[access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend...
- From: "Carol Pearson" <carol.pearson29@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 18:37:40 +0100
Oh yes, I agree, but I don't want to lug in headphones just so that nobody can
hear me listening to my labeled letter! My vol doesn't adjust at all so it's
got to go back, I guess.
--
Carol
carol.pearson29@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/songbird49a
---- Original Message ----
From: David Russell
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 4:27 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend...
> Carol,
>
> My batteries had also fallen out and the sheet of braille
> did have errors, but I am putting these things down to
> the fact that they wanted to get them out as quickly as
> possible, so that is not anything to worry too much
> about. Your volume control does sound faulty. Mine
> reduces and increases as it should, but you do have to
> reduce the volume before recording or playing a label.
> Again, a minor point really.
>
> More plus points than negatives for me. I am glad to
> have it.
>
>
> David
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Carol
> Pearson
> Sent: 01 August 2009 16:19
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend...
>
>
> Hi Barry,
>
> Mine also came this morning and I couldn't wait to get
> into it of course!
>
> I think it's easy to use and still consider it's a
> product with a great future ... but (like you) there are
> a few comments I will make here.
>
> First, with reference to the volume, the instructions are
> a little ambiguous I think. The wording actually says
> "When you switch the pen off the volume settings will
> return to your setting." I take that to mean that,
> wherever you leave the volume set, that will be retained
> but, clearly, it doesn't mean that. In my case, the
> volume didn't seem to alter at all when I switched up and
> down and was always at the high volume position; so I
> thought the pen to be faulty and have arranged its
> return. Perhaps I am wrong here and it's not working
> that way ... Maybe someone can advise.
>
> I didn't find the adapter in the pack at all, though
> there was notification that it should be there. In
> addition, the sheet of braille indicating this had
> obviously been scanned and not proof-read or corrected
> and so the small piece of information contained several
> errors! I also found my pages were incorrectly tagged
> together in the braille instructions.
>
> In addition, as I removed the pen from the box, the back
> fell off and batteries fell out. (Maybe the pen needs to
> be packaged tighter in the box when sending.)
>
> I did have a little problem in locating the label (in the
> packaging) that is there for you to play with if you wish
> and think this could have been better described. I did
> find it eventually and it saved me opening my packet of
> labels to use, only to find that the volume appears not
> to be working at all on mine; so at least I can send all
> back with the label pack still intact. I'm really sad to
> have to do this though, after a rather long wait and
> having had it there, in my fingers.
>
> I suspect the MP3 files will only play one after the
> other. (It would be pointless starting from the
> beginning every time you stopped the pen.) I agree too
> that this is probably a fairly limited MP3 player, though
> maybe (with firmware updates) it could be enhanced
> further.
>
> Does anyone know if the pen's firmware can be upgraded
> electronically?
>
> I too look forward to all comments.
>
> Finally, thanks RNIB. Keep working on this because it
> will certainly have a use in my home. It's just a pity
> that some of these teething troubles weren't sorted at
> the point of manufacture and before reaching us.
>
> --
> Carol
> carol.pearson29@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> On Twitter: http://twitter.com/songbird49a
>
>
>
> ---- Original Message ----
> From: Barry G
> To: Access Mailing List
> Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 11:46 AM
> Subject: [access-uk] First impression of penfriend...
>
> > Well, mine came this morning and here's my first
> > impressions...
> >
> > The labelling and reading function works well, it's easy
> > to use, smaller and lighter than I expected. It picks
> > up the tags and plays the note quickly, and the sound
> > quality is fine - it does exactly what it says on the
> > box and I reckon it's an excellent little device.
> >
> > My concerns...
> >
> > Mine came with a short fly lead to convert between the
> > standard headphone jack and the smaller jack socket on
> > the penfriend - someone mentioned that there had been a
> > manufacturing glitch and the wrong jacks were fitted to
> > the early batches. It would seem that these
> > mis-manufactured models have been issued to customers.
> >
> > I tried the mp3 player function and there are no
> > instructions for using this feature on the product guide
> > at rnib.org other than telling you to paste the music to
> > the mp3 folder on the device. That's fine, but there
> > are no instructions for operating it. Can't remember
> > which, but either the power or the record button toggles
> > play/stop. Sound quality is not sparkling, but it's
> > acceptable in a device that doesn't try to be a
> > dedicated mp3 player. There appears to be no way of
> > moving from file to file however, so at first glance,
> > it's not really very useable.
> >
> > My single serious gripe is the volume! The product
> > guide and the tags on the packaging correctly say that
> > the device defaults to the same volume each time the
> > machine is switched off and on, and this is rather
> > high. The real pain, on mine at least, is that it
> > jumps to this high volume each time a new label is
> > scanned, even though the volume has been turned down,
> > so you have to reset it on each scan! I'm hoping that
> > there may be firmware updates that will include a fix
> > for this, but there is no mention of this in the
> > product information.
> >
> > Finally, the online product info sheet says the
> > following: RNIB are developing some associated products
> > that are pre-recorded. If you wish to listen to RNIB's
> > pre-recorded information then you will need to use the
> > download feature. You must have access to the web and
> > connect to www.rnib.org.uk/penfriend. You will see a
> > list of titles available for download. These titles are
> > free or are part of any subscription system that you
> > may have joined with RNIB. Click on any single title to
> > download and save on to your computer's hard drive. For
> > example, c:\penfriend\downloads. After you have
> > downloaded all the titles you are entitled to, connect
> > PenFriend to the computer using the USB cable. Next,
> > enter or double click on any title and an audio
> > installer programme will appear, and then just follow
> > the simple instructions on screen. This programme will
> > automatically load the audio file onto PenFriend.
> > Repeat the process for the other titles that you have
> > downloaded. Remember, a copy of all titles is always
> > kept on your hard drive so there is no need to back up.
> > The audio files will be kept on the AP4 folder in
> > PenFriend.
> > Well, the link doesn't exist or is broken.
> >
> > All the best,
> > Barry G
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version
> > of virus signature database 4295 (20090731) __________
> >
> > The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
> >
> > http://www.eset.com
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version
> of virus signature database 4296 (20090801) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version
> of virus signature database 4296 (20090801) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
>
> http://www.eset.com
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