[Reader-users] features in the next upgrade

Fri Jan 5 19:47:29 CST 2007

This is honestly what scares me. Once those NFB units run out, we'll be 
forced to buy the KNFB from a company which, to this point, has provided 
subpar technical support at best, doesn't notify their customers about 
updates, and barely maintains a website for the product. How much longer 
will units from the NFB be available directly? I understand that this is a 
new product, but KESI is supposed to be a company with experience in 
delivering a product with decent customer support and, to this point, has 
failed. I'd understand if the price tag was much less, but some of the 
justification that is usually given for the higher price of assistive 
technology is that you're paying for the customer service along with the 
product.

I hope I am proven wrong in the future.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gashel, James" <JGashel at NFB.ORG>
To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list" 
<reader-users at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] features in the next upgrade

> Hi Kimberly:
>
> Everyone who has purchased a Reader directly from the National
> Federation of the Blind automatically receives the upgrade.  There is no
> need for a request.
>
> In the case of a Reader not sold by the NFB, I suggest checking with
> your dealer.  The timing and method of updating may vary from the
> practice used by the NFB, so I really can't speak for how it is being or
> will be done.
>
> Thanks, J. G.
>
> ******************************************
>
> James Gashel
> Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> 1800 Johnson Street
> Baltimore, Maryland  21230
> Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
> Fax:  (410) 685-5653
> Email:  jgashel at nfb.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kimberly Morrow,
> PhD
> Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 4:36 PM
> To: 'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list'
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] features in the next upgrade
>
> Jim,
>
>
> Is there any way that the list could be notified when new upgrades are
> released? This way, we will know to ask for them. In the case of JAWS
> and Humanware, notification is automatically given to all customers when
> an upgrade is issued. This does not appear to be the case with the KNFB
> Reader.
>
> Another question: I was preparing to send in for the upgrade following
> Version 3.0.6. Should I wait and send in for the upgrade that will come
> out in late January, or can the step of an upgrade be skipped?
>
> Kimberly
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gashel, James
> Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 12:06 PM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] features in the next upgrade
>
> Hi Robert and all:
>
> We are actually making very good progress on the next upgrade, which
> should be released well before the end of January.  At this point I can
> tell you that the new capabilities are really quite exciting.  We have
> been concentrating on responding to some of the most frequent
> recommendations we received during the beta test last spring.  So, for
> one thing, the field of view report has been enhanced in a major way.
> It now uses the flash and actually takes a low resolution picture.  This
> provides a report that is much closer to the results obtained when we
> actually take a picture with down arrow.  You can even get a field of
> view report in the dark.  Besides, the field of view report now includes
> information on the rotation of the Reader relative to the page.  This
> has always been presented during the picture processing sequence, but it
> is now part of the field of view report as well.  The combination of
> these enhancements is to give a report that really supports very
> accurate alignment before taking a picture.  However, you can still
> bypass the field of view report altogether, and the Reader works just
> fine most of the time.
>
> Another new feature is a short-cut means to switch from one reading mode
> to another.  This makes it very quick to go from books, articles, and
> labels mode to bills and memos mode.  Also, the new software will allow
> you to reprocess the last image taken in the alternate reading mode
> immediately after changing the mode.  This is very helpful when you find
> a document that is not reading very well in one mode but should have
> been captured in the other.
>
> These are just a few of the new things you will notice coming up.
> However, this is definitely not all.  The problem is, if I told you the
> absolute biggest of the changes coming up, as the saying goes, I really
> would have to kill you.
>
> So, since neither you nor I want anything like that to happen, please
> stand by.
>
> Thanks, J. G.
>
> ******************************************
>
> James Gashel
> Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
> BLIND 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, Maryland  21230
> Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227
> Fax:  (410) 685-5653
> Email:  jgashel at nfb.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of robert stigile
> Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 4:52 PM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Not Quite Tight Charger Plug
>
> Hello,
> I am wondering if there are any other features you can share with us
> that will be in the upgrade.
> Thanks,
> Robert Stigile
> Email: rstigile at sbcglobal.net
>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Gashel, James" <JGashel at NFB.ORG
>>To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users
> list"<reader-users at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Sun, 31 Dec 2006 16:00:26 -0500
>>Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Not Quite Tight Charger Plug
>
>>Hello All:
>
>>The next software update, which should be distributed in January,
> 2007,
>>will tell you the battery status and confirm if the system is
> connected
>>to external power as soon as you switch it on.  This will make it
> more
>>automatic and straight forward to confirm that the power
> connection has
>>been made.
>
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend
>>Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2006 12:03 PM
>>To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader users list
>>Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Not Quite Tight Charger Plug
>
>>Hi:
>
>> I too have noticed that the adaptor plug doesn't fit snugly and
> have
>>had trouble knowing if it is indeed charging unless I check by
> turning
>>the unit on, pressing f 1 twice, and listening to the battery
> message.
>>Quite a bit to go through .
>
>
>>JD Townsend
>>Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
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