[gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
Ted Shelly
tshelly at optonline.net
Mon May 26 10:46:46 CDT 2008
Here's a new installment on my battle with AT&T and Mobile Speak.
I first called AT&T almost a month ago to get the license for Mobile Speak.
I still had not received anything from them so I called again on Friday
(hint: if you want to get through to their National Center for Customers
with Disabilities call in the early morning). I had called them at least 3
times previously on this topic, but the person could find no record of my
request! So I started all over again. This time however I was asked for
the serial number for Mobile Speak on my phone and for a credit card for the
$89 charge. They had not asked for this previously, so maybe this time my
request is for real. Since it is a holiday I don't expect to hear back for
several more days, we'll see how that goes.
In the meantime I had received a 30-day demo license directly from Code
Factory and I've been trying to learn to use the software. What
frustration! It will work well enough for short periods of time, but then
abruptly stops speaking. A restart of the phone usually gets it going
again. But sometimes It speaks the message "Please register Mobil Speak"
and will say nothing else until restarted. It will take some time for me to
get used to the voice and to figure out what it is saying in different
contexts. Sometimes the voice feedback is useful and sometimes totally
useless. This is in no way as good as even the worst PC screen reader
software. So far it is a serious disappointment. I may change my mind as I
learn to use it, but so far I am not impressed.
On the other hand, I am finding the built-in speech facilities of the Nokia
are quite useful. The only problem is that you have to go deep into the
menus to find the features. I've memorized some of the key presses and can
get to the "Voice aid" section, where you can find talking address book,
clock and some other functions. I thought it was strange that messaging was
not included there, but by accident found it in another menu area. It is
called "Message reader" and does a good job of reading text messages aloud.
I'm also finding that Mobile Speak seems to interfere with the built-in
speech functions and things like the FM radio and music player. I have to
do some further experimenting with this.
It is a slow and painful process, but some progress is being made. I may
need to find someone who really knows this phone and the Mobile Speak
software to get me through this. I knew it would not be easy but never
guessed it would be this difficult.
I'll do another installment in a week or two. Maybe this will help someone
out there who is contemplating trying this same thing. I'd be glad to hear
from anyone who has been using MS on the Nokia N75 or similar.
Cheers,
Ted
-----Original Message-----
From: Ted Shelly [mailto:tshelly at optonline.net]
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 2:25 PM
To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
Here's the latest on my saga of getting Mobile Speak up and running on my
AT&T Nokia N75.
It's been two weeks since I first contacted AT&T to get the license for
Mobile Speak. I called them again on Friday and they told me that the
administrator was back from vacation but that there was a backlog of
requests and I would just have to wait.
I thought I had a contingency plan, since Cindy had warned that it took her
weeks to get AT&T to act. I wrote directly to Code Factory (maker of Mobile
Speak) on Monday to see if they would give me a temporary 30-day demo
license. I got a nice reply the next day that they would be happy to do
that, I just needed to supply the serial number from my phone. I wrote back
immediately and thought "Aha! I'm set!". But now it has been 4 more days
and I have heard nothing from them, even though I wrote again on Thursday.
I'm sure there is a good explanation for all this run-around. It actually
does my heart good to know that in this modern day of instant gratification
there is still plenty of good old-fashioned red tape. May our bureaucracies
live forever!
Meanwhile, when I turn on my phone Mobile Speak starts and runs for 10
minutes. I always try to learn a couple of phone features in those first
few minutes. but I must turn off mobile speak before the 10 minutes runs
out. If the time does expire, Mobile Speak announces on every key press "
Please register Mobile Speak". It drives you crazy.
The N75 does have some built-in speech features. It can read messages and
the address book. But you have to drill down through several menus to find
the feature. I'm going to work on memorizing the key presses.
The voice dial feature works pretty well. I added names to the address book
through the PC Suite and then on the phone you just press and hold soft key
2 and speak the name. It reads it back to you in a synth voice and dials
the number.
On the PC Suite, it is reasonably accessible, except for the backup
function. I rarely get completely stymied by an application but this one is
a total mystery. No menu or button will speak and even though I have some
sight the color scheme is impossible, no matter how I try to change colors
or contrast I can't read anything on its screen. I'm going to get my wife
to help me with that one.
