Snow 12 By ZOOMAX - Digital Video Magnifier CCTV With OCR Text To Speech And A Touch Screen

[@LESTER7L1]

I LOVE this device SAM! Thanks so much! Sharing this on MY BLOG and other pages. Have a great weekend!

[@kimberlyhood5920]

This device is absolutely amazing.

[@remiwilkinson2837]

It would be helpful to see a demo using a book rather than a sheet of paper or magazine to assess its usability with books.

[@Invisible_Hermit]

It doesn't work.

[@FlorecitaFeliz]

Thanks for the information. I was looking for a portable devise. Thanks for your support for people with low vision. 👍🏻

[@MrOhgoodgolly]

One of what I call tbe most important feature of digital magnifiers including some of the under $200 models is that they can be connected to LARGE monitors etc. A HUGE help for my MD. I am surprised that the people that review some of them barely touch on this extremely useful feature. I ust got a demo model of the Snow 12 from Palmer Vision and love it. But, I also love my little cheap imported from China digital magnifier. I also bought a used 32 inch tv/monitor at Goodwill for $20 that I use in my woekship with the digital magnifiers.

[@MJ-tq7rn]

I missed it if you mentioned it. What is the approximate cost of the device?

[@theblindlife]

It's around $1000-0$1300 I believe

[@staciv.6801]

Thanks for the info on the digital magnifiers. I'm currenlty working with my low-vision doctor and the Commission for the Blind on getting som aids like this and it is great to see some other options. My eye doctor only had one option to look at and this one seems to be comparable in price with more of the features that I am looking for. Glad I did not go ahead an order that one from the doctor yet.

[@theblindlife]

Thanks Staci, It's tough, I wish it was possible to have centers that have most devices available so we could try them all and see what works best.

[@fahmidha6107]

Is this device come under the category of CCTV

[@utube2008utube]

How would it work with a small paperback book? Seems like it would be cumbersome to use with an open book vs a flat sheet of paper like you demo'd.

[@theblindlife]

Just like all digital magnifiers like this you could push through and do it, but it would be cumbersome like you are saying. I am a huge fan of audio books.

[@Invisible_Hermit]

It's about worthless for reading books. Mine is going back.

[@terri4482]

Thanks Sam. Without an xy table do you still have to move the reading material back and forth, or is the joystick able to completely scan the page?

[@theblindlife]

I’ll be answering this comment in the next talk back with the blind life video. It should be posted in a day or two.

[@johnmatthewdorion7855]

Could this device be used for drawing?

[@heidicook2395]

This is great! I have an old (20+ years) Optelec that is not as responsive, takes up a TON more space and isn't portable. I'll start saving now for when my Optelec finally kicks the bucket. Thanks for the informative reviews, they help me get an idea of what I would like to purchase in the future. QUESTION what size file can be saved? Does it only save one page at a time?

[@theblindlife]

Ugh, I'm 100% sure of the answers to that and I'm not at home to pull it out to test it to see. I'm guessing the website might have that info though. I THINK you can only save one page at a time.

[@heidicook2395]

@@theblindlife I was thinking that might be the answer. 🙁

[@anitafoust9019]

Awesome review! I wonder how much the speech speeds up.. I will reach out to the company.

[@theblindlife]

I'm doing a live stream this Saturday and will be answering questions about the Snow 12

[@cynthiahllywa4331]

Does the OCR on this device read hand printed text?

[@Invisible_Hermit]

So, for any of you thinking about buying one of these for reading books any bigger than paperbacks, DON'T waste your time. I bought one for the primary purpose of reading books, and it's a complete NO GO. With the kickstand, it wobbles around all over the place, and you'll have to constantly be moving it, which causes the picture to weird out, and distort. The large stand is great if all you're going to do is write, sew, file your nails.... whatever. But, there's just no room for a book of any decent size, as the supports preclude putting a reasonable sized book in the field of view. So, it's going back. Sam, if you're reading this, as others have commented, you need to demo these things using reasonable sized books for all us bibliophiles, my friend!

