Hello, Well, here's hoping for an affordable GPS solution from Sendero group. By that, I mean something that won't break the bank, or at least, my bank. I already purchased the Aftershokz Bone Conduction headphones, to be ready for this application when and if it ever hits the Apple store and that it is within my price range, of say, $50 or so. Just my views on the subject.
Sent from my Sprint iPhone 4S On May 12, 2012, at 11:58 PM, Grant Hardy <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Raul and list, I've been reading through this thread on GPS > solutions and trying to sort everything out. I've actually been > contemplating purchasing the Sendero GPS product for the BrailleNote, > as I've played around with the demo and it's absolutely armed to the > teeth in terms of functionality. In fact I have a feeling that if cost > were not a factor, it would be entirely in a class of its own in terms > of GPS products for the blind. As I understand it, the Breeze doesn't > offer quite the same functionality as the Sendero product, but it's > rapidly catching up. > > I'm really really disappointed with the corresponding products on the > iPhone, for the reason that they're a bit too "fiddly," with some > features totally absent. For example, the reality is that whether > you're walking around your city, your college campus, or a new place, > you're going to encounter parks, cul-de-sacs, residential areas, and > the like, which make all mainstream GPS apps pretty much a no-go. For > example, at my home and on the campus where I am currently studying, > there are lots and lots of these "non-street areas," and the only app > that's really ever given me confidence in it is Sendero. One of its > most valuable assets is the ability to set up routes (yes, both on > streets, in parks, in the country, and in combinations of those) with > specific turning points, landmark names, and instructions. Routes can > be basic turn-by-turn ones set up automatically, or specific, manual > routes with instructions such as "approaching forty-five degree turn > right" etc.. Sendero can even track where you have walked and set up a > route based upon your GPS data, all automatically. I mean, Ariadne GPS > can guide you to a specific point (provided there's an internet > connection) but in order to really follow a "route," you'd have to set > up and organize hundreds of favorites, which isn't really what it was > intended to do. Commercial apps like Tom Tom and Navigon offer turn by > turn directions in urban areas, but that wouldn't work for me in > either of the areas in which I frequently travel since parts of them > are not urban, and even the parts which are urban are not > straightforward enough where turn by turn street directions are > sufficient. Of course, to switch between several GPS apps on the > iPhone you have to stop walking frequently and fumble around with the > phone, which is a bit distracting and not totally what I want. You can > go to a specific favorite or you can have turn by turn directions; > that seems to be just about it. I don't know, it just doesn't seem to > quite "do it" for me after using the Sendero demo. > > Don't get me wrong, this isn't a rant, far from it; I love my iPhone > and all the wonderful things it can do. It'll be interesting to see > what Sendero's app is capable of doing when it's released. But for > now, plunking down some serious cash (if possible, of course) seems to > me to be the best thing to do, for Sendero if you have a BrailleNote, > or as the next-best option, the Breeze. > > Grant > > On 5/9/12, Raul A. Gallegos <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hello Krister. I'm with you in that I would rather go for an >> off-the-shelf, or mainstream product which can address my GPS needs. At >> least, as long as the program can be used by me. Right now, the >> combination is Navigon and Ariadne. Some will argue that using two apps >> to accomplish one thing is not acceptable, but I would disagree. After >> all, many of those same people already use two or more apps to do other >> same things. For example, Dropbox and Droptext. Read to Go and in daisy. >> Digit-Eyes and Red Laser. Prismo and Text Grabber. How many of us out >> there already use two or more apps to do the same thing? Why does the >> app store have so many apps which do the same thing or similar same >> things? This is what using a device like the iPhone is all about. Some >> apps might have enough features that another one isn't necessary. For >> example, I personally don't care to have the next street announced as I >> get there. Yet I see this as a frequent request and need when people >> want GPS programs on the iPhone. When I worked for GW Micro and helped >> to develop the SenseNav software which is the SEndero offering on the >> Voice Sense and Braille Sense, I too was asked by users to make sure the >> up-coming street feature worked well. I used to personally turn it off >> when using it on my own. As for developing a blind-only app, let me >> remind everyone that when SEndero came out with their Lookaround app, >> many people got it because it came from a Blindness software company and >> didn't care that they paid $5 for it, yet many people complained at the >> level of what they got for their $5 because they felt they could get the >> same, or more from other apps which cost less, or which are free. >> Because we are a very small market, an app which can only be used by the >> blind, or which mainly the blind will purchase, will be more expensive. >> This is why program updates have cost Sendero GPS users around $150 per >> year. The cost goes into development and for map licensing. I believe >> that one of the reasons Navigon costs the way it does is because of the >> maps that you are able to download. Yet if