Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 11:34:23AM +0100, James Laver wrote: > If your mother is merely highly intelligent rather than stephen > hawking standard, she probably doesn't stand a chance with some > devices. "I have always wished for my computer to be as easy to use as my telephone; my wish has come true because I can no longer figure out how to use my telephone." -- Bjarne Stroustrup -- Paul Johnson - p...@pjcj.net http://www.pjcj.net
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 21 Sep 2011, at 16:39, David Cantrell wrote: > > Actually she is, and I've looked at some of the RNIB's recommended > devices for her - and at the RNID's recommendations for me. In both > cases, the underlying assumption appears to be that disabled people are > idiots. It's a reasonably safe assumption, given that they're people: <@jjl> rule 1? <+dipsy> rule 1 is people are idiots User interfaces are hard. I personally can't get along with iOS devices because I find them too unintuitive. When I'm buying a device for a specific purpose, I want it to be so simple that even an idiot like me can use it. The only complicated devices I own are computers, phones and tablets and that's because they need to be multipurpose. Perhaps this is why I like cookware -- it has no interface... I saw a PURE radio being mentioned earlier. If you're considering one, check the interface, because the one on my pure daylight alarm is bloody awful and confuses the crap out of me (not to mention surprising edge cases, but that's a whole other rant), yet I've seen the basic PURE radios to be quite usable, if lacking in features (a wakeup alarm would be nice, the non-daylight model I used only had a kitchen timer). If these things confuse the crap out of me without a sight impediment, I can only imagine how I'd suffer if I had to interact with them without the benefit of 20/20 sight. If your mother is merely highly intelligent rather than stephen hawking standard, she probably doesn't stand a chance with some devices. /j
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 03:24:05PM +0100, Peter Corlett wrote: > As another idea that might just pay off: contact the RNIB and ask them what > devices they recommend. Your mother might not be visually-impaired, but the > requirement for a device that DWISOTT and doesn't have confusing crap on it > is much the same. Actually she is, and I've looked at some of the RNIB's recommended devices for her - and at the RNID's recommendations for me. In both cases, the underlying assumption appears to be that disabled people are idiots. -- David Cantrell | Reality Engineer, Ministry of Information Computer Science is about lofty design goals and careful algorithmic optimisation. Sysadminning is about cleaning up the resulting mess.
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 20 Sep 2011, at 14:02, David Cantrell wrote: [...] > So ... a Kindle. If I buy her a Kindle with 3G (it has to be 3G, cos > there's no wifi network available) can I "push" audio content to it? Or > if not, could I configure the web browser on the Kindle to have > something that I control as its default page, and she can download audio > from that? The Kindle is a cute idea, but its music-playing basically doesn't work and you'll set yourself up for a horrible support load again. It is also expensive to populate it over 3G, assuming that it doesn't choke on the files because it only expects text that way. So it's a non-starter. Consumer electronics are also set up with the assumption that the user knows what they're doing and will pull their chosen content into it, rather than you pushing it. So that reduces your options a bit. One wheeze you might wish to consider is to set up a podcast feed to deliver her requests. Then configure the device with the feed URL, and you've got a handy channel. iOS devices need initial activation with a computer, but can then find podcasts on their own. However, both the iPod Touch and the iPhone are small fiddly devices, and the iPod Touch also needs to get Wifi somehow. (Perhaps from a MyFi device hidden away somewhere, or a subscription to a pikey broadband supplier?) An iPad might be an idea, as there's an iPlayer app, allowing her to pick what she wants without having to wait while you download it for her. Usually the deals of getting an iPad cheap/free with a 3G data subscription are poor value (because people usually have a mobile phone already that they can tether to) but could work well in this case. Three's current offer works out at £829 for a 16GB device and Internet access over the two years of the contract. How much do you love your mother? :) (Legally, you need a TV Licence if you're watching the live iPlayer TV streams, but not for time-shifted streams, nor of course live radio. So either don't do that, or don't get caught.) There are also cheap Android tablets out there, and you can get podcatchers for them, but I can't recommend any particular one because I don't use Android. Again, they usually require Wifi or a 3G account of some kind. I've got a particularly crap example of an Android tablet in my junkbox if you want to take it away and have a play. Another possibility is a DAB radio with a record function, but that's only useful if you know in advance what you want to listen to. DAB radios also seem to all have hateful user interfaces, and setting a timer and record function on one may be just too much. As another idea that might just pay off: contact the RNIB and ask them what devices they recommend. Your mother might not be visually-impaired, but the requirement for a device that DWISOTT and doesn't have confusing crap on it is much the same.
