NWT Audio Files Page Now Directs Visitors to jw.org

The NWT Audio Files page used to contain links to unofficial audio files of Mandarin NWT content read by computer. However, official human-read Mandarin NWT audio files are now available for download from jw.org, so the NWT Audio Files page now directs users to go there for such files. Also, these instructions are provided on how to access the download links to the Mandarin NWT audio files at jw.org:

1. Click on the Downloads tab on the top left of the page.


2. Under the Audio Recordings heading on the left side, click on the Bible link.


3. In the Language dropdown box in the centre of the page, select Chinese Mandarin/Simplified or Chinese Mandarin/Traditional, depending on your preference. (Simplified or Traditional here refers to the type of Chinese characters used in the text embedded in the audio files for display in programs like iTunes, etc.)


4. In the Bible Book dropdown box, select the Bible book for which you want audio files. Download links for those audio files should then automatically appear below the dropdown boxes.

“God’s Love” Bk. 3-Line Material XLP-iPhone-A5 Size LN-A Files Upgraded

More and more, the 3-line, etc. PDF files will be used on computers, including mobile devices such as the iPhone, the iPod touch, and the iPad, rather than printed out on paper. So, as mentioned here, bookmarks, page reference links, link-enhanced footnotes, and annotation were recently added to the XLP-iPhone-A5 size “God’s Love” Bk. 3-line material PDF files, available for download from the “God’s Love” Book (Chinese + Pinyin + English) page.

Now, the bookmarks of these LN-A (Link Navigation-Annotation) files have been upgraded with the use of full chapter titles to make it easier to jump quickly to the part of the book that covers a certain topic.

Related links:

• 3-Line Material on the iPhone and the iPod touch


• Printing Extra Large Print 3-Line Material


• PDF Link Navigation


• PDF Annotation (Commenting)

The Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video Page Will Soon Go Offline

I am deeply disappointed to have to inform you that the elder bodies of the Mandarin congregations in my area have withdrawn even the minimal amount of cooperation needed on their part for me to be able to continue to provide Mandarin public talk audio and video recordings on the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video web page.

As a result of this development, I have decided to take the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video web page offlline at about midnight of this Saturday night/Sunday morning (June 19/20, 2010). It has been my pleasure and my privilege for several years to help make it possible for Mandarin public talks to be presented at times and in places where it would not have been possible to do so otherwise.

Remember, Jehovah God is always available to hear the petitions of his faithful servants, including those working away in places where the need is great. (Luke 11:5-12; 18:1-8) May he continue to bless your efforts and provide whatever is needed for the development of the Chinese field in your area.

Talk 152 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 152 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

For thoughts on how the April 2010 km Question Box relates or does not relate to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page and its contents, please check out the contents of this file. (The password is the same as for the files available for download from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page.)

XLP-iPhone-A5 Size “God’s Love” Bk. 3-Line Material Files Upgraded With LN-A

More and more, the 3-line, etc. PDF files will be used on computers, including mobile devices such as the iPhone, the iPod touch, and the iPad, rather than printed out on paper. So, as mentioned here, bookmarks and some links were recently added to the XLP-iPhone-A5 size “God’s Love” Bk. 3-line material PDF files.

Now, these files are available from the “God’s Love” Book (Chinese + Pinyin + English) page in LN-A (Link Navigation-Annotation) versions, with annotation and link-enhanced footnotes in addition to the bookmarks and page reference links that the previous LinkNav files had.

Related links:

• 3-Line Material on the iPhone and the iPod touch


• Printing Extra Large Print 3-Line Material


• PDF Link Navigation


• PDF Annotation (Commenting)

An Early iPad User in the Chinese Field Shares His Experience So Far

...in this new post at tiandi.info. I expect the iPad to have a major impact on how computer-based resources for the Chinese field are used in the days ahead, and this post provides some specific information regarding the current state of iPad usage in the Chinese field.

