Category: accessible Devices
Hi guys,
I’m thinking about getting myself an IPad Mini and a bluetooth keyboard. Do any of you (especially totally blind people) use this combination? If so, how happy are you with it? I was just wondering as I have been quite sceptical about making the shift from Windows to Apple products so far. Moreover, I don’t really need an IPhone but would rather like to have a smallish device which I can go online, check my emails and stream radio stations with. So I thought the IPad Mini combined with a bluetooth keyboard would be the best thing for me. What are your opinions on this matter?
Thanks for your help and a nice weekend to everyone.
I have the iPad2 with a bluetooth keyboard. They work just fine for what you're wanting to do, except you'll be using the mini.
i use my ipad mini all the time, with and without bluetooth keyboard support. Ones you get use to the idea of touch screen typing, it is really, not as hard as you imagine. I won't say you will pick it up in the first day, or first week, but when you get the hang of it, you'll regret why you are not switching to it earlier.
Thanks for all your helpful comments. Before making the final purchase, I have a few more questions:
1. Do any of you use a small bluetooth keyboard instead of an ordinary-sized one? I am curious about this because I find typing on a bigger bluetooth keyboard quite comfortable, however last week I was informed about the possibility to use a smaller bluetooth keyboard with the IPad Mini, which makes the device resemble a mini notebook. Unfortunately, the people at the shop couldn’t unwrap the keyboard and let me touch it, so I have no idea of how narrow the different keys are placed next to each other and how easy or difficult the typing might turn out eventually. Any experience?
2. Do any of you (again, especially totally blind people) use the GPS function of the IPad when walking around or looking for a particular place? If so, how helpful is it? Would you say you’ve found your way around much more easily in unfamiliar surroundings (i.e. on holiday) through using the GPS function, or is it just a nice additional feature to play with that still needs further enhancement in order to work as an assistive device for blind people?
3. Is the number of apps available for the IPad more or less equal to that of the IPhone?
4. Which mailing list(s) regarding the exchange between blind Ipad/Apple users would you recommend? I found a Yahoo group which sounded quite promising. However, my request to join hasn’t been accepted up to now …
Again, many thanks for all your help and valuable comments.
Hi,
Most apps on the apple app store are universal in nature, that is they work for both Ipads and IPhones. Some apps however only work on an iphone. so to answer your question,more or less the same number of apps are available for the ipad as for the iphone.
If you want a smaller device though,I would suggest going with a ipod,instead. preferabley 4th gen or 5th.
the Viphone list on google groups is the one I would suggest,quite active so it is,and most people are friendly and quick to answer questions.
When it comes to smaller keyboards or bigger ones,I would say go with the compact version,but I would suggest useing a keyboard first before buying it to see if you are comfortable with it or not.
HTH.
I would not go with an IPod. Definitely choose the IPad Mini. I have one and it's compact enough as it is, plus everything from teh processor to the camera are higher quality in the IPad mini than in the IPod, either generation.
And you do need a good camera if you plan on using apps such as tapTapsee, Talking goggles, the money identifier or the color identifier, for starters.
I use a standard Apple bluetooth keyboard with my IPad mini and it works wonderfully. Some sites taht aren't accessible with windows work flawlessly when accessed via the IPad mini, just to give you an example of my satisfactory experience.
You have thousands of blind-friendly apps to choose from, ones that can entertain you and assist you in any way, ones that work surprisingly well, seeing as they've just been developed recently.
I am totally blind as well, and once you figure out the gestures and shortcuts that VoiceOver allows you to make, you'll find that navigating the touch screen with or without a keyboard is a piece of cake.
Please do not be skeptical of apple products. Don't be afraid to use them because of their touch screns. I say this because I was applrehensive as well, but now that i have no IPad mini, I rely on it and love it so much, without any issues. it is a durable, neat little gadget that will make you wonder why you didnt' invest in one earlier.
