RapidReader?

I have looked at the Rapid Reader web site, but I have not tried Rapid Reader.

I use AutoHotKey on my PC and I have tried a script called Speed Reader from www .autohotkey.com/forum/topic12576.html&highlight=speed+read

I could not get the hang of this script as I could not read ahead. Rapid Reader may use a different technique, but, on the basis of my experience with Speed REader I decided not to proceed with Rapid Reader.

If you don't use AutoHotKey, I can compile a stand-alone exe file for Speed Reader which you can run without AutoHotKey.

Regards,

Martin O'Neill

Martin,

Thanks for the feedback--I was beginning to wonder if maybe this forum for the 9300 was dead.

I use Macro Express (similar product to your AutoHotKey) on my PC, but was not really looking the the RapidReader PC-based product, but instead the version for the Communicator series 9300/9500.

Whenever someone with a new-fangled iPhone, Tilt or other comes by and tries to show off the features of their new toy--I whip out my 2+ year old 9300 and start showing them spreadsheets, databases, PDF's, e-books, wide-screen videos at high bitrate (SmartMovie), Symbian Basic, OPL programming language, JI Prolog and more.

While those persons usually aren't interested in the getting-work-done aspect, they normally concede that my "video looks better then that on my iPhone/iPod/etc.".

Since discovering the Gutenberg Project I have started reading a lot of free e-book (mainly classics) and other web-based material that I can compose into my own e-book with MobiPocket Creator (free).

I am reconsidering getting RapidReader for the 9300 as I could increase my throughput and have yet-another-program that has no equal in the iPhone world!

Hi rdcinhou,

>Thanks for the feedback--I was beginning to wonder if maybe this forum for the 9300 was dead.

There seems to be very little happening on any of the S80 forums now. Perhaps Nokia et al need to take note of what Asus have done with the eee PC and reduced prices significantly.
>
>I use Macro Express (similar product to your AutoHotKey) on my PC, but was not really looking the the RapidReader PC-based product, but instead the version for the Communicator series 9300/9500.
>
I realize that you were seeking feedback on Rapid REader on the 9300, but I was only suggesting a trial of Speed Reader as a concept. After I had tried Speed Reader I decided not to purchase Rapid Reader.

There was also a very early beta version of a freeware reader called Serial Reader or SReader v0.01 by Lance Wicks. I have the OPL code on my 9300, but I cannot remember which of the various forums I obtained it. As it was a very early version, it was not able to read text files and only used data lines in the program to demonstrate the concept. I had intended to have a go developing it a bit further, but when Speed Reader on my PC proved to be disappointment, I did not spend any further time on Serial Reader. Perhaps it might be a project for you?

>Whenever someone with a new-fangled iPhone, Tilt or other comes by and tries to show off the features of their new toy--I whip out my 2+ year old 9300 and start showing them spreadsheets, databases, PDF's, e-books, wide-screen videos at high bitrate (SmartMovie), Symbian Basic, OPL programming language, JI Prolog and more.
>
>While those persons usually aren't interested in the getting-work-done aspect, they normally concede that my "video looks better then that on my iPhone/iPod/etc.".
>
There seems to be less interest in amateur programming these days and more of just playing with the gadgets!

>Since discovering the Gutenberg Project I have started reading a lot of free e-book (mainly classics) and other web-based material that I can compose into my own e-book with MobiPocket Creator (free).
>
I too use MobiReader quite a lot on my 9300 and build my own ebooks from material on my PC (job corrospondence, refererence material, web material etc) by using TreePad on my PC to export to html files and then import these into MobiReader 5.2 on my PC which I then transfer to my 9300. Some of these prc files can be up to 5mb and seem to run happily on my 9300.

You might like to try the EasyReader macro on the FileNote website to further enhance the MobiReader experience.

>I am reconsidering getting RapidReader for the 9300 as I could increase my throughput and have yet-another-program that has no equal in the iPhone world!

Since starting to write this reply, I have discovered that you can download a demo version of Rapid Reader. Go to the RR Windows page, find the download trial link and select the Symbian version. Unfortunately, I have been unable to get it to run. The first time it is run, I get a message that it needs to import a TimesRoman font and it will need to re-start the device. The next time it crashes with the error message Reason code: kern-exec, Reason number: 3

I have also tried installing on my old 9500 and it falls over during the install with the message: "Unable to find specified object"

Perhaps you may have more luck.

