Category: Let's talk
Hello,
Any Klangans / anyone on Klango?
I find the sound skins very interesting and cool, and, for developers and users alike, the6e's a nice API so third-party developers can use LUA to create third-party applications.
If the zone had an API, some of us could possibly have developed games or utilities here ...
eaany eaklangans |
hi!
i go by rockyfan123, and i use the miriani sound skeme. klango's very good, i like the twitter client and the media player.
who are you on klango
When I tried to sign up for Klango, it said I had to download software. I don't think I should have to download software to join a website.
I'm robozork there as well.
Well for whatever reason, you do have to download software to join.
It's a self-voicing package that can act as a portal / a bunch of apps such as what the time keeper said, and it's all one interface to boot.
I initially took your view and didn't sign up at all. I've been long a naysayer of portals / networks like AOL, but for us Klango offers something unique.
As you're in it, all the experience is in 3d audio, meaning that your menus pan left to right, you get an audio skin - like what sighted users get via their visual desktop themes.
Forever, we've worked around themes but never seen an environment placed where the blind user experiences a full 3d theme.
Right now, Klango is in the background - the castle theme - a fire is burning and I'm writing on the zone using Firefox.
Once signed up, you can use the web site itself if you want, and there's even a Nokia version of their app.
It is an interesting experiment, and while I typically don't use "blindness" software except my screen reader, of course, this is really fun and cool.
By way of example, when you press alt, the first menu option speaks in your left ear, and as you scroll across, you get a visual of where you're at in the menus. This is true for all controls in the app, and of course depends on the audio skin you're using.
Audio skin?
This is new and different.
Unfortunately, I showed the app to my wife and there's no mouse.
While there is a picture, it's still pretty blinky.
She described it like looking at DOS.
To any developer on here, their API is in fact modern, and you do dialogs / objects / tables and such, but it's just the visual output.
They want to make it inclusive, and I think that's the best thing since most of us know far more sighted than blind people, but I think the lack of a mouse pointer, the necessity to use the keyboard etc., makes it frankly inaccessible to someone who can see.
It is visually better than, say, the GMA games where if someone walks up it looks like a blank screen. It does have a nice logo with fields, and the display when not using the Privacy feature, will show everything, but the sighted user can't do what comes natural to them and click on controls.
Plus, they're not rendered in a proper modern fashion, which the blind equivalent would be using an app where your screen reader gave you no type or state information on any control, and you had to use your review cursor all the time.
Just saying, we wouldn't call that accessible to the blind, so I'm not sure we can say Klango is yet fully-featured for someone who can see.
Yes, the web site is, but they can't sign up there. An accomodation should probably be made for people who can see in this app, I think.
But I think anyone who tries it will really enjoy the 3d audio, which in my experience anyway, is beyond comparison. Because of it, you automatically get an image of what is where. Overall, very nicely done, and the Developers' API looks very promising.
I use klango. I am nikosdemetriou there.
Oooo Klango. I'm feathery.
it's worth while, wayne. try it.
Yeah, I use Klango too, it's great! I'm Tara on there too.
I've decided I will download it tonight!
I'm Nymphadora on there. wish I could changeth username, but I can't. :( Ah well, it's still a very good program, and I've used it for over a year. love it.
i'm lunarfang on there!! hehe, hi ho klango!!
using the vista audio theme, but prefer supersmash bros, or, the water theme, but the klango castle was good too
Yep, I have it too. I'm SunshineAndRain there too
I use it too; same username here. But I've taken to only really use it for listening to all my fave podcasts these days! :)
Very impressive program though.
I must be the only one that doesn't like the term klangon.
It reminds me of star trek, which I happen to not like, but that's ok, I'll just use Klango member instead.
I go by kool_turk on there.
The forums on Klango certainly are different to the zone.
Come to think of it, the forums are a little like what this place use to be like.
I only hope it doesn't turn into the next zone.
There is more of a multi cultural feel on Klango, maybe it's because it's available in multiple languages, it's certainly more relaxing.
I have it but it's been a few months since I logged on. DOn't even remember my own name on there Hahaha! But I've got one of the Star Wars sound schemes. I use it to download the audio from Youtube videos including some theremin ones.
I have Klango and have been using it for a few days.
