Blazie TechnologiesFeb 26

March is an exciting month for us. We began shipping the BT Speak in March of 2024. In honor of the BT Speak’s second anniversary, we wanted to make March an exciting month for our customers, as well, which is why the next BT Speak update will be free for everyone as our anniversary gift to you. Join us for our next webinar when we lift the lid to tell you about what you can expect in the upcoming update, as well as exciting updates regarding BT Braille.

Date: Tuesday, March 3
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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Show threadGraceTechNerdMar 13
@BlazieTech i’m sorry… Are you saying you have to pay for each update once you already pay for the device? Was thinking about purchasing this device, but this is quite confusing.
Show threadBlazie Technologies6d ago
@GraceTechNerd Hi, Grace.
The BT Speak includes a 90-day warranty which covers both hardware and software. Any software updates released during the warranty period are available for you to install. The warranty also allows you to receive an exchange BT Speak in the event that your unit encounters a hardware problem that we’re not able to resolve with a phone call.
You can extend this warranty by purchasing a maintenance contract for your BT Speak. Your maintenance contract can be renewed for either $20.00 per month or for $200.00 annually. The maintenance contract extends your warranty coverage by providing you with the same benefits that you receive with the initial 90-day warranty.
In other words, you can receive a product exchange in the event of a problem, in addition to software updates. Unlike other products, the maintenance contract is continually renewable. We don't limit you to just one or two years of coverage.
If you choose to not purchase a maintenance contract for your BT Speak, you have the option of paying $50.00 any time after the warranty period to receive the latest software update, regardless of how much time has elapsed.
Show threadAdison verlice6d ago

CC: @[email protected] personally I find that very exploitative. if I bought the device, I should be able to receive updates, even if it's only for a few years.
I already bought the device, I shouldn't have to pay a sperate package just for updates.
and btw, the fact you couldn't just answer with a simple yes or no concerns me. I don't think she asked for corporate jargon, she asked a direct question. but i'll go ahead and translate it for you: yes, after the warranty, you absolutely have to pay for updates.
I was thinking about getting the BT speek, but now I will not.
thank you, next freedom scientific
Show threadAlex Chapman6d ago
@averlice @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech I second this, this is honestly not a great look, like this is not cool at all, we should be able to get software updates for free, not paying for a stupid contract.
Show threadJoshua6d ago
@alexchapman @averlice @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech yeah i agree with you, like cmon it's 2026, software updates should be free
Show threadAdison verlice6d ago
that, fokes, is Exploitation at its finest. blazy being an enterprise vender celling to the elitists rather than the blind people who actually need the software/hardware, no surprise

CC: @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected]
Show threadAlex Chapman6d ago
@averlice @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech And I thought they were one of a very small number of companies that actually do things better, but no.
Show threadSeedy!6d ago
@alexchapman @averlice @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech The BT Speak runs a species of Linux, right? Yeah, not very Linux of you guys if you ask me.
Show threadAdison verlice
a, proprietary, if I remember correctly, stream of Linux. just tells you how elitest they are. very fuckin stupid. this should be illegal and should call for the corporate death penalty, if you ask me. and just so we're clear , I dn't mean death as in "actual" death, I mean death as in the company itself being put out of business

CC: @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected]
Mar 18 at 3:14amWeb
Show threadSimon Hayes6d ago

Hey Adison,

No, its not a proprietary version of linux, we 're running standard raspbian/debian as used on raspberry pi's. Users can access the standard desktop, where the only thing we have done is add in orca and brltty for screen reading, and setup keyboard macros for easier access. On the multiuser side, we run our own software, with customised editors, book readers, music/radio & podcast players, etc but the system is not locked down in any way, and users are free to write/run their own software, or just apt install anything they like. Some of our customers have even provided software for free for other customers to use. We ship with all the libraries that we use to write software on the machine, and we're working on developer documentation to make it easier for those that want to write their own apps in python or C, or customise the apps that we provide (as most of them are written in python, with all the source provided). Just load them into an editor and go to town. Or apt install a package, or git clone & compile something. I do all my development directly on the machine, using the built in tools. Can you do that on devices you own?

How is this being elitist or stupid? Would you prefer that we use Windows or Android? Those platforms are far more locked down.
We want this device to be the best that it can be, and we have developers (yes, including me) working on improving the software every day, fixing bugs, writing new apps, and improving existing apps. We don't have the large teams that other companies have, but we work hard at this. This costs money, and hey, I have two children that I have to keep fed and clothed, and can't afford to develop for free. Is it elitist to want to get paid for working?

