[access-uk] Re: Android

  • From: "Vince Thacker" <vince@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:21:07 +0100

Jackie,
Names such as Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean are nicknames for the various versions of the Android operating system. Jelly Bean is the latest, and is version 4.1. Ice Cream is version 4.0. The more recent the version, the better the accessibility is likely to be. Older versions can be made to work, but you may need to download some of the apps yourself, which could be tricky if you don't have any sight, and don't have any accessibility, like. 4.0 and 4.1 are the best ones to look at, as speech is readily available with those.
Google are the developers of the OS, but how much any particular phone is a purely Google version is where it seems to get messy. Manufacturers of Android phones often tinker with the system and impose their own apps, affectionately known as bloatware. The problem for us is that some of this bloatware can interfere with, or break, whatever accessibility that is built into Android.
I'm open to correction here, but HTC seems to be one of the worst offenders when it comes to breaking the accessibility with its own junk software.
On the other hand, phones that are often mentioned as good for keeping to a decent version of Android include the Galaxy Nexus, the Galaxy S3 and the Sony Xperia Pro (which also still has some physical buttons, so may interest some people just because of that).
One of the problems with the Georgie idea might be that if you get frustrated with the walled garden approach and turn off the special apps, you're left with an old version of Android, possibly version 2 point something, so you'd need to rebuild some accessibility into your phone.
Anybody could be forgiven for being confused with all this, and this fragmentation of Android seems to have been a major hurdle in getting Android to appeal to blind people. At least with an iPhone, you have a pretty good idea of what you're getting, and the staff at the Apple Store are likely to know how to set up the accessibility. With recent versions of Anroid, though, you'd be able to set it up OK yourself. 

Vince.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mobeen Iqbal" <mobeeniqbal@xxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 9:28 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Android



hi jackie. I have used various android handsets. Accessibility is
vastly improved with 4.0! To give you an overview i can give you a
ring at your convenience? Send me your number off list and we can go
from there. Mo.

On 17/07/2012, Jackie Cairns <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

As I have become kind of interested in this thread, perhaps Steve or
someone
with knowledge of Android phones could please tell me which of them work
with accessibility? I was chatting with my son last night, and he says two of his friends have the Galaxy S3, whatever that is. It would appear that 
Android Smartphones are cheaper than the iPhone, but do they all work for
blindies?  The general threads from people on this list have aroused my
curiosity in Android.  I gather, without wishing to sound ignorant, that
Android is the operating system, so what is the Ice Cream Sandwich or
Jellybean part of it then?  And is Android something to do with Google?
Sorry to sound vague, but I am only just beginning to wake up to the Apple 
alternative, (smile).


Kind Regards,

Jackie Cairns

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
ANDY COLLINS
Sent: 16 July 2012 17:16
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Android

So, if that is so, which phones does it work on? -

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Beasley <mailto:pjbeasley23@xxxxxxxxx>
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 4:32 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Cobolt compass, beware

androyd is the operating system.

----- Original Message -----
From: Vince Thacker <mailto:vince@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 3:30 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Cobolt compass, beware

Andy, Android, as I understand it, started off as its own
company, but is now part of Google.

Vince.

----- Original Message -----
From: ANDY COLLINS <mailto:Andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 3:11 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Cobolt compass, beware

Hi Steve - I'm still with the N82 [I know I know
<smile>] My intention when I next go for a phone, was to probably go the
IPhone route, but have to say, I don't like the size and shape of it so
much. Guess I need to find out what the differences are between it, and
Android models. I'm a bit behind with the latest mobile market. Are
Androids
the manufacturor name, as with Nokia? Or is Android the OS produced by
Google? -

Andy

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Nutt
<mailto:steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 8:31 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Cobolt compass,
beware


Hi Andy,



I’ve never seen the Cobolt compass, but I do
this on my mainstream Android phone <Smile>.



All the best



Steve



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Fax: 01438-759589

Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk
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From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of ANDY COLLINS
Sent: 15 July 2012 22:42
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Cobolt compass, beware



Hi all -



Another waste of dosh! I think I paid about
£35 for this, and it's a load of rubbish. My experience with

it, found it to be both inaccurate and
unpredictable.



Like many things produce for blind people,
it is also very ugly, and cheap looking/feeling.



I'm not just banging the old drum of
complaint against equipment produced for the blind. In fact, it saddens me to find yet again the same experience, of over-priced [but I do understand 
the niche market equals fewer sales argument] ugly build, hardly fit for
purpose, assistive equipment.



  I always try to buy where I can,
mainstream equipment, and figure out how to get the best from it, but
sometimes, mainstream can be too non-accessible, and I am forced to go to
the so-called specialists. It truly gives me no pleasure in bringing to the attention of the list this poor piece of specialist equipment, but I think we need to keep shouting for equality in product performance, reliability, 
and aesthetic appeal. I don't want big clunky stuff in my pockets, or
around
my house, just because it can talk, or give me some other kind of
additional
feedback. As I have said before on this list, the PTR1 was the most
over-priced, mal-functioning, hugely ugly piece of junk, I've ever wasted
600 quid on. Sadly, I've wasted 35 on a useless compass, that thinks North 
is wherever it fancies, on any given day -



Andy



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