I must first state that I have never played blind games,. I feel that it is important to state that as I think the interface has been designed to be similar to blind games in terms of listening to where sounds are and the voice moving when you move the arrows.
Having never used an interface like that, it tooka bit of getting used to, but I am used to it now and I like it. The menus remind me of Microsoft Office 2007, so now I have used those menus, I wouldn't mind seeing if I can use the latest version of Microsoft Word.
On Klango it is great that you can tab to the next post. It makes reading a lot quicker. I wish they'd have more subforums though.
The geolocations is a bit messy but that's probably because the users have been able to create the locations. I don't know that for definite though.
The chatrooms feature isn't used enough in my opinion. I haven't tried the groups because I can't find any I'd really like to join.
Is there an instant messenger for talking to your Klango friends? I think that would be a great feature.
I have added the longjump. I always get disqualified on Tripplejump but I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. The best I've managed to do on longjump is get into the top 17000.
The piano is something which could and should be developed further. Changing octaves would be a great additional feature if it doesn't exist already and it would be great if you could create your own rhythms.
I don't like the blogs feature. Finding blogs is difficult because I haven't noticed any search functionality such as searching by category etc.
Klango 3 works well with Jaws 11.
I like the water theme, and the spring theme is quite nice. I love the sound you get when you're in a dialog on spring theme. I used to leave Klango sitting in a dialog overnight so I could sleep to that sound, when I had spring theme. However the return sound when you go back to the klango window's a bit too loud, not to mention ow I've figured out where that file is, pulled it and stuck it on my mp3 player. lol
Any way of getting the username back without creating a new one. I must have 2 under the same e-mail. All because I forgotten what they were. Maybe the account got deleted?
I use Klango, my favorite feature is the recording function. It's a lot easier than something like Gold Wave, you just hit f11 and it goes, and automatically records your files to mp3's. the only bad part is the volume is extermely low in the recordings, but then all I do is use Gold Wave to double the volume.
The only thing I really don't like is the folder structure, it's really a mess. I like that they have a shortcut to your recordings directory, but really, do they have to hide it so well? Can you even get to it through the main Klango directory from your hard drive?
What can you record? Can you record what you play on the piano?
I don't know about that, but you can record using your microphone.
I also use Klango. My name is rowdyamerican. I've been using it for quite a while now. Beta testing Klango 3 was awesome. Someone mentioned that it really isn't accessible for sighted users but I happen to know several sighted people that use it and love it.
Earle
Sighted people might want to try shift+f3 in klango. There are 3 different screen modes and you can choose the one best for you.
I personally use the logo only mode since i don't need anything else. But the other modes could show the menus and everything.
Well just catching up after a week's worth of coding challenges ... but yes it may be used by sighted folks, however the UI isn't intuitive for them. For one thing, they can't use the mouse; for another, while they may see the selection move, they don't see buttons, check boxes or other controls. Odd, since their API and structure are both modern and object-oriented, sorry to non-technical people.
I can't see myself, but I test drove this by showing my wife, and she was confused. She is a very basic computer user, though, and can't even really understand JAWS, although if it said something she wanted, or didn't want, to hear she could probably understand it just fine ... <g>
Nice to see a lot of folks using Klango.
I don't get on it much, but only use logo mode when I do get on. Makes it easier on my laptpo. I'm blindndangerous on there.
I just installed it, and I'm having trouble with the speech...I use Jaws, and getting use to sappi it's a bit difficult.
hmm, it is hard to find a good group on there... some seem to be for fun, but others, there are really good disscussions going on... not too crazy on long jump, but, skeet is fun... mad it to lvl 41, never got higher, may try again smile... now that was a fun morning...
anyone use klango for their twitter? that's how i do it...
I have but was hoping I could cannibalize their client and see how they interfaced with the Twitter API - realize most normal people wouldn't do it for that reason ... lol ... but yeah that was it.
As to getting used to the speech, well, it's not a screen reader, the app is self-voicing. I have proven as much as a developer by sending data to it without specifically calling its voice, and I see it in the debugger but don't hear it. Of course if you generate a dialog or something it will respond, it just doesn't call things by the names you're used to.
But I rather like the three-dimensional space.
If you want games, go to External Applications and download Top Speed 2.
Works great with a game controller, although you can use the keyboard as well.
