Category: Geeks r Us
Hello all.
I know this topic has been brought up before. Does anyone have a LevelStar tablet who actually likes it?
I am looking for a note-taking device, and sense this integrates all functions, including a phone, it seems quite promising. However, I am apprehensive, as LevelStar has a continual reputation of not upgrading their software versions. Acording to the APH web page, thousands of applications can be installed to the device; how is this possible when the device doesn't have access to Android Market?
Thanks for all of the help in advance.
Nathan.
Before, I got an Alva Braille Display but do not like it very much. It is clumsy, having the display positioned above the cursor routing buttons. Also, I can't get it to interface with my IPhone very well. Apple states that the Feature Pack is not supported.
Hi,
I just recently acquired the braille Plus 18 and I really like it. You can access different android markets, such as the amazon market on the device via the web browser. It's true that the google playbook or whateer it's called is inaccessible, but there are plenty of other ways you can get the apps like I said.
The device is very well built and is very responsive. I got it in a trade deal from someone who wasn't satisfied with it's smallness, but I personally love all the features and the layout. feel free to send me a PM or a message if you want to find out any specifics about it. I'll be happy to answer questions on here as well. so ask away.
Hi,
As far as Word Processing is concerned, does the device have a spellcheck option?
When typing in the wordprocessor is it easy to edit different items? What are the streaming capabilities and book reading like? I understand that Nearby Explorer comes installed, providing GPS features. Can you navigate to a specific POI that you previously created? Do you use it for a phone, too? What is the reception like? How is the battery life? Does the cursor jump everywhere if you use the device without speech? Do you think that APH will provide future updates?
You know something?
We go from note takers from the 90's that were pretty flexible and pretty sweet, but then we saw the big 3 monopolies fs, hw and hims basically take over with their over priced, out of date, slow, proprietary note takers and that's all we had until Levelstar came out with the icon and braille plus. They were awesome awesome devices, and though they had issues like wifi and battery life they were amazing concepts. The hardware was 10,000 times better than any note taker on the market at that time this was back in 2006 and the bp was a sixth of the cost. So that proved conclusively we indeed could get quality hardware at a far better price albeit still over priced and which also proved the big 3 were straight up ripping us and agencies off.
Now enter the bp18 and now up and coming the braille to go from aph. These devices are truly amazing (and I use that term loosely compared to the big 3) in terms of hardware, something which has boggled my mind why we haven't seen such up to date hardware in a note taker in years is beyond me. And while the version of Linux was solid on the braille plus, we've got this new amazing b2g device and they've honestly trashed it with android. Come on people. Everyone knows android accessibility is no where as good as it should be and the only reason why it's part way accessible is because blindies bitched that android wasn't accessible. But now that it is, we're finding out, ok, well it's kind of accessible, but the iPhone is way better hands down, no argument there. Just can't win. If the bp ran a modified distribution of Linux like the braille plus and icons did then maybe I'd be sold. But the hardware is pleasing to see in a device that should have been on the market, oh, 7 years ago. I still think that yes, even with the updated hardware it's stil over priced, even though it is like a half or a third of the price of say a pac mate or a braille note, or a braille sense. But android is just a horrible choice. It is written in Java, must I say anymore. Anyone hear about the massive security holes and dangers that were all over tech websites like 6 months ago? Android users though just bypass this fact and they're catch all excuse is "apple is proprietary". that's a horrible excuse, one that you might as well save you the embarrassment of saying. It's not that apple is just better, it's that most blind people have an iPhone because it just works, not to be fancy or fit in. Those who have androids mainly just have it because it's a cool toy. Or I like the excuse, "I like to be different" Well, ok, be different, but don't come crying when your device doesn't work out of the box, or if you can't get updates in a year or 2 because your phone isn't supported, while billy bob with an iPhone 3gs is still getting updates 5 6 years later the 3gs was just finally stopped being supported. Give, me, a, break. And yes, I realize you can buy select android devices that you can turn talk back on out of the box, but guess what, good luck setting up your phone because the keyboard isn't accessible. So in order to get your phone you need to flash your phone, or buy a third party keyboard, or get someone to do it for you. I'm sorry but if that is how you have to get your phone to work then in my opinion, it's not accessible is it?
Face the truth.
just-chillin, its clearly shown you have not actually touched a updated android device like
a nexis7 or a nexis device which gets updated when the new android comes out. Second, you clearly lack knowledge about the current android even stock android so time to set you straight. On a stock android, or a Samsung galaxy device running jelly bean, you do not need to root the device to use it. Next, the galaxy S3, S4 both are still getting updates, not as fast as an Iphone gets b but it still gets updates. Security, do not go there unless you actually know what it takes to get app permissions from a end user. I know because I "chose" to root my GS3 so I could have full control. Now, is the apple coo lade currently sitting on the table, your attention focused on me? Your post so far is a person who tried ICS "Ice Cream Sandwich" probly barely worked with a JB device. Seeings how you seem to know so much about android you should know what JB stands fore but I digress, I am able to fully turn off my talkback and hand my device over to my wife in 4.2 and 4.3 of android, then get it back and turn it on. Here is a kicker, sit down have a pot to piss in near by!, your going to need one, I can even set up the device with no need to change the keyboard because the keyboard is useable. You know what!!, get this, I can even now select words, or the whole text cut, copy and paste it, who would of thunk it with such a crappy OS you so know a lot of because you have an IDevice and read articles.
