. The “Bookshelf” feature is only available with players that are version 2.1.0 or above; if your player’s firmware is lower than version 2.1.0, you will be unable to access this feature, and only one of the publications will be readable. To read the other publications you downloaded, you’ll need to delete the publication you’ve read first.
After downloading the application you will need to set up your favorite publications for this access method, keeping in mind that the download time for each publication is roughly equivalent to that of downloading a book from the NLS BARD site and that the file size may be up to 200MB.
Your favorites may be set up for this method specifically by using the favorites management tool available on the NFB-NEWSLINE® Online Main Menu (found after login under the header “Manage All Your Favorites).
To download your favorite publications to your PC, connect the cartridge to your PC via a USB extension cable. Your computer will recognize the cartridge as a drive (a storage device), and you will need to note the drive letter assigned for your cartridge once this drive is recognized by your computer. When your computer recognizes that you’ve connected a drive, a tone will sound and a window should pop up giving the name and letter of the drive in addition to a list of options available for that drive. You may also determine the drive letter assigned to the cartridge by going to “My Computer” and looking for the drive there (it should have a name such as Removable Disk E:\).
At this point, double-click on the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader application icon on your desktop to launch the software and connect to the server that will retrieve your content (NOTE: You can easily access the desktop by holding down the Windows key and the letter M). Launching the application will open up a command-prompt screen.
You will first be asked to identify onto which drive the content is to be placed (e.g., “Do you wish to put your NLS DTB content on E:\ drive (enter “Y” for Yes or “N” for No).” If the drive letter offered is the one that has been assigned to your cartridge, press “Y.” In cases where you have another external drive hooked to your PC, you may have to hit “N” for No initially before the letter for your drive is given; the drive letter assigned to your cartridge may not be the first one provided.
Once you’ve completed that step, you will need to enter your subscriber codes; this step should not be required again. Then, to set the name of the cartridge, you will be prompted to either keep or change the name provided, which will be along the lines of “Subscriber Name’s NLS DTB Cartridge.” You are then asked whether or not you wish to download the different available issue dates for each of the publications you’ve selected as favorites for this access method. Once you’ve identified which of your favorite publications you want to download, the NFB-NEWSLINE® NLS DTB Downloader will begin to download your desired content to your cartridge, stating each file name as it does so. When all the publications that you requested have been completely downloaded, a final message will be displayed stating that the requested content has been downloaded to your cartridge.
Once done, close the program window by pressing Control +C. Once the download process is complete, disconnect the cartridge from the computer (using the “Safely Remove Hardware” utility first) and then insert it into the NLS digital talking-book player.
Reading Publications Using Your NLS Digital Talking-Book Player
In discussing how publications are read on the new NLS players, it’s important to understand the player use and functions, and how you can acquire the blank cartridges onto which the publications will be placed if that is the storage medium you prefer. If you have not yet used your new player, please familiarize yourself with the player by reading the description following the use instructions; you may also choose to read the full User Guide or listen to the tutorial provided on the player itself. Please note that these instructions assume your player is firmware version 2.1.0 or above.
Use Instructions
If you are familiar with how to use the player, and have a blank cartridge (or a USB drive), you’re set! Simply insert the cartridge/drive into the player, turn on the power, and choose which publication you wish to hear. The options available for use when reading your favorite publication differ depending upon the model of the NLS player you possess.
For the basic player: Inserting a cartridge will begin playback. If you would prefer to hear another of the publications you’ve downloaded, press “Play” until you hear the player say “Bookshelf.” Once there, use the arrow keys to the left and right of the “Play” button to navigate to the publication you want and hit “Play” again to begin playback. When listening to your publication, the arrow keys on either side of the “Play” button serve to rewind and fast forward through the content, allowing you to navigate to a different area within the publication. Although no beep will sound when a new section has been reached, the player will verbally indicate how much time has elapsed since you’ve pressed the button.
For the advanced player: Press the “Play” button until you hear the player say “Bookshelf.” Use the left and right keys on either side of the “Menu” button (the navigation keys) to move from publication to publication, and then press play to begin playing your selection. Once you’ve selected your publication, you can then choose which section you’d like to read by pressing the “Menu” key until you reach the “Sections” level. Using the navigation keys on either side of the “Menu” button, you can navigate to your desired section, and hit “Play.” You can at that point either choose to hear the entire section play, or by pressing the “Menu” button again and reaching the ‘Articles” level, you can use the navigation keys to hear just those articles of interest.
Deleting Publications
To delete the publications you’ve read, you’ll need to connect your cartridge to your PC (using the USB extension cable), open the drive’s folder, and select the items you’d like to remove. At this time, publications cannot be deleted through use of the player.
The National Library Service Digital Talking Book Player
In 2009 NLSBPH began releasing its new digital talking-book player to patrons.
A full description of the new NLS player may be found by clicking here; the description of the machine is excerpted below.
The user operates the player using a number of buttons located on the top surface. In addition several player functions occur automatically in response to patron actions or inactions. The player automatically powers on and gives an audible greeting when the patron plugs the power cord into a live AC power outlet. When powered on, the player will start or resume the playing of a DTB automatically when the cartridge is inserted into the player. When operating on battery power and not playing a book, the player will turn off after 30 minutes of inactivity.
There are two models of the digital-talking book player, the Standard Model (DS1) and the Advanced Model (DA1).
Features Common to Both Models
The Rewind, Play/Stop, and Fast Forward controls are centered and located close to the front edge of the player. These primary controls are used to start and stop the book and to move the reading position.
* The square, green Play/Stop button initiates the playing of a book or stops a book or message already playing. Holding this button down on the Standard Player enters and exits the built-in User Guide.
* The white, triangular Rewind and Fast Forward buttons to the left and right of the Play/Stop button move the reading position through the book, further in time and book structure the longer the button is held down. Periodically the amount of book time traversed is announced, while beeps indicate the crossing of chapter boundaries during both Rewind and Fast Forward.
Just behind the Rewind, Play, and Fast Forward controls are the Power, Sleep, and Volume buttons.
* The round, red Power button is pressed to turn the player on and off. It is located close to the left edge of the player. The Power button can also be used to perform a hardware reset to reboot the player. A hardware reset is accomplished by holding the button down until a beep is heard (more than seven seconds).
* The white Sleep button, shaped like a crescent moon, is used to start or continue playback for 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. It is centered just behind the Play/Stop button. At the conclusion of the sleep period the player’s volume will fade and playback will stop.
* The yellow Volume buttons are shaped like arrowheads and point up and down. They are close to the right edge of the player.
Behind the Power, Sleep, and Volume controls is a raised line running from one side of the player to the other. This line divides the six most frequently used controls on the front of the player from the Tone and Speed controls located behind the raised line and on either side of the round speaker.
The Tone and Speed buttons are shaped like up-and-down arrowheads, like the Volume buttons. They are located between the round speaker and the edges of the player.
* The Tone buttons are close to the top left edge.
* The Speed buttons are close to the top right edge.
The Volume, Tone, and Speed controls all announce the direction of adjustment with each press of the button (e.g., “Tone up” or “Tone down,” with similar announcements for the other controls). When playing a book, the Advanced Model enunciates the adjustments only by simple beeps, with a second beep to represent the normal or middle setting. The Speed control changes the speed of the speech from 50 percent to 300 percent of normal, with no change in pitch.
Where to Obtain a NLS Digital Talking Book Cartridge
Unless you use a USB flash drive, you will need a blank cartridge to experience this access method.
The cartridges are available for purchase from the following vendors:
American Printing House for the Blind web site or call: 800-223-1839
Perkins School for the Blind web site or call: 978-462-3817
Howell Mobility Products web site
We here on the NFB-NEWSLINE® team want to make sure that you get all of the
information that you are looking for, so don't hesitate to contact us if you need assistance.
We can be reached during the workweek from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eastern on
(866) 504-7300 or you can send an e-mail to the
NFB-NEWSLINE® team.
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