[Electronics-talk] Looking for an accessible android phone

Fri Aug 17 15:36:27 UTC 2012

I understand that only 2% of available Android phones currently run
Jellybean.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim Barbour
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 8:14 AM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Looking for an accessible android phone

So, we've moved far away from the original question which was
recomendations for an android phone.

I said some of this earlier, but I'll repeat it and add more here.

First, I highly recommend trying to make the iPhone work for you.  I
believe it really is the best option out there.

Next, if you really want to try out an android phone, look for one
that hsi running Jelly Bean.  The Jelly Bean version of talkBack now
has the "explore by touch" technology built into the phone, which
makes for a much nicer user experience for blind users.

As to which phone to get, I can recommend the "droid 4" phone, which
runs on Verizon.  For other carriers, you'll need to ask around.  Some
things you'll care about are...

  * Does the phone have a physical keyboard, D-pad, joystick etc?  How
    do they feel in your hand?
    NOTE: you don't have to have these controls to use an android
    phone running Jelly Bean, but it really will help.
  * Does the phone run Jelly Bean?
  * How is the phone's battery life?

Hope this helps,

Jim

On Fri, Aug 17, 2012 at 11:03:37AM -0400, Julie Phillipson wrote:
> hay you can get ear buds that have different size covers for small,
medium
> and large and they block out noise around you.  I get them for 10
bucks at
> drug store.com.  They are like the old style ear bud that goes into
the ear
> not just sit at the opening of the ear.  Those other kind of buds hurt
my
> ears too.
> 
> Julie Phillipson
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny Keller"
<jlperdue3 at gmail.com>
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2012 12:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Looking for an accessible android
phone
> 
> 
> >I have very small ear connals, and very small ears that make it hard
to
> >find a bluetooth headset that fits properly that doesn't cost a
fortune.
> >
> >I have one that sort of works, but it causes pain after wearing it
for any
> >long periods of time.
> >
> >Also, our bus terminal is in a fowl neighborhood and some of the
people
> >who ride the bus are not the kind of people you'd want to let know
that
> >you have an iPhone 4S.
> >
> >Love the joke though.
> >
> >Jenny
> >On Aug 15, 2012, at 2:14 PM, Baracco, Andrew W wrote:
> >
> >>How can something on your head cause a pain in your behind? LOL!
> >>Andy
> >>
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> >>[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jenny
Keller
> >>Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 7:09 PM
> >>To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
> >>Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Looking for an accessible android
phone
> >>
> >>There are bugs on the iPhone 4S such as SIRI deciding to stop
working
> >>and having to reset the phone at least twice a day.
> >>
> >>there is also the bug that voiceover gets drowned out when you have
to
> >>push a number for the menus on phone things like press one for etc.
You
> >>can use a bluetooth or headset for that, but I don't like to have
> >>anything on my head, so it's a pain in the behind.
> >>
> >>Sometimes, when just using the touch screen itself, if you are on
the
> >>contacts screen and you press contacts, it will flip to a blank
screen.
> >>
> >>
> >>things like that irritate me, and if I wanted a phone that didn't
have
> >>the capacity for SIRI working correctly, I would've just gotten the
> >>iPhone 4 and not have had to spend the extra money, especially with
the
> >>bug in voiceover that gets drowned out by the speaker phone.
> >>
> >>I called Apple Accessibility about both issues and they said they
were
> >>bugs and that they couldn't do anything about it.
> >>
> >>therefore, I have an upgrade available, and am seriously considering
an
> >>android phone.  Though the Galaxy S3 turned out to be way ore
> >>complicated than it was worth.
> >>
> >>Jenny
> >>On Aug 13, 2012, at 5:28 PM, Jim Barbour wrote:
> >>
> >>>Hey Jenny,
> >>>
> >>>I'm writing you back as I think my comments will be useful to
others.
> >>>
> >>>I've been playing with various Android phones recently, and they
are
> >>>slowly catching up with the iPhone, in terms of blindness
usability.
> >>>
> >>>There are a few good reasons to go with an android phone, but you
> >>>should be aware of wha you're getting.
> >>>
> >>>If you could tell us more about what you find frustrating about the
> >>>iPhone, we can help you figure out if Android will be a better
> >>>solution.
> >>>
> >>>Take Care,
> >>>
> >>>Jim
> >>>
> >>>On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 05:12:39PM -0500, Jenny Keller wrote:
> >>>>Hi all,
> >>>>
> >>>>I am getting very frustrated with my iPhone 4S and looked at the
> >>Galaxy 3s last week.
> >>>>
> >>>>I found it to be more of a pain than it was worth.
> >>>>
> >>>>I want an android that is at least Ice Cream Sandwich.  Any
> >>suggestions, and I would appreciate it if you would give me reasons
and
> >>good points and even bad about the phone you suggest.
> >>>>
> >>>>Please write me off list as to keep traffic down.
> >>>>
> >>>>Thanks in advance.
> >>>>
> >>>>Jenny
> >>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/electronics-talk_nfbnet.org/jbar%4
0
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> >>>>
> >>>
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> >>
> >>
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