And while I agree one could do without the radio, *I* use it. Mike
----- Original Message ----- From: "Alex Hall" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:14 AM Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits The space saved by removing the code to control the radio chip would be extremely small. I think the radio is just a feature that is not very popular, like the remote synthesizer option on the Braillenote family (the bn can speak whatever a screenreader speaks). Since it is there, though, I do not see the need to remove it, since it takes up little space and is not in the way. Just my thoughts. Have a great day, Alex New email address: [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Giovanelli" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:08 PM Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > Hi, Colleen, > > I play music files or MP 3 files and don't use the media player, at > least > not directly. I use File Manager. I have not used the Daisy player > but > it could be that others use it. > > I really see no need for the radio. Most of us have small radios now. > > If there's a consensus among the users, some things could be > eliminated, > thereby freeing up space for code which most people will find more > useful > than the radio (as an example). > > Joe G. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Colleen Roth <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Date: Friday, Aug 14, 2009 11:00:34 > Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits > >> >> >> Hi Tessa, >> I could live without the Daisy Player. It is nice to have things in >> one >> device but for the life of me I do not know why people need to have >> the >> radio in their Braille Sense. >> Having a device that allows me to handle email and use the Web >> Browser >> I find it to be a little bit of Heaven. >> Colleen Roth >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Tessa" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Date: 2009/08/14 14:51:59 >> Subject: Re: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits >> >> > >> > >> > Wouldn't it be nice if we could customize our devices? >> > I bought the BS+ BECAUSE OF X's braille display, the 8gb of flash >> > memory >> > and a couple other things I can't think of right now LOL. >> > All the PDA's are trying to do a little bit of everything which is >> > okay >> > if >> > you really want everything. I could easily live without the media >> > player, >> > radio and daisy player but since they're part of the package I'll >> > learn >> > them >> > eventually and enjoy them no doubt. >> > On the other hand having everything in one unit means you don't >> > have to >> > drag >> > around a handfull of different tech devices which suits me fine. >> > I'm definitely happy with my bs+, but with any product one can >> > always >> > find >> > suggestions for improvements. >> > Tessa >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: "Colleen Roth" <[email protected]> >> > To: <[email protected]> >> > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 2:44 PM >> > Subject: RE: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits >> > >> > >> > Hi All, >> > I love my Braille Sense Classic. >> > I do not like and want to use a Computer. >> > As long as I can read txt or doc files and receive and send email I >> > will be >> > very happy. >> > I also like using the Internet but could live without the Web >> > Browser >> > if I >> > had to. >> > I am wondering if the Braille Plus would do more than my BS. I >> > still >> > would >> > want my BS SO I could read things in Braille. I also think it is >> > probably >> > easier to use than a Braille Plus. >> > Colleen Roth >> > >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: unknown <[email protected]> >> > To: <[email protected]> >> > Date: 2009/08/14 12:53:30 >> > Subject: RE: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > Hi Joseph and All, >> > > >> > > Joseph, I do agree with you that BS AND VS USERS NEED TO KEEP A >> > > CLEAR >> > > PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THESE DEVICES ARE AND ARE NOT. They are a >> > > PDA, >> > > NOT A >> > > LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER. They are meant to be used on the go. >> > > Think >> > > of it as your travel suitcase for information. You can't fit >> > > everything >> > > in there, just as you can't fit your entire wardrobe and other >> > > items >> > > in >> > > your suitcase when you travel. >> > > >> > > Yes, I am well aware that for some people they just can't afford >> > > a >> > > note >> > > taker and a