It's alive!!! KNFB Reader lives! But now as OneStep Reader

By Squirrel, 7 February, 2022

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Imagine my surprise this morning at seeing KNFB Reader listed amongst my installed apps with updates.

It's probably been more than 5 years since I last used the app. It feels almost as long since there was a meaningful update. It's also likely been as long since better options became available for a fraction of the price.

Okay, before I get too excited, I note that the update is only to give the app a new name and owner.

It's now OneStep Reader and developed by Sensotec who have taken over from the National Federation of the Blind.

Another reason not to be excited is its price still being $100. Anybody want to explain why on earth you would pay that kind of money when Voice Dream Scanner is better and tenth of the price?

Oh, and here's one more reason to hold back on any excitement - Sensotec asks you to visit their website at www.OneStepreader.com. If you do, you will currently be greeted by “This domain has been suspended due to non-completion of an ICANN-mandated contact verification.”

But, hey, it would be harsh and unfair to write the app off before it's barely begun its new life. Here's hoping for some meaningful updates and a price that makes more sense in the current market. And, choice is definitely no bad thing.

Here's the release notes from today's update:

What’s new?

The name for sure. But OneStep Reader, formerly known as KNFB Reader, continues to be your quick, accurate, and efficient access to any printed text through speech or Braille. So a new name, but with the same good functionalities! The transition of the KNFB Reader from the National Federation of the Blind (USA) to Sensotec and the accompanying name change to OneStep Reader (and OneStep Reader Multi) expresses the confidence of the NFB in Sensotec’s ability to provide continued support and upgrades that will benefit existing and future users.

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Comments

By Chris Smart on Thursday, February 24, 2022 - 22:27

Sensotec have to win me back as a customer, after spending that much on an inferior app in the past.

How much of that crazy price still goes to the NFB I wonder?

By Blee Blat on Thursday, February 24, 2022 - 22:27

You could get a life time subscription to supersense or envision ai and combine that with voice dream scanner, and probably get a far better experience. I use supersense and voice dream in some combination, and one or the other gets me a good scan nearly every time.

By Clare Page on Thursday, February 24, 2022 - 22:27

Hi! Obviously, it's up to each of us to decide whether we install OneStep Reader or not: one useful thing to know is that we don't have to pay for it again if we installed KNFB Reader in the past. As I didn't have to pay out 99.99 euros for the old app with the new name, I reinstalled it simply to have another choice of OCR app, but I probably wouldn't have bothered if I'd had to pay for it again.