[Reader-users] Are there any updates due for the standard reader?

Fri Feb 1 10:59:38 CST 2008

It would have been a complete rewrite, as Symbian's programming paradigms don't look a THING like Windows Mobile.  Whilst the existing Pocket PC software could possibly have been rewritten to run as a standard WinMo application, I think, as was earlier pointed out, it would have been impossible to find a Windows Mobile device with as good a camera as is in the N82 (which, I seem to recall, was released in the last six months or less).

-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David B Andrews
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 7:23 AM
To: reader-users at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Are there any updates due for the standard reader?

The camera in your phone is not adequate to work in the Reader application.  It could be that at some point in the future, there could be a phone and camera * smartphone, with adequate specs.  However, whether KNFB Reading Technology would or would not make a version of its software for it, is a business decision they would have to make.

I was told that to put the software on the Nokia phone it basically had to be written from scratch again * not a straight port as we say in the software business.  So, this is a decision they wouldn't take lightly.

Dave

David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax

>>> favorite.blend at verizon.net 1/31/2008 6:03 PM >>>

I have a question for anyone in the know.  Is there any consideration being given to developing a version of the software that will work on Windows Mobile and a Smartphone?  For me, this would be incentive to buy it because I already have mobileSpeak Smartphone with the Samsung Blackjack.  I am certainly ont going to trade my Blackjack, which I love, in for a phone in which I think Symbien doesn't have as many features, in some respects, as Windows Mobile, so in that respect, I don't want to go backward.  The bigger reason, however, is that I already have a license for MobileSpeak SmartPhone, and I don't necessarily see a reason to pay another $295 for a license of the same software to use on a Symbien phone, a phone which I'd be getting for no reason other than to have the newest reader.  I like what I have, but I also don't want to stand still and not be able to have the newest updates, so that is why I ask about this possibility.  The upgrade offer will have to be very attractive for me to consider buying a new cell phone that I don't need just to have the reader when I just spent $3000 out of my own pocket a bit over a year ago.  So I do hope this idea is taken into consideration because I'm sure I'm not the only one using Windows mobile that would like to have this technology.

Have a blessed day,

Nicki

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
-----Original Message-----
From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David B Andrews
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 3:56 PM
To: reader-users at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Are there any updates due for the standard reader?

No one is singling out blind people.  All technology has a relatively short life.  That is how the world works today.

So it is either have more advancement and evolution and less lifespan, or have more stability and lifespan with less evolution.
It is the former, and there aren't enough blind people to change that.  We also benefit, the first reading machine was the size of a washing machine, and cost over $60,000 and wasn't that good to boot.

Now look what we have.  Unfortunately, nothing stands still, and it has nothing to do with blindness!

Dave

David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax

>>> james.jolley at homecall.co.uk 1/31/2008 1:06 PM >>>

Yes, but what about those of us who have bought our readers with our own cash and not had the thing a year? I've already had to return mine because the camera died on it. What happens if that occurs again?

Sorry, but I am getting rather sick of this idea that blind people

have to jump all the time. I suspect also that there will be little

point in me sticking around on this list if the current unit is entirely changed to a mobile device. Personally, I wouldn't buy a

mobile just for a reader, a standalone device like it is now was perfectly fine.

Best

-James-
On 31 Jan 2008, at 18:52, Loren Wakefield wrote:

> It's the way it is unfortunately.  It use to be that a one gig
> harddrive cost over $2000  and now I am setting at a computer that
> cost
less
> than that
> and has 160 times as much room.  The thing with that is it is
almost
> three
> years old and is pretty much out-of-date.  But for now, it does
what
> I need
> it to do, and that counts for a lot.  My reader may be
out-of-date,
> but it
> will still do most of what I want it to do.  And boy, would I
have
> given
> alot to have something like it in college.  I will still use it,
but
> I still
> will hate the idea that it is out-of-date just as much.
> Loren Wakefield
>
> "The best way to predict your Future is to create it." Dr.
Forress C.
> Shaklee
>
> www.ultimatehealthwithtlc.com
>
> 319-433-0145 866-433-3969
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net>
> To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list"
> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Are there any updates due for the
standard
> reader?
>
>
>> This is what I get for being an "early adapter", I guess.  I
paid a
>> lot,
>> and I get to pay more, if I want to stay up-to-date.  I paid
nearly
>> $3000
>> for something that's already out of date.  It brings me down,
way
>> down.
>> Tracy
>>
>>> part of the problem beyond that the reader software has pretty
much
>>> maxed out the hardware, is 1 Fujitsu has completely stopped
making
>>> pocket pcs. 2 pocket pcs don't have usb host which is what is

>>> needed to
>>> use an external camera. The mobile market basically goes
through a
>>> generation every 18 months. The industry is all going towards
>>> convergence which means everything all in one device. I think
in
>>> the end
>>> moving to the cellphone platform will clearly be for the
better.
>>>
>>>
>>> Tracy Carcione wrote:
>>>> Are you saying that, if we want to continue to get
improvements in
>>>> scanning accuracy, we have to change to the cell phone model?
>>>> Tracy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi James:
>>>>>
>>>>> We haven't reached any conclusions about future upgrades for
the
>>>>> KNFB
>>>>> Reader
>>>>> Classic.  The problem we have been facing is that there is
only
>>>>> so much
>>>>> more
>>>>> we actually can do with that hardware.  We are probably
pretty
>>>>> much
>>>>> maxed
>>>>> out.  That doesn't mean we won't have an upgrade, but I just

>>>>> can't say
>>>>> for
>>>>> sure or when.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks, J. G.
>>>>> *************
>>>>> James Gashel
>>>>> Vice President of Business Development K-NFB Reading Technology,
>>>>> Inc.
>>>>> telephone (443) 854-0854
>>>>> toll free (866) 836-9988
>>>>> fax (781) 263-9999
>>>>> jim at knfbreader.com
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James
Jolley
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:49 AM
>>>>> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user
list
>>>>> Subject: [Reader-users] Are there any updates due for the
standard
>>>>> reader?
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>>
>>>>> I know we're all going mad over this new mobile reader thing
but
>>>>> are
>>>>> we going to see any updates for the standard units? Anything
been
>>>>> demoed or what?
>>>>>
>>>>> Best
>>>>>
>>>>> -James-
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Reader-users mailing list
>>>>> Reader-users at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/reader-users
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
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