That's in the $5.00 version. On 3/10/11, Trouble <trouble1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > If you sit down does it give weight? lol > > At 10:01 AM 3/10/2011, you wrote: >>Oh yeah, I can see it now: >> >> >>"Butt scratch Pro $1.99. Use the haptic feedback of your android >>device to scratch that itchy bottom unobtrusively. Press the mute >>button on your blue tooth headset to activate this feature discretely >>and never again suffer the embarrassment of scratching your backside >>in front of others when you thought noone was looking. All you need >>is your Android device and a capacious back pocket and you are set. >>For just $1 more, you can get our Buttscratch Deluxe application. >>Hear your phone read out your blood pressure and fat to body mass >>ratio each time you activate the application. >> >>Disclaimer: Avoid pressing mute during phone conversations as this >>may cause potential awkwardness in the rest of your conversation." >> >> >> >>I'll be a millionaire in no time! =) >> >>Alex M >> >> >>On 3/10/11, Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> > Write a android application and pull in some money and then you can >> > afford >> > anything you want snicker. >> > >> > ken >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> > [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex Midence >> > Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 9:32 AM >> > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> > Subject: Re: Announcing the Orion Smart book >> > >> > There sure is a lot to be said for compactness. I am a classic >> > example of this scenario. I have a dell laptop for work which goes on >> > a docking station. It's hooked up to a braille display and a flatbed >> > scanner and all sorts of things. I can and do sometimes take it with >> > me to work but, for meetings, I use a braille sense note taker because >> > I like the six key input (because I can, as ken put it, hammer out >> > text like mad on there) and I like the braille display right then and >> > there. For textbooks, I use a victor reader stream because it will >> > play rfbd books and braille sense won't. For the phone, I use an >> > Android with a qwerty keyboard because, until codefactory's Mobile >> > Access, you couldn't use a touch screen and so forth. And, at home, I >> > use a desktop because I have linux and windows on there since they >> > sort of compliment each other's accessibility holes. One device to >> > rule them all would be nice. I'd love to be able to just carry around >> > something nice and compact like an Icon with a braille display. It >> > could even double as a phone if it's android capable and such. The >> > only obstacle is price. I have a wife, a child and another on the >> > way. I work so, government aid is out of the question. I make a >> > decent wage so, noone is going to help me out with paying for anything >> > because I make too much to get help but not enough to cough up 1300 >> > bucks at the drop of a hat because, well, dog gone it, I have bills to >> > pay. Got house, car, light, gas, water, medical bills, credit card >> > bills, ... you know, the usual stuff. I also have day care on top of >> > that all which is practically as much as a second mortgage. All this >> > leaves me with enough for food, gas, incidentals, internet and the odd >> > treat now and again. Where'm I going with this? People like me who >> > are not in the system just can't afford the one device rule. I wish I >> > could. I'd love to have an Orion thingy. Will I ever have one? >> > Probably not. Will some of my friends who also work and have bills >> > and things get one? One or two might, just might with a tax return or >> > something but probably not many. Yeah, a netbook is bigger, clunkier >> > and doesn't have a nice braille six key keypad on there but, speakup >> > plus the stuff I mentioned before and Alpine for e-mail to boot for >> > $150 looks way way way more doable. If I shell out an additional $50 >> > and make it $200, I can get something with enough processor power to >> > handle Gnome. Then, I get Orca. Give me a machine that has Orca, >> > Speakup, Yasr and Emacspeak on it that I can tote in my backpack or >> > briefcase because it's the size of a paperback when folded up and I'm >> > a happy camper. About the only thing I won't be able to do as nicely >> > is pdfs and web browsing. And, even that will improve shortly with >> > Gnome 3 when Orca can read webkit gtk+ well. Again, I am not by any >> > means knocking this product. All I'm saying is that I most >> > unfortunately can't and may never be able to afford it and so, I must >> > sadly look to other options as must many in my boat. When you can't >> > afford Chez François and Chateau La Trop Chère, you go get something >> > from the dollar menu at McDonald's. >> > >> > Alex M >> > >> > On 3/10/11, Ken Perry <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> >> >> >> I agree with you. The one thing I hate in all the world and the thing >> > that >> >> is only now changing in the sited world is that we have to carry >> >> multiple >> >> devices to do multiple things. So for example a sited person who needs >> > the >> >> computer for administrative tasks at work has to carry at the very >> >> least >> > one >> >> cell phone and one net