you look at apps which use >> map data in the cloud, such as Mapquest or the default Maps app, they >> don't cost anything. So my guess is that if you are able to store maps >> off line, the cost will be more because of the licensing. Regarding the >> $49 price tag for Navigon, just imagine how much more it would be if >> only blind people purchased it? The reason it's as low as it is has to >> do with the many hundreds of purchases. I'll be curious and excited to >> see what Sendero has to offer when they come out with their iOS solution >> which is supposed to meet all of the mostly requested needs. However I >> wouldn't be surprised if it costs more than $50. If I am wrong, then >> I'll give myself an "I told you so" lecture. >> >> I hope this makes some sense. I'm not trying to say blind-only apps are >> bad, and I'm not trying to say that companies like Sendero can't make a >> better product. I'm just saying that what's out there now, isn't bad. >> Also, as has been pointed out, map sources are very few and so the map >> quality you get from different programs won't be that much different. >> Usually what people like, dislike, pay for, or get free, is the user >> interface and the features which can be had from that interface. >> >> Cheers! >> >> -- >> Raul A. Gallegos >> My body isn't a temple, it's a maximum security prison for fat. >> Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com >> Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 >> Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 >> >> On 5/9/2012 5:39 AM, Krister Ekstrom wrote: >>> Hi, >>> I stand corrected regarding the map updates, but i heard that a while >>> back you actually had to pay a huge amount for an update with new maps >>> etc, can be wrong though. I think though that the only solution available >>> here in Sweden is Trekker Breeze and how that is regarding updates, and if >>> they occur regularly and worldwide i don't know. However, i hold to the >>> view that i much rather prefer an off-the-shelf solution than having to >>> fork out loads of money on reinventing the wheel, but that's stupid me. >>> /Krister >>> >>> 9 maj 2012 kl. 01:37 skrev Raul A. Gallegos: >>> >>>> Hi, Sendero GPS uses Tele Atlas maps which btw, are the same as what >>>> Google Maps use. So updates happen when they are available. Maybe you are >>>> thinking of program updates, which are slightly differently. FRom what I >>>> know, Sendero has come out with an update at least once per year, >>>> sometimes even more. >>>> >>>> Thanks. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Raul A. Gallegos >>>> Never have more children than you have car windows. - Erma Bombeck >>>> Home Page: http://raulgallegos.com >>>> Twitter: https://twitter.com/rau47 >>>> Facebook: http://facebook.com/rgallegos74 >>>> >>>> On 5/8/2012 7:25 AM, Krister Ekstrom wrote: >>>>> Hi Mark and others. >>>>> I really don't understand one thing in this whole discussion of what gps >>>>> system to use. I don't like the blind specific solutions from Sendero >>>>> and others. From what i have heard, the maps very seldom if ever get >>>>> updated, which means that how ever good the gps is at various >>>>> anouncements, the maps we follow will be obsolete, so the pois wi want >>>>> simply won't be there. >>>>> Another thing is that a mainstream off-the-shelf gps app could easily be >>>>> modified so that it speaks whatever you desire it to speak. I say >>>>> easily, thereby taking a risk since i don't know anything about >>>>> programming, but remember that the blind specific gps-es sends their >>>>> info to the speech synth/screen reader rather than talks via a recorded >>>>> voice, am i right? If so there are means for an app such as Navigon to >>>>> send the things we want it to send, such as street names and such to the >>>>> screen reader, in this case VoiceOver. We have seen this done before, in >>>>> games like Kings corner, chat apps like IM plus and gps apps like >>>>> Ariadne, so Navigon, Tomtom and others should be able to do this, if >>>>> someone with much, much better programming knowledge than me could >>>>> describe the solution to the developers of said apps. If they then will >>>>> listen, that's a totally different story but it could be done. Am i >>>>> totally wrong in this? >>>>> /Krister >>>>> >>>>> 8 maj 2012 kl. 12:40 skrev Les Kriegler: >>>>> >>>>>> Hi Mark, >>>>>> >>>>>> I really enjoyed reading your most informative post. I also purchased >>>>>> the Trekker Breeze at the end of last year. I did so because I wanted >>>>>> an more comprehensive way of accessing walking routes. I do like >>>>>> street names announced, and I have not been able to get that reliably >>>>>> from the commercially >>>>>> available apps. If a company like Sendero comes out with an app >>>>>> comparable to Mobile Geo, I'll probably obtain it, but for now, the >>>>>> Breeze is a really good option and I've made good use of it. Also, >>>>>> even though we have GPS in our vehicle, my wife actually prefers all of >>>>>> the information the Breeze provides when we are on route. >>>>>> >>>>>> Les >>>>>> On May 7, 2012, at 7:30 PM, M. Taylor wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello Everyone, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In 2005 I purchased my first GPS solution; it was the Trekker/Maestro >>>>>>> Del 51 >>>>>>> PDA from HumanWare. If memory serves, among other difficulties, the >>>>>>> PDA did >>>>>>> not have an Off button. When not in use, it had to be plugged into a >>>>>>> charger to prevent power loss. Be that as it may, it was the most >>>>>>> amazing >>>>>>> piece of technology I had experienced. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Back in those days, I was using a Motorola TimePort which was an >>>>>>> upgrade to >>>>>>> the Star Trek Motorola phone. Of course, these phones had virtually >>>>>>> no >>>>>>> accessibility but, still they were usable. