Frankly,
I get the impression that devices like the Mantis and Chameleon may not be
designed to be updated as often.
I got the impression that the Brailliant, Chameleon, and Mantis will get
different capabilities over time.
From: aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of William James
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 11:03 PM
To: aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [aphmantischameleonuser] Re: Wondering Why the Mantis Q40 Lacks NLS
BARD Download Capabilities
The Brailliant has it so why not the Mantis? I test-drove a Brailliant 20 and
it had all three services: NLS BARD, NFB Newsline, and BookShare. From what I
understand, the firmware released for the Mantis Q40, the Chameleon, and the
Brailliant are all in the same file, so why not? I have the Mantis and love
the QWERTY keyboard. I have stopped using a Perkins keyboard a long time ago
and have graduated to a QWERTY keyboard for typing and prefer it. I’m like
David Goldfield in that regard.
I also asked about EPUB support and was told a couple years ago that supporting
that format was on the to-do list. Well, it’s not off that to-do list yet. We
haven’t seen any updates or heard about anything new for the Mantis Q40 in
almost a year.
Don’t get me wrong, I am still happy with this product and sing its praises
when talking with our clients about braille displays. I am just a concerned
user who is afraid the goings-ons of the eBRF format and the monarch has pushed
the Mantis and Chameleon off to the back burner.
Sent from my iPhone Pro Max
On Apr 27, 2023, at 9:56 PM, Victor Lawrence <victorelawrence@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:victorelawrence@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
Yes, it’s definitely great that we all have choices. Personally, I don’t care
if I can download bard books to a braille display or not, as I’ve never had
that ability. When I had a braille display, I always used it with an iPhone,
and iPad or a computer. I didn’t have a choice because the braille display I
had could not download anything.
I want a Mantis because it will meet my needs for work and some other things.
The fact that it cannot download bard books yet is not a priority for me
because I can use the mantis with a mobile device.
My iPhone is my personal assistant. Using it in combination with a Mantis
display would be the perfect combination for me. But these are the things that
meet my needs.
Victor.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 27, 2023, at 6:50 PM, Rebecca Skipper <skipper8218@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:skipper8218@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
That is a fair question given the price point and the fact that BARD is on the
Brilliant.
If I had to guess maybe assumptions were made about who would likely use the
Mantis?
Your question could extend to the Chameleon as well.
From: aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of David
Goldfield
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 9:05 PM
To: aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [aphmantischameleonuser] Re: Wondering Why the Mantis Q40 Lacks NLS
BARD Download Capabilities
Rebecca, I understand your point and I get that having direct access to BARD is
not a major priority for you. The NLS E-reader only has 20 cells and I like the
idea of a QWERTY keyboard. The Brailliant units provide direct access to BARD
and so I’m just curious as to why this was omitted from the Mantis.
David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
<https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification> <image001.png>
NVDA Certified Expert <https://certification.nvaccess.org/>
Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive news, events and
information regarding the blindness assistive technology field.
Email: tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx>
www.DavidGoldfield.com <http://www.DavidGoldfield.com>
From: aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of Rebecca
Skipper
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 9:01 PM
To: aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [aphmantischameleonuser] Re: Wondering Why the Mantis Q40 Lacks NLS
BARD Download Capabilities
NLS has a Braille eReader so why would this service be offered on other
products?
If downloading BARD materials is a top priority for you se if you can get the
NLS eReader.
I don’t care about downloading books to the device.
I’d rather use my PC and an SD card.
In fact, I find it easier to download talking books to my iPhone than the
Victor Reader Stream second Generation because of the slower download speed.
From: aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of David
Goldfield
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 8:44 PM
To: aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [aphmantischameleonuser] Wondering Why the Mantis Q40 Lacks NLS BARD
Download Capabilities
I recently had a chance to purchase a slightly used Mantis for an excellent
price. I decided not to purchase it and I’ll explain why. While I’m aware that
Braille files from BARD can be transferred to the Mantis from a PC or an SD
card I would much prefer that it offered direct access to BARD as it does with
Bookshare. I got the sense that this was a deliberate decision and I’d really
like to know the reasoning behind it and if BARD access will ever become a
feature. If it did I’d be more inclined to purchase a Mantis.
David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
<https://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Certification> <image001.png>
NVDA Certified Expert <https://certification.nvaccess.org/>
Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive news, events and
information regarding the blindness assistive technology field.
Email: tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx>
www.DavidGoldfield.com <http://www.DavidGoldfield.com>