I knew I was taking something on when I decided to do this all myself. You
can send the phone into AT&T and they will install it and send it back. But
how long will that take? I don't want to be without a phone and I can take
and make calls with little trouble even without Mobile Speak. But I want to
use more of the phone features and I really hope I can get this thing up and
running soon.
Wish me luck!
Ted
-----Original Message-----
From: Ted Shelly [mailto:tshelly at optonline.net]
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 4:37 PM
To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
Cindy,
Thanks. I think I will try contacting Code Factory directly to see if I can
get the 30-day license from them. And I'll keep after AT&T. Your
experience is not very encouraging!
Ted
-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk-bounces+tshelly=optonline.net at nfbnet.org
[mailto:gui-talk-bounces+tshelly=optonline.net at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
slery
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 11:25 AM
To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
I read that in the manual also, but when I installed, there were four
options. One of them was the 30 day trial. The install software pulled the
serial number/IMEI number from my phone for me.
I did just realize you are using a symbian phone where as, I am using a
Pantech Duo. However, I suggest trying the 30 day demo. Also, be
persistent with AT&T. I never did receive an email from them but I did get
it over the phone after about the fifth call and four months after I had
actually paid for the license.
Cindy
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gui-talk-bounces+slerythema=insightbb.com at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:gui-talk-bounces+slerythema=insightbb.com at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Ted Shelly
> Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 7:52 AM
> To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
>
>
> Cindy,
>
> Here is what the MS mnaual says about the 30 day license:
>
> "In order to obtain a 30-day trial license for Mobile Speak, you need
> to provide your distributor with the product serial number."
>
> I guess my distributor is AT&T and that I'll need to give them the
> serial number. Do you know of another way to get a trial license?
>
> Ted
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gui-talk-bounces+tshelly=optonline.net at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:gui-talk-bounces+tshelly=optonline.net at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> Of slery
> Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 7:48 PM
> To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
>
> Ted,
>
> You should have been able to install the one month demo instead of the
> 10 minute version.
>
> Once you have your license you can simply activate it. You do not
> need to install anything. (i.e. run the install but instead of
> selecting install, select register)
>
> Cindy
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gui-talk-bounces+slerythema=insightbb.com at nfbnet.org
> > [mailto:gui-talk-bounces+slerythema=insightbb.com at nfbnet.org]
> > On Behalf Of Ted Shelly
> > Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 7:32 PM
> > To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
> >
> >
> > Here is a progress report on installing Mobile Speak on my new Nokia
> > N75.
> >
> > I called the AT&T national Center for Customers with Disabilities a
> > week ago last Saturday and requested the license keys for Mobile
> > Speak. The representative assured me I would get an e-mail
> in a few
> > days. When I had received nothing by Friday, I called
> again and this
> > time was informed that the only person who deals with this was on
> > vacation.
> > Seems I'll get the keys by some time next week.
> >
> > In the meantime I had spent some time reading the Mobile
> Speak manuals
> > and the manual for the phone. I worked a bit with the PC
> Suite to get
> > familiar with it. One thing I found is that you need to start PC
> > suite first before plugging the phone into the USB cable or things
> > don't work right. But the PC suite was reasonable to use otherwise.
> >
> > Then with some sighted assistance from my wife I installed the MS
> > packages. That was straight-forward, so long as you have someone to
> > read the messages that come up on the phone.
> > You just select the "Install Applications" item, find where you
> > downloaded the software, select it and click install. On hte phone
> > you get some prompts asking if you are sure you want to install it.
> > After the install Mobile Speak started right away in
> 10-minute demo
> > mode.
> >
> > The annoying thing is that when it quits after the 10 minutes, it
> > repeats "Please register Mobile Speak" every time you do
> anything on
> > the phone. I had to get my wife to turn off MS before it drove me
> > crazy.
> >
> > In the brief time I used it, the software seemed to work
> fine, but the
> > voice is not as responsive as I would like. It just takes
> a while for
> > it to start to speak the screen contents.