book. To us that becomes right now an IPhone, >> >> and >> >> probably a netbook running windows if you run linux you can use speak >> >> up >> > but >> >> you lose all the advanced stuff and if you think you're not losing >> >> something just go ahead and talk to me about the stability of Linux as >> >> an >> >> access platform. It got better with Vinux but there is a reason I have >> > both >> >> a windows box and a Linux box. Then there is the Mac book pro but the >> >> reason I didn't mention it before is cost so I am thinking at the least >> >> a >> >> sited person will grab their net book and their phone. Now there is >> >> us. >> > We >> >> need a book reader because sorry IPhone sucks for book reading right >> >> now >> > you >> >> can't lock the screen and read and stick it in your pocket. You can't >> > read >> >> nls books or for that matter Bookshare without work. When I say work >> >> I >> >> want to push two keys and download a book and read it it so that means >> >> you >> >> need something like a book port + or a Braille+ if you want quick >> >> access >> > to >> >> books. Slower access using a computer means something like book sense >> >> or >> >> victor stream. Anyway let's throw the kendil into the mix for sited >> > people >> >> so now you got your kindle your netbook and your phone that's three >> >> items. >> >> >> >> Ok I am rambling but I have rambled to say this. The Motorola Atrix is >> > the >> >> first step away from the insanity it's an Android phone that is a >> >> netbook. >> >> Not only that but there are several people on Android working for >> >> access >> > to >> >> all document types, Google docs and much more. This means you grab >> >> your >> >> netbook or not because your phone is the brains of your netbook and the >> > only >> >> thing you gain carrying it is screen size and keyboard. So if you're >> > doing >> >> serious work you use the netbook if you're doing meetings and stuff you >> >> do >> >> the phone you have a kindil app on the Atrix and your done with >> >> multiple >> >> devices. Especially if you get an app that can handle all book types >> >> some >> >> day. >> >> >> >> The one drawback to an android phone or an IPhone for that matter for >> >> the >> >> blind in the long run is the input. Tell me you want to carry around a >> > blue >> >> tooth keyboard so you can type or that netbook shell for theATrix? >> >> What >> > if >> >> the Android phone had a keyboard you could type fast on like Oh I don't >> > know >> >> a 6 key keyboard. I might suck at Braille reading but I can hammer text >> > with >> >> a 6 key keyboard like mad and I would imagine most of you could. So >> >> now >> >> take that Android operating system that will have all this cool stuff >> >> in >> > the >> >> future or even take the stuff that is out for it now and make it >> > accessible. >> >> What do you get? The ability to ditch all your devices and carry one. >> > One >> >> to rule them all. Sure there will be phones you can get cheaper but I >> >> go >> >> back to the input. Find me one with input you can deal with easily. I >> > can >> >> smoke any of you using Nokia sembion if you have an IPhone that is >> >> because >> >> it has buttons and you can text like mad. The problem is find me a >> >> smart >> >> phone with a easy keyboard. I have 4 phones and they all suck here at >> > work. >> >> I have an IPhone that I use for almost anything but when it comes to >> > writing >> >> documents, doing serious web browsing and book reading the IPhone goes >> >> on >> >> the charger and the laptop and book reader come out. I want one device >> >> to >> >> rule them all and that is the way the industry is going look at what >> >> they >> >> just added to the new LION operating system that is going to replace >> >> Snow >> >> leopard it is even moving to IPhone like. Someday soon there will be a >> >> crash where desktops hit phones and all you will have on your desk is a >> >> monitor if you need it and a keyboard everything will be on the phone >> > and >> >> me personally I want easy input . >> >> >> >> Ken >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Homme, >> >> James >> >> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 7:57 AM >> >> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> Subject: RE: Announcing the Orion Smart book >> >> >> >> Hi, >> >> One of the ideas that keeps this whole thing going is that we have >> >> those >> > of >> >> us who, for whatever reason, believe that we need products specifically >> >> designed for the blind, and we have people who work in the blindness >> > field, >> >> who are sighted, who feel this way. Both groups could step back and >> > realize >> >> that it's really the features we need, not just the specialized >> >> products. >> >> I'm definitely in favor of having specialized stuff such as screen >> >> readers >> >> and Braille displays. I'm less in favor of software that has screen >> >> reader >> >> features. Now that things like smart phones have gotten so powerful, >> >> I'm >> >> less in favor of specialized hardware than I used to be. At the same >> >> time, >> >> though, I like the Braille and differently shaped buttons on my >> >> digital >> >> talking book player. So I guess I'm not totally sure what I want. :) >> >> >> >> Jim >> >> >> >> Besides that, there