[stylist] New Victor Stream

Sun Jun 30 09:10:48 UTC 2013

I meant that the ipad screen may be more difficult with touch pad than eye
phone because the eye phone is smaller.  Mostly with finding icons.  I don't
know, I'm just curious. 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2013 5:09 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

I'm not sure I understand the question. I don't think the size has much to
do with it. If I need to write large amounts of text such as in a more
extensive email or even longer text, I prefer to use the dictate feature,
which I have found to work very well. However, if working on my writing or
editing, if I had a tablet of some kind, I find a traditional keyboard much
more efficient than a touch screen.

In terms of what a phone function is, even with a smart phone, I have found
IPhones to be efficient once I adjust to the technology.
Personally though, for any work involving lots of writing, I know few people
who don't still use a traditional keyboard including myself, which is why I
still use a laptop and not a tablet, though a keyboard can be hooked up to
tablets.

My point in the previous post was that touch screens can be manipulated with
efficiency by many, and until you actually use a product regularly, you
can't say with certainty you can't do it. A philosophy I tend to translate
into pretty much every aspect of my life, grin.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of justin
williams
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2013 3:44 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

On an eye phone, it is probably easier to uwe touch than an ipad due to
size; you think that somewhat right? 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2013 12:43 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Ashley,

Blind or sighted, some find certain products better while others do not
prefer them. Some will pick up things faster while others may struggle more.

I don't think touch-screen technology is more difficult because of the
double tap itself or the general lay-out. I know many sighted people, young
and old, who can't stand touch-screen devices and are slower when using
them. Then I know several blind people who love their touch screen devices
and are very quick when navigating. So I think it all depends on the person.

I'm totally blind, and I don't have much trouble with tapping the wrong icon
on my IPhone, but my mom, who is sighted constantly, has trouble with the
touch-screen.

>From your posts, I assume you do not use an IPhone, which is a huge
difference. Like any tool, when used on a regular basis, you grow familiar
and confident with it. Before I had my phone, I didn't think the touch
screen would be very efficient, but now that I use it daily, I'm pretty
capable with it. You learn where certain icons and functions are so finding
them is quicker. You can move icons around so you know where they are;
similar to a computer. And there are navigation tips, like with JAWS, that
make finding items with the voice-over much easier.
For instance, on most pages, quickly swiping a finger continuously to the
left will state what is down and to the left of the page while swiping it to
the right states what is up and to the right of the page.
You can do this until you find what you're looking for. There are a lot of
these short-cut tips to help with the voice-over menu. It's like JAWS. So
many people, including blind people, doubt the efficiency of the product
because you're doing it audibly, using hot keys to manipulate the computer.
Many short-cuts exist allowing for quicker navigation. Touch screen devices
are similar. Until you use it and familiarize yourself with the product on a
regular basis, you don't know how efficient it will be for you and what is
capable with the device.

I'm not suggesting you switch products or one tool is better than another;
I'm simply argueing that no one knows what is possible and efficient until
they attempt something.

And I actually prefer my Victor to read books on. I just don't understand
why I can't find a Victor for a similar price I purchased my phone for. The
financial aspect isn't as great for some for me, but I budget and save money
where I can. And if I can find an accessible product for a better price, who
wouldn't go for that option? And I will also argue that if you really want
something, you can save for it. It may take a few months or a couple of
years, but it is possible. And before I get hate mail about this statement
(grin) let me state that I've experienced living with rather inflated
incomes as well as wondering where dinner would come from on any given
night. So I'm not a stranger to this issue.

Ultimately, I do believe tactile products are the most efficient, but once
you familiarize yourself with a product, it usually grow more efficient. And
I know both sighted and blind people who use touch screen devices as quick
or quicker than people using tactile devices. So again, it really depends on
the individual.

And as to the quality of the voice... I've not heard the recent versions of
the Victor voices, but my current Victor has a clear voice, though the few
times I've had to read in the text file menu, the voice isn't always great,
but the general Victor voice has a good voice-over sound.
But I think the Apple voice-overs are much better than JAWS or note-taking
devices I've played with. Though my IPod  NANO voice isn't as great, I will
give you. But the IPod touch has a better quality voice. And the IPad and
Apple Macs have better, clearer voices, in my opinion. Earlier Apple devices
may not have as good text-to-speech voices, but the current products I've
played with, have a better quality that's not as electronic sounding as
JAWS.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley
Bramlett
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2013 9:21 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Bridgit,
I understand your point that apple products have text to speech and are
cheaper. That money factor is a huge factor unless you have family support
like I do or you have a state agency purchasing blindness products. Some
people need a consistent layout to use a product and can actually press a
button best when they actually can feel it. I have to beg to differ on the
speech. I've heard voice over on my ipod, the mp3 player, andon iphones from
other people. What is tricky is you have to position your fingers just right
on the screen otherwise nothing happens. 
That screen is so sensative.
I would argue that having heard the new speech on the victor products, it's
a heck of a lot clearer. There are two, a lady named heather I think, and a
male named ryan. I can understand ryan better. I do not have a new victor
stream but do have a victor stratus which I chose to play daisy cds. Victor
voices are more clear than voiceover! The victor voices are more
understandable than voice over; she sounds so so mechanical and words run
together.

Nls will someday have an ap yes. But for now I think a blindness product

whether it be a victor reader or a braille notetaker is the best option for
portable reading of nls books. But for those loving their touch screens and
double tapping everything, that is fine. We all have different preferences.
For me I wanted a mp3 player and had no choice but the apple ipod. But, I
cannot tell ya how many many times I've lifted my finger and tapped the
wrong item since things are so dang

close together.

That said, I've thought of someday trying an iphone and maybe using the
magnification instead of voice or a combo of the two. I know they do perform
many tasks and so many people have them and if I hate it I can probably
trade the phone in for something else.

Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2013 6:16 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

But Apple products have the built-in text to speech feature too, and they
are usually cheaper than a Victor.

I was skeptical of using a device with a touch screen too. I was given an
IPhone for my birthday last year, and it took me a couple of weeks to get
use to it. Now I can use it pretty much as quickly as I did with tactile
phones. I do not use Syrie because it' unreliable and not that helpful. The
voice-over is also clearer than JAWS. There is a dictate feature that works
pretty well for texts or emailing if sending larger amounts of text. I've
found this feature to work rather well. Now I don't like touch screens on
computers like IPads, but on a phone, once you acclimate, it's not that bad.
Like anything, you just have to adjust and use it.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley
Bramlett
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 11:13 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Bridgit,
I heard the new one is slimmer and lighter. but haven't seen it yet to know.
I have the old model which I'm happy with except for the volume.
You got to be near it to hear it well unless you use external speakers.

Why prices are not lower as the technology improves, I don't know. Most
technology comes down in price as  it gets further in development, but not
this one. My guess is that perhaps the text to speech software may be more
expensive to put in it causing the price to be raised in order to make
profits. Not even sure how much the new one is. At least now they do not
charge you for extra features in the soft pack! You get support for .docx
files and

itunes when you buy the victor at no additional cost. if I wanted this, I'd
have to purchase the soft pack.

But when NLS has the ap that I heard is coming, people will probably not buy
these expensive products if they can use a smart phone. Me, I am too
frustrated with touch screens and don't have a smart phone. I am much better
off with buttons. I have an ipod and hate the synthetic voice of voice over
and cannot understand some of what it says; it is quite unclear when it says
artists names; further, I find having to listen and then double tap
everything kind of inconvenient; I easily tap the wrong buttons as they are
so dang close together! So, all that said, I'd rather have a vr stream with
real buttons. But for those on a budget, and who love their iphone or ipad
or I touch, I can see them using the nls on their ios device.

It probably will be out this summer.

Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 8:49 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Ashley,

Thank you. I'm aware that the lay-out of the new Victor's are the same,
though newest version is suppose to be slimmer. I'm just curious about the
new features such as the WiFi. And I'm more interested in knowin why
Victor's have never come down in price to compete with products like IPods
and IPads that can be purchased for much less, or the same price but a
larger GB.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley
Bramlett
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 4:18 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Hi,
although I don't have one, I heard humanware rep describe it on a podcast.
Yes, it works like the old one. In fact the keypad style buttons are the
same shape and distance apart still. It has a different text to speech
synthesizer and another big difference is that you can charge it with other
chargers other than its own and I think it charges while hooked to the pc.
If you are at convention, you can see one hands on. Ashley

-----Original Message-----
From: justin williams
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 12:35 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

How much does it cost, does it work mostly like the old one?  It has wi fi;
how does that work?

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Leslie
Newman
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 12:28 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Bridgit

I have one. Yes, pricey compared to what is coming for us with the IDevices.
I can show you at the next chapter meeting (hope you come).
(Better sound, more volume, Wi-Fi, gives the time and date, smaller in size.
A good unit.

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit
Pollpeter
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 11:55 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] New Victor Stream

Wondering if anyone has the newer model of the Victor. And if so, how do you
like it?

I've been curious for so long as to why the Victor's never come down in
price, but Apple products and other devices are either cheaper or the same
price but have bigger GB's or whichever one it is. I can't read BARD books
on my IPhone and IPod, though NLS is working on an app, so hopefully soon we
can, but I can read anything else along withdoing other things like
recording and Y-FY, and my phone was $100 and my Ipod was $100. My Victor,
which was bought 6 years ago, was $350, and I've yet to see a Victor go
below this price. Anyone know why?

Bridgit

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/newmanrl%40cox
.net

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/justin.william
s2%4
0gmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40
earthlink.net

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40
earthlink.net

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40
earthlink.net 

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/justin.william
s2%4
0gmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40h
otmail.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://www.writers-division.net/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/justin.williams2%4
0gmail.com