(Credit:
Intel)
Intel is doing its part to help people with sight or reading disabilities enjoy the written word.
The company announced on Tuesday the debut of the Intel Reader, a handheld text-to-speech device that can read any printed text aloud to those who are blind or have difficulties seeing or reading.
The Atom-powered device uses a high-resolution camera to capture images of any printed text, which it then converts into digital format to read out loud. The Reader can be used as a standalone device to snap pictures of text. But paired with Intel's Portable Capture Station, which can hold the Reader in place, the device can grab huge amounts of text, such as an entire book, according to Intel.
"We are proud to offer the Intel Reader as a tool for people who have trouble reading standard print so they can more easily access the information many of us take for granted every day, such as reading a job offer letter or even the menu at a restaurant," said Louis Burns, vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Health Group, in a statement.
A check at some of the retailers selling the Intel Reader revealed its base price to be $1,499, with the Portable Capture Station an additional $399.
Weighing one pound, the Reader is the size of a paperback book. The tactile buttons and voice-operated menus that control the device have been designed so sightless people can use it, Intel said. Individuals with poor vision can also zoom in or out of the display and increase the font size of its text.... Read more
Check out the full review of the TomTom GO 740 Live.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)When we spoke with TomTom's representatives concerning the new GO 740 Live, the navigation device was described as offering a "God's-eye view" of the road. Now, the GO isn't omniscient, but it puts a good deal of information at the driver's fingertips with realtime traffic data, weather forecasts, live fuel pricing, and Local Search powered by Google.
Additionally, TomTom Map Share is a user-generated map correction system that allows for map data to be updated more frequently, while IQ Routes looks at historical speed data to calculate the fastest route from point to point. Bluetooth handsfree calling and voice command help drivers to keep both hands on the wheel as much as possible.
However, our experience with the GO 740 Live wasn't a perfect one. The experience was marred by sluggish routing and an interface that is less intuitive than the competition's. Overall, we found that the GO's pros outweigh the cons by a landslide, and we're happy to award the TomTom GO 740 Live our prestigious Editors' Choice.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
Yesterday, we took a look at the TomTom One 140 S and found that we liked it, but wanted a bigger screen.
Today, we find ourselves on the road with the TomTom XL 340 S, which takes all of the features that we praised in the One (lane guidance, IQ Routes, Map Share, and text-to-speech) and packages them behind a larger 4.3-inch wide screen.
The result is an easier to read map, more accurate menu navigation and address entry, and a generally more enjoyable in-car experience. Even though we initially had our doubts about the new EasyPort mount, the integrated suction cup held the larger XL stable during cornering.
However, when we reached our destination and removed the unit to take it with us we found a minor issue that we hadn't thought of before: the XL is too big to be pocketable thanks to the combination of a larger screen and the EasyPort mount--which, even folded, more than double's the device's thickness. Users who regularly carry large purses or bags won't be too inconvenienced by the additional size, but we feel that it bears mentioning.
Overall, our impressions of the XL were positive. Check out our full review of the TomTom XL 340 S, and be sure to check back next week when we hit the road with the top of the line TomTom GO 740 Live!
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
It's always the case that what is now premium tier will one day be entry level. That's just the way it goes as products become more advanced and users more sophisticated.
Which brings us to the TomTom One 140 S. We've had a few short looks at the One 140 in previous weeks. At first glance, the One 140 S seems like the poster-child for entry-level portable navigation devices, with its small, 3.5-inch screen and unassuming form factor. However, look beneath the surface and you'll find features that were only available on TomTom's top-of-the-line unit this time last year, such as advanced lane guidance, downloadable fuel prices, and IQ Routes technology.
We did have a few nits to pick with the One 140 S, such as the EasyPort mount, which increases convenience by integrating the cradle into the device, but nearly doubles the device's thickness, hampering portability, and feels less stable than the lever-actuated suction cup on Garmin's cradles.