> >
> > Hopefully AT&T will actually get me the keys this next week and I'll
> > be set.
> >
> > One question I have is whether I need to install the one-month demo
> > license or if I can just go ahead and install the permanent
> license.
> > Anyone know?
> >
> > Ted
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ted Shelly [mailto:tshelly at optonline.net]
> > Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 9:14 AM
> > To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> > Subject: RE: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
> >
> > Cindy,
> >
> > Thanks. I will give this a try. I think Fonix is the voice
> > synthesizer.
> >
> > I have installed Nokia PC Suite and gotten it to talk to
> the phone via
> > USB. I'll use USB for now since it should be a bit faster and more
> > reliable, and Bluetooth will take some additional configuraton.
> >
> > I'll let you all know how it goes.
> >
> > Ted
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gui-talk-bounces+tshelly=optonline.net at nfbnet.org
> > [mailto:gui-talk-bounces+tshelly=optonline.net at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
> > Of slery
> > Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:22 AM
> > To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> > Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
> >
> > Please clarify if I am wrong. Fonix (spelled with an F) "is"
> > Mobile Speak. It is not something that is separate. I opted to
> > install the Loquendo Susan version of Mobile Speak and did
> it myself
> > on the Pantech Duo.
> >
> > Since the original asker stated that he would have his wife
> as sighted
> > assistance, it really is not that hard to setup.
> > The only part you actually need help with might be connecting your
> > phone to the computer.
> >
> > Remember to install Nokia's PC Suite first. I have seen
> comments that
> > the new version is more accessible. Then connect your phone
> > (bluetooth or USB, I recommend bluetooth if your computer supports
> > it). Once you have the phone and computer communicating,
> download the
> > version of Mobile Speak that you wish to try. Unzip it and
> open/start
> > the executable file. It will tell you exactly what to do from that
> > point on.
> >
> > One note, you will have to use the 30 day demo until AT&T gives you
> > the license (which is actually your User ID). Once they
> provide you
> > that number, run the setup again and this time you choose
> the option
> > to register at the end instead of the demo.
> >
> > It really is pretty easy.
> >
> > Cindy
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: gui-talk-bounces+slerythema=insightbb.com at nfbnet.org
> > > [mailto:gui-talk-bounces+slerythema=insightbb.com at nfbnet.org]
> > > On Behalf Of Stephen Guerra
> > > Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:53 AM
> > > To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> > > Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
> > >
> > >
> > > I would suggest you install the phonex version which is
> the text to
> > > speech software, then the mobile speak software, and Ted, visit:
> > >
> > > www.blindcooltech.com
> > >
> > > There is in a most recent podcast, a tutorial how to install the
> > > mobile speak, but if AT&T will do it let them
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: gui-talk-bounces+stephen=independentliving.com at nfbnet.org
> > > [mailto:gui-talk-bounces+stephen=independentliving.com at nfbnet.
> > > org] On Behalf Of Ted Shelly
> > > Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 8:30 PM
> > > To: 'NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List'
> > > Subject: [gui-talk] Mobile Speak on Nokia N75
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I joined this list to see if anyone out there has had experience
> > > installing the Mobile Speak software on the Nokia
> > > N75 or other similar phone. I have just switched to AT&T
> > so I could
> > > get the N75 for $99 and get the Mobile Speak software for
> > free. I was
> > > told by the AT&T representative that many people send in
> > there phones
> > > for them to do the install, but I'm brave so I'm going to try it
> > > myself with a little sighted help from my wife.
> > >
> > > I've been reading the documentation for the software from
> > Code Factory
> > > and I must say it is rather confusing. They say that it is
> > important
> > > that the 3 program components be installed in the correct
> order. I
> > > downloaded the zip package and saw the three files. But which is
> > > which? Only the vaguest clue from the file names. Maybe
> I'll just
> > > try it and see if it works.
> > >
> > > If anyone out there has done such an install, chime in. Otherwise
> > > I'll go where angels fear to tread and see what happens.
> > > I'll report my experiences here.
> > >
> > > Wish me luck.
> > >
> > > Ted
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > gui-talk mailing list
> > > gui-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gui-talk
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> > endentliving.c
> > om
> >
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