[Reader-users] Are there any updates due for the standard reader?
Kevin Jones
kevin at kevinrj.net
Thu Jan 31 18:34:19 CST 2008
the blackjack isn't powerful enough both for th ecpu and the camera you
need at least 5 megapixel to have a chance at good ocr. I've done 3
years of experimenting with ocr and digital cameras and this is what I
found.
Nicki Keck wrote:
> 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-
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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