Have fun, and please feel free to message me with questions or advice once you get yrou IPad mini. I'm available to chat or to answer questions.
Best of luck.
Now, I don't have an IPad mini, but I have tried using the GPS feature on my IPhone, and it does seem like there needs to be some improvement for those who might use it in a car. I didn't try using it to find specific directions to a certain destination and I realize it won't be exactly dead on, so I'll have to try that. What seems faulty is when I am in the car on a road that is windy in the country, and every time we pass a small side street it always says we are on that one when we did not turn off the main road. I'm curious to see the reviews about this on any apple products though, as it has been said many things are universal.
Ryan, if you're in a rural area, the GPS picks up on whatever street is nearest to where your traveling. That's why it may be inaccurate. remember, a GPS device picks up global signals. There ave few in a rural area, presumably.
I rode in a car with someone who didnt' knwo how to get to our destination, I typed the address into my IPhone and it braught us there exactly. With very accurate directions.
Hi.
My husband, who is totally blind) recently bought an iPad Mini and has been quite happy with it. He's been using Voice Over technology on his iPhone for years, which allows him to use the built in keyboard, and has used Voice Over on the iPad mini to use the built in keyboard there as well... it will take a little getting used to using Voice Over if you've not used it before, but it's quite good (I am sighted and he has to turn it off when I use the iPad, as it doesn't work in the same way with Voice Over on as how sighted person would expect it to... I'm slowly learning how V O works).
My husband hasn't used the GPS functionality much, but says that there are different apps available, so if one doesn't suit, you can change it for a different one.
As others have said, the apps for The Apple platform are accessible cross product... Husband has his football news apps on his phone, MacBook and the iPad mini. I've got a couple of apps (TuneIn radio, so I can stream radio play by play of Vancouver Canucks N H L hockey games from Canada and a sudoku app) on my phone and my own MacBook.
Unfortunately, Husband doesn't have any recommendations for mailing lists either here in Europe (we are in England) or in North America (I'm originally from Canada).
Good luck to you! smile
Ryan, what you describe is not so much of a problem. It could be overly accurate if anything. What i found is that, with walking or at the car, have the same problem. The maps will anounce the street that you pass, and when you actually on that street, it will consider you on that street, even though if you just passing it. Hope this make sense? lol
I have an IPad Mini, and I like it a lot. I do have a small bluetooth keyboard that I use for writing emails and doing other longer things, as I am slow at using the on-screen keyboard, although I can do it. The bluetooth keyboard I have is the RII 66 Mini Bluetooth Keyboard. AT Guys and SpeedDots both sell this keyboard, and the buttons are raised and kind of dome-shaped, so you can pretty easily differentiate between the keys, and the layout is pretty close to a normal keyboard. I believe that there are also podcasts on Blind Cool Tech that have a demonstration of this bluetooth keyboard with an IPhone, although it works for all I Divices and also with androids, so it will definitely work with the IPad Mini.
I haven't really used GPS on my IPad Mini, because I have no cellular data on mine, but if you get a mobile hot spot or something you may be able to have cellular internet access on your IPad Mini. If you do want data, though, you may want to make sure you get the IPad Mini that has cellular data capabilities. I was told that I could add data to the one I bought, but later, when I got home, I found out that you have to get one specifically from a carrier, such as Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T, to be able to get data and that the IPad Mini had to be a cellular model, and I found out that mine wasn't. This means that I would have to use it with WiFi only or get a hotspot if I want to have WiFi if I am out. Depending on whether you want cellular data on your IPad, though, you may want to take into consideration which carrier you want or whether you just want one without cellular capabilities before you buy it.
Hi,
I have a full Ipad and it is very accessible. I use a regular bluetooth keyboard that has a stand in which to place the device. I can then fold it up like a print book and carry it in my purse or medium-sized bag.
I don't use Gps very often but there are accessible maps apps and the default one gives decent walking directions.
If you have any other questions, let me know. Oh, I am totally blind.
Liz