Learning Ally: updated version makes audio books easier to obtain

audiobook
Courtesy of Jeff Daly
Serving more than 300,000 K-11, college and graduate students, one non-profit is seeking to make reading accessible and achievable for all.

Learning Ally began in 1948 as Recording for the Blind and today serves those individuals who struggle to read standard print due to blindness, dyslexia, visual impairment or other learning disabilities.

With the help of over 6,000 volunteers across the nation, there are 70,000 recorded titles and textbooks available to download onto an assistive technology device or other piece of equipment.

While this organization has been around for awhile, it recently introduced an app that allowed users to view downloaded material on their iOS device. Called, Learning Ally Audio, the software is one of the most popular audio playback software systems around.

The app has enabled users, since 2011, to download their book content to a computer via Apple iTunes or Learning Ally’s Audiobook Manager, and then transfer it over to their preferred iOS device via wire connection (i.e – USB cable).

Now, the organizaiton offers an upgraded version that allows the user to easily download their audiobooks from their personalized Learning Ally bookshelf directly to their devices via a wireless network, without the use of a Mac or PC computer. No launching of Apple iTunes or Learning Ally’s Audiobook Manager is necessary.

Along with the upgrade, users still get to enjoy the cool features that make Learning Ally software so cool. For instance, users will still enjoy page and chapter navigation, extensive bookmarking capabilities, last book/last position playback, variable speed and pitch control, and playing while locked to save battery life.

Members who have an earlier version of the app will get an automatic upgrade through “Apple Updates”; and the audiobooks currently on their device will remain intact. For new app users, the app is available to Learning Ally members for $19.99 via the Apple iTunes store.

Learning Ally Audio is fully compatible with all iPad, iPhone 4s, 4 and 3GS models, and iPod touch second generation and above devices. For visually impaired members, the app takes full advantage of Apple’s VoiceOver technology. The app integrates seamlessly with Learning Ally’s memberships for indviduals as well as institutions and schools, and is an easy, affordable way to access and enjoy the organization’s vast collection of textbook and literature titles. More information, frequently asked questions, a quick start guide, and customer service contact info to support the Learning Ally Audio app are available at http://www.LearningAlly.org/apple.

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