Category: Cell Phone Talk
I have Verizon and the last few Droids I've gotten haven't quite worked out. I've been thinking about getting the iPhone 4s. I hear good things about Siri. The thing is, I've never used a smart phone that was all touch screen. I'm scared lol. I'm not sure how people do it. I'm low vision but I've heard of people who are totally blind using it no problem. From what I have heard in passing, there is also a screen reader that comes with it called "Voice Over"?
I just want a smart phone that actually works. The Droid 3 and the Galaxy Stratosphere II were both total fails. Haven't had one that worked well since the LG Ally.
Any advice would be appreciated.
That's correct. The Iphone comes with a screen reader called voice over. It works with gestures which you perform on the screen. You can swipe one finger right or left, up or down, sometimes two fingers, and you can tap with one or more fingers. There is a list of them, and you can get a lot of different tutorials to help teach you which ones do what action. It is very easy to learn, I assure you.
They also just came out with new models of the IPhone the 5S and the 5C. You might look in to getting one of these. If you get the 4S, it will be the older model. It still works, but it has a different connection for cords and docking stations. The 5 series uses an 8 port prong, whereas the 4 series uses a 32. So if you get the 4s, you have to find cords and docking stations which work only on that, or find an adapter.
I am totally blind, and use an iPhone. It is extremely accessible. Mind, this does not mean that all apps that you can get for the phone are, but the phone itself is. And there are tons of resources out there where you can learn what apps are accessible and what are not. There is a bit of a learning curve to it. When I first got mine, I had fantasies of shattering it into a thousand pieces. I actually posted about it here, because I felt like I was the only blind person with an iPhone that did not instantly fall in love with it. However, after awhile, that changed, and now I use my iPhone for a ton of stuff. If you are daunted by the idea of nothing tactile on the screen, you can get tactile screen protectors through a company called Speed Dots. This makes it so there are raised dots on the screen to guide you. I don't use one, but many blind people do. Personal preference. Cody is right, if you do get an iPhone, I'd get a 5C or 5S, so you have the more current version.
I am uet another totally blind IPhone user who loves the experience. I'll be honest with you, the idea of using a touch screen made me apprehensive as well at first, but I soon got over it. They're not kidding when they say the IPhone's totally accessible. It truly is. I've never had a phone before thsi one that allowed me to do so much on it without sighted help. Go for it. It's waaaaaaaay better than android. I tried android too for a little while and I hated it. Get the IPhone and you wont' regret it in the long run.
I can't afford the newer modile I don't think. I don't have any lines up for contract. is it true you can buy keyboards for the iPhone? I don't really mind about the port/cord thing.
Yes, you can buy keyboards for them. I can't really say more than that though, I've never used one.
Thanks everyone. One last question. Have any of you guys ever used Siri?
It might be worth checking out an iPhone in a store if you can, either an Apple store if you have one near you or a local cell phone shop if not. If you're low vision, you can probably have a phone demoed more effectively in store than a totally blind person can because the background noise won't be as much of an issue when trying to listen to Voiceover.
I'm with you - I prefer iOS to Android, I've used both. YOu can get keyboards for them including cases with bluetooth keyboards built in. I have one, but only use it for heavy typing when I don't have my laptop. Some are better than others.
She might get intimididated if trying IOS on the IPhone for the first time in a store unassisted. I knwo I was at first. I recommend checking out some of the podcasts and other info on IOs before you do that, just so that you can keep in mind some very basic commands you can try to test how well it works for you. Also, keep in mind that the salespeople might not know how to turn on voiceover for you.
Regarding siri, yes, I use it all the time and I'm sure others do as well. She's a neat little robot. lol.
I have an iPhone 5, and love it. I had to purchase the tiny adapter called a lightning connector, so that I could connect the device to my docking station/wall charger.
if you have any more questions, I'm sure many here would be willing to help you.
Yes, there are a variety of keyboards you can get that work with the iPhone. I have two: the Apple bluetooth keyboard that I use for heavy typing, and the Rii mini bluetooth keyboard I can fit in my purse to use whenever. But I'm pretty fast on the touch screen too, so what I use just depends on the situation.
I still have a 4, so have not used Siri a lot, though I have played with it quite a bit on iPhones belonging to friends. It's pretty cool. Speaking of friends, do you know anyone who has an iPhone? If you do, I'd suggest seeing if they'd let you look at theirs. That's how I first got familiar with it.
I'm also totally blind, and I have an iPhone 4. There was quite a learning curve, since I had never used a touch screen before, but I love it. I didn't use a tactile screen protector right away, but I do now, and I think it's helpful.
Hey alicia, I know this is a bit off of the original topic, but since you mentioned the apple bluetooth keyboard, I have a question for you. I just got one, and I'm having trouble figuring out when it's on and when it's off, as it doesn't actually make any beeping noise or vibration, it just lights up. Any hints as to how I can work around this better? Because I had left it on once and it drained the battery within just a few days without me knowing about it.
Thanks.
when I got my phone a while back I had issues at first. I figured it all out though. I didn't get to go to an apple store to get help. I just had a person help me a bit at the time.
Ed_G
What brand of your phone cover d you have that has the keyboard built in to it? I am planning to get a 5S soon and am thinking of getting a keyboard. I do have a cheep one that messes up a lot and doesn't keep charge verry well either.
Any advice?
