Recent Comments:
Intel Reader reads books to the lazy and infirm (video) {Engadget}
Nov 10th 2009 9:19PM It's unfortunate that there's apparently not more financial support for people with visual impairments to get access to this sort of device. It seems like a device that gives people access to written documents as they exist for sighted people should get some kind of priority, side by side with the provision of braille documents. Of course, it would also be nice of our paper currency were of different sizes, like in Europe, so that they could be easily distinguished by touch.
I definitely agree that this product is expensive; just not that it is outrageously priced for what it seems to achieve, which is something durable with a wide range of usage scenarios. You could take it into a library with headphones, a business meeting to read documents, a restaurant to read the menu, etc. It's possible that these things will show up in libraries to increase access to their collection, and thus be paid for by institutions instead of individuals to some degree.
Maybe an add-on module for commercially available digital cameras would be a better target as far as cost goes.
Intel Reader reads books to the lazy and infirm (video) {Engadget}
Nov 10th 2009 10:33AM People with visual impairments have regular-old hands and fingers, you know. They wouldn't be relying on the pictographic symbol on the button so much as the understanding of what the buttons do, their placement, and the audio feedback from the device. The icons are probably raised to give some tactile feedback, but even so, it's really not that important.
Here's a link to a video of Stevie Wonder using a multitrack audio recorder placed on top of his keyboard. Click on the picture for the QT video.
http://www.aef.com/industry/industry_leaders/from_the_front_lines/3001
Intel Reader reads books to the lazy and infirm (video) {Engadget}
Nov 10th 2009 10:15AM I would disagree with the author of this post. This device looks quite solid, befitting all-day use by someone who is visually impaired, the strobe flash is presumably pretty bright to get the quality needed for text-to-speech, and the text-to-speech performance can always be upgraded or altered, since it's software.
Sure, you could build something that did something similar for less money, but would you then be able to give it to a nearly blind person to use all day, everyday? Completely implausible for $500.
Besides, the target audience for this device is disabled -- it should be paid for by 3rd parties because it meets the requirements to be classed as an aide for the disabled.
Kindle for PC app out now, Mac version to soon follow {Engadget}
Nov 10th 2009 9:36AM Well, now you can use either a Kindle or a netbook, or both.
I personally haven't felt like e-ink is ready for prime time. Others obviously disagree. But here are the main reasons, which are distinct for e-book readers compared to netbooks.
1) Several days' worth of battery life.
2) 3G e-book store access without subscription fees.
3) Doesn't produce large amounts of heat during operation.
4) Viewable in sunlight.
But the point is that now you don't have to get a Kindle, you can just use a Windows PC. So you should be happy!! Happy!!
Zune HD v4.3 firmware out now: fixes playcount bug, adds lots of great things (video) {Engadget}
Nov 7th 2009 2:48PM There's no way that this is exactly the same as something else that is similar but not the thing itself!
Sony and Atracsys develop 3D interface for ORs, sci-fi franchises (video) {Engadget}
Nov 6th 2009 5:47PM Soon, perhaps we too can become pasty-complexioned, humorless people who sit in darkened, windowless rooms staring down at the table while considering others only insofar as we want to reduce them to a squares containing a small number of pixels.
Ask Engadget: Best wireless touchpad / trackpad? {Engadget}
Nov 6th 2009 1:30AM The Logitech diNovo Mini (the one with the clamshell design) doesn't officially support OSX. However, apparently it will work, although some of the special function buttons won't work (Windows Media Center, IE). Bluetooth. A little pricey, but it's a keyboard and has a small touchpad/directional pad.
product webpage:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848&cl=us,en
use with OSX:
http://macrecon.com/hardware-review-logitech-dinovo-mini/
Cowon iAudio 9 and iAudio E2 media players make the scene stateside {Engadget}
Nov 4th 2009 6:48PM You're right about the noise of the environment playing a significant role in the user experience, but that variable affects all DAPs. Part of the better SQ has to do with the loudness you can achieve with the right headphones, while retaining good balance and without distorting (high SNR, or signal-to-noise ratio). As r12m says, IEMs can block out most noise, to the point where it can be somewhat dangerous to walk around wearing them. I personally own Etymotic ER-4P's, which are great in noisy environments, including on airplanes, trains, etc. IEMs aren't for everyone, but the only alternative would be closed can headphones, which IMO don't sound as natural as IEMs.
I'm no engineer, but I do look at the numbers for headphones and DAPs. Apple *never* reveals technical specifications for audio performance, which IMO makes them little bitches. Instead Apple thinks that the statement, "it can store thousands of songs!" is a technical specification.
Of all Apple's products, the original iPod Shuffle had the best SQ of them all, and it was known to have a different headphone jack than their other products. According to my loose subjective scale, the SQ of the iAudio 5XL was 100x better than that of the iPod 2G, my first DAP. The iPhone 3G is about 10x better than the iPod 2G, which means that the iAudio 5XL, circa 2000, would still be 10x better than the iPhone 3G. The original iPod Shuffle was maybe in the same range as Cowon SQ. I've randomly listened to the last two or three versions of the Nano and some of the Shuffles, using my own pair of headphones, and none of them have come close to Cowon's DAPs for SQ, although they are much improved over the past 10 years.
In short, all DAPs sound better with great headphones. But only some DAPs make good use of great headphones.
Cowon also gives you the choice of drag-and-drop management or synchronization and playlist support. And for those few who insist on lossless, Cowon has the best track record with that as well.
If you want to try out good headphones, look around and see what people are recommending and why. High quality IEMs seem to start at $150 and up, and there seems to be a limited cost-benefit around $300. But if you have a relatively quiet listening environment and don't want to spend that much, Grado S60s are extremely cost effective, and Koss Porta-Pros with the folding design that has the potential to rip out some of your hair, which have been around since the 80s, are an unbelievable bargain. The last two headphones are open, which give the most natural sound but let in outside noise. But in spite of the interference of ambient noise, they'll still sound better.
Microsoft Courier interface explained in more detail {Engadget}
Nov 4th 2009 4:24PM I'm sold on this concept, but I don't see how this can be practically implemented right now. Particularly, I don't know how two screens and a fast GUI running on top of Windows 7 can translate into a two-pound-or-less device with more than 3 hours of battery life. If it ran a stripped down version of Windows 7 (similar to how the iPhone OS is a stripped down version of OSX), optimized for a low-power consumption CPU, I think it would be a good performer. But I have a feeling than an Atom CPU would be too anemic, and a faster CPU would be too expensive and consume too much power, meaning shorter battery life and increased weight.
I would love to be proved wrong come next year though.
ASUS retools Eee Keyboard, swaps in capacitive touchscreen {Engadget}
Nov 4th 2009 4:05PM The life cycle of Engadget comments on the Eee Keyboard.
1) Concept stage: "That's awesome! Asus had better get this out as soon as possible, or my head will explode!"
2) Production stage:
=a= "Can it output 720p?"
=b= "Resistive touchscreen blah blah iPhone blah."
3) Release announcement: "And the point of this is what?" "That's stupid." "Something about OSX."
