[nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille

Sun Jul 10 03:23:36 UTC 2016

Hi Ashley,

I agree with the others that it is not a good idea to invest in a
Braille Note Apex. Even though it supposedly has email and Internet
connectivity, it is not compatible with most websites and email
servers. I mostly use mine for reading books and writing documents
these days and still really love the unit for these features, but the
newer note-takers being discussed on this thread can do so much more.
I have actually been contemplating getting a Braille Sense U2 for a
while, but now the Touch and the Neobraille have come out I will hold
off on making the switch and see what these options might have to
offer.

Katie

On 7/9/16, Joshua Hendrickson via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I have a braille note apex at the moment, but the only reason I got
> it, was because I want to upgrade to the touch, if I can come up with
> the needed money.  I got a very good deal on it.  I got my apex for
> 1600.  I was able to come up with the money because of some
> tech-support I gave teaching someone the victor stream.  I would most
> go with the touch.  I want one so bad.
>
> On 7/9/16, Cullen via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I just remembered an advantage to the touch. In a firmware update, KNFB
>> reader will be a part of the touch, so if you enjoy that amazing app, it
>> will be included on the touch. Looking forward to testing that out.
>> Cullen
>>> On Jul 9, 2016, at 5:31 PM, Karl Martin Adam via NABS-L
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Ashley,
>>>
>>> As an Apex user, I would definitely suggest getting a newer notetaker
>>> like
>>> the Touch or the Neo or maybe even the Braillesense.  I like my Apex a
>>> lot, but the software is hopelessly out of date because it's running
>>> Windows CE, which has been dead for years.  That means basically every
>>> website I go to tells me that my browser is not supported and that I
>>> need
>>> to upgrade to a modern browser, and a lot of them don't work at all.  It
>>> still works now, but if you're going to buy something, I wouldn't invest
>>> in a notetaker that is at the edge of being obsolete.  There are a few
>>> things the Touch doesn't do that the Apex does.  It no longer reads
>>> keyword files, and it now has a separate word processor that defaults to
>>> using docx and a braille file reading and writing utility instead of one
>>> word processor that can do both.  They've also gotten rid of block
>>> commands and replaced it with highlighing chunks of text, which I
>>> personally find annoying.  And the databases from keybase are no longer
>>> supported, and there isn't a way of transfering the e-mail or address
>>> list
>>> databases, though Mike Tindal told me there's a way of uploading my
>>> addresses to GMail from the Apex so I'll still have them on the Touch.
>>>
>>> HTH,
>>> Karl
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Ashley Bramlett via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Sat, 9 Jul 2016 16:57:10 -0400
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille
>>>
>>> Hi Katie,
>>> I'm also interested in a new notetaker. But I might just purchase the
>>> apex
>>> before they stop making them.
>>> Does the braille note touch have everything the apex does plus more
>>> bells
>>> and whistles?
>>> How much does the braille note touch cost versus the neo braille?
>>>
>>> My understanding is the apex has internet capability through wifi built
>>> into
>>> it. It also has bluetooth connections available to a smart phone or
>>> tablet
>>> such as an ipod touch or ipad.
>>> Also the apex has ability to read NLS books from bard unlike my braille
>>> Note.
>>> So, I think the apex or new Braille touch would meet my needs.
>>> Still interested in the neo braille so I can decide.
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Katie Wang via NABS-L
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 6:15 PM
>>> To: david.thomas at davidthetechguy.com ; National Association of Blind
>>> Students mailing list
>>> Cc: Katie Wang
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille
>>>
>>> Hi Vejas and all,
>>>
>>> I also plan to replace my Braille Note Apex with a new note-taker
>>> within the next year or so, so I'm very interested in this thread. I
>>> have been intrigued by the Braille Note Touch - Do people have
>>> specific opinions/thoughts about its user interface? Is the touch
>>> screen intuitive to use? Could most functions be carried out using the
>>> keyboard cover if one prefers not to use the touch screen? Thanks for
>>> any input!
>>>
>>> Katie
>>>
>>> On 7/7/16, David Thomas via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>> The notetaker missing in this discussion is the El Braille. This
>>> notetaker
>>> is a full Windows 10 Machine with 14 cells of refreshable braille, and a
>>> promising outlook as it will receive updates at the same time that other
>>> Windows 10 devices get updated. Another benefit of this device is the
>>> ability for network administrators to easily integrate it into
>>> pre-existing networks, and for the blind user to be able to use all
