THE MARK TAYLOR CANDLESHORE BLOG

Hello Everyone,

I hope you enjoy this 47 minute Pod Cast in which I interview the founder and president of Code Factory, Mr. Eduard Sanchez. 

Code Factory is the developer of Mobile Speak, the world’s leading screen reading, screen magnification, and Braille interface program for mobile devices.  It provides accessibility to blind and low vision users of wireless products such as cell phones and pocket PCs.

As a visually impaired individual, I wish to personally thank Mr. Sanchez for it is because of innovative technology pioneers like he who bring the world so much closer to people like me.

Learn all about Code Factory at: http://www.codefactory.es

Most Sincerely,

Mark
Episode 28: An Interview with Eduard Sanchez

Organizing Your Windows Mobile Smart Phone Text Message Inbox

PROBLEMS:
One of the most frustrating limitations of Windows Mobile for Smart Phones is that subfolders cannot be created in the text message Inbox.  Consequently, this means that any message you wish to save must remain in the SMS Inbox.  As one might expect, it does not take long for this folder to get unmanageably large. 

While there are several companies that offer online SMS storage services such as Treasure My Text, personally, I do not  like the idea of (1) giving out my mobile number to a remote organization and (2) having my private text messages floating somewhere out there in cyberspace.  After all, you never know when they may float right back to you; just ask Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick.  (Smile)

Another limitation of Windows Mobile for Smart Phones is that you cannot print, publish, or save SMS messages on your PC in a readable format.

One answer to these text message limitations is to install a third party application such as an SMS manager.  However doing this will (1) add more software overhead to your phone’s memory load, thereby slowing it down, and (2) most likely not be fully compatible with any screen reading software for the blind or low vision. 

SOLUTION: (more…)

A REVIEW OF THE JABRA BT8040 BLUETOOTH STEREO HEADSET (more…)

Hello Everyone,

This is for those of you who may accidentally lock the keyboard on the Samsung Blackjack 2 Smart Phone: (more…)

Hello Everyone, 

Ever wanted to unchain your GSM mobile phone? 

This can be done but only to the extent that the phone can be “unlocked” and used on any GSM network.  As far as “unbranding”, I cannot speak to that. I do know that once the phone is unlocked, you will be able to use it on either T-Mobile or AT&T, if living in the USA.

The following warning is from A T & T: (more…)

Hello Everyone,

At the risk of being biased, I feel as though “everyone” wants to beat up on the Samsung Blackjack 2.  For the life of me, I do not know why.  Aside from some MSS accessibility oversights, due to the Samsung model specific applications, we BJ2 users appear to have the least difficulty with our Windows Mobile 6 based phones.  (more…)

Hello Everyone,

INTRODUCTION:
Some of you may notice that, from time-to-time, your Windows Mobile 6 Smart Phone may begin to slow down even after you think you have freed up phone memory by closing currently running software applications.  For many of you using Mobile Speak to access your Smart Phone, what you hear and see is not always what you get, until now.  (Smile)
 
This is for all Windows Mobile 6 users, especially those on the Samsung Blackjack II Smart Phone with the Mobile Speak for Smart Phone accessibility software installed. (more…)

Hello,

In an attempt to make the essential list of Twitter commands documentation more accessible to the visually impaired, I have adapted and reformatted the list for use with Braille and screen reading software.

Click Here To Begin:

I hope you find my adaptation helpful.

Mark

Now here is the REAL 411 on A T & T Wireless:

I am happy to announce that A T & T Wireless now offers free Directory Assistance (411) to its wireless customers with disabilities.

The following is from the A T & T Wireless website:

“DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE EXEMPTION PROGRAM”

“Providing helpful dialing assistance:
AT&T recognizes that directory assistance services can provide helpful dialing assistance for customers with significant visual, cognitive, and physical disabilities. That’s why we’re pleased to waive the per call charge to AT&T 411 Info for those with qualifying disabilities.”

To read the entire article go to:

http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources/411-assistance.jsp

or you can call the A T & T National Center for Customers with Disabilities at:
(866) 241-6568 Voice.
(866) 241-6567.

Or you can contact Susan Mazrui, A T & T’s Director of Federal Affairs, at:
susan.mazrui@att.com

Or you can go to the main A T & T Disability Resources website at:

http://www.wireless.att.com/about/disability-resources/disability-resources.jsp

Mark

Hello Everyone,

I did not write the following piece, entitled “How To Silence A Room”, but I wish to salute the person who did.  I am most proud to be an American citizen. 

Mark Marcus Taylor

HOW TO SILENCE A ROOM

1.
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was  asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an  example of ‘empire building’ by George Bush. He answered by saying,  “Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men  and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The  only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury  those that did not return.”

It became very quiet in the room. 

2.
Then  there was a conference in France where a number of international  engineers  were taking part, including French and American. During a break one of the  French engineers came back into the room saying “Have you heard the latest  dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intend to do, bomb them?” A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: “Our carriers have three hospitals  on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have  three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 6,000 people three meals a day,  they can produce several thousand! gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use in  transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck… We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?”

