Category: accessible Devices
Ok, not sure if this belongs on here or the geek bored, but here we go.
I will soon be getting my own cell phone plan. Before now my parents were paying for it, and I wasn't complaining about that, but now they say I need to get one for myself. Now, I've always kind of satisfied myself with the limited accessibility that voice activation programming allows on cell phones like the envy line and so on. However, now that I have my own cell plan, or soon will, I want to get as much out of my phone as I can. Plus, I don't want to have to ask a sighted person to put in a number for me, or whatever need I may have.
So, this is my question. I could, A. sign up for verizon, which is what I have now, and put it under my name, get the blackberry and the program on it that makes it accessible. Or I could sign up for a company that allows me to get an IPhone, and get one of those.
Any suggestions as to which path I should take? Does the IPhone make itself worth the money? Is the blackberry more expensive than the IPhone after you buy the programming to make it accessible?
Any help or advice, including advice for good cell carriers, is welcome. Thanks
Hi, i'm curious, why are you only looking at these two devices? There are many phones out there that can be used in similar ways to the Iphone, or a blackberry, for example, touch screen or qwerty keyboard.
have you looked at your other options?
Having a qwerty keyboard does not mean its accessible, it just means you can type on it. If the phone doesn't announce what your writing, it doesn't help much. The phone I have now has a qwerty keyboard, but it won't tell me what I've written, or who sent me a text message, or anything like that. It will tell me some things, but not all. I'm looking at these two because they have the most features, and that is what I want. I don't want to have to get mobile speak or talks for my phone.
I don't know about any other companies, but AT&T has Mobile speek for $89, I know the others charge more for it, but I also think you can get a better veriety of phones with AT&T as well. Try going to the code factory web site and see what you can find on there. As for the iPhone, I just got it last weekend, it takes some getting used to, but I really like. I kind of got it because I didn't have the money to get both a new phone, plus the update for mobile speek, you can get the iPhone with Voice over already installed for $200 or$300, depending if you get the 16 gig, or 32 gig. Hope this helps.
Why do you not waqnt MobileSpeak but then you are willing to go with the Blackberry Orator, which is new, full of bugs and only runs on one type of Blackberry phone (be careful here and check out Humanware's web site for this, because it really will only run on one phone and have limited features). Of course it is the first Java based screen reader and good to support further developments by buying a copy, but if you re looking at features Talks or MobileSpeak will give you much more options. Talkback is getting to a usable point under the Google phones, or so I've heard, but installing it is a bit of a pain as you have to install a bunch of small apps to make it work, I can dig up some info on this if you are curious.
I heard that Apple are planning to come out with iPhones for other carriers betsides AT&T in the summer, but of course it's only a rumour.
With iPhone you hve to get a data plan as well so you can't go with the cheapest cell phone plan out there, it's probably extra $10 to $20.
Cheers
-B
I mentioned the blackberry because I didn't know the exact details on it. I'd only heard that it is possible to make it accessible, and since it is usable on my current plan, I thought I'd mention it. If its that buggy, I'll look elsewhere. Thank you.
I saw leaked reports of the new iPhone this morning, so it would mean Apple will unveil it in the very near future I think.
You may want to wait.
I do not mean to dizz Orator for Blackberry unfairly and I have not tested it myself, but from what I hear people are extremely skeptical off it so I would go for a safer option, after all someone is selling HTC OZone with Talks for $150, can't get a much better deal than that, even if it then won't work out for you.
