Category: accessible Devices
My question is this.
I'm considering one day getting either getting a blackberry or IPhone.
Does the major manufactors for cellphone accessibility have programs for these phones, and if not, are they planning to?
the I phone has a touch screen. The black berry OS is not accessible. However, you can get an emulator I believe that will interface with the blackberry system and that will run on certain HP PDAs which can be made accessible. From what I've seen though, the lerning curve is quite steep but it can be done. Really do your research and try to talk to other users if you can find any using this work around method before making a purchase. When I find the info I was reading when I was researching this a few months ago, I'll post it here. Good luck.
omg I want a blackberry.
Why, I mean, it's no different that other PDA's! Good grief! The Iphones are a waste anyway! It's stupid in my opinion!
Uhm. blackberries are not IPhones. Completely different product.
duh!!!! I don't see the need in an Iphone, and unless, you are involved in a business (meaning you have a job), then, a blackberry is virtually useless. I don't get it. Why are people always more and more. I swear, human being are greedy. Something that meets their needs is never enough.
Hmmm, ok, PDA wise, what would you recommend then?
Plenty. There are those that are compatible with mobile speak. Blackberry is not the only PDA out there. Also, the braille note and packmate are PDA if you think about it.
hmm, onkfor the person Like me who doesn't know others than the blackberry or IPhone, be spacific?
the the poster who is hating on the blackberries and I Phones stop. people are not greedy, maybe they just like different things than you.
Good grief! Come on! First of all, many companies make PDA's. Dell I know does. All of these do the same thing pretty, email, internet, mocrosoft word, and so forth. Second of all, what's the point in having an Iphone. They're way too expensive for starters. You can get a 160 gig ipod for that price. second, they're inaccessible for visually impaired users. It just seems silly to me that a person would want something that is very expensive and relatively useless to them if they don't have vission. Get an ipod. Also, you could get a PDA with one of codefactory's products loaded on it. No big deal. Sometimes, we have to use what we have instead of groaning about what we don't. In time, I think more PDAs will become more accessible with the help of different kinds of software.
well I wasn't asking you to be an ass, what ever.
How about just not writing if your going to be a smartass about everything.
ok, fuck it, this sight, and all you people on it, cam go screw yourselves.
seems you people have nothing better to do than sit on your asses and talk shit or be smartasses to people that ask a simple question, so I don't give a damn if I'm banned or not, but there, there is my oppinion, I don't care how you take it.
I apologize. I was not intending to be a smart ass at all. I was just informing you that codefactory offers mobile speak for dell PDAs and even I believe HP PDAs. Basically what a PDA is a stripped down version of a PC. So, lots of companies make them. I know that codefactory makes some PDAs accessible; however, I have not looked at all the options. Again, I was not trying to be rude to anyone. Sometimes I come off as harsh when it is not intended to be that way. Good luck.
I use a Samsung I760 running Mobile Speak Pocket on Verizon Wireless. Love it!
1. humanware and codefactory are working on a speech package for blackberry.
2. IPhone devolopers and apple are in talks try to hash out the feezability of speech manager and other low oevel components in the iphone which are not there just yet but have plans to put speechthere.
3. the pacmate and the braillenote are garbage.
I have a braillenote, and it isn't garbage. The packmate is, but I think the braillenote isn't; however, humanware needs to update some things. The braillenote becoming behind as far as technology goes. Who knows, in about five years, there may not even be a braillenote line. Actually, it's very likely that there won't be.
A blackberry with speech would be cool to see I think although it would be expensive to buy. An iphone, more than likely, I won't care to see it. I see why people want blackberries. I don't get the excitement over the iphone. Way too pricy. Also, about the braillenote, I agree that they are lacking in many ways, but for what it does and what I use it for (taking notes in class and nothing more), it's fine. Post more when or if anyone hears more about a blackberry accessibility. I'm glad that more mainstream products are, at least, working their way toward being accessible.
i don't understand why some people get mad about who and who shouldn't get a black bery, if i wanted one well then i would get it.
but i prefer a pda that has speech and a wireless keyboard.
eas up, come on, ease, up.
The software for the Blackberry done by CF and Humanware is called Orator and is coming out in June or July last I knew.
