[Reader-users] Let's get some discussion going

Kevin Jones kevin at kevinrj.net
Tue Jan 29 14:05:20 CST 2008 

the n82 also has a built-in gps chip so wayfinder will work also.


Chris Meredith wrote:
> And it does have an MP3 player, as well as all of the functions you'd find including read-only support of Office files (with read-write support as a paid upgrade).  Now, whether this works with either TALKS or Mobile Speak is anyone's guess.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder
> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:38 AM
> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Let's get some discussion going
> 
> Anything that uses GSM so I think that means AT&t and T-Mobile.
> 
> 
> ----- 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: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Let's get some discussion going
> 
> 
>> If you did want to use it as a reader and a phone, which network does it
>> work on?
>> Does it function as a PDA and MP3 player too, like a lot of high-end cell
>> phones?
>> Thanks.
>> Tracy
>>
>>
>>> You can use the KNFB Reader Mobile without a SIM card, or activating
>>> it as a phone.
>>>
>>> As to the specifics of upgrade, you will have to ask them.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>> At 01:29 PM 1/28/2008, you wrote:
>>>> Wow.  Just saw the specs on this at the KNFB website (although this
>>>> new device would give me exactly three times as many phones as I
>>>> have SIM cards).  Some questions I have as to the new device:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Is it required that a SIM be in the phone in order to operate?  I
>>>> completely forget how Symbian works in that, although I know Windows
>>>> Mobile will let you use some device functions without the SIM.  I
>>>> suppose that, all else failing, I can try adding a line to my
>>>> existing account and things.
>>>> 2.  What is the timeframe in which the upgrade path will be
>>>> announced?  Will the upgrade be offered free to those that bought
>>>> their device after a certain point?  I presume you will have to send
>>>> in your old device, but will this be done in such a way as to allow
>>>> you to keep the old device until the new one arrives, at which point
>>>> you'll be billed the difference unless you send the old unit back
>>>> (similar to what Freedom Scientific did with one iteration of the
>>>> PAC Mate), or will you be required to send the old unit in before
>>>> you get the upgrade?
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> [mailto:reader-users-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of James Gashel
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 8:55 AM
>>>> To: 'Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list'
>>>> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Let's get some discussion going
>>>>
>>>> Hi Laura:
>>>>
>>>> If you are interested in checking out the knfbREADER Mobile, I promise
>>>> you
>>>> that we are not going to lead you astray.
>>>>
>>>> Developing this product has been far more difficult than just shoving
>>>> software into a cell phone.  The phone we are using has the unique camera
>>>> and technical specifications needed to function as a high quality Reader.
>>>>  I
>>>> don't want to imply that everything will work exactly the same as or
>>>> always
>>>> as good as our first portable reader.  In some instances our new Reader
>>>> actually out performs our first Reader, but in some other conditions it
>>>> may
>>>> not.  My personal experience is that the two are within about a five
>>>> percent
>>>> range of one another on the performance scale, provided you learn to use
>>>> and
>>>> maintain them correctly.  The techniques for taking good pictures are not
>>>> the same, but the results certainly can be.
>>>>
>>>> Please stand by for our announcement coming up on Monday and then feel
>>>> free
>>>> to check it out from there.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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 tribble
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 9:35 AM
>>>> To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
>>>> Subject: Re: [Reader-users] Let's get some discussion going
>>>>
>>>> Hi James -- I do hope the A/B units will continue to be supported as I
>>>> and
>>>> many others have invested a lot of money in it -- but as for whether it
>>>> is a
>>>>
>>>> good idea to go mobile, I think it is great as a pocket sized unit would
>>>> be
>>>> so much easier to carry around, and the hardware is out there that can
>>>> support such a thing -- most all phones now have cameras and processors,
>>>> so
>>>> putting the software on it seems like a natural evolution. I am reminded
>>>> though of the use CodeFactory made of the phone cameras to write software
>>>> to
>>>>
>>>> identifier color and lighting for blind users.  The software only costed
>>>> something like $30 but I thought it was a really creative use of the
>>>> camera,
>>>>
>>>> which many blind phone customers thought they would never need to use.
>>>> however, I bought the color recognizer and frankly it didn't work worth a
>>>> hoot -- I mean, you had to recalibrate it every time your surroundings
>>>> changed or it would give ridiculous results, and if a blind person needs
>>>> to
>>>> depend on knowing when lighting changes in order to use the recognizer,
>>>> it
>>>> turned out to be a loser.  But I must say it was a nice try. In the end I
>>>> did go and buy the color test from APH for their ridiculously high price,
>>>> which differs in that it has its own light source and doesn't depend on
>>>> --
>>>> and in fact can't work when there is -- ambient light.  They have a
>>>> cheaper
>>>> model for a third the price, but I opted for the color test as I tried
>>>> the
>>>> other one at convention on some clothes I brought along and it didn't
>>>> work.
>>>> I have been happy with the color test.
>>>>
>>>> But back to the reader, if there are similar gotchas for the knfb stuff
>>>> being put on a mobile phone, then I would be leary of sinking money into
>>>> it.
>>>>
>>>> Otherwise, if it indeed would work as well as the original units, I might
>>>> scrape into my budget yet again and consider getting one -- maybe after
>>>> it
>>>> has been out a while.  (I'm still reeling from an unexpected veterinarian
>>>> bill for my little dog who got away and tangled with a fast moving
>>>> car...)
>>>> Is there a projected price tag on the mobile reader?
>>>> Cheers!
>>>> --le
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "James Jolley" <james.jolley at homecall.co.uk>
>>>> To: "Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list"
>>>> <reader-users at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2008 6:28 AM
>>>> Subject: [Reader-users] Let's get some discussion going
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>
>>>> I got to thinking about this after the news regarding the mobile
>>>> product line. What do people think to perhaps buying it as a secondary
>>>> machine if they could afford it? For me, thinking on what Jim said,
>>>> the A and B units surely would continue to have updates as the PDA in
>>>> both of them is fast for what we're doing. After all, it doesn't take
>>>> 600 MHZ or so of processing to do OCR, indeed I remember doing it on
>>>> open book years ago with a 486 DX33. In honesty, do people think that
>>>> the unit is small enough as it is? Getting these things onto mobiles
>>>> is all well and good but as you know, aiming and holding a mobile
>>>> phone straight is difficult for some. My only worry about all this
>>>> miniaturization is that we may forget that these are reading machines
>>>> first and foremost.
>>>>
>>>> What do people think?
>>>>
>>>> Best
>>>>
>>>> -James-
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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