is the human nature factor that we like >> >> convenience. >> > We >> >> may not want to put together our own mix of features by getting a piece >> >> of >> >> hardware here and downloading and installing software from this sight >> >> over >> >> there. We want stuff to just work, and we want to get it in one place. >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kerneels >> >> Roos >> >> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 4:03 AM >> >> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> Subject: Re: Announcing the Orion Smart book >> >> >> >> Point taken Cina, point taken. >> >> >> >> I'm assuming you are referring to the blind community as being the most >> >> uneducated consumer base ever documented. Well, this is probably the >> >> key. From a local perspective I can definitely say that here in South >> >> Africa blind people seem to be very well informed about assistive >> >> technologies, and if compared to abled bodied individuals the blind >> >> community is on average way more tech savvy. The problem is, the AT >> >> space is so complicated and full of all sorts of options. I consider >> >> myself fairly well informed, yet every now and again Ihear about >> >> something I've never heard about ever before. We should really >> >> strive >> >> to inform everyone better. >> >> >> >> So, I think any new AT device or software is a good thing in itself, >> >> the >> >> problem is with the system at large, the lobsided market, greedy >> >> companies, government interferance -- you named it. Imagine everyone >> >> would just back off and let the market sort itself out. I don't know, I >> >> just know things could be way better and benefit many more than are >> >> benefitting right now. >> >> >> >> The encouraging and amazing thing is, amidst all of the injustices >> >> individuals arise that break the vicious cycle by offering their second >> >> hand AT devices at fair prices,by contributing to efforts like Vinux, >> >> and some companies asking reasonable prices. >> >> >> >> I salute you / them! >> >> >> >> On 3/10/2011 8:42 AM, Sina Bahram wrote: >> >>> There's a market alright. Fed by world governments, insane trade >> >> agreements, blood sucking AT companies, and the documentedly most >> >>> uneducated consumer base ever to exist in the history of consumer >> >>> bases. >> >>> >> >>> I so should not get involved in this thread. >> >>> >> >>> Signing off. >> >>> >> >>> Take care, >> >>> Sina >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> -----Original Message----- >> >>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dale >> >> Leavens >> >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 8:10 PM >> >>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >>> Subject: Re: Announcing the Orion Smart book >> >>> >> >>> But so far we don't have the price for the braille display. >> >>> >> >>> What I quoted was the current hardware as shown on the LevelStar Site. >> >>> >> >>> Unless they have some new refreshable braille technology the Orion >> >>> will >> > be >> >> a >> >>> lot more than two grand and you can have braille on any number of >> >>> devices >> >>> these days. >> >>> >> >>> I agree. A netbook and at least you have a fully compatible word >> >> processor, >> >>> one used by the rest of the world assuming one shares documents with >> >>> the >> >>> rest of the world. >> >>> >> >>> for a hundred bucks you can buy a 32 GB card for your Stream. Modern >> >>> SSD >> >>> drives are used these days maybe the Orion will upgrade to a solid >> >>> state >> >>> drive. Even that on the Icon wouldn't justify $1,300. >> >>> >> >>> I will say that I approve the use of braille but for the speed of >> >>> speech >> >> it >> >>> will have to get a bunch cheaper before I'll be buying int. >> >>> >> >>> I guess there is a market but I don't see it. >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >> >>> From: "Alex Midence"<alex.midence@xxxxxxxxx> >> >>> To:<programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 7:00 PM >> >>> Subject: Re: Announcing the Orion Smart book >> >>> >> >>> >> >>>> Well, if it does braille output, it's got my vote sight unseen. At >> >>>> the price it's selling for, it looks like you can have a little >> >>>> braille display for under 2k. That's really cool. I still can't >> >>>> afford it, mind, but it's really cool. I wonder if you can use it as >> >>>> an external speech synth and/or braille display for a screen reader >> >>>> on >> >>>> a laptop or desktop. That would be really nifty. The note taker >> >>>> stuff isn't really that exciting to me. I can grab a $150 netbook >> >>>> off >> >>>> of craigslist and load up soemthing like Vinux on there and I have a >> >>>> powerful note taker right there and then. You don't even need all >> >>>> the >> >>>> stuff Vinux comes with pre-installed really. All you really need is >> >>>> Pico, abook, tudu, mplayer and Lynx running on something with speakup >> >>>> installed and you got a decent note taker. Couple of megs more gets >> >>>> you emacspeak and you have something that is just as powerful as any >> >>>> word processor out there, imho. Add a menu feature of some kind >> >>>> which >> >>>> launches what you want at the press of a key and you don't even need >> >>>> to have the command line come up to bring up your stuff. That >> >>>> braille >> >>>> display and that speech synth though are very attention grabbing for >> >>>> me. Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking all the nice apps featured >> >>>> on there. I just can't see myself going into debt for them when I >> >>>> can >> >>>> get a comparable set of them for ffree on a much much cheaper >> >>>> machine. >> >>>> >> >>>> For daisy, I have a victor reader which also stores songs. I don't >> >>>> need 40 gigs of songs. IN fact, I have a 2 gig mini flash card for >> >>>> my >> >>>> music and an 8 gb one for my audio books. Podcasts, I get through my >> >>>> android phone and stitcher but a braille display, that for under 2 >> >>>> grand is not to be sneezed at. >> >>>> >> >>>> Alex M >> >>>> >> >>>> On 3/9/11, Dale Leavens<dleavens@xxxxxxx> wrote: >> >>>>> Well, I don't get it. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> The LevelStar Site doesn't give much information on the Icon, look >> >>>>> like >> >>>>> you >> >>>>> don't get any input other than audio without the docking station >> >>>>> which >> >>>>> means >> >>>>> $1,300 for the Icon and $600 for the keyboard, $1,900 altogether. >> >>>>> For >> >>>>> that >> >>>>> you get 8 more gigs of hard drive than you get on an iPhone. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> I presume you can do input in some way outside of the docking >> >>>>> station >> >> but >> >>>>> they don't tell you anything about that. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Having braille output albeit only 18 cells will add to the >> >>>>> capability >> > of >> >>>>> course but it seems redundant to me to have yet another isolated >> >>>>> note >> >>>>> taker. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> The iPhone and come to that the iPod touch already does all that >> >>>>> stuff >> >>>>> and >> >>>>> more for less. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >> >>>>> From: Littlefield, Tyler >> >>>>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> >>>>> Cc: Ken Perry >> >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 5:36 PM >> >>>>> Subject: Re: Announcing the Orion Smart book >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> I seen that! And even with no price tag, it's already making my >> >> wallet >> >>>>> clench up in fear. >> >>>>> On 3/9/2011 1:39 PM, Ken Perry wrote: >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> I can now show you what I am helping to work on. Here is the >> >>>>> announcement that was put out today. >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >> >> > >> //www.freelists.org/post/accesscomp/Fw-icondiscuss-A-Glimpse-Of-The-Lev >> >> elStar-Orion-SmartBooks-At-CSUN-2011 >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> -- >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Thanks, >> >>>>> Ty >> >>>>> >> >>>> __________ >> >>>> View the list's information and change your settings at >> >>>> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>> __________ >> >>> View the list's information and change your settings at >> >>> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> >>> >> >>> __________ >> >>> View the list's information and change your settings at >> >>> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Kerneels Roos >> >> Cell: +27 (0)82 309 1998 >> >> Skype: cornelis.roos >> >> >> >> "There are only two kinds of programming languages in the world; those >> >> everyone complains about, and those nobody uses." >> >> >> >> __________ >> >> View the list's information and change your settings at >> >> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> >> >> >> >> >> This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are intended >> >> solely for use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. >> >> If >> >> you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender >> > immediately >> >> and then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you must >> >> not >> >> keep, use, disclose, copy or distribute this e-mail without the >> >> author's >> >> prior permission. The views expressed in this e-mail message do not >> >> necessarily represent the views of Highmark Inc., its subsidiaries, or >> >> affiliates. >> >> __________ >> >> View the list's information and change your settings at >> >> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> >> >> >> __________ >> >> View the list's information and change your settings at >> >> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> >> >> >> >> > __________ >> > View the list's information and change your settings at >> > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> > >> > __________ >> > View the list's information and change your settings at >> > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind >> > >> > >>__________ >>View the list's information and change your settings at >>//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > Tim > trouble > > "Never offend people with style when you can offend them with substance." > --Sam Brown > > Blindeudora list owner. > To subscribe or info: //www.freelists.org/webpage/blindeudora > > __________ > View the list's information and change your settings at > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > __________ View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind