Yes. On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:59:57 -0900, Paul Tandy wrote:
>Hi all, I was looking at notetakers for the blind, and here's one >I found. Is this made by HumanWare? > >Paul > >The visually impaired can enjoy the ultra-compact size of a >real PDA with essential information access functionality: text >and vocal notetaking, agenda, contact directory and more. >Maestro is a PDA made accessible using a text-to-speech >technology adapted application and a tactile keyboard membrane >over the PDA's touch screen. >Manage your agenda and contact list, take text, braille or >vocal notes, access and consult documents, and more in the palm >of your hand. Maestro offers unparalleled portability and the >convenience of state-of-the-art wireless technology. For >example, you can take notes directly with the integrated tactile >keyboard or with an external wireless Braille or QWERTY keyboard. >Maestro's flexible environment allows you to add other >companion applications (like the Trekker GPS system) and includes >a version of Victor Reader, the digital talking book player, >specially designed for the Maestro. You can also easily transfer >files between your Maestro and PC. > > > >Newer Features of Maestro: >Full E-mailing Capability -- The user can read, forward, reply, >transfer and create e-mail messages, and attach files, using >either ActiveSync or a Wi-Fi network. >Wi-Fi Capability -- Maestro also has the capability to >automatically connect to a Wi-Fi (Wireless) network. >Enhanced Media Player -- The Media Player can read MP3 and WMA >files. It also offers the capability of reading audio files in >shuffle or repeat mode, mark a place, resume, set a sleep timer >and fast positioning (incremental or one-minute forward and >rewind). It also supports playlists. >Task Management -- It is now possible to create and manage >tasks, and synchronize them with Outlook on your PC. This is >integrated into the Calendar function of Maestro. >Improvements in Calendar, Victor Reader, Text Notes and Many >Other Enhancements -- Maestro includes a Today's page, >improvements in popular applications, such as variable speed in >Victor Reader, choice of views in the Calendar, better support of >scanned documents in the Text Notes (improved management of txt >documents with large carriage return content), formatting tool >for the memory cards, support of a second language, Time and Date >are presented in the format corresponding to the selected >language, and no more confirmation is needed when exiting the >programs in Maestro. >Accessories for Maestro: >KeyMaestro is a portable Braille Bluetooth keyboard that offers >enhanced notetaking capability to the Maestro. >Maestro also supports two popular foldable infrared keyboards: >The Belkin Infrared Wireless PDA Keyboard is a full-featured >foldable keyboard that includes a number row and four function >keys; >The Pocketop Original Infrared Keyboard is the smallest keyboard >to offer the traditional feel and functionality of a laptop >keyboard. >With the HP iPAQ, Maestro can be purchased with an external HP >iPAQ Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard. >User Testimonial for Maestro >"Just wanted to drop a note about my time with el Maestro. In >the last few days, I've been able to steal away a couple minutes >here and there to check it out. As some of you may know, the >Maestro is the first TRUE accessible PDA. It's basically a >Compaq I-Paq or a Dell Axim, that runs the Maestro software, and >has an interesting cover with some buttons for navigation and >text input. The speech synthesizer is Eloquence, giving you a >sense that the screen-reader might be like JAWS. >"In fact, it's very basic (as good as it needs to be for now), >and allows the user to interact with voice or text note-taking >programs, Victor Reader (for reading DAISY books), and several >other programs you'd expect to find on a PDA. It didn't take me >long to learn the key-pad and user interface (although I couldn't >really do much data entry as I don't know Braille well enough). >"Additionally, we got to use the Trekker hardware and software >with the Maestro. Trekker is a GPS softwaresthardware combo >that, when used with Maestro, can be a fantastic orientation >tool. Here are some of my notes: >"I was excited about: >Quality of screen readerstspeech synth >Simplicity in many aspects of the design >The fact that it's TRULY a palm-held PDA (unlike anything else in >the blind note-takerstPDA market) >Active-Sync for keeping stuff sync'ed with another true PC >Trekker and what it told me as I drove and walked around Tampa >and Winter Haven with it--it was pretty amazing >"The current and future (planned) functionality of the device >and Maestro program: >Bluetooth and WiFi networking >Current support for Bluetooth folding QWERTY keyboard >Future support for Braille input and output devices, as well as >cell phone interface (all coming this Fall) >"On the other hand, I was disappointed to find out that it DID >NOT yet have support for an Internet browser, or e-mail >application. I mean, if you unload Maestro, the PDA itself has >all the normal Pocket PC applications (browsers, e-mail, office, >etc.), but there's no speech. I talked with their technical >support about this, and they told me that it was supposed to be >included with the latest release of Maestro (just released about >3 weeks ago), but it didn't make it. Now we'll have to wait >until Fall. >"I have allowed several clients to check this out and many more >clients have been asking me about it. One client, who worked for >Freedom recently (where they routinely push PAC Mate as the best >PDA alternative), said that had it been available at the time he >got his PAC Mate, he probably would have preferred something like >the Maestro. >"I think maybe we should consider getting one at some point to >offer to clients (if we can, or if the state wanted to purchase >something, it would be a good investment for clients benefit). >It's much more affordable than PAC Mate or BraillestVoice-Note, >and it's truly hand-held. Once Internet apps and Braille devices >come out for it, there will be no difference from PAC Mate (other >than cost, size, and weight). It's cheaper. >"Although I never usually make a recommendation for PAC Mate >anyway (compared to a laptop or laptop plus Braille display), now >that I've played with the Maestro, there's no comparison in my >opinion between these two or three so-called PDA'S... One IS a >hand-held PDA, and the other's aren't." >Dan B. >Winter Haven, FL >Tech notes: >Here is a brief FAQ on the capability of using digital books from >Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (R F B and D) with this >product: >Will HumanWare be providing all of the necessary unlock codes, >or will the customer also have to contact R F B and D? >Customers will need to contact R F B and D to receive a username >and password and pay a $20.00 membership fee. R F B and D will >send out a Welcome Kit with instructions. >If you have any further questions about this or any other >specifics of this product, please Contact U. >Maestro Software is already pre-installed onto the PDA >Comes with Maestro Software Package on CD as well as software for >the PDA >Includes AC AdapterstCharger and cradle for PDA, especially for >synchronizing with the computer >Size: 4.47" x 2.78" x .5" >Weight: 4.67 oz > >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >copy to the list as well. > >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[email protected] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
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