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

Thu Jan 31 11:24:21 CST 2008

Hi Tracy:

You can use the N82 with T-Mobile or A. T. & T.  

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 Tracy Carcione
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 6:22 AM
To: Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind Reader user list
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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