[@theblindlife]

Will do

[@remiwilkinson2837]

Thanks Sam. Where can one buy it and how much does it cost?

[@theblindlife]

Check the video description

[@christybauer7424]

Is there a manual focus option to facilitate writing?

[@theblindlife]

yes there is.

[@harpreetthind]

Would you recommend mercury 12 over this option Sam since I’m going to college in September and I’m gonna get the Mercury 12

[@theblindlife]

I’ll be answering this comment in the next talk back with the blind life video, it should come out in a day or two.

[@JoyinFlorida]

How does this compare to the looky 10? My dad needs one asap but not sure what to get? Hell only be reading the newspaper but will probably get a stand so he can do crosswords of he wants. No front camera or still shots are impirtant, just reading via magnifyer and text contrast is important as well. Thanks in advance if you have a preferred easy to use model as hes has MD and is getting those "shots" in his eyes...ALSO...do any of these allow for a wall plug in, possibly when using? I may have missed that when you went over the chargers?

[@theblindlife]

When it comes to magnification , all of these perform pretty much the same. So, I tell people that you're really buying it based on the extra features. In your dad's case , if he doesn't need extra fancy features then I would recommend picking up the cheapest one . In the 12 inch range, the Snow is the one I usually recommend. Mainly because of that extra stand that allows you to write underneath it. Regarding the charging , pretty much all of them will let you use the device while it's plugged into an outlet .

[@JoyinFlorida]

@@theblindlife Thanks for that input! I found the looky 10, refurbished from the website you linked, at 799 so I snatched it up. BUT...they don't have the stand and I've looked EVERYWHERE. He said they may come back in so I guess I'll wait, but I wish I had known they were so hard to find before I ordered. Fingers crossed he likes it anyway, atleast he'll be able to read the newspaper...hopefully 🤞

[@stacycervenka174]

What reasonably priced digital magnifier or CCTV would people recommend for reading books?

[@jonathonperino8681]

Hi Sam. I got the Humanware 12 Connect in late 2020..it uses the Androud PS which is slow and clunjy but the OCR is accurate and the voucwe is high qquality..Downside? the USB connects to PC but can't charge from it??? it needs the AC adapter to charge and the cord is short and the plug in is tiny and you can't get an aftermarket AC adapter to fit readily..The biggest annowyance is it oftern starts in Androud mode and no magnification to get out of it so it is frustrating and also I cna't easly set my iphone under it as the image at max mag is unstable so dealing with my blind apps is also difficuly if not run bvy SIRI..I like the snow and will investigate it.. PSL the battery can;t be changed on my device...

[@davidhartline9172]

Hi Sam, is it USB C for power and data out or is the power cable “special”

[@theblindlife]

It's not USB type C, I unfortunately don't know what it's called, it's cylindrical and fairly common.

[@davidhartline9172]

Does this device require WiFi for OCR?

[@theblindlife]

No, it does not connect to Wifi.

[@connierifenburg9758]

Can you print to a wireless printer?

[@theblindlife]

No, you can only connect to a computer to transfer files.

[@myeflatley1150]

Magnifies up to 19x. The Explore 12 goes up to 30x.

[@t.sureshbabu212]

Thanks for good information. I want portable device. Please let me know how can I get portable digital magnifier through charity

[@dustintheblindminnesotan]

How can you afford all this technology that you review?

[@funkspinna]

He didn't purchase this item. It was sent to him by the company in exchange for the review.

[@theblindlife]

Yeah, I don't buy any of the big expensive items i show on the channel.

[@theblindlife]

@@funkspinna Unfortunately I don't get to keep it either!

[@dustintheblindminnesotan]

@@theblindlife so do you have to pay 💰 for the shipping costs to get it back to the company?

[@funkspinna]

@@theblindlife Thanks for clarifying. Thank you for the work you do for the community!

[@davidbendall7919]

This thing is way too complicated.