However, the TomTom's advanced feature set earns it a high rating in spite of our minor complaints. We'll have a close look at the One's larger sibling, the XL 340 S, and post it tomorrow. In the meantime, check our our full review of the TomTom One 140 S.
(Credit:
TomTom)
TomTom announced Wednesday that it's rolling out a few new models: the TomTomXL 340 and 340S and the TomTom One 140 and 140S. The new units now include maps of Mexico, in addition to maps of the United States and Canada. Furthermore, TomTom's Advanced Lane Guidance feature trickles farther down the product lineup, as these new models gain the highly useful ability to display detailed information about major highway lanes and where they go.
The TomTom One 140/140S packs most of the features of the XL 340/340S into a smaller package.
(Credit: TomTom)The TomTom XL 340 and 340S are 4.3-inch wide-screen models that both feature TomTom Map Share, which allows users to upload corrections to TomTom's servers to be included in future updates (once verified), and IQ Routes, which is a system that learns the best way from point A to B using historical data. Building footprints in 3D help visual navigators to locate landmarks. The 340 and 340S models differ in that the 340S features text to speech for spoken street names.
The TomTom One 140 and 140S both feature similar feature sets to the larger 340/340S, only the 140 and 140S feature a smaller 3.5-inch wide screen. As is true with the larger models, the 140 and 140S are differentiated by the ability to convert text to speech.
The new TomTomXL 340 ($229.95) and 340S ($249.95) and TomTom One 140 ($179.95) and 140S ($199.95) will be available for purchase starting Wednesday.
Update 2:49 p.m. PST: to include comment from Amazon.
Paul Aiken and the Authors Guild aren't gloating.
The executive director of the 9,000-member guild isn't taking all or even most of the credit for Amazon's abrupt about-face on Friday. The retailer announced that it would allow publishers to disable the Kindle 2's text-to-speech feature on any titles of their choosing.
He says while Authors Guild managers were "vocal" with their objections to the Kindle's speech technology, including publishing an op-ed piece in The New York Times, much more powerful entities were leaning on Amazon to make changes: large book publishers.
There was one more reason Amazon was prompted to make changes, according to Aiken.
"Amazon realized the magnitude of the contractual problem," Aiken said Monday morning. "Many of the author's publishing contracts give publishers the right to publish e-books, but only without enhancing audio. A reasonable reading of those contracts shows that publishers didn't have the authority to sell e-books for use in a Kindle device with audio enhancement."
An Amazon spokesman denied being pushed into Friday's decision. As for whether contractual issues played a part, the spokesman repeated what the company said Friday: "Kindle 2's experimental text-to-speech feature is legal."
Aiken began criticizing Amazon soon after the Kindle 2's debut last month. He argued that the retailer was violating the author's copyright and was cutting them out of a potentially new and lucrative market.
... Read more
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
Motorola takes its first step into the portable navigation device market with its Motonav TN30 GPS navigation system. The TN30 is a handsome device, with slick graphics and a cleverly organized menu structure. I really liked the Bluetooth hands-free calling and text-to-speech directions, as keeping hands on the wheel while driving is top priority.
The TN30 showed its true colors on a cross-country road trip.
(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CBS Interactive)I had an opportunity to test the TN30 on a cross-country road trip from Atlanta to San Francisco and learned that all that glitters ain't gold, especially with first-generation gadgets. One day into the trip, I noticed that the device was noticeably less responsive than at unboxing.
By day two, the menus were rendering incorrectly and the Bluetooth ceased to function, forcing a hard reset to restore full functionality. By the end of day three, the problems were back, prompting another reset. On day four, I just quit using it and resorted to a paper map.
While there is much to like about the Motorola Motonav TN30, buggy software limits its usability. I'm sure a firmware update from Motorola would be all it takes to make this a solid competitor in the PND market, but for now it's just too frustrating to recommend.
The moral of the story: make sure your GPS device works before relying on it to get you across the country.
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