Regards,

Martin O'Neill

I tried to reload the RapidReader demo and got the error message about the system file being in use.

I figured it out--the demo uses the date/timestamp of a Times Roman TrueType font that it installs as the date from which to count the 15 days of demo use.

If you delete the font file, you will be able to reinstall the RRDEMO.SIS and be able to run it again--restarting the 15 day demo cycle.

The trick though to deleting a font, is that you have to rename the \system\fonts directory to something other than fonts; then delete the font; then rename the directory back and reboot the 9300.

When you successfully install the demo, it also has to reboot the 9300 for it to be able to see the font that it installed.

I have followed your suggestions, but I still cannot get RapidReader to run on my 9300i. I have tried installing it on D: Do you have it installed on C: or D: ?

Many thanks,

Regards,

Martin O'Neill

To help you troubleshoot, I need more details...

1. Did it complete the install without the previous error message about the file being in use?

2. Did you select someplace to put the icon (desktop or program group)?

3. If you can see the icon, what happens when you try to run it?

I have my demo version of Rapid Reader installed on my C: drive (all apps get installed there for convenience).

When you do get it running, if you don't have any .txt files to browse, then select "Exit" to the document select window and then press "Menu", "Tools", "Run 'RapidReader Tutorial'". This will take you through the basics of the program.

Since this is a DEMO it will flash the word "*DEMO*" several times during the playback sequence.

I finally broke down and bought the application in a bundle of their PRO version for the PC (needed to convert certain files) and the Symbian Reader.

It took a good bit of doing to get it working as the application did not install on-top-of the demo version as stated in their instructions. I had to:

1. Uninstall the RRDEMO
2. Rename the \system\fonts directory temporarily
3. Delete the .ttf font file installed by RRDEMO
4. Rename the \system\fonts directory back
5. Reboot
6. Install the full version
7. Reboot (to recognize the newly installed font)

Then I was finally able to run the RapidReader application.

It seems that 800 WPM in the full version is a LOT faster than it seems in the demo version, but it does perform as advertised.

One thing that boths me is that the program has a link for www.centralinternetlibrary.com which was supposed to be set up for free books in RapidReader format. It appears that this website never got off the ground. It's a good thing that I know about Project Gutenberg!

Just a note about reading speed...I find that with most "literary" content on the 9300 screen I am most comfortable with 475 wpm--by comfortable I mean that after about 5-10 minutes you don't feel fatigued.

I found another website for a program set that trains you to read faster by doing their special eye exercises (i.e. moving your eyes to follow as they flash a bunch of different symbols around their PC screen for about 10 minutes).

In their website they test your apparent reading speed (of text on a PC screen) before and after.

My speed was 538 wpm before their exercises and 640 wpm after.

If the best I can hope to feel comfortable with is about 475 wpm on the 9300 screen with Rapidreader, then the product does not achieve any real increase in speed.

You could argue for RR, though, if the documents that you were to read were relative non-technical -AND- not very long (i.e. typical office memos or items with common boilerplate like legal briefs or contracts). After all, their slogan was "For the documents you have to read."

Okay...more negative feedback on RapidReader...

As a comparison to Mobireader I converted a straight-text book from project Gutenberg into both a .prc (Mobi format) and .rrd (Rapidreader format).

Mobireader had no problems with the file, but Rapidreader locked up 😡 trying to read the file (308K in size). I had tested the .rrd file on my desktop PC version of Rapidreader first, so I'm certain that the file was not corrupt.

Summarizing the reasons why you probably don't want to buy :icon13: this program for your 9300/9500:

1. No real increase in speed for long texts.
2. Hangs up on long texts (~308K).
3. Doesn't remember where you were in the text (you have to position it each time--9300 version only, the desktop PC version allows you to "dogear" a page).
4. The "library" that it touts as part of its advertising doesn't exit.
5. Flashing rates could trigger petit mal epilepsy in susceptible individuals.

It is however a "novelty" that you won't find anywhere else.