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 09:04:29AM +0200, Philip Newton wrote: > On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 23:21, Chris Devers wrote: > > Man, if only there were a way to get radio programmes, like, directly from > > the radio. Right? > > Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't > there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your > stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there > stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some > kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record > something on a timer?) I have a Roberts RD1 with an SD card slot and a record timer. I can record onto SDcard but the filing system isn't brilliant - any recording starts from the 'beginning' of the SD card so recording a daily show requires replacement SD cards. The advancement of all that teknologie. ;) Regards Lesley
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 03:39:31PM +0100, David Cantrell wrote: > On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 02:33:10PM +0100, Dave Hodgkinson wrote: > > On 20 Sep 2011, at 14:21, Edmund von der Burg wrote: > > > Perhaps an iPod Touch with some cloud syncing so you can put music > > > onto it? No idea about the details though but if my toddler can work > > > an iPad your Mum should be able to too :) > > No, he said there's no wifi in the house. iPhone was my first thought > > or maybe iTouch plus one of those 3G->wifi dongledoofers. > > The great thing about a Kindle is that there's no monthly cost for the > data. I'm not very familiar with the Kindle, but I believe it can be rooted. Perhaps it could be configured to set up a reverse ssh tunnel to one of your machines on occasion. From there you could upload or configure whatever you wanted. Otherwise a cheap Android handset running CyanogenMod or something similar could do the same, though in that case you would need an appropriate mobile contract, of course. The Orange San Francisco was going for under a ton a year or so ago. There may well be better deals/phones around now. Though this is all getting dangerously close to owning a computer. -- Paul Johnson - p...@pjcj.net http://www.pjcj.net
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
> On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 09:04:29AM +0200, Philip Newton wrote: > > > Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't > > there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your > > stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there > > stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some > > kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record > > something on a timer?) You can get a very large number of radio stations live on the internet and the bbc.co.uk website makes a lot of recent content available for download. Chris
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 09:04:29AM +0200, Philip Newton wrote: > Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't > there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your > stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there > stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some > kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record > something on a timer?) I believe that you can do this on some Freeview boxes. Not that that would help, what with my parents not having a TV. -- David Cantrell | semi-evolved ape-thing You can't spell "slaughter" without "laughter"
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 21 Sep 2011, at 08:04, Philip Newton wrote: > (Are there > stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some > kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record > something on a timer?) I've got a Shuttle box with a DVB USB stick in it running MythTV which does that job. (And then I have a user script to dump radio programs to mp3 with an RSS feed which I subscribe to so I can listen on the train). … not such a simple UI that I'd be happy setting one up and letting one of my parents loose on it though. -- David Dorward http://dorward.me.uk
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 21/09/2011, at 6:29 PM, Nicholas Clark wrote: > On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 09:04:29AM +0200, Philip Newton wrote: > >> Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't >> there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your >> stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there >> stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some >> kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record >> something on a timer?) > > In the good old days, the only way that I was aware of was to have a > cassette deck set up to record, with the mains power controlled by an > external time switch. (Optionally, with the radio too.) When the power > pings on, recording starts. Obviously, recording ends at the earlier of > the power going off, or the tape running out. > > To record a second programme, replicate the above equipment. Yes indeed. Chasing up a reasonable cost recording of the original hitch hikers guide to the galaxy TV series was essentially impossible for me until the 21st century. Then my sister-in-law bought us 6 CDs for Xmas, and then I had a toddler who was obsessed with Marvin and Zaphod for quite some time.
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 21 September 2011 08:04, Philip Newton wrote: > On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 23:21, Chris Devers wrote: >> Man, if only there were a way to get radio programmes, like, directly from >> the radio. Right? > > Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't > there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your > stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there > stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some > kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record > something on a timer?) You can get DAB radios with PVR-alike capabilities, such as instant rewind, EPGs, recording of specific programmes. The one I'm familiar with[1] is the Pure Evoke 3[2] which records to SD card but I'm sure Other Manufacturers are available. A quick search of the googles indicates that it should be possible to get it to play any mp2s (and possibly mp3s) it finds on its SD card, so that might be a solution to the original problem. Iain [1] Because my mum has one. [2] http://www.pure.com/products/product.asp?Product=VL-60954
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 09:04:29AM +0200, Philip Newton wrote: > Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't > there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your > stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there > stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some > kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record > something on a timer?) In the good old days, the only way that I was aware of was to have a cassette deck set up to record, with the mains power controlled by an external time switch. (Optionally, with the radio too.) When the power pings on, recording starts. Obviously, recording ends at the earlier of the power going off, or the tape running out. To record a second programme, replicate the above equipment. I'm not aware of time programmable recording devices appearing (for consumers) until the rise of the video recorders. Nicholas Clark
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 23:21, Chris Devers wrote: > Man, if only there were a way to get radio programmes, like, directly from > the radio. Right? Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record something on a timer?) Cheers, Philip -- Philip Newton
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 8:17 AM, michael lush wrote: > http://xkcd.com/949/... http://www.notes.co.il/benbasat/user/snail.JPG ( from http://www.abenba.com/?p=10991 )
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
Man, if only there were a way to get radio programmes, like, directly from the radio. Right? I mean, those are cheap, and don't require wifi or 3G or any such technological tomfoolery. Oh well, sounds like a lost cause. -- Chris Devers
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 20/09/11 14:33, Dave Hodgkinson wrote: On 20 Sep 2011, at 14:21, Edmund von der Burg wrote: Perhaps an iPod Touch with some cloud syncing so you can put music onto it? No idea about the details though but if my toddler can work an iPad your Mum should be able to too :) No, he said there's no wifi in the house. iPhone was my first thought or maybe iTouch plus one of those 3G->wifi dongledoofers. Bite one's tongue and install a secret wifi box with all the latest "security" etc? We have an old 8G iTouch here going begging... Much better then a Kindle for multimedia.
