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

Kevin Jones kevin at kevinrj.net
Fri Feb 1 11:15:16 CST 2008 

the nokia n82 was released on november 14 2007


Chris Meredith wrote:
> 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 
at!
> tractive 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-
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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