Category: accessible Devices
Hi. I'm considering getting either an iPad or an iPod Touch. (I'd get an iPhone, but I'm not interested in having a phone plan.) All I'd want the device for is to install and use apps that could help me with daily living things. I've been reading everywhere about how many useful and accessible apps are available for the iPhone, and now I'm interested in possibly getting something similar myself. I honestly couldn't afford a cell phone plan so don't think an iPhone would be an option for me, but could I still use the same apps with an iPod Touch, or would I need an iPad? Also, if these apps can be used with an iPod Touch, are iPod Touches as accessible as iPhones; does VoiceOver speak everything on them? Thanks.
The Ipod Touch seems to be just like the phone except without the phone. It does have voiceover so I would imagine that accessibility is the same.
You'll need to be able to connect to your wifi at home. If you want to use the gps apps, you'll probably need a $15 basic data plan but if you're just going to use it at home, connecting to your wifi will do the trick.
I haven't played much with Ipads but I think the Ipad is basically a bigger more powerful version of the Ipod Touch. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm pretty sure the Ipod touch would meet your needs, unless you want to use the magnification programs. Then the Ipad would be better because it's screne is larger.
I hope that helps.
The other thing is that it's a bit awkward to hold an iPad over an item you want to get a picture of. For example, if you use Looktel Mony reader to recognize money, it's a bit too bulky to easily move around. The same could be said for barcodes. As the above user pointed out, though, iPads are much more functional for those with low vision. The other thing to consider is the price difference. You'll pay about $200 less for an iPod, I bought my ipod 4G, which does have a camera for $200. Accessibility is about the same on all 3 devices, since they run the same operating system. Also, if you wanted to use the iPod or iPad for making phone calls, you can set up Google Voice and hen Talkatone and call anyone in the US and canada for free. Assuming you have wifi of course.
Awesome! *smile* Thanks for y'all's responses guys; they were both very helpful for me. I'm totally blind, and screen size won't matter to me personally. Yes, I'm also considering the price as well. I was secretly hoping that someone would say that the iPod Touch will be just as accessible as the iPhone, as I've found out that those are cheaper when compared to the iPad. So then, an iPod Touch is on my list of things that I'll want to get.
Also, thanks for the tips for things I'll need to know when I want to use certain programs. I would have the ability to connect with WiFi at home, and I wouldn't mind paying $15 for a data plan if I needed to do that.
If y'all have any other tips/advice on i-devices, especially the iPod Touch, that would be cool; thanks for y'all's help so far. *smile*
I used an iPod Touch for a year.
No OCR, but the apps like Looktel and oMoby (object recognition) work. The iPhone 4S camera is a lot better. I hope the new iPod Touch coming out has a really good camera, for you, as I know exactly what you mean.
i use a mac book air. and also use a Iphone. i like them both a lot.
How does the last post relate to the topic at hand, at all? at all? at all?
I know odds are that you just wanted to help, but you gave no valid useful relevant information, and to be blunt, you have a history of cluttering topics like this.
Firstly, as has been stated by the original poster, the iPhone is probably not an option, because of the associated plans required to use it with a sell survice. though I see one way to make one work in this situation, you never even brought it up, much less explained why it was helpful.
2. the macbook air really doesn't apply to this post, even though it is a good and useful machine.
Please, consider thinking before posting. Be topical/valuable or don't bother.
Sorry about the rant...
to answer your question.
Seeing as you don't need the bigger screen, based on form factor you're better off with the ipod touch, as its smaller and more versatile.
Though as leo has stated above, the camera is not good enough for OCR/scanning, but for identifying money it will get the job done.
the iPad is more powerful, and does a few things the ipod touch does not, but that power comes at the expense of a device several times as large and heavy.
For that reason alone, you may or may not have as much luck using its camera to scan documents/barcodes etc.
I think before making this choice, it would be prudent to wate about a month to see what the new iPod touches will be able to do that the current generation ones will not before making the choice.
Alternatively, you could buy an iPhone 4 or 4S off ebay or another bidding sight and not activate it as a phone.
Apple is about to refresh the phone, and rumor suggests the touch as well.
good luck which ever way you choose to go.
Ps, Take a trip to your local apple store if you can, they may or may not have someone on staff who knows access inside and out, but they will be able to show you the two devices and let you get a feel for them.
To the last poster: Thanks for the help. I wasn't planning on getting it immediately, so I'll go ahead and wait to see what the newer one's are like. I hope that the newer-generation cameras will be better for OCR if possible, as that was one of the major reasons I would've wanted an i-device. I had read that it was required for one to set up a plan if they wanted to buy an iPhone, but I'll definitely look into getting one used if I decide to get an iPhone. I've looked at one that my cousin had several months ago, and was so happy hearing VoiceOver reading everything my finger went over, so I will also be stopping by an Apple store (there are 2 that I know of here), and checking out an iPhone or an iPod Touch to see how they work and all that. But I'll likely wait for the new versions to come out and learn about them before actually deciding to purchase anything yet.
You could buy an unlocked iPhone with no SIM card installed, and it would work like a glorified iPod Touch until you put in the SIM card and start using it as a phone.
Or buy it unlocked, have your data connection turned off by your carrier, turn off the celular data in your phone, and use it as a phone / iPod. GPS won't really work but many other things will.