I say iphone all the way. I used to have moto q with mobilespeak. I've never used the blackbury but I've heard its a pain. The iphone is spedy, very useable once you get used to it, and makes things a lot more conveenient. I use it for almost everything. I paid for it myself and it was worth every penny. just my opinion
All the reviews and info I've read indicate that the Blackberry program is not very good. It only works on one phone and doesn't give full access. I would avoid it like the plague if I were in your shoes. The Iphone is a better option if you're really limiting yourself to those 2 choices. Just be aware, if you go with AT&T to get the Iphone or any other qwerty phone, they require you to sign up for the $30 per month data plan. If you get a non-qwerty phone, the data plan is optional and only $15 per month. It's quite ridiculous really. You can get out of the data plan by going through AT&T's center for customers with disabilities. You have to fill out a form and get it signed by a doctor or rehab teacher certifying that you are blind. Once the paperwork is done, you'll get free directory assistance, free acces to Voice Connect and the ability to get out of the data plan. I agree with others here about Talks/Mobile Speak. Don't be so hasty to rule those out. AT&T sells Mobile Speak for $89 and I believe Verizon has a deal where you can get a phone with Talks at a discount. I use Talks on a Nokia N86 and love it. I've used Mobile Speak as well. I prefer Talks, but they are both excellent programs and give full access to the phone. The latest versions of both programs work on several touch screen phones as well as non-touch screens. There are a ton of phone options available with these programs. JMO. Good luck.
The only problem I have with talks or mobiel speak is that, in my experience, they run the batery down significantly. I had a friend who had to recharge her phone everyday because of how much talks ran it down, and it was a new phone. From what I've seen, the IPhone doesn't suffer from the lack of energy.
Plus, I'll admit this, the IPhone is sleek and sexy, and who doesn't want a sleek and sexy phone/ipod/camera/helicopter/submarine/spy kit/all the other things the IPhone can do. Plus, lots of plus's here, the IPhone has a sirius/XM ap, and I love sirius. I'd love to be able to listen to it on my phone.
I think I just need to get to an apple store and try out the IPhone.
I use the serious ap every day. can't go with out it now. mobile speak was fine for me for a year. I used my phone only for texting though and sometimes it would lock up and I'd have to take off the battery and loose whatever I was doing at the moment. I've never had the problem if my phone just stopping to talk now with my iphone.
Yeah, I used MS for almost two years. Now that I have the iPhone, and I'm learning more and more things it can do everyday. So go look Cody, I think you'll like it.
The iphone is an excellent option. It is definitely sleek and sexy and kicks ass in the apps department. I'm curious about this battery issue since you brought it up. I can't speak from experience, but I have read a lot of complaints about the iphone's battery life. Do you guys that use them have to charge every day? I charge my N86 every night but I use the hell out of it too. I've never felt like Talks was the reason for my battery charging habits but I've never thought about it much either. Really, I think my biggest battery hog is my addiction to Twitter and the fact that I leave Tweets60 running 24/7. Obviously Talks causes some drain as well, but I love it so much that I honestly don't care. For what it's worth, it does seem like my battery is lasting a bit longer since I upgraded to Talks 5 a couple of weeks ago. Good luck with whatever you decide.
yeah. I will admit the battery isn't amazing or anything. I do deffenetly have to charge it everyday. sometimes I even do in the middle of the day. good tip though is whenever your not using it lock the screen. saves battery loads more than just leaving it on the home screen
Yes, I do have to charge mine everyday as well, I do it over night, and use it at work.
i have MobileSpeak myself, and this phone holds charge pretty well even though most of the reviews say it's not good. i can go 2 or 3 days without charging it. If you can handle the IPhone for texting and that kind of thing it'd work i think but really consider MobileSpeak 4 or related as it's not tied to one device any longer with the phone number based lisence. When i changed from my moto q to my touch pro 2 it was just a matter of shutting the q down, installing ms on the touch pro and activating. all done and set.
wildebrew I so agree, about looking into your options however I am byest here seeings I use moblespeak4 with an HTC touch pro2. I can not suggest cell carriers cause I am very byest Against AT and T. As for phones that have cordy keyboards mine does and it works like a champ with moblespeak4 also it has a touch screen. Something to keep in mind. For those who are curious who my cell company is its recently teammoble left sprint gladly. Long story on that so I want open that can of worms.
Kay as far as moblespeak running down your battery, 1. what build does your friend have, 2. the latest moblespeak or MSP4 does not run down your battery like that. I have it and I barely charge my HTC touch pro2.