Yes, it can run off AAA batteries, but, the headphones are a bit conspicuous for much real world use of something like the vOICe. Stay well Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...' ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill English To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 8:04 PM Subject: [blindza] Re: Next pseudo gadget got hold of this past weekend My question would be; Can it run off it's own power source (battery), therefore less drain battery on net books & laptops? Extending portable use of The vOICe would be nice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Jacob Kruger <jacobk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tue, June 21, 2011 6:53:00 AM Subject: [blindza] Re: Next pseudo gadget got hold of this past weekend Ok, think these are the details for that shop: nichard computers cc norkem mall norkem park Mooi river str, Kempton Park, Gauteng 1619 phone: (08) 3381 2932 fax: (08) 6660 9168 Found those via/pulled them off hotfrog.co.za using google search, but anyway - they might not be up to date as such. Stay well Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...' ----- Original Message ----- From: Jacob Kruger To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 1:19 PM Subject: [blindza] Re: Next pseudo gadget got hold of this past weekend Here are the pricecheck.co.za results relating to searching for/buying xgr wireless units: http://www.pricecheck.co.za/search/?search=xgr+wireless The PC shop I bought it from/found it at is one of those small, once off shops run by guys who actually like computers and know what they're talking about..<smile>, and I think it's name is something like nanotech, but not too sure - will have to try check invoice again, but anyway. Their microphone support is actually just an input socket on headphones themselves, so you'd still need an external, clip on microphone or something, but anyway. Stay well Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...' ----- Original Message ----- From: Boshoff, Deon (GP Health) To: blindza@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 12:26 PM Subject: [blindza] Re: Next pseudo gadget got hold of this past weekend Great stuff! I have a cordless headset like this, which I use to read books with, as I can move all around on my property with it, as it's range is about 300 m. But, unfortunately, it's only mono, but the sound is good. There's no built in mic, and the sender runs off the power. Can use it on any of my computers, TV, sound system, etc. Works real well for me, no cables to get strangled into, and I can continue reading while having to do some boring things like going for a P, bath, etc. LOL! But this one you are mentioning here sounds very good to me and I wish I could buy one for myself, as it is stereo. By the way, I also have a wireless keyboard/mouse, which makes me rather portable when working on a computer. Do let us know more about your discovery, and where one could buy one from, maybe? This really the sort of thing blind people need, like the USB headphone sets I have, which enable me to get sound out of a computer right after installing Windows, before the sound drivers or graphic drivers are installed. The real USB headset PLUGS INTO THE USB PORT, NEEDS NO SOUND DRIVERS, AS WINDOWS PICKS IT UP AND HAS THE DRIVERS FOR IT. VERY HANDY, YET, SO SCARCE! I DID PICK UP ONE RECENTLY at Incredible Connection at R400, which is a bit high, but buy it once, and you have it when you need it most. Deon [G. Boshoff, BA[Stell]UDC[Potch] WESKOPPIES HOSPITAL SWITCHBOARD Tel: 0123199735 Mobile: 0829699571 Fax: 0123277076 Bleeper: 0123199820, code 0002 E-mail: Deon.boshoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Deon.boshoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> -----Original Message----- From: blindza-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:blindza-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Jacob Kruger Sent: 21 June 2011 11:44 AM To: NAPSA Blind Cc: BlindZA Subject: [blindza] Next pseudo gadget got hold of this past weekend Ok, this is partly relevant, since I got hold of it specifically for use along with my screen reader in an open plan office environment, etc. Anyway, had been looking for some form of wireless headset for a little while that would preferably be somewhat portable, would be battery powered or rechargeable on both ends - base/transmission unit as well as headphones/receiver, etc. etc., with part of the idea being that while do use normal headphones, the lead sometimes gets in my way when I am trying to do things with my hands, inbetween typing on the keyboard, etc., and sometimes it would just be nice to not be restricted by an audio lead, etc., and the sort of final thing is sometimes it might be nice to use an audio gadget of sorts without it being too obvious that I had earphones in my ears, etc., but that one's still not perfectly doable due to the size of the headphones, but at least they're relatively comfortable/lightweight. Basically it's a base unit around 20cm high when standing up, around 3cm thick, and around 10cm back to front, and it can run off 3 AAA batteries in both base unit, and headphones, which while they're ones that fit over your ears, they're relatively lightweight, and quite comfortable. The base unit also has a DC power socket, but it didn't actually come with the relevant power unit, but that should be easy enough to find at the right sort of shop since it's generally just the diameter of that socket that makes sure it's the right voltage, etc. What you do is turn on the base unit, and then turn on the headphones, and it has it's own volume control, and a microphone input socket, and then also another 2 press buttons on it, which let you reset it to base unit reception, or to sort of scan through FM radio channels - so it sort of doubles as a battery powered FM radio if you want that. On the base unit, there's an on/off slider switch, and another slider switch that lets you switch it between audio input, or acting as a form of baby monitor/spy device where it uses a built in microphone to then let you listen to what's happening around it, and the stereo audio line it comes with also has a standard RCA converter lead to let you plug it into things like TVs, etc., but anyway. The range is meant to be around 10 meters, but depending on surroundings, it actually seems a little bit further transmitting than that - sometimes anyway, and while it's not the loudest set of earphones, they do seem to provide pretty decent sound quality, and it does also handle stereo well enough. Lastly, while had been asking one of the local, decent computer shops to look for something like a bluetooth unit for me, etc., they firstly seemed to think these weren't too easy to find, and the prices they came back with were around R700+, but when happened to be in a smaller local computer shop this past weekend, that, among other things sells some other gaming accessories, and second hand PC games, etc., I asked them, and they had this XGR set there on the shelf, for R140, and it's full name is something like an XGR 6 in 1 wireless headset including FM radio, microphone support, etc. Like said, primary thing is it will let me avoid using normal headphones with a lead, but would also let you, for example, listen to an audio book/podcast from a little bit of distance away from the output source if you wanted to, or could be used as a sort of spy device to listen to something happening next door whithout being physically present - sit in on meetings, whithout being present...<smile> Stay well Jacob Kruger Blind Biker Skype: BlindZA '...fate had broken his body, but not his spirit...' 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