I would like to ask a few questions before I purchase a Jolla device (I hope to make it before they sell out). To give you some context:
I am a programmer (from EU) with a physical disability—I type using my nose and elbow, but I can find creative technical workarounds for lot of things.
Currently, I use a Samsung Tab S9 5G and a Lamax Bcool 2 watch because I cannot hold a device in my hands. I need my tablet laid flat (horizontally) on a table or the ground, and I use a Bluetooth watch to make calls when I am outside.
I am aware that Jolla is a phone and will be more challenging for me to operate, but my current tablet is failing.
(It’s lagging even before reaching the end of its update cycle, but since it is out of warranty and the bootloader is removed from system, I’ve had enough of Samsung.)
I also want to avoid Chinese brands. While Samsung is the only one offering “pinch to zoom” as an accessibility feature, I am (ready leave) done with their ecosystem.
Therefore, I have the following questions:
Accessibility features: Does Sailfish OS have (or can it have) an assistive MENU for “pinch zoom” with one finger similar to this VIDEO: PINCH ZOOM Controller? If I were to develop such a feature myself, is there a community or developer forum where I could consult with others?
Watch connectivity: Can Sailfish OS connect to a smartwatch? If so, which models are supported? This is a crucial feature for me.
Hardware & Protection: Is there a case for the Jolla phone that allows it to lie perfectly flat and stable on its back on a table? Also, how is the device’s durability regarding occasional small drops (approx. 1 meter)?
Disability Discount: I don’t want to encourage any misuse of your system or play for sympathy, but do you happen to offer any discount for persons with disabilities (approx. 10–20%)? If not, I completely understand and it’s not a problem. If yes, 20% is the maximum I would ask for; I’m not looking for more, as I don’t want to be a “burden” on the system.
Thank you for your time and answers.
EDITED:
I do not claim that is “godly key solving all problem”, but it is rare and useful for disabled like me.
(if it would be implemented to rotate/move fingers with one, it would be unique for mobile world, because even Samsung is short(bad) on 3D like fusion 2 fingers gesture)
I’m not aware of any “pinch zoom” functionality, although you can easily tweak Sailfish this would need to be implemented. A thread has been started about accessibility functionalities: Accessibility features
Watch connectivity: Can Sailfish OS connect to a smartwatch? If so, which models are supported? This is a crucial feature for me.
Various smartwatches are now supported. Check these links:
Soon Bluetooth on Android side will be supported, but this will first comes as a beta version and you need to be patient with Jolla
Disability Discount: I don’t want to encourage any misuse of your system or play for sympathy, but do you happen to offer any discount for persons with disabilities (approx. 10–20%)? If not, I completely understand and it’s not a problem. If yes, 20% is the maximum I would ask for; I’m not looking for more, as I don’t want to be a “burden” on the system.*
Never seen that here. You should contact Jolla directly.
As watch is crucial for you, I would imagine it to be better sit and see how good the bluetooth implemention is on android side. It shouldn’t be far community gets it so you can after ask around if someone could test your specific watch.
Jolla has said that they will provide case option. And that they will publish CAD models of the back cover and interface. This allows you to design and have perfect case for your needs. I would imagine that somekind of rubber cover would help to hold the phone in place for you. I think nobody yet knows about durability for sure. One thing to note about the extra protection cases is that sometimes those edges comes a little bit over the screen edge. These sometimes interfere with the swiping over the edge which Sailfish relies on. I would think this need to be taken on account for your needs so that protection cover don’t go over the screen edge.
Welcome here. Not silly at all. Tech can be especially helpful to differently abled persons. It should be. Sailfish is not (yet) as advanced as the duopoly so your questions are useful.
The camera has pinch to zoom feature, when a user “pinches”, I notice a slider (not interactive) appears at the top of the viewfinder.
A slider should be more useful in this case.
Perhaps when the user touches a point on screen, a slider appears allowing zooming in that region.
Or, a built in magnifier window that can be placed with one finger/nose/elbow. I made a magnifier but have yet to actually incorporate it into an app.
All of the above is doable i think but magnifier would need to be a topwindow level app making it available system wide.
I know that a lot of android (even outside Samsung) have magnifier (it is “ordinary” function) even manual pinch to zoom, but please look to video (in my post - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq81zzqqsCs), MENU simulated pinch to zoom I found only in Samsung - I do not claim that is “godly key solving all problem”, but it is rare and useful
For example (bad, but …) if you have sfs (game) or something 2/3D interaktive, common magnifier is useless in practical ways.
of course on 3D like fusion is even Samsung short(bad)…, but even therefore I ask … how it is
