What's the news on blackberry and accessibility?

Category: accessible Devices

Post 1 by Skyla (move over school!) on Friday, 13-Nov-2009 20:03:13

I hear that aurator is supposed to be the speech software that is used on blackbarries, but is anyone successfully using one in all its functionality? any news on what's going on in that department?

Post 2 by kristabell (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Friday, 13-Nov-2009 21:07:13

hey i called humanware today n they want 425 n thats expensive as hell! and its not out yet!! i wonder if it is gone work wit vw

Post 3 by Skyla (move over school!) on Saturday, 14-Nov-2009 1:19:49

oh, so humanware has found a way to make it accessible, then?

Post 4 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 14-Nov-2009 9:36:21

Yeah, it's a partnership between humanware and code factory. To be honest, I'm not holding my breath on this one. Humanware has this very nasty habbit of getting a good product off the ground, but after a year or so, they seem to forget about it. Of course, I think Codefactory is kind of a branch of Humanware or something like that so I've heard so I really don't know. To be honest, BBs aren't as... how do I say "special" as they used to be. I know I wouldn't pay 425 just to make the thing accessible. No way.

Post 5 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 14-Nov-2009 9:41:27

from waht i heard orator wont work with all the blackberry's function at launch what functions wont work i don't remember but i think i heard the email client was one of them which is one of the main reason to get a blackberry. I say for $425 though, stick to an iPhone if you aren't gonna get nokia or windows mobile.

Post 6 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 14-Nov-2009 10:19:34

I totally agree. Like I say, BBs aren't that special anymore. I mean, the email part was supposed to be their key feature. I'd rather have an I-Phone or a windows mobile device with talks or mobile speak. First of all, Orator isn't out yet, and second, It takes time to get all the bugs and kinks worked out of a product. I personally wait a year before I buy a product that's been released that's supposed to be accessible so... yeah. We'll see how this goes. Like I say, I'm not holding my breath though.

Post 7 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 15-Nov-2009 2:50:48

$425. Surely not for the accessability software? WHy they're nothing more than maggots, frantically scrounging the pockets of those who likely can't afford such things if that is the case....Still though, if the IPOD touch can manage to become accessable, then surely it is not all that surprising that it has already happened. Here's hoping I read that price tag wrong.
Remy/Guardian

Post 8 by Brooke (I just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 15-Nov-2009 8:35:27

$425? That's insane. For that price, you can buy a decent phone plus Talks or Mobile Speak.

Post 9 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Sunday, 15-Nov-2009 11:02:26

The price isn't insane. The software is targeted at corporations who provide there employees with blackbarries so will pick up the price tag of the software. It is not targeted at the average blind user who doesn't need always on email as part of there job.

Post 10 by Skyla (move over school!) on Monday, 16-Nov-2009 2:32:58

I think that the insanity being referred to is particularly upsetting because it isn't apparently entirely accessible--certainly not as accessible as its competitors thus far, at any rate.

Post 11 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 16-Nov-2009 19:04:28

I have to agree with post number nine. Well said!

Post 12 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 9:07:02

To post 10 your corporate overlords won't care if you can read the zone and reply to board topics on it if there the ones paying for the blackbarry, they'll want you to be able to answer email at 3:30 in the morning even if it means you don't get enough sleep have to spend less time with your children then you'd like, etc. The only feature that truely matters in the corporate market for the blackbarry is email and orator does that just fine. I saw a demo of it and if I were in management I'd be begging my boss to buy me it so I could keep up with email 24/7 or as close to it as my life would allow.

Post 13 by Izzito (This site is so "educational") on Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 9:28:20

but you could do that with any smartphone that supports mobile speak or talks

Post 14 by BigDogDaddy (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 11:02:58

I'm a bit put off on this product for several reasons,
first, the product was supposed to be released back in June and it's still not officially out, second, with that delay in release you'd think there would be support for every app on the phone. Third, a price point of $449 which will be the official pricing once the preorder pricing expires is just a bit extreme.

Post 15 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 12:40:32

TO post 13 for personal email yes, if you want to access your company email you probably need a supported device which is blackbarry.

Post 16 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 17:06:39

Sorry, I won't be buying this product! It's not even close to being worth it right now, or ever will be... ever.

Post 17 by monkeypusher69 (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 18-Nov-2009 9:20:05

doesn't the iphone and nokias support push email, or is that only for exchange?

Post 18 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 18-Nov-2009 16:24:20

I access my work e-mail via IMap using the IPhone works great.