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 03:54:44PM +0100, Simon Wilcox wrote: > On 20/09/2011 14:02, David Cantrell wrote: > >However, she does like iPlayer. Specifically, she likes to phone me and > >ask me to "acquire" radio programmes for her that she missed. > How about a TV or Bluray player that has an iPlayer interface built in ? > It would need an internet connection of some sort so if she has no > internet as opposed to just wired internet then that's a non-starter. No interweb at all. And, indeed, no TV. -- David Cantrell | Cake Smuggler Extraordinaire Irregular English: ladies glow; gentlemen perspire; brutes, oafs and athletes sweat
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 2:02 PM, David Cantrell wrote: > My mother is a technophobe, and furthermore, she's not allowed to have a > computer anyway, because then she'd ask me for help with it. > > However, she does like iPlayer. Specifically, she likes to phone me and > ask me to "acquire" radio programmes for her that she missed. Until > now, I've done this either by putting them on my iPad so she can listen > to them when I visit, or putting them on a CD. But now I've run out of > blank CDs. http://xkcd.com/949/... Seriously you could get a handful of thoes little 1Gb conference keydrives and circulate them between you and her, there are a lot of radios with a USB socket she could then play straight off a key drive. Its not so good if she wants to maintain a collection of stuff she wants to go back to. -- Michael Lush
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 20/09/2011 14:02, David Cantrell wrote: However, she does like iPlayer. Specifically, she likes to phone me and ask me to "acquire" radio programmes for her that she missed. How about a TV or Bluray player that has an iPlayer interface built in ? It would need an internet connection of some sort so if she has no internet as opposed to just wired internet then that's a non-starter. S.
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 02:33:10PM +0100, Dave Hodgkinson wrote: > On 20 Sep 2011, at 14:21, Edmund von der Burg wrote: > > Perhaps an iPod Touch with some cloud syncing so you can put music > > onto it? No idea about the details though but if my toddler can work > > an iPad your Mum should be able to too :) > No, he said there's no wifi in the house. iPhone was my first thought > or maybe iTouch plus one of those 3G->wifi dongledoofers. The great thing about a Kindle is that there's no monthly cost for the data. -- David Cantrell | Cake Smuggler Extraordinaire
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 02:21:44PM +0100, Edmund von der Burg wrote: > Perhaps an iPod Touch with some cloud syncing so you can put music > onto it? No idea about the details though but if my toddler can work > an iPad your Mum should be able to too :) An iPod touch wouldn't work, as it would need wifi. -- David Cantrell | Bourgeois reactionary pig Irregular English: ladies glow; gentlemen perspire; brutes, oafs and athletes sweat
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 20 Sep 2011, at 14:21, Edmund von der Burg wrote: > > Perhaps an iPod Touch with some cloud syncing so you can put music > onto it? No idea about the details though but if my toddler can work > an iPad your Mum should be able to too :) No, he said there's no wifi in the house. iPhone was my first thought or maybe iTouch plus one of those 3G->wifi dongledoofers. We have an old 8G iTouch here going begging...
Re: Should I get my mum a Kindle?
On 20 September 2011 14:02, David Cantrell wrote: > My mother is a technophobe, and furthermore, she's not allowed to have a > computer anyway, because then she'd ask me for help with it. Quite right! > However, she does like iPlayer. Specifically, she likes to phone me and > ask me to "acquire" radio programmes for her that she missed. Until > now, I've done this either by putting them on my iPad so she can listen > to them when I visit, or putting them on a CD. But now I've run out of > blank CDs. > > As I am a geek, I would like to solve the problem by throwing a > ridiculous amount of technology at it. After all, what's the point of > living in The Future if I can't solve her problem by deploying more > computing power than existed on the entire planet when she was born? > > So ... a Kindle. If I buy her a Kindle with 3G (it has to be 3G, cos > there's no wifi network available) can I "push" audio content to it? Or > if not, could I configure the web browser on the Kindle to have > something that I control as its default page, and she can download audio > from that? Err - yes you can but it will be painful. You can email stuff to a kindle, and if it comes from a whitelisted email address it'll download straight away. But there is a data cost to doing that over 3G. Not much, but for audio it'll be biggish. The kindle is awesome for reading and the sound it pretty good. But the navigation on it is a pain as the screen is slow to update. No problem for page turns, but real issue for anything that is meant to be interactive. If left with the wireless on and when playing audio the battery is not superb - again not the usage it is designed for. Perhaps an iPod Touch with some cloud syncing so you can put music onto it? No idea about the details though but if my toddler can work an iPad your Mum should be able to too :) Cheers, Edmund. > -- > David Cantrell | Bourgeois reactionary pig > > THIS IS THE LANGUAGE POLICE > PUT DOWN YOUR THESAURUS > STEP AWAY FROM THE CLICHE >