Bernadetta, I'm sorry, but I can't give you many hints, as this is a problem I have myself. I too have drained the batteries the same way. It's the biggest con of the keyboard, and why I may have to get a different one once something happens to this one. Usually I just have to tell by whether it controls the phone or not. If I'm pushing buttons and the phone reacts, I know it's on. I'll push in the on/off button, wait a few seconds, and try pushing keys again. If the phone still responds, it's still on, if not, I know I've got it off. Same with turning it back on. Not the best way, I know, but it's the only one I've found.
Yeah alicia, that's how I do it too. lol. Is the Riiany better? I've had my eye on that one and I've been meaning to grab that as a late birthday present to myself. Also, another drawback for the apple keyboard is that it can only conect to one device at a time. Is the Rii the same? Because if not, I'm all for getting it.
If you go to a store the clerk will have an easier time turning on voice over by asking siri to do it.
If you can go to the Apple store, because they'll help you understand the phone and how you can use it better then others.
Hi Nicky,
I've had a look and apparently my keyboard case is unbranded.
Think Geek used to make a nice keyboard case but I don't think they make it for the 5/5S.
Amazon have a lot of keyboard cases listed but it's difficult to get a sense of the key sizes from the descriptions. I wish the Apple store sold them.
Not necessarily, Wayne. My experience has been that most Apple people are not very familiar with Voice-Over. They know it exists, but that's about as far as their knowledge extends. Turn on voice-over so that the gestures change, and they're about as unable to use the phone as we are with it off. Not sure how helpful Apple store personnel would be in this situation. And anyone can ask Siri to turn it on now with iOS 7, not just a store employee.
Bernadetta, the problem I have with the Rii is how small the keys are, so I can't type as fast on it, but you get used to that. I've never tried to connect it to more than one device, so I'm not sure on that one. Only thing I use it for is my iPhone.
I had to call apple for some help with my mac recently and I was connected with a higher up guy who said that they have trainned a lot of people to use VO. He contacted my local store and found out that they were trained to use VO. It is something they have done recently so check back in to it. Call the store before going and see if they know how to help while using VO. I also have a great website that was given to me on how to use VO on the mac, it has loads of stuff on it so maybe there is something like that for the Iphone/ You can try calling apple and asking too.
Same for me as many of you who said that you were apprehensive with the touch screen. I didn't find out that Apple devices had VoiceOver implemented in to them until I went to LCB, and saw a bunch of people who had IPhones using them. Before that I hated technology in general, and I wasn't all that happy with the flip phone I had because for one thing, it wouldn't read all the texts that people sent me, and b, when the inbox got full I couldn't delete the texts myself. I'm pleased with the IPhone and glad to see the progress that's being made with IOS7.
I guess everyone has different experiences with Apple personell, but I find them very knowledgeable about VoiceOver, and just in general.
When I got my 4s, I asked the clerk who sold me the thing to enable the triple-click-home-button option to enable Voice-over. She said she did, but she hadn't. I actually don't remember how in hell I ended up managing, but I know it didn't take long. Might have done it through iTunes or something...I'm not sure. Either way, I don't know how much, if anything, this girl knew about Voice-over.
I have an Iphone5, while its nice it does not fit my geeky side, feels restrictive but its my back up phone when I need to update my cm-10.2 phone.
I know, here comes the fire storm but some of us actually like android more then IOS.
I don't know sister. When I got my 4S it wasn't properly configured. Even after connecting it to my computer and following instructions it still wouldn't receive a call.
I took it first to Verizon and they got it working, but didn't know anything else.
I went from there to the Apple store, and the guy held my hand basicly. He taught me more in about 15 minutes than I understood the phone could do.Apple also has a special department that deals with the accessibility features. That was 2 years ago, so as posted they've probably improved.
You get 90 days with your phone to receive help as well.
I didn't think I'd like a touch screen, but I swear I cook the thing breakfast in the mornings now. Smile.
They're supposed to have the home tripple tap enabled as the factory setting. I was able to activate my phone by myself after it was sent to me in the mail. Maybe she shut it off thinking that it was all ready on.
Well with IOS 7 the triple home feature is not necessary really anymore. Just ask Siri. I think this is great, because we can use any iPhone period, providing the person allows us.
Anyone can hand you the phone, you can turn on accessibility, use it, turn it off, give it back. Pretty nice.
I like the ability to turn on Voiceover using Siri, it'll be particularly useful if you need to help someone who doesn't use Voiceover and hasn't enabled triple click. I still think I prefer triple click as a means of turning it on and off though, it's slightly quicker and I assume Siri still needs an Internet connection even to adjust phone settings though I haven't tried it in iOS7 when my phone has been disconnected.
Wow, I'm assuming you couldn't do that before. That shocks me because you could do so many other things with Serie. Then again, it hadn't crossed my mind to try turning Voiceover on and off with Serie before because I'm used to using tripple-home-click.
I didn't think about that Ed, on the internet connection, however, you'd still have cellular, and when you are away from your home or Wi Fi Siri works, so it should anyway?
Seems the only way it not work if you both had no cell or Wi Fi support.
Great idea on the helping thing too. Helping a sighted person would be a snap.
Another bug I have noticed with IOS7 has to do with touching the app that is located in the upper left hand corner of my screen. I have three pages of apps. When I am on the second page I have tried touching the Amazon app, which is located in the upper left most part of the page. For some reason, the phone takes this as I am trying to go to page three. Has anyone else had this problem?