Once again,  dead silence. 

3.
A   U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a  cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of  Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone  was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French  admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages,  Americans learn only English.’ He then asked, ‘Why is it that we always  have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?’  Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied ‘Maybe it’s because the  Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn’t have to speak German.

You could have heard a pin drop.
Always be proud to be an American.

As the name implies, the Smart Converter application allows you to convert numbers from one system to another such as from feet to meters. 

Please note that at the time of this writing, the Black Jack 2 Smart Converter is not completely accessible with Mobile Speak for Smart Phones.  In fact, I would not recommend it for novice users.  Therefore, if you wish to make extensive use of a conversion program, I suggest that you go to:  http://www.onlineconversion.com 

Nevertheless, for those advanced users of MSS who only need to convert numbers from time-to-time, the Black Jack 2 Smart Converter will do the job. (more…)

Hello Everyone,

On Smart Phones running Windows Mobile Six Standard Edition, including the Samsung Black Jack II, in order to remove a Bluetooth hardware device from the phone’s list of currently installed Bluetooth devices: (more…)

Hello Everyone,

Follow these steps to quickly begin using the Samsung Black Jack II calculator with Mobile Speak for Smart Phones: (more…)

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick suggestion to all Windows Mobile users that it is a prudent idea to power off your Smart Phone a minimum of once per day, for at least thirty seconds, and after each time you synchronize it with a PC. 

While doing this will, in no way, guarantee flawless performance of your cellular companion, it should, however, reduce memory meltdowns, synthesizer slow ups, and device derailments, significantly.

So, tune in to my words, power on and then turn off.

(Smile)

Mark

The following describes how to use the Samsung Black Jack II Due Day (D-Day) application with Mobile Speak for Smart Phone:

The D-Day application is to years, months, and days as a stopwatch is to hours, minutes, and seconds.  That is, it calculates the remaining number of days from the current day to the appointed day.  For example, you might use this program to determine the number of days remaining until someone’s birthday or a holiday.  (more…)

Today I walked into an A T & T Wireless store with a friend of mine.  After several weeks of resisting temptation, I had finally given into my desire to purchase yet another wireless Bluetooth headset for use with my adored Samsung Black Jack II Smart Phone.  I say “yet another” because having it would make me the proud owner of seven such devices acquired over the past four years. (more…)

In this document, I describe and discuss the basic functions and keyboard layout, including symbols, for the Samsung Black Jack II Smart Phone running Windows Mobile Six, Standard Edition, on the AT&T Wireless Network.

Even though I composed this piece with the low vision and blind in mind, it is my fervent hope that all will find it useful in gaining a better understanding of what has become my favorite wireless phone of all time.

NOTE 1:

AT&T Wireless has released Windows Mobile 6.1 for the Samsung Blackjack II Smartphone.  This is a free upgrade.  To download the necessary files and installation instructions, go to:
samsung.com 

NOTE 2:
With the release of Windows Mobile 6.1, Microsoft Voice Command has been integrated into the operating system.  This means that you no longer have to purchase Voice Command as a separate software application.  Upon successful completion of the upgrade process, you must enable Voice Command from the Start Menu.

NOTE 3:
The Voice Command key on the Samsung Blackjack II running Windows 6.1 has been assigned to the MediaNet key which is the second key from the left on the bottom row of the phone. 

NOTE 4:
A short press of the MediaNet key will launch AT&T’s MediaNet’s website in the phone’s Pocket Internet Explorer browser.  A long press of the MediaNet key will initiate the Voice Command prompt. 

The following link will take you to the article where, in addition to being able to read it online, you may download it in either MS Word, Braille, or Plain Text format. 

Feel free to share this document with anyone who may find it useful.  All I ask is that you include the “by line” and Copyright notice along with any text you distribute.

I look forward to your feedback. 

Enjoy.

Mark
Keyboard Layout Description for the Samsung Black Jack 2

Tired of having to type out those text messages word by word?  Why not use the “My Text” feature now available on Windows Mobile Smart Phones.

1.
From the Today or Home screen of your Smart Phone, select Contacts.  This is generally done by pressing the [Right Soft Key]. (more…)

Thursday, June 12, 2008:

Hello Everyone,

I am delighted to report that Mr. Chris Nestrud has written a script for the Samsung Blackjack 2 Alarm Clock application that makes it comfortably accessible for use with Mobile Speak for Smart Phones. 

To obtain the script, go to:
http://chrisnestrud.com/projects/mss

If you choose not to install the script, then the following steps still apply. 

Mark (more…)

Did you know that your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival?  Check out the following 5 things that you can do with it.

Please note that I have personally successfully tested 4 of the following 5 items and they do work, at least, with GSM phones in the United States.  I have not tested item number 3.

1.
Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobiles is 112.  If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any
existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number
112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out. (more…)