[Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics UpFor Now

Tue Jun 5 12:07:45 UTC 2012

What does this have to do with electronics talk?

-----Original Message----- 
From: Gabe Vega
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 6:45 AM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics 
UpFor Now

all I want to know is, why can't blind people spell? and you wonder why the 
unemployment rate is 70% I wouldn't hire anyone that couldn't spell.
Gabe Vega - Sent from my Macbook Air
Phone Voice/Text: (623) 565-9357
Email: theblindtech at gmail.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/blindtech
FaceBook: http://facebook.com/blindtech
Website: http://thebt.net

On Jun 5, 2012, at 4:30 AM, Ray Foret Jr wrote:

> Okay.  You want to throw down the gontlet like that do you mister 
> nagativity?  Fine!  I accept your chalendge.  When the radio comes, I will 
> do a recording on exactly what happens with the out of the box experience 
> as a blind person.  I will also go in to a detailed description of how the 
> unit works.  Who knows, I might even rub it in your nose a little.  You 
> think you can do better?  Why don't you then?  Look, I'm not flaming here; 
> at least, I sure don't mean it that way; but, the plain fact is this.  YOu 
> never have anything good to say about anyone or anything.  YOu want 
> completely accessible everything yesterday and threten to sue if you don't 
> get it; and then, when somebody does come along and give it a try, you put 
> it down.  I was planning a recording on the subject of the radio even 
> before your chalendge to do one.
>
> Sorry Dave; but, frankly, I've just about had it.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>
> Skype name:
> barefootedray
>
> On Jun 5, 2012, at 6:18 AM, Gerald Levy wrote:
>
>>
>> I just visited the product support page for the Narrator "talking" HD 
>> clock radio and perused both the User Manual and standard Quick Start 
>> Guide.  To my great dismay, there is no mention of the speech function or 
>> any other special accessibility features in either document.  There is 
>> supposed to be a special quick start guide for visually impaired 
>> consumers, but it is not listed on the product support page.  In fact, 
>> reading both documents was enough to turn me off to this radio, because 
>> without any explanation of the blind-friendly accessibility features, 
>> this radio, which is menu driven, sounds like it would be difficult for a 
>> blind user to master.  But this is not at all surprising, given that 
>> Insignia has a reputation for designing schlocky products.  Remember the 
>> voice-command talking clock radio it sold a few years ago?  It was 
>> plagued by so many technical glitches that it was quickly discontinued 
>> and wound up being sold on Cowboom for only $8.  I got stuck with one of 
>> these lemons , which now serves as a paperweight.  So until someone does 
>> a comprehensive podcast that explains how to set up and use the Narrator 
>> radio, I will remain skeptical  and hold off on ordering one, and advise 
>> others to do  likewise.
>>
>> Gerald
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "cheez" <cheez at cox.net>
>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 1:22 AM
>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics Up 
>> For Now
>>
>>
>>> Best Buy is going to be selling a new HD Radio--called the 
>>> Narrator--starting in July. The radio, which was manufactured with the 
>>> blind in mind, will be selling for $99. If you want the added two year 
>>> protection plan, you will need to pay an extra $14.99.
>>>
>>> "With The Narrator coming to market, people with visual disabilities 
>>> will have a radio that they can program and tune themselves," said Dave 
>>> Noble, chairman of government relations for IAAIS.
>>>
>>> For years, blind people have had to pay a lot of money for radios with 
>>> single purpose receivers that provided low audio quality.  Now, the 
>>> Narrator, a table top receiver, speaks commands as soon as a blind or 
>>> visually impaired person turns it on. However, this feature can be 
>>> turned off so that a sighted person can use the radio silently as well. 
>>> This makes the radio have universal appeal for everyone and will also 
>>> help to keep the price lower.  With speech turned on, the radio will 
>>> announce the artist and song, and will show and announce visual images 
>>> as well. The radio is also equipped with large buttons with raised 
>>> lettering.
>>>
>>> Another great feature is that the radio comes with a PDF Quick Start 
>>> Guide, along with a user manual. In addition, you can get the warranty 
>>> information as a PDF document as well. All of these documents can be 
>>> downloaded from the Best Buy website and have been verified to be 
>>> accessible with screen readers.
>>>
>>> The radio was created with input from the International Association of 
>>> Audio Information Services, the group that represents Radio Reading 
>>> Services.  The radio manufacturer chose to partner with the IAAIS to 
>>> help identify and solve issues for the everyday technology needs of 
>>> people with visual disabilities.
>>>
>>> The Narrator will be promoted on air by iBiquity and its alliance member 
>>> stations. It will be marketed under the Best Buy Insignia brand.
>>>
>>> While the visually impaired community has had other radio companies 
>>> create accessible products (C. Crane comes to mind), it's fantastic to 
>>> see that a very large electronics company like Best Buy is taking an 
>>> interest in accessible products and teaming up with organizations who 
>>> can help them design the radio from the ground up.  It's also incredibly 
>>> beneficial that they created a product that is equally usable for both 
>>> the sighted and visually impaired--an important element in keeping the 
>>> cost as low as possible.  Hopefully, others will follow the lead of 
>>> companies like Best Buy and Apple and begin building accessibility into 
>>> their products that can serve everyone equally.
>>>
>>> Sources: 
>>> http://radioworld.com/article/best-buy-takes-pre-orders-for-'the-narrator'-/213556
>>> http://www.dealerscope.com/article/best-buy-debuts-talking-hd-radio/1
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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