To obtain the login information for tiandi.info, request e-mail notification of news regarding available resources, or if you have any questions or comments, you may e-mail me at waynerj@shaw.ca, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 20 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 20 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Talk 59 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 59 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

For thoughts on how the April 2010 km Question Box relates or does not relate to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page and its contents, please check out the contents of this file. (The password is the same as for the files available for download from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page.)

Talk 77 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 77 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Note that the following section has been added to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page:

Authenticity of the Recordings

I have heard of concerns being expressed that these recordings could “easily” be altered by a malicious third party to make it appear as if the speaker were saying things that he did not actually say. While I am not sure if it is accurate to say that this would be easy to do in a way that is not obvious, or if it would still require the efforts of highly trained (and expensive) professional special effects technicians, I suppose it is theoretically possible. However, it is relatively easy to guard against such tampering:

• First, it should at least help to make sure to only use recordings downloaded directly from this page.
• Most importantly, just have a person who is qualified (both spiritually and language-wise) check each recording before it is shown, especially if it is to be shown in a Kingdom Hall.
  • Each public talk recording is now only about 30 minutes long, so this check would only add about that much time to the preparation time required for each presentation.
  • If a person who is qualified both spiritually and language-wise is not available, perhaps alternately someone qualified language-wise could translate the recording, either verbally or in writing, for evaluation by someone else who is spiritually qualified.

Of course, if you learn of any actual tampering with the recordings, let me know right away!

A4/Letter Size Songbook Files Upgraded With LinkNav

It appears that more and more, the 3-line, etc. PDF files will be used on mobile devices such as the upcoming iPad rather than printed out on paper. To make them more nimble and useful on such devices, the A4 size (similar to letter size) songbook files available for download from the Songbook—Romanised Material page have been upgraded with PDF bookmarks, with a bookmark for each song. Thus, one can jump right to a particular song once it is announced, rather than having to attempt to scroll to it in time.

“LinkNav” has been added to the names of the files with PDF Link Navigation features. The PDF Link Navigation page provides more information on the LinkNav features, and includes a link to this 32-second QuickTime video screen recording (iPhone version) that shows how PDF bookmarks and links have been implemented in the LinkNav files.

2010-03-23 Links File Update Released

The 2010-03-23 Links file update has been released. Those of you who are on the list to receive email updates have been sent an email with directions on how to obtain this updated file. If you have not received this email update and would like to, email me about receiving the update and getting added to the mailing list, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

If you haven’t already done so, I recommend that you read the included directions.html file before proceeding to use the Links file. Besides including instructions and examples on how to use the Links file, the directions.html file also discusses the redistribution of the Links file.

The Links file is used by downloading its zip file from the web page linked to in the email, extracting it with the supplied password, saving it to a drive, and opening it in a modern web browser like Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera, or Internet Explorer. After you open it, you may want to bookmark it or add it to your Favorites for easy retrieval later on.

One significant change is the addition at the top of the file of Launchpads, which act as big buttons that take one directly to certain key headings in the Index.

New and updated resources are listed under the *** NEW *** and *** UPDATED *** Index headings.

The *** NEW *** resources this time around are:

• How Do You Say That in Chinese?
  
  • “Dear friends, This blog was born when a great story just had to be told. It need not end there. You may also have heard of one (make sure it’s verifiable). Well, here is where we use new technologies to get the message out. Invite friends so there can be an ‘interchange of encouragement’ (Ro 1:12) - and above all, bring praise not to any one person, but to Jehovah.”
    


• Mandarin Course from Long Island
  
  • These are the course materials for the Long Island Chinese Language Course in theo. Mandarin held in 2010.
    


• Mandarin Memorial Songsheets—2010
  
  • These files can be used to print out extra copies of the songs to be sung at the 2010 Memorial. The types of information they contain (hanzi, pinyin, etc.) are listed in the filenames. The files can help to enable all in attendance at Mandarin Memorials to sing in Mandarin together, thus emphasizing our unity and resulting in more harmonious praise being offered at these special meetings.
    
