The 21st century equivalent of wire hangers

[kestrell]

My old BookSense ebook reader died in the night a couple of nights ago, which resulted in my scrabbling through a pile of cardboard boxes in order to find my backup ebook reader because, yes, I am that paranoid about not having a functional ebook reader, and even then I had a complete meltdown because it took hours to charge the battery, during which time I growled that I hated everything. Except Alexx. And my monster plushies. And then I pulled the covers over my head and told Alexa to make rain (I skipped on adding thunder and lightning because that would have been a little much).

So that's a brief glimpse into what Dark Kestrell is like. Be glad she doesn't live in your attic.

Anyway.

Today I addressed the issue of all these hardback-sized boxes that electronics come packaged in.

I culled it down to a single box, but that box is stuffed with lots of little cables and adapters that I don't know what they go to, but I'm scared to throw them out, just in case.

I have about a dozen of those short adapters for turning a standard USB plug into a mini. Is it just me, or is the uselessness of any type of cable directly proportional to how many of them one accumulates? I think they've taken the place of wire hangers, only we can't turn them into bicycles.

Comments

Coat hangers

[jesse_the_k]

...and useless cable adapters, and also braces/bandages that fit right, but are a little too stretched out to wear, but I'll never find the same kind again so should I really throw it out?

Have phones reached the point where you don't need a BookSense yet?

Re: Coat hangers

[kestrell]

My Android with the Talkback TTS and the OK Google virtual assistant is constantly flaking out on me--I swear, if an update message pops up, half the time it's enough to give Talkback a breakdown.

So I'm still using a dedicated assistive tech ebook reader.

BUT!

I should be getting a new Kindle Fire ebook reader tomorrow or Saturday, and supposedly it's highly accessible. The NFB has been all over Amazon's ass--I mean, legal department--to make the Kindle accessible, because schools are now using the Kindle for textbooks, and the Dept. of Justice has degreed that any tech used in the schools must also be accessible to visually impaired users.

The cheap version of the Kindle is under $50 which, compaired to a $400 or $500 "special" ebook reader, is pretty amazing. I, however, sprang for the newest version, which cost $150, because the sound is much improved and, with my hearing impairment, that is now a significant factor. Oh, and the Kindle Fire has Alexa on it, also. Alexa makes things soooo much easier.

That's probably more than you wanted to know about the state of my gadgetry, but there you go. Are you using any of these devices?

Re: Coat hangers

[jesse_the_k]

I love hearing about gadgetry!

re: the Kindle Fire ABOUT FUCKING TIME!

Can't wait to hear what it's like! I assume you also use the NLS's talking book player, or was your Booksense (rip) able to deal with the NLS DRM?

Re: Coat hangers

[kestrell]

My BookSense and now my Blaze handle NLS Bard, but I have to send the Perkins Library the ID number for my device, and they send back a file which I install and it unlock their books. To tell the truth, I don't use NLS a lot, mostly I get books from Bookshare and have Alexx break the DRM on Kindle ebooks. Bard is fine if you read mostly bestsellers, but I actually rarely read bestsellers.

My Kindle Fire HD 10 arrived yesterday evening, but a friend was over and we were celebrating Mardi Gras. I got us extra fancy beads: hers had a mermaid which was wearing a mask and more beads, and mine had a skull with flowers. The figure is basically a large stone or plaster cameo with brightly-colored details. We also had King cake and lates from my housemate's espresso machine. Oh, and I made jambalaya.

Rambling, need to consume some decaf. Today I'll be exploring using my new Kindle. More later, take care.

Re: Coat hangers

[jesse_the_k]

Yay Mardi Gras!

Who nibbled on the little baby Jesus?