I suppose the only worry is that rather than a firmware update to fix the problems the first purchasers feedback to RNIB, they will in time release a new Penfriend with none of these problems. Thus benefiting from our experiences but leaving us with the pens with the flaws.
Ah well, I am still happy and what product developer gets it right first time. However, the volume if deliberate does seem stupid. Perhaps the RNIB make the same mistake as many members of the public by thinking that blind also means deaf. Though they should know better than this.
Find me on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/barkingbabs Barbara Wilson M: 07917710779 T: 02887784046 E: barkingbabs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx IM: creativeeyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Skype: creativeeyes----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Pearson" <carol.pearson29@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 6:35 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend...
Jackie, I tried the Voiler once and wasn't at all impressed ...This is different, so far as I remember, and certainly you have fcontrol about reading your label and recording. You locate the label and then put the pen tip on it and it's read. You record, having first shown the pen the label (touched the label with the pen) that you want to have the recording.-I am sure, once some of these little things are ironed out, it will go a good way to meeting needs ... and we'll all find lots of different ways to use it!-- Carol carol.pearson29@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx On Twitter: http://twitter.com/songbird49a --- Original Message ---- From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 3:24 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend...Hi Barry It was just that the labels were so tiny and fiddly to scan, and I got that frustrated with it because it kept saying "bye-bye" when I didn't scan the label in the appropriate time. It came mightily close to being introduced to a pane of glass in the shape of a window!! (smile). No offence, but it just wasn't my kind of labelling system really. I'm still a dab hand with the old Dymo gun and tend to use it for odds and sods. Glad you like your new toy!! Jackie Cairns Braille Specialist Email: Jackie.Cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sight and Sound Technology Ltd Welton House North Wing Summerhouse Road Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6WD Telephone: 01604 798024 Fax: 01604 798090 Web: www.sightandsound.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barry G Sent: 01 August 2009 14:44 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend... Hi Jackie - afraid I don't know as I never used or saw the Voila labeller I'm afraid - but I'm a picky old duffer and am more than happy with the penfriend on first acquaintance. What was the prob with the Voila? If it helps, you can email me your phone number I'll phone you so we can talk, or if you want to get my number so you don't give yours away, let me have your direct email & I'll send it to you. All the best, Barry G ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 1:54 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: First impression of penfriend...Hi Barry Could I please ask you, or anyone else who has tried working with this gadget yet, is it anything like the Voila labeller? Please tell me it isn't! (smile). Jackie Cairns Braille Specialist Email: Jackie.Cairns@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sight and Sound Technology Ltd Welton House North Wing Summerhouse Road Moulton Park Northampton NN3 6WD Telephone: 01604 798024 Fax: 01604 798090 Web: www.sightandsound.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barry G Sent: 01 August 2009 11:46 To: Access Mailing List 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.Ifyou 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 <http://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 ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. 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For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________ ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq__________ 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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