[blind-philly-comp] Re: Some Highlights From the Latest FSCast

  • From: David Goldfield <david.goldfield@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2018 22:25:50 -0500

I agree. The low vision market is huge and companies like Vispero have likely not even come close to oversaturating it with various low vision devices. I'd also like to see them exploring options for a wider distribution of their OpenBook software. It's sad as that software has hardly been updated. I haven't used the latest versions but, as of two and a half years ago, it was quite nice. When I had a scanner hooked up to my older computer I was planning to scan lots of books but that never happened and I wound up not needing one for my newer Dell that I purchased several years ago. I used it quite a lot in its earlier days, however.

On 12/8/2018 7:39 PM, Robin Frost wrote:

Hi,
I hope they apply such to hardware devices they distribute as well.
Robin
*From:* David Goldfield
*Sent:* Saturday, December 8, 2018 7:16 PM
*To:* blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [blind-philly-comp] Re: Some Highlights From the Latest FSCast

I could see a payment plan being a real possibility for Vispero in the coming year. In the past, GW Micro offered a payment plan which allowed users to pay for Window-Eyes in monthly payments. It wouldn't surprise me if we saw the same happen with JAWS and Zoomtext.

On 12/8/2018 3:55 PM, Robin Frost wrote:
Hi,
On a related note I do so wish and have lobbied for such for ages now that they’d offer a payment plan or at the very least allow Pay Pal credit to become a payment option in their web store allowing those buying hardware such as magnifiers or braille displays an option to spread the cost out a bit on such thus increasing the ability to perhaps obtain such.  It sure will be interesting that’s for certain.
Take good care and happy Hanukkah, Christmas, Quanza or just happy day to all.
Robin
*From:* David Goldfield
*Sent:* Saturday, December 8, 2018 1:59 AM
*To:* blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [blind-philly-comp] Re: Some Highlights From the Latest FSCast

Hi, Robin.

One other prediction regarding these upcoming announcements is another method for making JAWS more affordable. JAWS is already available at no cost in two countries, Hungary and Spain, and Vispero has done some things to make their software more affordable to people here in the U.S., such as the fabulous offer from Computers for the Blind as well as a payment plan for students. And let's not forget the home annual license program. I'm wondering if we might hear of a similar announcement where there will be a way to acquire JAWS and Zoomtext for a very inexpensive price, if not free. That may sound farfetched but it happened with Window-Eyes, which you could download at no cost if you had Microsoft Office 2010 or later installed on your computer. I'm wondering if we might see a similar offering being announced.

Five years ago or more I would never have thought such a thing would be possible. However, Vispero is becoming a very forward-thinking company of late and they are going out of their way to make JAWS, a very expensive screen reader, affordable to more and more people.

David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com
On 12/7/2018 11:36 PM, Robin Frost wrote:
Hi,
Ooh those guesses could be fun if they come to pass.
Take good care.
Robin
*From:* David Goldfield
*Sent:* Friday, December 7, 2018 11:20 PM
*To:* blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [blind-philly-comp] Some Highlights From the Latest FSCast

Freedom Scientific released the latest episode of their FSCast podcast a few days ago. The podcast has a new set of hosts, John and Larry Gassman, who are both excellent. They're very good interviewers, have a great sense of humor and have excellent on-air chemistry. They had a brief discussion with Eric Damery from Freedom Scientific regarding company news. Here are the highlights from that discussion.

1. Updates to JAWS, Zoomtext and Fusion are due to be released the second week of December, probably from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13. Eric indicated that there was a long list of changes. He didn't elaborate on them but encouraged users to read them online once they are released.

2. He reminded everyone to renew their SMA or software maintenance agreements if yours are up for renewal. He said that there would be pricing changes around the first of the year, which implies that the cost of an SMA will probably increase.

3. He encouraged customers to consider purchasing JAWS or Zoomtext with the home annual licensing program. He said that this program was ideal for new customers as well as customers who are behind with an old version. Customers who are using JAWS 2019 and who are up to date with their SMA should stay with their SMA. He said that users should contact FS sales if they are in doubt as to whether they should stick with their current version or upgrade as they can receive guidance on what will be the best option for them.

4. The next set of updates to JAWS and Zoomtext should be released by the end of January.

5. During the CSUN conference in March there will be some big announcements. No other information was given.

Here are my comments.

1. I don't fully understand why FS would choose to raise the price of the SMA. All this will do is to persuade customers to jump on the home annual license if they are using the software for noncommercial use. If you're a new customer who hasn't yet purchased JAWS or Zoomtext the company will loose money in the short-term but will gain more in the long-term. Currently, they gain more if you're fairly up to date with your software.

2. Eric never mentioned the home annual license availability for Fusion. In a recent episode of FSCast they said that Fusion will be available as a home annual license in January but this was not confirmed in this week's podcast.

3. I am curious as to this series of big announcements we'll hear about in March. Here are my own guesses. Perhaps we'll see a more affordable Braille display designed for mobile device users similar to the Orbit Reader 20. I'm wondering if they're going to sell their own specially branded tablet with JAWS preinstalled, kind of like an FS Surface.

--
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com
--
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
--
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info

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