There are other differences, too. Those Nokia phones use a Xenon-based flash for the camera, and KNFB Reader includes a two-stage polarization filter. These work together to be sure that the object that you scan is lit well and evenly. Without the Xenon flash, the little LED flash in most phones isn't always able to overcome shadows, particularly when an image is snapped at close range. Difference in light level will confuse any OCR algorithm. Without the polarization filter, it is next to impossible to get a good image of any glossy surface, such as a box cover, a magazine, a laminated piece of paper. If you take a picture of one of those items without a polarization filter, the resulting picture includes the cameras flash brightly reflecting from the glossy surface. That will seriously mess up OCR, obliterating any text that is located inside the reflection.
Beyond that, the KNFB Reader also recognizes multiple languages, and includes language-to-language translation tools. Not that many people use these on a day-to-day basis, but they're still fairly impressive. The real impressive bit about the KNFB Reader is that, even when it takes a long time, it always manages to read me something. I have taken pictures of computer screens when they won't boot, and heard the post messages (extremely difficult to read those without a polarization filter). I've zapped a drive-through menu through a car window, and it read a large chunk of it. I can even scan labels on bags, where the surface is not only glossy, but anything other than flat. There is also its money identification mode. There are some inexpensive programs for Symbian that will just identify money, but, for some reason, some of them aren't able to identify every note. I think that the BeyoCBS tool for doing this isn't supposed to be able to identify $5 notes, and misreports them as $1, for example. The KNFB Reader gets them all, though. Someone needs to make a money identification program for iOS. KNFB is still a better product, but perhaps not worth $1,000. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Simon F Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 4:24 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: saytext is available The iPhone 4 is a 5 megapicsal camera but your right, it's not a karlzyse optics lens like the cameras in the n86 and othe r devices used with the knfb mobile reader. These cameras do make a differenece I can't wait to see what the n8 with it's 12mp camera does with knfb reader mobile. The 8mp cam is great, what would a 12 be like. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Moore Sent: Wednesday, 30 June 2010 5:52 a.m. To: [email protected] Subject: Re: saytext is available Using a scanner for OCR is old hat. I think if a stand was made available for the iPhone to fit into then the results would be better. The distance would be correct and the picture would be steady. The Iphone camera does not have image stabilisation and does not have very good auto focus and auto zoom. The camera was not designed for OCR in mind unlike the ones you get from Humanware. The resolution on the 3GS is only 3.2 pixel too. As the camera improves on the iPhone with future models and the processor becomes more powerful to enable more complex functions it will be then that we will see improved OCR on the iPhone. But as I have said before this app is great considering it is free and the hardware it is running on. On 29 Jun 2010, at 18:18, Cody > the issue is that the entire paper doesn't fit nicely inside the > camera lense, and there are things around like other fixtures, a hand, maybe a table with a pattern or lines that the ocr might interpret as text, thats why this is not a good idea. that is why a scanner can do a better job On Jun 29, 2010, at 12:59 PM, clarence griffin wrote: > >> maybe the camera isn't getting the light it needs to focus or maybe >> the print is not clear enough. who knows. there are so many things that it could be. Maybe the type of paper. Maybe there are images on the paper behind the text that could be throwing it off. It could be lots of things. the font of the text could be another thing. >> For a free program folks, this thing can really go some ware. Luck >> its not me. I would charge all you complaining bastards for all the hard work. I figure if I am going to get complained at, I might as well get paid for it. lol. >> But yeah folks, lets help this developer to help us. Write him with >> ideas and don't wine about how it doesn't work. Its free for crying out loud and we should be thankful that there are people willing to take time to do something like this, and not charge us out the but for it like other people. >> >> GF >> >> >> On Jun 29, 2010, at 9:44 AM, Krister Ekstrom wrote: >> >>> I have the same problem as Cody on an Iphone 3gS. Don't know what >>> gives here. >>> /Krister >>> 29 jun 2010 kl. 14.55 skrev Cody Hurst: >>> >>>> I've done all of that. what setting am I not turning on On Jun 29, >>>> 2010, at 8:52 AM, Earle wrote: >>>> >>>>> It will beep. I have an iPhone 3gs, and it beeps for me when I >>>>> perform a scan. It takes a lot of getting used to. You need to >>>>> make sure the camera is over the center of the page. You also need to raise it slowly. >>>>> >>>>> Earle >>>>> >>>>> Msn: [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> Skype, Twitter, and Facebook: rowdyamerican >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "Cody Hurst" <[email protected]> >>>>> To: <[email protected]> >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 8:32 AM >>>>> Subject: Re: saytext is available >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I tried scanning a cigarette box, a paper, my shirt, etc etc, and >>>>> still, no beeps no nothing and I have an iphone 4. the only way >>>>> one can use this thing is by taking a picture manually >>>>> >>>>> On Jun 29, 2010, at 8:28 AM, Scott Howell wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Just make sure you raise it slowly since a radical increase in >>>>>> height may make it difficult to focus, but then that is an >>>>>> assumption on my part, I have no idea, but having a sufficient light source will also help. >>>>>> On Jun 29, 2010, at 7:24 AM, Krister Ekstrom wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi, Have you actually managed to make the app beep on an Iphone >>>>>>> 3gs? I tried and tried and tried, lifting my arms until they >>>>>>> almost reached the seiling and not a sound came out of the thing. >>>>>>> /Krister >>>>>>> >>>>>>> 29 jun 2010 kl. 12.55 skrev Scott Howell: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> It will beep and you do not need to hit the camera button. You >>>>>>>> will find that raising it about 1 to 1.5 feet is necessary >>>>>>>> before it will begin to beep. The iPhone 4 may be different do >>>>>>>> to the camera, but I do not know for sure since I do not have one yet. >>>>>>>> On Jun 29, 2010, at 2:48 AM, Cody Hurst wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> it is free but when I click the camera button it doesn't seem >>>>>>>>> to beep when anything is in focus On Jun 29, 2010, at 2:37 AM, Simon F wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> What is the price on this app? >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>>>> From: [email protected] >>>>>>>>>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of >>>>>>>>>> clarence griffin >>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, 29 June 2010 3:21 p.m. >>>>>>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: saytext is available >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> is it really the finished one? I thought it was due to come >>>>>>>>>> out Thursday? >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> GF >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Jun 28, 2010, at 10:19 PM, Sarah Alawami wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I'm not sure it will work on the iphone though yet the >>>>>>>>>>> iphone 3 anyways. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Take care. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> S >>>>>>>>>>> On Jun 28, 2010, at 6:52 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Hey, the price is right :-) I just got it. Now to try it. >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA >>>>>>>>>>>> Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> On Jun 28, 2010, at 9:49 PM, Sarah Alawami wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't have saytext but it will go on my wishlist as I'm >>>>>>>>>>>>> exchnging my >>>>>>>>>> phone in a few dys. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> S >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Jun 28, 2010, at 6:29 PM, joseph wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> hi listers, finally, saytext is there. head to the app >>>>>>>>>>>>>> store and put in the surch box, "saytext doc scanner". I >>>>>>>>>>>>>> tested it with iphone 3gs but found that OCR results are >>>>>>>>>>>>>> bad. Also, the phone would not beep to tell me that the >>>>>>>>>>>>>> document is in focus as explained in the youtube demo. I >>>>>>>>>>>>>> hope someone els can try it and perhaps you would have >>>>>>>>>>>>>> better luck than me. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> regards. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to >>>>>>>>>>>>>> the Google >>>>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to >>>>>>>>>>>>> the Google >>>>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups >>>>>>>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups >>>>>>>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>> Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>> Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>> Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>> Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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