Disclaimer: If this has already been discussed and I missed it, and/or I have placed this in the wrong forum, then my apologies. Still getting used to the new categories. π
So, there is an interesting piece of tech I stumbled upon while YouTubing Android-related content. It is called the "Smart Vision 3" and the video linked below is a quick review from Sam from The Blind Life. What you have is an Android smartphone, but with a few extras, such as a dedicated Google Assistant hardware button (like Siri on iPhones without home buttons), and a numeric keypad at the bottom which (I assume) is for dialing phone numbers, and typing PIN numbers.
Anyway, thought it was, if nothing else, a pretty cool concept, probably more attuned to older folks who are not so used to current technology trends. Regardless, enjoy the video. π
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOdi4g31GSU&pp=ygUOU21hcnQgVmlzaW9uIDM%3D
Comments
Ya, I'm old
And the physical buttons are appealing. Not my carrier, and it's not 5G. Price sounds good, but nothing on the processor speeds etc. Bricking the accessibility just by trying an app is a loser. I don't know anything about Talkback or its issues, and it would have been nice for a few examples to have been described.
Content
Perhaps there are more videos up that give more insight to this device. I will keep an eye out. π
Blind Android Users
Found this on YouTube, but its from the Blind Android Users podcast. It is kind of long, but at the 4m38s mark, they discuss the specs on the Smart Vision 3.
To make things easy, here is a basic rundown:
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 159 x 68 x 10.4 mm / 6.26 x 2.68 x 0.41 inch
Weight: 160 g / 0.35 pounds
Display: 3.5β³ / 640 x 960 pixels
Internal Memory: RAM 4GB, ROM 64GB
External Memory: SD card, up to 128GB
Processor: Octa-core MEDIATEK MT6771T (P70)
Cellular connectivity: 4G VoLTE / 3G / 2G
LTE Bands: 2, 4, 5, 12, 13 17, 66, 71
Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 (2.4 GHz b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.2
SIM card format: Dual SIM, nano
Connectors: audio jack 3.5 mm, USB type C
Battery: 3500 mAh Li-ion
Wireless Charging: Yes, 5W
Rear Camera: 16MP + 2MP
Front Camera: 5MP
Notifications: Ringtones and vibrate functions
Color: White w/ black keypad
Keypad: Physical keypad with large tactile buttons
Links:
Blind Android Users demo on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfYWjFuUfFE&pp=ygUOU21hcnQgVmlzaW9uIDM%3D
Raz Mobility (Makers of Smart Vision):
https://www.razmobility.com/solutions/smartvision-3-smartphone/
Thanks
Just with a little Googling, that processor didn't sound too bad. Although, I might not know what I'm reading.
I'll tuck this away in the back of my mind to consider in the future.
Inconceivable!
Yeah, I thought it would be interesting enough to post here in the AppleVis: Android vorum, if for nothing else, to at least showcase what is out there in accessible smartphones.
Also, the guy who does the demo reminds me (a lot) like Wallace Shawn. If you are unfamiliar with that name, go watch The Princess Bride.
Protip: He is fond of saying my subject. A lot. π
I would not want thisβ¦
I would not want this particular device I don't think, but I have always thought it would be neat to have a flip phone that ran modern android, had modern specs, and had a physical keypad and D pad for navigation like the old school phones, if for nothing more than nostalgia.
Smaller touch screen
It's probably an old-person's issue... I have an ancient, Franklin talking dictionary over there, about the size of a tablet-, with a small but usable keyboard-I don't think the screen works anymore. If they made an accessible portable computer/phone like that, even without a touch screen, I would love it.
I'm not bothered by a smaller touch screen. I am bothered by on-screen number keys for things like phone menu options and having to enter ID numbers on the phone. The voice systems of a lot of the phone systems don't work well all the time, if you're even given that option. You can use a bluetooth keyboard for entering numbers on the phone, though Apple sometimes breaks that in updates, and VO sometimes distracts you from listening to options by reading out all the numbers you've entered during the phone call. On the other hand, I think I'm still carrying old fears and grudges against Android from back when it was not fully accessible. That's scaring me away.
Design
@Justin,
I think this is more geared toward people who are not comfortable or capable of using touch-screen devices very well, or at all. Because after listening to the podcast/youtube video, I learned you can perform most navigation and interactions with hardware buttons.
So, not only does it have a numeric keypad, but it has arrow keys and a 'select' key, and designated keys or buttons for 'Menu', 'Home', 'Back', etc.
Most people who are blind and comfortable with touch screen devices will not even consider this, but otherwise I think it is a clever idea for people who say, struggle with blindness plus mobility, etc.
@OldBear,
If you remember, or ever used, an iPhone 4/4S, then that is the touch-screen size of this device. Just fyi. Also, yes, a lot of people are stupid when it comes to the size of their. . . touch-screen. π
Number keypad
Do we know if the keypad is also letters? If you remember on old phones 1 for example was also a, b, c. If so then it would be really useful if you don't like touch screens. Not for me but I suspect some people would like this type of vintage tech.
T9
Yes, in the podcast/youtube link I posted above, the presenter touches on that briefly. That function is called T9 typing if I am not mistaken. π
Yeah, not for me, as I amβ¦
Yeah, not for me, as I am very comfortable with a touch screen, but a flip version of this for nostalgia sake, something that looks and feels like an old school flip phone, but has all the features of a modern phone could be fun. As a serious daily driver, probably not, but interesting nonetheless. If I don't get a Pixel next, I could be seriously tempted by a Galaxy Flip, whichever model is out when it comes time to shop for a new device, which will be a while since I really really like my S22 Ultra. I know btw that the Galaxy flips don't have physical keyboards, but still, the design seems pretty cool.
Razr
Like the old Motorolla Razr flip phones. Only with 5g and Android 14?
Yeeeeeesssss!
I would totally freakin buy that thing.
Same
I think it might be kinda limiting though without those extra touch/multi touch gestures.
Like I said, probably notβ¦
Like I said, probably not what I would want as a daily driver, but maybe as a device to use if I were wanting to do a social network fast or something like that. I can never get fully away from socials because of the online radio station, but could always do that with the computer. I wouldn't want to remove them from my daily driver, but I can see how having a device like that would make it a lot less tempting to do the mindless scroll for hours on end.
It wore off
Now that I've had time to cogitate, the right bluetooth keyboard with a standard smartphone would make this phone meaningless to me.
Ideally, I'd need the keyboard to be about the size of the phone, like a folio, so they could both fit in the same place. The keys need to not be mushy when pressed, and have all the keys I need to operate the phone. Small keys are all right to a point, but not so small that I can't fit my fingertips on them. I'd also need to figure out how to keep the phone from reading out every number I've pressed during a phone call with the menus--don't know if that's an issue with Android.
Older than a Bear
Like I said, this is geared more towards folks who cannot use touch-screen as a primary input device. I am thinking namely the elderly and/or mobility impired individuals.
OldBear, you are just not old enough. Please, exit, stage left. π
Give me a few years
I remember a time when phones were attached to a wall with wires, and I'm not longing for that... yet.
However, one can always become mangled of the hands with little effort, and becoming old only requires waiting.
Rotary
For what it's worth, my families first home phone was a rotary dial phone, that was so heavy you could kill somebody with it.
Exactly
And it belonged to the phone company. They weren't liable for damages caused by the phone, though...