The iPhone

The iPhone is a new device made by Apple Computers. It is avery excellent device in style and simplicity, but does it have all of the features one needs to work day to day.

Being someone who is visually impaired, and having had some exposure to the device, I can honestly say that without a doubt the device will work perfectly for just about anyone. I can read the screen, zoom in on things I can not see, and can even access the parts of the internet and email wherever I need.

Signal strength is awesome, and I can get access to voice and data no matter where I am in Austin. This differes very much from the motorola Q from Sprint PCS which gets very little to no signal strength around town.

Rumors are also floating around that Apple is making a version of voiceover for the iphone. Voiceover is the screen reader that comes with Mac OS X. It provides spoken access to all of the functions provided by a macintosh computer. This will allow allmost anyone to use the iphone. The only drawback to this is the fact that there is no tactile feedback as to what the user is pressing, which means that anyone with a vision problem can not feel what and where they are going to touch, which is a little interesting to try and blindly touch a touch screen to get things done. The only way this could be accomplished is through speech recognition software or through an external display, which is totally possible given Apple’s history.

EDIT: I feel it is important to also add a compatibility section. to this blog. This will change the iPhone score as well, but it must be done.

Compatibility on the iPhone is very fluent between the operating systems. You can charge an iPhone on any computer using a standerd iPod cable, but you can only sync it using iTunes. This however works in both Windows and in Mac OS X. I have not heard of a genuine linux method for syncing, but I am sure it can be done.

Well it is time for the device ratings.
Interface:        10/10
design:            8/10
accessibility:   2/10
storage:           8/10
Compatibility: 8/10
Price:               6/10

Overall, the revised Iphone score is a 73.34% approval rating. This is because the device is not to affordable, looks nice, has fairly good storage, and a Very nice interface. However, it does not currently have the ease of use and accessibility for those who have visual and other impairments.