  • Of note is the inclusion in these files of jianpu, or numbered musical notation. Many Chinese people are familiar with this type of musical notation, and find it easier to follow than the “standard” musical notation that uses a five-line staff.
    


• PDF Link Navigation
  
  • It appears that more and more, the 3-line and pinyin PDF files will be used on mobile devices such as the iPhone, the iPod touch, and the iPad rather than printed out on paper. So, bookmarks and links have been added to some of these PDF files in order to take advantage of the computing power of mobile devices, and to reduce the amount of scrolling around needed while using the PDFs on them.
    
  • This page contains information and instructions (including a video screen recording) regarding the PDF files named with “LinkNav” (“Link Navigation”), which have been enriched and fortified with PDF bookmarks and links.
    


• Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + JP/Yale Cant. Rom. + English)
  
  • This material consists of relatively extensive lists of theo. expressions as they have been found to be rendered in the Chinese publications. This page links to the Cantonese romanisation versions, which are intended to replace the Cantonese Basic Theo. Expressions files, which were last updated way back in Feb. 2004 and contain expressions that are now out of date. Files are available with the expressions sorted by English or by Jyutping/Yale romanisation. Thanks to the one who made these files available.
    


• Worldwide Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses (www.jw.org)
  
  • The official download site of the organization, from which some official Chinese audio files and PDF files are now available for download.
    

The *** UPDATED *** resources this time around are:

• 3-Line Material on the iPhone and the iPod touch
  


• 3lines.org
  


• Chinese Links File
  


• Creator Book (Chinese + Pinyin + English)
  


• “God’s Love” Book (Chinese + Cantonese Rom. + English)
  


• “God’s Love” Book (Chinese + Pinyin + English)
  


• Links News
  


• Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video
  


• Oriental Language Studies
  


• Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + Pinyin + English)
  


• Songbook—Romanised Material
  


• tiandi.info
  

The following resources are no longer listed in the Links file:

• Basic Theo. Expressions (Chinese + Yale Cant. Rom. + English)
  
  • This has been replaced by the Referenced Theo. Expressions (Chinese + JP/Yale Cant. Rom. + English) page mentioned above.
    


• CaenChina
  
  • This resource no longer exists.
    


• PandaGator
  
  • This resource no longer exists.
    

In addition to the above-mentioned items, several other changes, updates, and refinements were also made compared to the previous version of the Links file, dated 2009-11-28. So don’t hesitate to avail yourself of the current version, dated 2010-03-23.

Traditional Mandarin Memorial Songsheets Available Also

Traditional Chinese versions of the Mandarin Memorial songsheets reported on in the previous post are now available as well from the new Mandarin Memorial Songsheets—2010 page, in addition to the Simplified Chinese ones that were made available last week.

These files also include jianpu, or numbered musical notation. Many Chinese people are familiar with this type of musical notation, and find it easier to follow than the “standard” musical notation that uses a five-line staff.

Again, thanks go out to the one who provided the files.

Mandarin Memorial Songsheets Available

PDF files of songsheets for the songs to be sung at Mandarin Memorials this year are now available for download from the new Mandarin Memorial Songsheets—2010 page. These files can help to enable all in attendance at Mandarin Memorials to sing in Mandarin together, thus emphasizing our unity and resulting in more harmonious praise being offered at these special meetings.

Of note is the inclusion in these files of jianpu, or numbered musical notation. Many Chinese people are familiar with this type of musical notation, and find it easier to follow than the “standard” musical notation that uses a five-line staff.

Here is a description of the available files:

• Song 8 (hanzi, pinyin, music, jianpu)
• Song 109 (hanzi, pinyin, music, jianpu)
• Songs 8 & 109 (hanzi (no pinyin), music, jianpu, both songs on one page)

No password is required to access these files. Thanks go out to the one who provided them. As he said,

“I’ve met quite a few Chinese who say they could join in our singing more if they had jianpu numbers, and as this is the first Memorial in the new songbook it would be nice to have their help.”

