[blindkid] iPhone and iPad

[SUSAN POLANSKY]

We were not ready to buy an iPone and data plan so we got Jason the iPod touch, it does need to connect to a wireless network to work. The iPod Touch is basicly the iPhone without the phone. He has apps that tell him the color of his clothes, identifies money, tells him if he has left the lights on, etc. He also has lots of fun apps. He does email and faecbook on it and searches the web. 
Braille Press has a book on apps, this is how he found some of the ones he uses.

Susan T. Polansky
 

________________________________
 From: Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org>
To: "Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org> 
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] iPhone and iPad
  
Cost-wise, you'll have a monthly fee associated with an iPhone unless you pay a really big chunk for one without a contract.

Sounds like the iPad mini is roughly on-par (processing-power-wise) with an iPad 2. Those two also have the exact same resolution in pixels, 1024 x 768, but the mini has the pixels closer together. The 3rd and 4th generation iPads have retina displays the same PHYSICAL size as the iPad and iPad 2, but the retina displays have pixels twice as dense for super crisp images. (Perhaps less helpful for some of our kids.)

IPads can run some apps that phones can't, but usually there are similar iPhone apps. As far as I know, generally the iPhone apps work fine on iPads, but the images are small or must be zoomed and are soft when blown-up.

Perhaps most important, if you want SIRI, you need an iPhone 4s or iPhone 5, a "new iPad" (meaning 3rd generation), 4th generation (the one that just came out) or a mini.

SIRI will not run on an unmodified iPad 2 or earlier, or an iPhone 4 (pre 4s) or 3, etc.

With the iPads, be aware that if you buy WiFi-only models, you can NOT add cell connectivity later, and connectivity cannot be modified, that is to say that Verizon units are Verizon ONLY, same with AT&T and Sprint. You CAN use wifi without paying to utilize the cell service if you get an iPad with cell connectivity, and you can order the cell connection at will, on a month-to-month basis from the start unlike cell service with the iPhone that is typically going to require activation fees plus a 2 year contract with substantial exit feeds if you stop the contract early.

In case you are not yet sufficiently confused, don't forget the iPod TOUCH, as apparently the new model also offers SIRI. Many iPhone apps will work on them as well. I do not know the limitations, but we have an old iPod touch that seemed to run a lot of apps nicely. They are sort of like iPhones without the phone. Could be a good fit-- small form factor and all, but I cannot say if there are app limitations based on your particular needs...

I think all the above are great products. I will be buying several of each... just as soon as I win the big lottery! For now my iPad 2 and ancient MacBook Pro are my primary pieces of apple technology. I use both daily and highly recommend them.

I need to explore more of the iPad's use for Kendra, as she remains very BrailleNote focused, but for now most of what I can offer you is general info.

Your mileage may vary.

Good luck!



Sent from my iPad

On Oct 25, 2012, at 7:10 PM, Joy Orton <ortonsmom at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear friends,
> 
> We are looking into purchasing an iPhone, iPad, or mini iPad tablet for our
> daughter who is twelve. I would like your feedback on the differences among
> these options for schoolwork as well as for general use. We have looked at
> some of the available applications, and wow!
> 
> It seems to me that the devices have mostly the same functions. I use an
> iPad, and I like the screen size for reading. For a blind user, what is the
> advantage of an iPad, if any? I would think the smaller size of the iPhone
> would be a big advantage for portability.
> 
> Please respond about your own experiences.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Joy Orton
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