Talking Camera Pro for visually impaired/blind,

By MarkSarch, 9 August, 2012

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi AppleVis Forum
I found this new app! I didn't purchase because I do have all of OCR and scanners apps on my iOS device, I couldn't have communication to the developer .
Have you purchased, have you tested this app? Let me know on this post to share everybody the info.

CNET
Overview
Editors' Review
User Reviews

Talking Camera Pro - for visually impaired/blind 1.0
 $1.99

Average User Rating

Not yet rated
Publisher's Description
From Smart Mobile Software:
100% satisfied or refunded. Contact us before giving us any negative reviews!Talking camera will help you in your everyday life by reading for you any written text.The app is simple and straightforward :1. You take a picture of text (menu in a restaurant, page of a book, etc.)2. The app will read the text for youThe app is made for visually impaired people : large fonts, high contrast app.

r Smart Mobile Software
Publisher web site Not available Release date July 24, 2012 Date added
July 26, 2012 Version 1.0 Category
Category Utilities & Operating Systems Subcategory System Utilities
System requirements
Operating systems iOS Additional requirements Compatible with iPhone,
iPod Touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later. iTunes account
required Download information
File size 2.61MB File name Not available Popularity
Total Downloads 1 Downloads last week 1 Pricing
License model Purchase Limitations Not available Price $1.99

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Comments

By alex wallis on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - 15:43

Hi, well I just paid for this app, and my initial thought after using it for a few minutes, are that it isn't worth paying for, especially after we have experienced text detective. As far as I can tell, when you select the take picture button, it just takes you into the normal camera interface, or if its not that, it looks very similar to what we have scene in other ocr apps and in the camera app. When you are taken into the take picture screen, you are shown the image called view finder, and VoiceOver says auto focused, which I don't think means the camera is focused, as it doesn't take the picture. Once you have taken the picture, using the take picture button with a double tap, you are presented with the usual screen to use or retake, and if you select use you are given no indication as to the status of if text has been found or not, or even how the picture is being processed. The interface is clunky to use, with a retake button rather than automatically rescanning like with text detective, so that's why I think this is the normal camera interface. As far as I can make out, the only reason the app title might refer to visually impaired people is because the app has the ability to read recognised text out some how. But over all, my impression after a few minutes is that the app is just the same as all the rest of these junk apps, and actually I don't think there are really any features that make it particularly useful for the visually impaired. I will have another go with the app tomorrow, but should I not get any results with it, or should my opinion remain unchanged I will be trying to get my money back from the publisher. I just hope this isn't some kind of scam.