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sometime in 2007/2008 I switched to my first Windows Mobile phone. >>>>>>> That was >>>>>>> to be the beginning of a lot of changes in my life not the least of >>>>>>> which >>>>>>> was my subsequent association with Code Factory. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Enter Mobile Geo; this onboard GPS software solution put the power of >>>>>>> true >>>>>>> independent GPS navigation for the blind and low vision on a cell >>>>>>> phone. >>>>>>> So, I put away my then outdated Trekker/Maestro PDA. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Then, of course, came yet another game changer; the iPhone. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> For whatever reason I thought that either Code Factory's Mobile Geo or >>>>>>> Humanware's Trekker would find its way to iOS. This, obviously, did >>>>>>> not >>>>>>> happen. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As a result, since iPhone 3GS, I have purchased virtually every iOS >>>>>>> GPS >>>>>>> navigation software app in hopes of bringing the power of Geo or >>>>>>> Trekker to >>>>>>> a single mobile device. I shutter to think of all the money I have >>>>>>> spent on >>>>>>> this endeavor (smile). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As far as off-the-shelf iOS GPS navigation solutions are concerned, I >>>>>>> hold >>>>>>> that A T& T Wireless Navigator is the most accurate and easy-to-use >>>>>>> app on >>>>>>> the market. Recently, they added the ability to download the maps to >>>>>>> your >>>>>>> phone so you can now travel without benefit of a active satellite >>>>>>> connection. I believe that the monthly cost for Navigator is $9.95. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As wonderful as Navigator is, it falls short of meeting the one >>>>>>> criteria I >>>>>>> demand in order to recommend it, or any GPS app for that matter, as a >>>>>>> solution for true independent navigation by the blind and low vision; >>>>>>> said >>>>>>> criteria being the ability to have streets, cross-streets, etc >>>>>>> automatically >>>>>>> announced without engaging any kind of route function or without >>>>>>> having to >>>>>>> touch, shake, or otherwise interact with the hardware device, itself. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Until this past Thursday, my solution, when traveling independently, >>>>>>> was to >>>>>>> fire up my old beloved Samsung Epix, running Windows 6.1, and >>>>>>> launching Geo. >>>>>>> I could go on and on about how much of a pain this was given that I >>>>>>> can >>>>>>> hardly remember any of the Mobile Speak commands as I just don't use >>>>>>> my >>>>>>> beloved Samsung Epix anymore but I will spare you the gory details. >>>>>>> Add to >>>>>>> this the fact that I also had to fire up my GPS receiver and connect a >>>>>>> special headset adaptor as the Epix does not have a standard headset >>>>>>> jack, >>>>>>> as many of the models in that era did not. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ON Friday, I received my new Trekker Breeze from Humanware; thus, I >>>>>>> have >>>>>>> come full-circle, as the saying goes. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Suffice me to say that the Breeze is every bit as marvelous as the >>>>>>> original >>>>>>> Trekker and Geo were with the advantage that one does not have to >>>>>>> become a >>>>>>> software geek in order to be up and running in a matter of minute. It >>>>>>> works >>>>>>> right out of the box. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The Breeze is roughly the same size as the iPhone 4 S but just a >>>>>>> little >>>>>>> thicker. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> What an iOS world we live in; even before I powered on my Breeze for >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> first time, I turned the audio CD files that are included in the >>>>>>> package >>>>>>> into an audio book complete with cover art and placed it on both my 4 >>>>>>> S and >>>>>>> Nanno. Then, I converted the user guide and quick start guide into >>>>>>> iBooks >>>>>>> and placed them on my 4 S. This took only a few minutes. Only after >>>>>>> performing these iOS-centric tasks did I power on the Breeze and begin >>>>>>> yet >>>>>>> another chapter in my GPS navigation life. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Mark >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" >>>>>>> Google Group. >>>>>>> To search the VIPhone public archive, visit >>>>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. >>>>>>> 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/viphone?hl=en. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" >>>>>> Google Group. >>>>>> To search the VIPhone public archive, visit >>>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. >>>>>> 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/viphone?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" >>>> Google Group. >>>> To search the VIPhone public archive, visit >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. >>>> 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/viphone?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google >> Group. >> To search the VIPhone public archive, visit >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. >> 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/viphone?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google > Group. > To search the VIPhone public archive, visit > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. > 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/viphone?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. 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