Also just because a specialized product running a modified android can not access the play store does not make the play store inaccessible, I use it on a daily bases and love it. Also before you even attempt to discredit me, point out I do not have a IDevice, I have an Iphone5, use it, teach it to my students and i have a macbook pro running bootcamp which I set up with windows talking installer and mac,s disk utilities, so I do have a bit of computer knowledge under my belt.
I guess I should follow up with "here comes the flaming of my post so post on" it will not change my mind one bit.
Here is something for those who are intrested, a current 4.1.2 samsung device will let you do a two finger singel tap and hold on the set-up screen and with in 10 seconds talkback will come up and not crash. What does that mean you ask?, you are able to set up the device with a pare of head phones when it is needed to in put your password. I suggest you skip the set up and go to apps, settings, accessibility to check speak passwords if you do not want to use head phones to finish setting up your device. Then back out of settings, go to add google account and sign in to your gmail account.
Here is something for those who are intrested, a current 4.1.2 samsung device will let you do a two finger singel tap and hold on the set-up screen and with in 10 seconds talkback will come up and not crash. What does that mean you ask?, you are able to set up the device with a pare of head phones when it is needed to in put your password. I suggest you skip the set up and go to apps, settings, accessibility to check speak passwords if you do not want to use head phones to finish setting up your device. Then back out of settings, go to add google account and sign in to your gmail account.
Now, back to the question? Smile.
Ok, starflie, I'm going to end your ranting defense of android right now, at least for this board. Ready?
Android sucks, but that's of no consequense here when it comes to the bp18, because it is modified and it does work out of the box. In most cases, it doesn't even behave like a traditional android device.
So Just Chillin, to tell you the truth, the device actually works a lot like the old braille pluses and Icons. The menus are designed in a similar fashion, there are specialized apps that aren't on most android devices, and indeed, you cant' access the google playstore or whatever that's called, but you can get apps for the amazon android market as well as a few other android markets. The google playstore isn't the only option for getting apps.
I agree with you, just chillin, apple has the better software and the better security, but android has the ability to be updated by a third-party company such as aph, which makes all the difference. I bet if they could, APH or levelstar would work with Apple on creating their product, but apple doesnt' need them to make their products accssible,a dn they don't partner with other companies traditionally , so android is the next best thing in this case.
They chose android because it's much more mainstream right now than linux. Nobody uses linux in comparison to android. You can't argue with that.
Hello Write Away,
Thanks for getting this board topic back on track. If I were to purchase one of these, can you provide me with alternative solutions for apps?
Like I said, yes. There are different markets for apps other than the google playstore.
You can find these apps either via your computer or via the tablet itself.
Oh, and as for updates, they've already released two since it's been out. Two that I knwo of, at least. They release updates every three or four months at least. So there's no issue with dealing with buggy and inefficient software.
PM me when you're on and we can talk ore about it.
you never said why android sucks, so no you did not end my rant, its is where IOS was with the 3GS and probly more with 4.3 jelly bean. So, no android does not suck even when it is not modified, I have 3 android devices, 1 iPhone and a mac all of my device a nice but I like my android because I have freedom to do what I want with the device no sighted help needed. I can agree that android needs more apps but your comment, the person from bard's comment, does not help developers want to develop for android with a negitive attitute toward the platform. Lastly, if you do not use the platform as a daly driver, for work then I will put my butt on the line and say your no expert of android. Kay done with the rant, take it or leave it, call me what you want, at least I come from both platforms that are used to teach in my life.
Take your rant elsewhere, preferably to the board where you ranted before, and where I explained to you why android sucks in my oppinion. I didnt' explain here because this is about the
level star tablet
look at the board title.
And as an aside, I hate repeating myself, something you seem to have no problem with. lol.
Now, can you take your train wreck of a rant off of this board so we can get bakc to talking about the topic on hand?
Thank you sincerely,
PS: I never said I am an expert in android. Just that it sucks, According to me. Meaning it's my oppinion. Then again, If it didn't suck, believe me, you wouldnt' feel the need to defend it at the drop of a hat... so ponder that for a moment. lol
I have a couple of questions about the Levelstar tablet. Um, that is what this board is about, right? The Android rant took up more space than anything to do with the Braille plus.
Anyway, I have a friend who used the new Braille Plus. He claimed that when using the phone feature, the phone call always came through the speaker, though he tried using both wired and Bluetooth headphones. Is this true? Because I can definitely think of times when the whole world doesn't need to hear your phone conversations.
Secondly, when you download apps, is there any sort of guide that tells you which ones will be accessible and which won't? Is there any included guide that points you to a basic overview of useful apps? Also, what happens if you do install an app that's not compatible with the device? Does it make the software or hardware unstable? How many of the apps in the Amazon store, just as an example, would you say are accessible?
Well, I have an IPhone so I don't use the phone feature on there. So I can't answer that question for you.
As for the apps, they're in a bit of a funk right now because the tablet is still running android 2.0, and so a lot of apps are incompatible. You don't really get a guide as to which apps work, but there are an email list where you can ask, and a lot of the developers and those who work to improve the bp18 are quick to answer your questions. I knwo because I use it all the time.
There are a ton of apps on the amazon app store, though. Almost as much as on google play.
As for updating to android 4.3, they're hoping to do that by december at the latest, so not too long from now. That'll mean that no only will there be many more apps to use with the device, but also the google play store will be compatible on it.
For now, I use simple apps like drop box and youtube and an email client. I also have tune-in radio and some other entertainment apps, and all seem to work well. What'll happen when an app is inaccessible is it'll just not show any data on the braille display or speak anything. then you power it down, restart it, uninstall the app, and you should be ok. All this, providing that your app was taken from a trusted source and it's not carying a virus. Which you should always make sure of that first.