Here's a quick thought. The next version of Jaws is V12.
What will they
do
after that? I've never heard of V13 in anything. I would
not be surprised
if
V12 is the last of Jaws whatever happens. Given that
while still being
the
best overall in my view, new releases add less and less,
it seems
sensible
to be thinking about a new screen reader with lots of
legacy code removed
and some changes in the UI. Jaws has built on a UI that
worked well for
20
years, and some of it still does, but times, keyboards
and requirements
have
all changed so fast in the past few years, now may well
be the time for
change for them. That also makes it a great time to sell
that division,
especially as Jaws is their only outstanding and market
leading product.
Focus 40 Blue is their only good and competitive braille
product in my
view,
PAC Mate is also life expired, and they won't be able to
upgrade to
Windows
Mobile 7 either!
In short, FS have serious problems with the BLV group,
particularly the
blindness products.
It strikes me there is one company out there that is big
but doesn't have
a
screen reader, or its own OCR package, but doesn't need
a new note-taker
as
they have a pretty good one of their own! I wonder!
lol!
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of
Jackie Cairns
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 9:06 AM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: End of Freedom?
Hi
I've always strived to be open and honest in my views on
access kit. The
bottom line is that we need it in order to make our
lives as independent
as
possible. Some of it and the companies who manufacture
it are better
than
others, and there isn't such a thing as a perfect world.
They don't
always
get it right, and there is room for improvement with
everything.
Having said that, however, I personally don't like
Freedom's practices
and
the way they treat customers. It never has sat right
with me, and it
never
will. I enjoyed working for Sight and Sound for two
years, but I always
held that view which takes nothing away from my former
employers and the
high regard I have for them as people. As a user
though, I have to buy
and
use what I feel is right for me, and while JAWS will
continue to be one
of
my tools, there are other and possibly better
alternatives that I am
familiarising myself with. Martin has a Mac as well as
a Windows PC
running
JAWS, so this is a new adventure and one I am warming
to. We have also
purchased Window-Eyes as an alternative to JAWS. They
all have their
place,
and I think it is healthy for the industry, not to
mention for the user's
pocket. I just believe that if Freedom are so arrogant
that they can
charge
what they like for buggy upgrades that have no
significant meaning for
your
average user, then it is time for other products to
shine.
That's about as diplomatic as I can be! (smile).
Kind Regards,
J
Jackie Cairns
jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of
James & Nash
Sent: 06 June 2010 12:53
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: End of Freedom?
Hi Jackie,
On 6 Jun 2010, at 11:55, Jackie Cairns wrote:
and I do believe that alternatives such as Voiceover
for the Mac,
NVDA, Window-Eyes and System Access are beginning to
thankfully make
an impact.
Thank you so much for recognising this. I have been
using Voice Over
since
its creation and I can tell you first hand that the
latest incarnation of
Voice Over really has raised the bar not only in terms
of expectation or
accessibility, but also in terms of narrowing (perhaps
completely
removing)
the gap between Windows-based Screen Readers and Apple's
own endeavours.
I
would like to add a further comment to yours about
alternative Screen
Readers making an impact and that is that Orca on Linux
has also made
huge
improvements.
As I said, it is really nice to see someone from one of
the foremost
Access
Technology providers being so open-minded about
alternatives. If only
other
providers and organisations were as willing to do the
same at the very
least, the landscape would be very different.
TC
James Lyn Nash & Twinny
My big issue with them is that they don't appear to
care about
customers.
They invest thousands of dollars at the expense of
visually impaired
people in taking out law suits against the opposition,
and they come
over as being completely paranoid about their licensing
policies.
There is no doubt that those of us who have invested so
much time and
money in JAWS need that software to enhance our
independence. But I
don't like the FS ethos and apparent gravy train, and I
do believe
that alternatives such as Voiceover for the Mac, NVDA,
Window-Eyes and
System Access are beginning to thankfully make an
impact.
Whether there is any truth in the persistent rumours
about Freedom
will always be nothing but rumour until anything
substantive
materialises.
Kind Regards,
J
Jackie Cairns
jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Barry G
Sent: 06 June 2010 11:42
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: End of Freedom?
I must say too, a number of people are switching to the
competition
because Freedom seems to be focussing on things like
research-it that
does what you can do perfectly easily using a search
engine on the web
whilst appearing to have left simple things like
support in Windows 7
for word-processor and email to one side. It seems to
me like frills
over basic functionality, which looks to me to be
taking your eyes off
the
ball big time...
All the best from a continuing JFW user regardless but
in hope, Barry
G
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Holdstock" <peterholdstock@xxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 3:36 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: End of Freedom?
Yes JAWS does need to be updated regularly to keep up,
but as so many
people are having to cover the cost of the upgrades
out of their own
pocket there is a likelyhood many of them won't be
able to afford to
upgrade each time. How often do we ear of users using
versions much
lower than the current version. I am guessing that
government
departments will probably be the biggest purchaser of
JAWS and most
of them won't upgrade unless they really need to due
to the limits on
government spending at the
moment in most countries.
I've always felt that lowering the price significantly
for JAWS would
in fact bring in much more revenue for Freedom
Scientific because so
many people are switching to the rapidly improving
competition at a
fraction of
the cost.
Peter
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Neil" <temp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 11:37 AM
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [access-uk] Re: End of Freedom?
Hi all
Some points: Well really one main point, where did
the information
come from?
This isnt referenced anywhere in the statement and I
cant find
anything on the web.
Surely Freedoms hardware business would be more
likely to be sold as
it cannot be anywhere near as profitable due to the
vast amount of
competition in that area.
Supposing that this does turn out to be true I am
sure that a buyer
would
be found easily. Is Jaws not the most used screen
reader worldwide?
Jaws needs constant updates to keep up with the
rapidly moving
technology
that is computer software and so a constant revenue
stream already
exists
making it a viable business long term.
Undoubtedly there are huge costs envolved in
developing the software
for the same reason but as the financial situation
has been going on
for around 2 years now would we have seen features
like Tandem and
Research It if profitability was becoming a concern?
At this point I think that without more specific and
robust
information we should not be concerned.
Neil
From: "Otto Zamora"<donttreadonme@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2010 05:44:14 -0400
Morning,
In an advocate meeting yesterday, the subject came
up reference
Freedom Scientific, the company that among other
things sports JFw.
Because the company is in the state of Florida, it
came up on a
flag by
an
analyst.
Seems this company is having bad money troubles, not
surprising
given the economy, but talk is that they are now
looking to sell
off some of their division, mainly their JFW area.
I am not sure who if anyone will buy this division,
considering
that there is an entity now selling a fully
integrated package for
only $700.
Besides a comprehensive screen reader, if the user
chooses to get
the package, there is a browser, along with a
customed and fully
accessible web sites, word processing, and E mail.
all of this can apparently be accessed either on
line, or as
individual program.
ad to that, the entertainment mogill, and you have a
powerful tool
indeed for the kind of money they are asking for.
Another side of the equation is the apple company,
now selling
computers already with speech on board right out of
the box and off
the
shelf.
Put these two aspects together, and you have a
deadly combo that
might very well result in a abrupt end to the JFW
program.
Considering the way that technology is growing,
older versions of
JFW, will only work for a short while until the
programs
controlling the OS, begins to outgrow the
application.
In seeing this package, one of the things which was
pointed out to
me, was the learning curve, which for the new
package being sold by
Mr.. Mike Calvo, is very short.
The user has the option to learn as little or as
much as they want
without real loss.
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