XLP-iPhone-A5 Size “God’s Love” Bk. 3-Line Material Files Upgraded With LinkNav

It appears that more and more, the 3-line, etc. PDF files will be used on mobile devices rather than printed out on paper. To make them more nimble and useful on such devices, the XLP-iPhone-A5 size “God’s Love” book 3-line material files available for download from the “God’s Love” Book (Chinese + Pinyin + English) page have been upgraded with PDF bookmarks and links. To show the presence of these new features, “LinkNav” (“Link Navigation”) has been added to their filenames.

The newly created PDF Link Navigation page provides more information on the LinkNav features, and includes a link to this 32-second QuickTime video screen recording (iPhone version) that shows how PDF bookmarks and links have been implemented in the LinkNav files.

Talk 9 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 9 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Note that the following section has been added to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page:

Authenticity of the Recordings

I have heard of concerns being expressed that these recordings could “easily” be altered by a malicious third party to make it appear as if the speaker were saying things that he did not actually say. While I am not sure if it is accurate to say that this would be easy to do in a way that is not obvious, or if it would still require the efforts of highly trained (and expensive) professional special effects technicians, I suppose it is theoretically possible. However, it is relatively easy to guard against such tampering:

• First, it should at least help to make sure to only use recordings downloaded directly from this page.
• Most importantly, just have a person who is qualified (both spiritually and language-wise) check each recording before it is shown, especially if it is to be shown in a Kingdom Hall.
  • Each public talk recording is now only about 30 minutes long, so this check would only add about that much time to the preparation time required for each presentation.
  • If a person who is qualified both spiritually and language-wise is not available, perhaps alternately someone qualified language-wise could translate the recording, either verbally or in writing, for evaluation by someone else who is spiritually qualified.

Of course, if you learn of any actual tampering with the recordings, let me know right away!

Added Suggestion Re Checking the Authenticity of PT Recordings

In addition to the additions to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page listed in yesterday’s post, this additional suggestion has been added:

• If a person who is qualified both spiritually and language-wise is not available, perhaps alternately someone qualified language-wise could translate the recording, either verbally or in writing, for evaluation by someone else who is spiritually qualified.

Talk 148 Recordings

Audio and video recordings of Mandarin public talk 148 are now available from the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page. The recordings are available in MP3, iPod video, CD, and DVD formats. Chairmen’s information is also available in Simp.+Pinyin+English 3-line PDF format.

For information on how to access this page, email me, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

Note that the following section has been added to the Mandarin Public Talks Audio & Video page:

Authenticity of the Recordings

I have heard of concerns being expressed that these recordings could “easily” be altered by a malicious third party to make it appear as if the speaker were saying things that he did not actually say. While I am not sure if it is accurate to say that this would be easy to do in a way that is not obvious, or if it would still require the efforts of highly trained (and expensive) professional special effects technicians, I suppose it is theoretically possible. However, it is relatively easy to guard against such tampering:

• First, it should at least help to make sure to only use recordings downloaded directly from this page.
• Most importantly, just have a person who is qualified (both spiritually and language-wise) check each recording before it is shown, especially if it is to be shown in a Kingdom Hall.
  • Each public talk recording is now only about 30 minutes long, so this check would only add about that much time to the preparation time required for each presentation.

Of course, if you learn of any actual tampering with the recordings, let me know right away!

Cannot Access 2010 3-Line km Material?

I have been hearing that some are unable to access the 2010 3-line km material from 3lines.org. When I emailed the one overseeing this material, this was in the reply:

I concluded that, some how others might have been passing the [Link-Key] instead of pointing to the [3lines.org]. Therefore, the procedure to obtain the [Link-Key] is to 1). through the KM request register [go to 3lines.org, log in, then click on km] THEN 2). send in a response to confirm their request through [Eng KM 3lines]. and 3). finally the [Link-Key] will send to the brother(s). And if they did not acknowledge they receipted the [Link-Key], they will need to go through steps again.

Thanks