@averlice @cubic @alexchapman @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech

Show threadAlex Chapman6d ago
@bigsimon @averlice @cubic @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech I can see where Adison is coming from though, you don't see Apple, Google, Microsoft or any other company locking software updates behind payments like that, once someone buys a device that they now rightly own, they should be able to get all the software updates without having to shell out yet more money. A lot of us blind folks don't have the money to spend on software like that, so it should just be part of the device. Freedom Scientific has their quote unquote, perpetual licences, but they aren't perpetual, as if you want to be on the newest version you have to pay. We're no longer in the age of new software being delivered by USB or even CD, its over the air. So yes, I get that it takes time and you developers need to get paid, but at the same time I can also understand Adison's point of view that that shouldn't be passed on to the customer.
Show threadTech Singer6d ago
@alexchapman @bigsimon @averlice @cubic @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech well yes, but Apple is, as I google it now, number 8 on the Fortune 500. Microsoft is 22. Even they don't update their products for more than a few years with all their resources. How do you expect a company the size of Blazie to do even that, if I may ask? How do you expect them to be able to support that for their devices?
Show threaddivVerent6d ago

@bigsimon @averlice @cubic @alexchapman @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech Just for your information, I live in a country where the company that originally released a product has to fulfill a mandatory 2 years warranty for any product flaws that existed from the start. Security vulnerabillities and bugs count as such product flaws. So security and bugfix updates are mandatory for 2 years, whereas you can of course sell feature updates just fine.

I of course assume you don't sell in such countries.

As for costs - obviously the solution is to consider those support costs in the product price.

Show threadSimon Hayes6d ago

I'm just a programmer, and it's up to the management at Blazie Tech to decide how and when to charge consumers: whether its upfront costs or in subscriptions or other payments down the track. When the idea of subscriptions was explained to me, the idea was that all users would still get bug fixes, and subscription users would get new features. And, this last release was also released to all customers too (subscribed or not). Oh, and linux updates are not gated in any way.
I have no idea what countries receive our devices... and FYI I'm based in Sydney, Oz (along with another of the devs), and from what I've seen the support of blazie products is far and away better than other companies products I've used. Everyone who works at the company including the owners are active on the mailing lists, customers get to speak to real people when they have a problem, and we're all working to constantly improve the product.

@divVerent @averlice @cubic @alexchapman @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech

Show threaddivVerent6d ago

@bigsimon @averlice @cubic @alexchapman @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech Now that sounds a lot better, of course.

It is still a bit weird to sell the same device with different software features (as later developed features need to be bought, even if they were long finished before sale and just the box with the device was sitting somewhere for half a day) for the same name and the same price. Weird, yes, but I am aware many manufacturers already do this (and it's bad when they do it too). Same goes for hidden "hardware revisions" that ultimately decide what you can or can't do with your device, with no difference on the box.

So maybe the software version and feature set should be indicated on the box and the in-store advertisement? (And yes, maybe they already are?)

Show threadGraceTechNerd6d ago
@bigsimon @divVerent @averlice @cubic @alexchapman @J3317 @BlazieTech Okay, this seems reasonable.
Show threadKevin Karhan 6d ago

Yeah, cuz accessibility shouldn't be something "optional"…

  • I mean, this stuff isn't cheap either, but putting the longterm useability of an accessibility aid behind a subscription is just an inexcuseable move.
    • Espechally since the device itself ain't included in that either (tho I think renting out stuff that people need to participate in society is also not okay!)

Really shows how the privatization of healthcare in a for profit system is shafting not just "consumers" but espechally those that don't get to choose.

  • Kinda like the deregulation in general.
    • I mean it's not that people buy such assistive tech out of curiosity or lazyness, but out of desperate need (or at the very least to test their software and services against them for accessibility)…

https://tweesecake.social/@BlazieTech/116246357392338518

@averlice @alexchapman @J3317 @GraceTechNerd @BlazieTech

#Accessibility #HealthCare #Subscriptioms #YouOwnNothingAndYoullBeHappy #Enshittification #tech #AccessibilityTech #AssistiveTech

Blazie Technologies (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Hi, Grace. The BT Speak includes a 90-day warranty which covers both hardware and software. Any software updates released during the warranty period are available for you to install. The warranty also allows you to receive an exchange BT Speak in the event that your unit encounters a hardware problem that we’re not able to resolve with a phone call. You can extend this warranty by purchasing a maintenance contract for your BT Speak. Your maintenance contract can be renewed for either $20.00 per month or for $200.00 annually. The maintenance contract extends your warranty coverage by providing you with the same benefits that you receive with the initial 90-day warranty. In other words, you can receive a product exchange in the event of a problem, in addition to software updates. Unlike other products, the maintenance contract is continually renewable. We don't limit you to just one or two years of coverage. If you choose to not purchase a maintenance contract for your BT Speak, you have the option of paying $50.00 any time after the warranty period to receive the latest software update, regardless of how much time has elapsed.

TweeseCake