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

Tue Jun 5 12:12:23 UTC 2012

Nothing, that is his whole existence 

Stephen Guerra
Assistive Technology and Technical Operations Specialist
Independent living aids, LLC 
200 Robbins Lane
Jericho, New York 11753-2341
Phone: 800.537.2118
Direct: 516.450.3817
Fax: 516.450.3842
E-mail: stephen at independentliving.com
Web sites: www.independentliving.com
www.soundbytes.com

-----Original Message-----
From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of from tim aune
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 7:08 AM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics
UpFor Now

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-nar
>>> rator'-/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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