[Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics Up ForNow

Tue Jun 5 12:16:19 UTC 2012

I hope the radio could spell. see its on topic. I mean spell, out the Call letters of the radio I mean. See, on topic again. yay! :-)
Gabe Vega - Sent from my Macbook Air
Phone Voice/Text: (623) 565-9357
Email: theblindtech at gmail.com
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On Jun 5, 2012, at 5:14 AM, Ray Foret Jr wrote:

> In the continuing spirit of that same bluntness, It was stated that the radio talks out of the box and announces stuff as necessary.  I am looking forward to receiving the radio and doing the recording.
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
> 
> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
> 
> Skype name:
> barefootedray
> 
> On Jun 5, 2012, at 7:01 AM, Gerald Levy wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Ray,
>> 
>> I will be looking forward to your podcast demonstration of this radio.  But to be perfectly blunt, Insignia/Best Buy deserves to be taken to task for not making the special quick start guide for visually impaired consumers available on the product support page.  This is simply inexcusable.  It is not clear from the documentation that is available whether the clock has speech output , or whether the speech output is confined to announcing the menu options only.  So if you want to be a guinea pig and shell out $100 for this "talking" radio to discover its accessibility features for yourself, then by all means go for it.  I'll be eagerly awaiting your podcast.
>> 
>> Gerald
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
>> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 7:30 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Best Buy's HD Radio May Shut Us Skeptics Up ForNow
>> 
>> 
>>> 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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