Shanda
alright here is the deal as i know it as i wa just got done doing a bunch of research on this topic myself as I just aquired a new phone. Iphones and blackberrys as it stands currently as you have likely read above are in accessable, posibly and likely to change in the (not too distant) future. Mobile speak for smart phones and pocket pc will work on any windows mobile based smart phone (or pocket pc but this is an older version of windows mobile and doesn't matter unless you are getting a much older phone). Mobile Speak Sindian or Nuance Talks will work on certian Nokia or other sindian based phones. So here is what you do. Go to your Mobile carier, and inquire as to which windows mobile and sindian smart phones or pda's they have. Then double check it against the list on codefactory's (mobile speak) and Nuance's (talks) website of compatible phones. Also here is whatelse i found out .. Verizon currently have a deal where you can get talks for $99 if you get a motorolla Q9 and ATT has a deal where you can get mobile speak for $89 with a few different phones including the nokia 6650 (not a smart phone pda but damn close) the pantech matrix pro or the motorolla q. BTW i am assuming talks is coming out with a windows mobile version since the motorola q9 is a windows mobile based phone and verizon is offering talks for windows mobile. Hope this helps
My mom (who is sighted) has a blackberry. I have the program Active Sync installed on my computer. I wonder if active sync would form a partnership between my computer and my mom's blackberry, so I can give her some of my music files.
I think the BrailleNote is a great product for those just beginning to be introduced to the world of technology. i do know how to use a computer very well, but I use a BrailleNote to produce my assignments. I agree that the brailleNote is getting behind, but for now I am appreciative of the features it has to offer.
I don't like the fact that the pac mate has some applications that are inaccessible. My view is that if the product is designed for nonsighted users, why would it have things like inaccessible games and a picture manager?
my guess is that given that the pacmate is a windows mobile based device, freedom scientific probably didn't strip out certian things that came as a part of the OS for whatever reason.
yes right on there. windows mobile is just that, windows mobile, it's like asking, why some of the aps on a pc are inaccessible to jaws, paint for instance if you get a jaws enabled pc from a jaws dealer. re PDAs. try the nokia e 90
The significance of fighting for accessibility to the IPhone is not so much the device itself (I don't see the need for me to get it) but the fact that more and more phones and PDAs of the future will operate (or might operate) via a touch screen. If accessibility isn't hammered home and considered at this erly stage of such a development we might miss out on accessibility for similar devices in near future until they become so common that Section 508 type regulation forces manufacturers towards some kind of a solution. Whatever else can be said for Apple I applaud their efforts for built-in accessibility both of their IPods and their OS and I see no other company more likely to respond to similar concerns for their touch screen products at the moment.
I use the Nokia E60 I believe and I can do email, browsing and all on it, I prefer to use my netbook as I like my phone for phone calls and text messages and preferably nothing else, I find having email on your phone means I spen even more time checking email and when it's work email like I had last year I never got away from work and often was expected to respond to problems after hours because I would presumably check my phone.
Also, if a blind person wants to look cool with cool gadgets, there should be some available. So I agree with both sides really, there's no pressing need for getting an overpriced phone at the moment, but there is also definite need to push accessibility as criteria for new devices, especially ones likely to take off, like the IPhone does, come on, it is Apple, they know how to market stuff regardless of its quality, that's what they do best .. although they also make damn good products often.
If you want an accessible device that is fast, amazing battery life, supports Push, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR, GPS, GPRS and all that good stuff, in fact more features than your average Blackberry, then go for the Nokia E71. You can't go wrong with good ald Talks on Simbion S60 3rd addition, and with 10 and a half hours of talktime its unbeatable.
Right now VZw has a buy one get one free deal on the BB's and I'm so tempted to get two and wait out the orator product. I imagine I could at least make and receive calls on the bb until the screen reader is ready. Man I don't know I can't make up my mind on this one!
the the black Bary's yes I am exited about the program that is coming out for it. Even if I don't think I will get one.
About the pacmates I love them. I use one for school and yes the OS on it is the Windows one and that is why there are some en accessible programs for it. One of the most useful feechers I find useful on it is the power point feecher on it. So many people do power points now Adey's.
Well, if you want a notetaker with a microsoft windows feel, I'd recomend the braille sense over the pac mate. It has no inaccessible programs on it, and most all the programs on it are designed for people who have experience using a computer, but want a portable notetaker. For Gw Micro's first braille notetaker, I'd say they did a darn tootin' good job.
Yes, Verizon is offering a package deal with the Moto Q9c and talks for 349 with two-year agreement, but if you buy it online, the price is cut to 249 which is cool.