>>> business protocols such as exchange, Skype for Business, and other
>>> business collaboration packages on the market today. My worry about the
>>> group of Android notetakers that are being released to the market today
>>> is
>>> the possibility of them not being updated. An example of an Android
>>> notetaker gone wrong is the APH braille Plus that was released in 2011
>>> running 2.3 gingerbread. At that time gingerbread had been out for 1
>>> year,
>>> and Google had already unveiled Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Yes I
>>> understand it is a lot of work to keep a notetaker up-to-date, but it is
>>> really a necessary thing if we are expected to compete on a level
>>> playing
>>> field.
>>> The next question this brings me to is "Do we actually need a
>>> notetaker?"
>>> I personally have come to the conclusion of no, and have implemented a
>>> system using an iPhone, and a braille display for my simple note taker
>>> needs. This solution insures that I am using a mainstream device while
>>> retaining the lovely braille output we have come to love.
>>> Regards
>>> David Thomas
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Karl Martin
>>> Adam via NABS-L
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2016 3:27 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Cc: Karl Martin Adam
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille
>>>
>>> The Neo is an Android notetaker with the ability to download and use all
>>> accessible Android apps from the Google Play Store, just like the Touch.
>>> The BrailleSense doesn't have that capability, and it's an older design,
>>> so you would have it for fewer years before they come out with the next
>>> hardware revision.  I didn't really compare the Neo to the BrailleSense
>>> in
>>> terms of specs because I was mostly looking at the Touch and the Neo.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: justin via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Wed, 6 Jul 2016 14:37:38 -0400
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille
>>>
>>> How does it stack up to the braille sense u2?
>>> Justin
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Karl Martin
>>> Adam via NABS-L
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 1:47 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Karl Martin Adam <kmaent1 at gmail.com
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille
>>>
>>> Yes I did see it.  The guy from Irie didn't know much about how the
>>> software or user interface works (Irie is only the distributor not the
>>> manufacturer), so I don't know how efficient it is to actually use.  It
>>> is
>>> less expensive than the Braillenote Touch though with significantly
>>> better
>>> memory, processor speed, and running a newer version of Android, and
>>> most
>>> importantly for me will have the option of a qwerty smart case, so I am
>>> very excited to learn more once it actually comes on the market at the
>>> end
>>> of the month.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: Vejas Vasiliauskas via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Thu, 07 Jul 2016 10:35:33 -0700
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Did Anyone At Convention See the Neo Braille
>>>
>>> Hi All,
>>> I was wondering if anyone at convention who went to the exhibit hall,
>>> saw
>>> the Neo-Braille, presented by Irie AT.  It is a notetaker that is so new
>>> that many people have not heard of it.
>>> In fact, I never heard it announced anywhere else at convention, so if I
>>> hadn't gone to their table I probably never would have heard about it
>>> myself.
>>> If you did see it, I would appreciate it if you could tell me your
>>> opinion
>>> on it and whether you feel it would make a good notetaker.  I currently
>>> have a Braille note and am looking within the next year of either
>>> getting
>>> the one I just described, or a Braille sense U 2.
>>> Thanks.
>>> Vejas
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kmaent1%40gma
>>> il.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/justin.willia
>>> ms2%40gmail
>>> .com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kmaent1%40gma
>>> il.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/david.thomas%
>>> 40davidth
>>> etechguy.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bunnykatie6%4
>>> 0gmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%4
>>> 0earthlink.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kmaent1%40gma
>>> il.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> NABS-L mailing list
>>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> NABS-L:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gallagher123123%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> NABS-L mailing list
>> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> NABS-L:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/louvins%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NABS-L mailing list
> NABS-L at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> NABS-L:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bunnykatie6%40gmail.com
>