This thing has excited me so much that I'm gonna run upstairs to the Windows machine and sign up right away! I can't believe it. Never have I heard of such a thing. I mean, all the aps in one and with such cool features. And there's no denying that I'm thrilled at the visual aspect, especially the fact that there's no mouse usage. It's about time they enter our world for once and that a modern but fully accessible ap is made. But given that it does have a Windows feel to it, I too must admit that it's a bit strange. Still, I guess the programmers on there were more concerned with making it accessible than with making it pretty, which is a really good thing for us. My only regret is that they haven't come out with a Mac version yet. ah well, maybe in the future?
I downloaded topspeed, and went to download the other thing listed...Sounds something, but it kept erroring, so, I gave up. I know it's not a screen reader, but I just don't use Sappi that often. LOL. Guess I'll get use to it as I find the time to play with it. I love the 3d sound too. I'm hoping it will help at least some with understanding visual layout a bit...Programmer by trade, and while I do ok with visual aspects of my program a little more understanding can't hurt. :)
I bet it'll work with the Dimitris voice from Acapella. That's gonna be so cool!
I just signed up and am Magkisa83 over there. I played around with it a tiny bit and it's definitely cool. It also works with Dimitris and wow! They've got tons of Greek stations in that media thing. Now I'll never miss the news, sports or politics again! I'm wondering if there's a way to create a profile with info and interests about me?
I actually had to log in to Klango and walk myself through the steps to remember how to create or change one's profile. lol Here is how it's done.
1. hit alt to go in to the menu, and select the first option, which is Klango network.
2. Once in the Klango network, go the last option in your right speaker, which is My account.
3. Under my account, press enter on the first option on, which is my settings. This will bring up a form you tab through to select your country, language, and there is a spot where you can put in a little blurb about yourself.
Hope this helped you.
Joanne, (AKA Nymphadora on Klango)
Thanks. *smile* It certainly did.
To view someone else's profile, you want to view what's called their "visiting card".
i'm on klango to. i'm ausiprincess22 on their. if you message me on their, can you please tell me who you are on here? i haven't been on klango for long, but i like it. the only problem i have is that i have to use microsoft sam, so i leave it running in the background sometimes.
How do you post or reply to forums? Sorry, but this is a whole new thing for me. I'll probably get the hang of it in a day or so.
On Sunday I downloaded Skeet. Had a few games on Monday. The highest level I reached was 58, and I also hit a 55. Both times were after previous games.
Anyway I've been on a six hour course today. I walked in, put the computer on, had what I thought would be a quick game of Skeet, and in one game, I reached level 62 and scored 15462, despite losing a life before level 20, and another somewhere between 30 and 40. I've since bettered it and got up to level 68 with a score of 17453, which is the 3rd best of the day.
I'm quite impressed, because before joining Klango, I didn't play audio games. I like Skeet though. It's so simple but so addictive.
To post 36, you should be able to use any Sappi 4 or 5 voices you have installed. I can definitely see how anyone would have a hard time understanding Microsoft Sam.
skeet, yes, is very very addicting, haven't played in a while, might go and play one now...
i kno you can use any sapi4 or 5 voice, and believe me, i've tryed to put some on my computer, but it, (the computer) won't let me install them, so i'm stuck with microsoft sam weather i like it or not. i can't complain about it though, cause my vista laptop won't even run the voices so i can't run klango on it, even though it's installed properly.
I do better at Skeet if I've had a long difficult day, even though I'm tired. I think it is good for my mind. Expect me to do rubbish tomorrow, but I'll get a high score at my first attempt on Friday.
Eleni, to reply to a post continue to tab to where it says 'Type your reply' do that and tab again to 'post reply'. All this info is in the 'Welcome to Klango' and other forums you are automatically subscribed to. Chek it out; there's a lot already written on there. Unlike your email - Outlook Express or Outlook, you don't open an individual message but a thread, which may contain one or more messages. You tab between each message.
And Klango for DOS if there were one would have all the following wonderful features:
- no help
- no forums to get help
- you could only download a few k at a time of an mp3, then UUEncode it to *hopefully* get the thing together then only play it if nobody bumps the machine
- a 30-line batch file with three sections 6 error level checks and no helpful output when it goes wrong
- oh, I don't know, maybe 4 or 5 real-mode drivers, three of which need to be loaded high from the config.sys file, chomping your screenreader's space
- an obscene amount of files buffers and stacks allocated
- installs from 10 floppy disks, not in sequential order
- Companies haven't even heard about accessibility, there are no standards, and part of the app may just well write direct to the screen rather than through the BIOS so you can't even see the characters.
- and ... nobody, I mean nobody would help you.
Obviously this is aimed at certain tendencies on some users' part to go backwards; some of us were actually there and saw it ...
Hmm. Obviously, you know about programming and I don't, so I can't disagree with you in any kind of technical way. But strictly as a user, I don't see why some of the more basic features, forums, blogs messages etc. couldn't be implimented. And with the modern versions, who knows what's possible? Certainly ability to stream audio. Then again, to put all of this into a client? Yeah. I think DOS would be much better able to handle this if it were an actual website.
Anyway, I love Klango. The people there are wonderful and the whole idea is incredible. I love how everything is all in one and completely accesible. I just really wish it worked on the mac.
They might be able to, but I'll tell you a simple reason that I don't think it will ever be done...Not enough people use dos anymore for them to bother with it. And from a programming prospective, to a degree I can understand it...Why create something that maybe 2/4 people will use when I can spend my time writing something for a larger audience. However, this is the same reason companies don't typically bother with accessibility...LOL, 6 of 1, half dozen of the other. :)
cattleya,
My post was intended to be tongue in cheek.
However, the real reason DOS versions aren't made is that programs use libraries to do a ton of functions - a matter of not reinventing the wheel.
DOS doesn't have these libraries - the ones that come with an OS like Linux, Windows, Leopard or whatever.
And despite what some have been saying, DOS if it's really DOS has a tremendous amount of limitations that I have written about in other posts. This has nothing to do with accessibility. The term, as it applies to software, didn't exist until the GUI, ironically. Before then with *no* standards at all there were never any guarantees *at all* about it working with any kind of access software.
If these supposedly modernized versions of DOS worked so well, there wouldn't be so many questions about getting them up and running on this site.
I don't even have it installed yet, so when I do, I'll be able to see for myself and experiment and have fun with all the new features. Anyway, Klango forums sort of work like GMail, another amazing invention that I switched to several years ago. I love threads instead of individual messages. Of course, it makes sense that they don't make one for DOS, because it would be a waste of time with only a few users of the program, but it still intrigues me that it is indeed possible.
LOL, I knew your response was meant to be "tongue in cheek". I simply stated that it could be done...Nothing is empossible if one sets their mind to it. However, my point is valid, it "could" be done, but it won't. LOL. At least not by me. *grin* LOL, I like object oriented programming, libraries I can use without rewriting everything "reinventing the wheel", ETC. The easier a program to do the more that can be done. *grin*
What language would have to be used for it? I'm assuming that, yes, it would need to be object-oriented to work within this kind of environment, but that's fine. Just curious.
Hmm, as I program, (at this time) exclusively in Visual Basic and C# I don't know for sure, however, I'd say possibly C or C++ would be the way...Though, their are probably other languages out there that would be possible to use, but again, I'm not familiar enough with command line aps to say for positive what would work. :)
hi, i kno this got berried, but, i just made a group called entertainment world. if you would like to join it, feel free to put in a request. if your a klango user, that is.
i used to go on klango a lot, but, stopped, cuz every youtube video either buffers, badly, or, can't be played, and you have to go through, about 50 before you find one that does.. i'm really on there now for the groups i'm a member of really...
anyone use the klango chat? it seems dead every time i go on
Hello everyone,
I am on there too, and funnily enough my user name is the same as on here, I.E. Timber ! :)
Well I'm getting behind LOL As I'm still on version 2.0, but that's because I haven't used it in a while, got to upgrade many programs including Klango 3.0!
I have installed Skeet, and Long Jump too, not used them much yet, heard podcasts and trawled around the site, shooting myself in the foot, as I'll probably be sensible in downloading the new Klango first, but in advance, how does one change the Soudn Skin, I have the default one at the moment, what's that one called?
And I heard above, one can change the SAPI voice, how again?
To mention an App that noone has too date (as of 26th of March, reading all the posts got me logged off from the Zone LOL )! is the Wikipedia one! Think I've installed one or two others besides but till I return to Klango, can't remember what they are! :(
But it is a great innovation, and I'll try and use it more! :)
Long live Klango! LOL/:O
Best wishes to all who read this,
Timothy Bamberr AKA Timber on The Zone and Klango too!
PS: I'll ensure I do download the new one soon, worried that someone had trouble on here recently, but I'll trust I'll be OK and do just that ASAP! :)
I am on klango too, I'm lorghetti on there. I am very new and still figuring everything out, seems nice and cool and easy,but right now I'm only using the blog more than the other things, no one on there knows I exist yet.lol
now we do. lol
I've just gotten back into klango, and am really glad I did. Their forums seem to be much better topic wise. Actualy convinced me to update my visiting card, my youtube profile, my facebook profile, and my myspace profile and my zone profile with all new information which was nice. Added the ice cold stream to the catalogue, and it gives me something to do when I'm bored. I'm still blindndangerous on their.
I came back to it earlier this month after not being on it for about three months or so and I still adore it. Of course, having a nice XP laptop at my fingertips really helps things too. But yeah, I've posted alot to the forums, joined a few groups, downloaded some new themes and have absolutely fallen in love with the ability to download songs from youtube. Man oh man is that a life saver. My only gripe, and it's not huge, is that when I close the lid of the laptop and go into standby, it takes longer to get out of it when I have Klango running.
i think i spend most of my time down loading music off youtube. lol, that is, if i'm not checking in on the groups i belong to, including my own. i've never had that problem with my laptop, as i never just shut the lid, while i still have klango running.
I haven't read all the posts in this thread and this may be slightly off topic, but has anyone gotten klango to install successfully in windows 7 home premium 32-bit? I've downloaded the .exe file at least 3 times and when i run it, it says that klango setup 3.2 (whatever the rest of the filename is) has stopped working.
Any ideas?
Robert
because you have an old version of klango. you need 3.1.1.
I forgot my username and password on there. Plus, I don't really have any decent sapi voices because the ones that came with jaws don't work on windows 7.
I'm on klango, Gryfynn, though I haven't been there in a while...
I am on Klango, Devinprater is my name there. In fact, it was the very first social network I have ever joined!
hi Earle, I have Klango, but it seems difficult to navagiate. Facebook is easier to use. I've tried e-mailing you, sent you messsages in your voice-mail, in the hopes you'll respond. silkyGirl
I'm on Klango. You may have seen me in the forums. Gamera42 is my username there. I don't get to Klango often, as Twitter seems to be my favorite thing and I'm also playing with Facebook, but I go there now and then.
Speaking of Facebook and Klango, has anyone tried the new Facebook ap? I think it's a waste, unless they've updated it since they released it. I really don't go on Klango much so I don't know, but when I initially checked it out, it appeared you couldn't even post a status. You certainly couldn't access your settings, and the friends list showed up in a weird way.
I haven't been on there since January. Wonder if they have a client for the Mac Daddys on here yet?
no client for mac's yet, and don't know if they will. also, the facebook client on their is broken at the moment, but i don't think that has anything to do with what klango is, or isn't doing, as facebook feel it necessary to keep changing all the time. so no one that i know of can even log in to their facebook accounts using the client.
That's no great loss to me at the moment, but I do hope they can fix and improve on it eventually. It does have potential.
I'm staindaddict on Klango if anyone wants to add me.. Right now I'm using the water sound theme.
Haven't been on there in a year or so. Thought the 3-dimensional sonic skins idea was interesting and cool, but the text areas / writing and reading could be a bit more like a typical document or web page I guess. More to the point, Facebook, Twitter and this place is more than enough social networking for me. I've actually learned a lot more things on here than on there, and I doubt I know anyone on there except people that are on here. That would make it kind of a duplicate situation.
I did use the radio player for awhile here in the office, but you can't change what its keys do, say, to minimize and stuff, and they were conflicting with my code editor. Sure I cuold have changed those, but I've been using a variant of my editor's setup for longer'n some of you've been alive.
sounds cool.
I used it for a while until the client irritated me to much, I hate the voices, even with sapi, and, don't like the background sounds, and besides, there's not much to do on there and it's too time consuming, so I'll stay off. I just can't stand the damn thing for very long. and, if you want to know I am moongazer or moony on there.