new android user

By Michael, 29 September, 2024

Forum
Android

I've just ordered a brand new pixal nine device and would love some advice on getting started.
Upon getting the device, how does one go about turning on talkback? Are there any useful apps one might need when they get a new android device? I'm coming from an iPhone so would love some feedback on this.

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By Joshua on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

To turn on talkback hold boath volume keys till you hear hold both volume keys for 3 seconds to use talkback or something along those lines and do it again and talkback will turn on and you can go through the tutorial if you want

For apps I recommend going to accessible android, they have a lot of accessible apps and other android stuff, also check out blind android users, a few apps I use are lazarillo, be my eyes and seeing AI

By Michael on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

Joshua,
I presume the references you mentioned are mailing lists? Do you have the subscribe link to them?
also is accessible android a website? If so, I can see if I can find it.

By Brian on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

With the links I posted above, they should be able to get some good and relevant information. 😀👌

By Michael on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

Thanks for the resources! I shall endeavor to educate myself on everything android!

By Renita Rogers on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

Thanks for this. I recently baught a Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, and was mostly successful in setting it up. I have always Hurd that android is more customizable than IOS. What does that mean for the blind? I would somehow like to add a scripture to my Lock Screen. There is no easy way to do this on IOS, can I do it on android? I’ve connected my Bluetooth keyboard, but haven’t connected my braille display. How does using braille on android compare to IOS?,

By Brian on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

As I understand things, there are a few caveats to using an Android as a blind person over an iPhone. I would say the two biggest customization options that are beneficial to both blind and cited users, would be the option of using a different launcher (home screen interface) and that there are multiple screen reader applications for Android.

Someone who is more knowledgeable than I feel free to add to this.

By SeasonKing on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

A built-in option in in this regard can be found in settings>Lock-screen, then look for something like "Show information or text on lock-screen".
I display my full name and alternate phone number on my lock-screen, hoping that if the device ever get's lost, the finder would have a way to reach me through alternate contact number.

If you want to display some scripture etc on lock-screen, I believe searching on Playstore might reveal some apps build for exactly doing that. Accessibility is hit or miss in that regard though.

By Brad on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

I believe you can switch the home button and back button placement, so if your home button is on the left and you'd prefer it on the right, you should be able to do that.

I don't know where it is in settings though as i've not used android in a long long time.

It's great for accessibility if you find yourself because of muscle memory or whatever reason wanting the buttons in another place.

By Renita Rogers on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

I will keep these things in mind. I wanted a pixel or samsung phone, but I think I did right by keeping my iPhone. Based on what you have sed, I'll be using my tablet as an entertainmenttoy.

By TheBllindGuy07 on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

I have a question android folks. Why, especially now that talkback image ai description only works with google phone last time I checked, would you ever want a samsung device if their talkback is so behind and or fragmanted compared to google? Okay I get that limiting the beta to some countries is silly and apple whether or not we like their feedback system are at least better in that, but what is the real advantage of a Samsung device except ecosystem (if not standard android stuff) and brand loyalty? Why would you ignore what is falsefully known as stock android (Google's) to something else which has its own flavor of android? I am also a casual user of an old s20 ultra and I find talkback where I changed to the Google voice painfully slow on it, and I am not willing to install google talkback with adb as I like to have a purified experience of any app/os first and then do my geek stuff when I am confident enough.

By Saqib on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

Having tested this image description feature, I was totally amazed by the results and Apple have dropped the ball on this I now use my Pixel 7 Pro as my primary phone as I can have social media photos and peoples stories described in detail

By Trenton Matthews on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - 11:36

That's the latest version of Talkback Samsung's got now, similar to v14.2 of Google's version. Keep in mind: TalkBack 15 on Samsung devices (once released) will have Galaxy AI powering the image descriptions vs Gemini on all other Android devices.

FYI

I stick with Samsung, not for just being able to run the free version of Commentary for submitting app labels to their cloud [which I wish Google would let people do]), is Bixby. My S23+ ain't getting 7 years of updates no, but by then? The S26 will be calling my name.