[blparent] another off topic question about smart phones

[Veronica Smith]

Steve, do you happen to know any of those happy android users so I can
inquire about the use of the phone as a blind person.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve
Jacobson
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 9:03 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] another off topic question about smart phones

Varonica,

There isn't a simple answer to your question, I'm afraid.  I think it is
fair to say that VoiceOver on the iPhone provides more stable and complete
accessibility than do the alternatives on Android, but that isn't the
complete answer.  Code Factory has a suite of programs that runs under
Android that provides the ability to do many functions pretty well, but as I
understand it, their approach uses some of their software to accomplish that
which has it own pros and cons.  The accessibility that one can get free of
chargbe on the Android is less complete than the CodeFactory suite but it
does allow one to use the phone for basic functions.  I don't know how well
it handles web browsing and email, but that will likely continue to evolve.
On the other hand, one can find Android phones cheaper and some still have
keyboards, and some find keyboards to still be easier to use than the touch
screens.  If one gets an iPhone plus some sort of keyboard, one is starting
to talk about a good deal of money.  Also, as one who bought an iPhone two
months ago, I can say that there is a definite learning curve, but that my
iPhone is more stable than my old Windows Mobile 6 smartphone ever was, but
I cannot say how stable Android phones are.  I believe it is fair to say
that because of how Android is developing that it will likely continue to
get better.

The bottom line is that if you can get an Android phone at a price you can
afford, you should be able to do the basics and some of the apps developed
for blind persons are available both on the iPhone and on Android.  You
would want a phone that runs the latest version of Android, though.  If you
can afford it and you want to play it safe and you are willing to spend some
time learning about the touch screen, then the iPhone is probably your best
bet.  There are happy Android users, though.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Sun, 1 Sep 2013 14:08:56 -0600, Veronica Smith wrote:

>I recently had the opportunity to access an android phone.  My husband 
>found in the menu the accessibility option and I got to play around 
>with it.  Now I want to know if the android is as good as the Iphone 
>for a totally blind individual.
>Just curious!
>Sorry for the off topic. 
>v th


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