Well,
Would NLS and APH consider letting those who want this feature to be added at
the user’s expense?
All of the AT venders could offer subscriptions.
Keep the existing NLS BARD options free.
From: aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of joseph hodge
Sent: Friday, April 28, 2023 6:39 AM
To: aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [aphmantischameleonuser] Re: Wondering Why the Mantis Q40 Lacks NLS
BARD Download Capabilities
Hi David,
To use the Bard API you have to pay a licensing cost that APH felt would have
driven up the cost of the device. I hope this answers your question.
Joe
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 28, 2023, at 1:39 AM, sophia curtis <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
David - any chance you could pass me the details of the mantis you had the
chance to purchase at a good price please? I have been searching for a used one
in my price range for awhile but not really sure where to look. Thanks
Kind regards
Sophia
On Friday, April 28, 2023, 5:09 am, Tim Noonan <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
We are all just speculating, but I will note that the Mantis has different
internal hardware than the Braillant devices, essentially it seems to be an
earlier generation of chipsets, which no doubt was to meet a particular price
point for the device. That may also mean a less capable version of Android to
run device applications. NLS is incredibly strict regarding Bard access apps.
Tim
On 28 Apr 2023, at 1:08 pm, William James <wiljames72@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:wiljames72@xxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
It probably won’t happen but I would love to see a way to transfer a file from
the phone or computer to the Mantis via bluetooth. That would be nice.
Sent from my iPhone Pro Max
On Apr 27, 2023, at 11:03 PM, William James < <mailto:wiljames72@xxxxxxxxx>
wiljames72@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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 <
<mailto:victorelawrence@xxxxxxxxx> 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 < <mailto:skipper8218@xxxxxxxxx>
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: <mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 9:05 PM
To: <mailto:aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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>
<https://certification.nvaccess.org/> NVDA Certified Expert
Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive news, events and
information regarding the blindness assistive technology field.
Email: <mailto:tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx> tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx
<http://www.davidgoldfield.com/> www.DavidGoldfield.com
From: <mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Rebecca Skipper
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 9:01 PM
To: <mailto:aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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: <mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<
<mailto:aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
aphmantischameleonuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2023 8:44 PM
To: <mailto:aphmantischameleonuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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>
<https://certification.nvaccess.org/> NVDA Certified Expert
Subscribe to the Tech-VI announcement list to receive news, events and
information regarding the blindness assistive technology field.
Email: <mailto:tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx> tech-vi+subscribe@xxxxxxxxx
<http://www.davidgoldfield.com/> www.DavidGoldfield.com