computer or laptop along with the screen reading >> > > software. >> > > This is why it is important to assess all of your needs before >> > > buying >> > > any >> > > product. If you have a need to create seriously formatted >> > > documents, >> > > or >> > > manage complex databases, then a note taker might not be what you >> > > need at >> > > that time. For about the same money you can spend on a note >> > > taker, >> > > you >> > > can buy a netbook and screen reading software. >> > > >> > > I am not trying to convince people that the BS AND VS ARE NOT >> > > WORTH >> > > WHILE >> > > DEVICES. I love my VS FOR WHAT IT IS, AND HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO >> > > MANY >> > > OTHER PEOPLE. However, I have recommended other devices after >> > > assessing a >> > > person's needs. >> > > >> > > Keep in mind that the more features that get packed into a device >> > > will >> > > raise the price. >> > > >> > > Annette >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > From: Joseph Lee [mailto:[email protected]] >> > > Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 1:08 AM >> > > To: [email protected] >> > > Subject: [GWN] Braille Sense and its limits >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > Hi folks, >> > > Nice to see a steady flow of suggestions about Braille sense. >> > > Some of >> > > them >> > > included foreign language support, word count and so forth. >> > > Although >> > > they >> > > were good ones, one needs to consider if it is worth it to put it >> > > on >> > > a >> > > device that has technical limits. Not that I am saying that BS >> > > FAMILY >> > > HAS >> > > OUTWARD LIMITS, BUT IN TERMS OF SPECS AND OS, IT DOES HAVE >> > > LIMITS. >> > > First, as mike said, Braille Sense is a PDA. In other words, >> > > Braille >> > > Sense is meant to be PC COMPANION, NOT A PC REPLACEMENT (ALTHOUGH >> > > I've >> > > seen some people mistaken it for such). In other words, not all >> > > things >> > > that can be done on a computer cannot be done under Braille >> > > Sense. >> > > For >> > > instance, not all websites that a Windows XP MACHINE CAN HANDLE >> > > CANNOT BE >> > > NAVIGATED USING Braille Sense. >> > > On the hardware side, the line between PC AND PDA IS BECOMING >> > > LESS >> > > DIFFERENTIATED - AT LEAST WHEN BS IS CONCERNED. Braille Sense has >> > > one >> > > of >> > > the good processors for mobile devices, as well as sufficient >> > > memory >> > > to >> > > run applications and store useful data. But in terms of software >> > > side, it >> > > is not. Braille Sense runs under Windows CE - NOT REGULAR >> > > Wihndows, >> > > folks. >> > > Windows CE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OS ARCHITECTURE THAN Windows >> > > NT >> > > FAMILY. Thus, it has limits, such as 32 MB OF VIRTUAL MEMORY AND >> > > 32 >> > > PROCESS LIMIT (THIS IS THE REASON WHY BS WOULD ONLY ALLOW SEVEN >> > > PROGRAMS >> > > MAXIMUM). As for virtual memory, I need solid evidence of things >> > > such >> > > as >> > > browser crashing or other slow downs before explaining what >> > > exactly >> > > it is >> > > and its limits (if demands requires me to, but right now I am >> > > going >> > > through summer school in college). >> > > Also, as I have stressed on another list, writing code for >> > > embedded >> > > devices such as Braille Sense carries different requirements. One >> > > needs to >> > > be careful about memory usage, processor architecture and so >> > > forth. >> > > Just >> > > because we imagine things in our heads and pray that it will >> > > appear >> > > out of >> > > nowhere does not mean that it will happen soon - one needs to >> > > plan, >> > > compose, debug, recompile and release the software (if stable >> > > enough) >> > > numerous times before a suggestion or feature request will work >> > > properly. >> > > Also, it seems that the manual is wrong about type of USB PORT. >> > > Braille >> > > Sense does NOT HAVE USB OTG (On-the-go) technology at all. All it >> > > has >> > > are >> > > one USB HOST AND ONE USB CLIENT, T's all. If it had OTG PORT, >> > > THEORETICALLY Braille Sense can work with two USB CLIENT DEVICES >> > > AT >> > > ONCE - >> > > ONE ON BS's own uSB HOST PORT, ANOTHER ONE ON THE USB CLIENT PORT >> > > WITH A >> > > DEDICATED ADAPTER. >> > > As to what USB OTG STANDARD IS, I'll compose the article in >> > > question >> > > when >> > > there is enough demand. For those who have seen me on other >> > > lists, >> > > you >> > > would know what OTG IS AND MY ARTICLE STYLE... >> > > Cheers, >> > > Joseph P.S. Alex, do you agree with me on this one? >> > >