I've been doing some looking though, and I don't see how talks can go on a windows mobile device. Hmmm, i wonder if that offer is actually a good one. We'll see.
i am planning to get the moto Q 9 global from ATNT but Im not too sure about switching since i am on a family plan
the only thing i don't like about the Moto is the model. the model is old looking and not too stylish, but the bigger keys are good.
how does the nokia e71 look like, cause i saw the nokia 660 somthing like that i don't remember it actualy looked like the razer phone which was very cool.
personally i am not a big fan of the moto Q that i played with at the ATT store, I like the nokia E71 better keyboard wise, but in the end opted to go withthe the nokia 6650 (which i am assuming is the other nokia phone you were refering to if an ATT user). Yeah it has that flat key pad like a razor but i found it was slightly easier to navigate between keys on the razor than the 6650, but all the numbers has dots and you will get used it over time. The reason for going with the 6650 over the E71 or moto q was simply, I find it easier or quicker to text with the phone pad using T9 than trying to use your thumbs to type with a full qwerty keyboard, and the unlimited text &Data plan is considerably cheaper on a non smart phone with ATT. that and you aren't required to get the data plan on an non smart phone like you are on smart phones now.
I use the E71X from ATT with Mobilespeak. I love it but the bill is $80 a month including 200 texts and unlimited data. I do use the internet a lot on it though so it's worth it.
i use the internet alot on my 6650 but the price for unlimited data on the E71 is the price of unlimited data and text on my 6650 and since its a non smart phone i can tether it to my computer with out paying extra and without the 5GB limit.
I'm excited about the new program for the black berry. I'm thinking of getting it, but am also confused. Will orater be a good investment? Since nontouch smart phones are become extinct, should I purchase mobile speak pocket? Ineed help... lol
well The good news is that there are a number of touch screen smart phones that have slide out keyboard so long as you can do every thing from the keyboard as well they will be accessable, but i guess we wont know till that time if we are forced to use one in the future.
I heard from Humanware the other week that they're thinking of bringing a similar program to talks out just for the new blackberry. Apparetnly they're going to be talking about it at the sight village exhibition this year in July.
I have a touch screen type phone, and with mobile speak pocket I can navigate the touch screen just fine. Sometimes I accidentally get into like stylus mode and keyboard simulator mode and what not but that's mainly cuz I'm not used to being really delicate with the screen, and it's really easy to get out of the modes though.
As far as the Iphone, I really would like one eventually, I found them really intriguing, and yeah I have an Ipod already, it's an Ipod nano fifth gen and I love it to death, but still it'd be pretty darn neat to be able to accessibly use an Iphone at some point in the future.
I just heard from my friend that the i phone now has voice over on it!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The following link is the result of the new apple IPhone 3gs, and apparently what it's capable of.
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision.html
Hi. Yes they have indeed inplimented voiceover, which is fantastic! Go Apple. I will definetly be checking one of these out when my t mobile contract is up next month.
It will be interesting to see how accessible this phone really is. I know verizon does not have it though.i won't be getting one, but it does sound cool.
Actually there are rumors from very credible sources that state that verizon will be getting an iPhone soon ..like with in the next year soon .. Who knows it could be the big announcement they are saving for when Steve Jobbs returns at the end of the month. That being said as i have said a few times before in other threads .. voice over is nice but its not quite there yet .. its still a touch screen phone which i am sure even with audio feedback will still be a hassle for someone with no sight.. but the 3.0 software thats comming allows hardware interigration and its amatter of someone making a keyboard for this phone that could bring it into themore accessable range. And since voice over and hardware intrigration is part of the 3.0 software it can be brought to both the current iPhone and iPhone 3GS that comes out in about a week.
does anyone know when orrator comes out and also how much it will cost?
I'm not sure but i heard that its going to be an ap on the new blackberry phones so don't go out and buy one now cuz its not going to work
o ok well i didn't even know there was going to be another new one coming out. do you know if it's a touch screen like the storm or does it actually have buttons on it?
im planning to get the iphone since its alot easier for me to use the touch screen with a finger to type the leters. i don't need to use 2 hands on my keyboard to type which i use on my old crappy LG phone thats about to die.
When my contract is up, i might get one for graduation.
the orater is like 450 dollars and um what blk baries r going 2 have orater on it????
actually i am getting the iphone becaiuse of the fact that i'm getting a job soon.
I don't think i want to pay extra money for a screen reader in adition to the price of a phone. and if you get the iphone, it will add up to almost or at least close to the same price between a phone and the screen reader because for 1, the iphone has voice over and also, appple's praducts are the ones who meet everyone's needs
I'm not trying to be jealous or anything like that but, some of you are way to critical.