[access-uk] Re: THE BUG

MessageHi Ian,

Thanks for that.  I'll wait for the Sonus Bug then, or whatever they choose
to call it.

All the best
--
Computer Room Services:  the long cane for blind computer users.
Telephone Voice:  +44(0)1438 742286, Fax/BBS:  +44(0)1438 759589
mobile:  +44(0)7956 334938,
Email:  Steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web site:  http://www.comproom.co.uk

  -----Original Message-----
  From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
Ian Macrae
  Sent: 30 March 2005 11:38
  To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [access-uk] Re: THE BUG


  No Steve, the recordings are listed in a menu and given as titles the date
and channel from which they originated.  Once you've started playing one you
can't then menu down and check out the next.  Another frustration is that
you can't fast forward or rewind in recordings.  Nor can you bookmark other
than by pausing the playback and going back to it without, for example,
going back to the live radio option.

  Cheers now.

  Ian
    -----Original Message-----
    From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Steve Nutt
    Sent: 30 March 2005 11:10
    To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Subject: [access-uk] Re: THE BUG


    Hi Ian,

    An excellent post.  One thing springs to mind though.  Is it easy
without sight to step through recordings once you have made them?  For
example, can you step through each recording like selecting a station, or
selecting a track on a CD player?  I realise you wouldn't know what the
recording was, but could you play a bit of each recording, then step to the
next one without sight?

    Thanks again for your thoughts.

    All the best
    --
    Computer Room Services:  the long cane for blind computer users.
    Telephone Voice:  +44(0)1438 742286, Fax/BBS:  +44(0)1438 759589
    mobile:  +44(0)7956 334938,
    Email:  Steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Web site:  http://www.comproom.co.uk

      -----Original Message-----
      From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Ian Macrae
      Sent: 30 March 2005 09:34
      To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
      Subject: [access-uk] THE BUG


      Hi all,

      As promised before Easter, here are some thoughts on The Bug DAB
receiver.  Note this is not a full review, just some comments which may help
people to decide whether they want to get one.  None of this deals with
technical specs or quality of output.

      A number of the Bug's basic functions have dedicated keys and single
keystrokes.  Spontaneous recording to the SD card, for example is started
and stopped by pressing the "Record" button, above/right of the main
on/off/nav switch.  Similarly, pausing the audio is started and stopped by
the large pause button below the on/of/nav switch. Rewinding the audio for
up to five minutes requires a press of the pause button followed by the
bottom left button on the Bug's head which stands above the body of the
radio on a gooseneck stem.

      Setting the ten presets follows Usual Pure protocols.  The Bug's head
contains six buttons, three down either side.  These are presets 1 to 5 with
the bottom right button being a shift.  To set presets 1 to 5, choose the
channel and the button you want to pre-set it too.  Press and hold the
button for a couple of seconds.  If you can see the screen or are with
someone who can, a message is displayed indicating that the station is
stored.  For presets 6 to 10, follow the same procedure holding the shift
key and one of the 5 presets down simultaneously.  When the radio is
playing, the two sets of presets can be toggled between using the shift key.

      Damon asked whether it is accessible.  The answer is that it's as
accessible as most DAB radios.  But because it has more functionality, it's
more difficult to use easily with no sight.  I've found that I've used my
paltry amount of sight and my LVA more with the Bug than with any other DAB
radio.

      As I've said, spontaneous recording to the SD card couldn't be
simpler.  But using the timed recording facility is more complex and
difficult.  Indeed, I'd say that it's either very difficult or impossible
without one or more of the following:  sight of your own, sighted
assistance, or a very good memory.  In brief, you have to access the radio's
menus, then find the alarm setting option, find the timed recording option
in the submenu and then follow onscreen prompts to set your timed recording.
I'd be interested to hear whether any totally blind people have managed to
do this.  Even using my sight, I've messed up on a couple of occasions.

      To conclude, there's no doubt that having the ability to record to SD
card is a great benefit.  Personally I've not used the rewind or pause
facilities that much.  It's also worth thinking that Pure is already
developing a personal with Bug functionality and there are plans for a sonus
version of that using the Ivox speech.  The main reasons for going for the
Bug now would be that you like it's unusual and rather whacky design (which
I do), or you want to be able to record to SD card absolutely now.
Otherwise, I'd recommend waiting for a Sonus equivalent which can't be that
long coming.

      Cheers now.

      Ian


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