[access-uk] Re: Android

  • From: Keith Barrett <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:32:20 +0100

Hi,

The xperia pro and mini pro have some internal storeage but they take a micro sd card.

I think they will take a 64gb card but would need to check that. I have a 32gb in mine.

You can use the touch screen or the keyboard.

I try to use the touch screen because I think that one day I may not be able to get a keyboard phone but, you know, it is so much faster to type on a keyboard.

The xperia pro is selling for £190.00 on amazon at the moment.

The difference between the xperia pro and mini pro is that the xperia pro has a better battery and a better camera. It is slightly larger.

hth.



On 17/07/2012 17:03, Jackie Cairns wrote:
Keith, is the Xperia range keyboard only, or can these handsets be used in
the normal touch-screen manner?

What is the maximum capacity on an Android Smartphone, roughly the same as
an iPhone?


Kind Regards,

Jackie Cairns

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Keith Barrett
Sent: 17 July 2012 16:46
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Android

Well, the xperia pro and mini pro which are the two with keyboards are
getting an official sony upgrade and there are also unofficial roms for both
of them.



On 17/07/2012 16:19, Vince Thacker wrote:
Jackie, I'm sure you'll find some of those Sony phones can be upgraded
to at least 4.0, and possibly some can't because the hardware is too
limited. Another complication!

Vince.


----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Cairns"
<jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 11:21 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Android


Hi Vince

Just had a quick look at the Sony Xperia, and it appears to have
Android 2.1 on it.  I'm just browsing really out of curiosity.


Kind Regards,

Jackie Cairns

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Vince Thacker
Sent: 17 July 2012 11:01
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Android

Jackie, if you ended up with an older version of Android, you could
install Talkback, which is the equivalent of VoiceOver. As well as
the voice, it now includes vibrations and sounds that also contribute
to the accessibility.

If you had Android 4 point something, you wouldn't need to worry.
Some kind of gesture would then be all you need to start the
accessibility.

There are some tutorials on YouTube, but some people that have done
them seem to find it so exciting to have loads of background noise
going on or don't put any spoken commentary on at all that it can be
hard to know what's happening.

Vince.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 10:50 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Android


Hi Vince

Many thanks indeed, this really helps.  I agree that you know where
you are with Apple and its iPhone.  You have VoiceOver and that's it
basically.
But
Android seems to be more complicated in respect of what you ask for.
So later versions of the operating system have accessibility built
into them which can be activated upon purchase?

As for Georgie, that approach wouldn't appeal to me personally.
I've had enough of buying items that have a short shelf life, and I
rather feel Georgie will come into that category.



Kind Regards,

Jackie Cairns

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Vince Thacker
Sent: 17 July 2012 10:21
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Android

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



--

Computer Room Services

77 Exeter Close

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Hertfordshire

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Tel:  01438-742286

Mob: 07956334938

Fax: 01438-759589

Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk
<http://www.comproom.co.uk>



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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signature database 7227 (20120617) __________

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