Thanks Sc, I didn't realize the aftershock earphones were actually a specialist thing specifically designed for access.

I've found them online and 74 squid isn't as terrible for anything access related as it might be, not considering that a semi decent set of bluetooth earphones could go as high as fifty. It would be nice though if either there is a podcast or someone could describe the sound clarity on them, sinse while I've read all the guff on the sound n sight website, obviously they're not going to be non biased and I have been in a position previously where a supposedly easy to use and semi bug free product designed for the blind didn't exactly work out as expected, and sinse the physiology of these is something I've obviously not tried before I would rather get as much info as possible.

With satnavs, the rnib one was just one I mentioned, if there is another recommendation. I only sighted the rnib thing because it was specifically useful, also if the monthly subscription isn't too horrible it might work albeit I much prefer things like blind square that have a streight, one off price.

I might check applevis for some podcasts about the rnib thing plus any others.

@Locutus, well by a rather nice coincidence, I learnt today that the local society for the blind where my parents are are happening to have an exhibition, and humanware are attending. They specifically mentioned the aftershock earphones in their promotional material, so I will get a chance to try some there, not to mention checking victor stream compatibility, indeed I'm going to phone humanware on monday and make sure they're bringing them.

The local society are generally so and so on usefulness but occasionally they have their uses, albeit that they have the worst name ever, they're called my sight! yes, a society for the blind is called My sight!

I can just see the great messages now "sorry my sight is closed", or when they're website is down "My sight's site is not functional" (does that make you doubly blind), ---- oooh, the puns they do be endless!

@Locutus, I remember it was mentioned that the Rnib satnav was basically just a renamed version from another country, so it is entirely possible that the seeing eye program you mention is the same one, particularly sinse the term "seeing eye" with reference to guidance is a specifically American one and not used in Britain. "seeing eye dog" is one that always amuses me as a name for a guide dog, ---- so all other dogs have unseeing eyes do they? .

Then again the rnib satnav might have been another one, I'm genuinely unsure which is why I'd appreciate a comment on the subject, indeed I'm not tied to the rnib satnav specifically, anything that is good at walking routes and telling you when to turn or what roads to cross etc would do the trick really, I just recall someone on this forum mentioning that the rnib one was surprisingly good, albeit it was good due to being a program rename for the Uk rather than because the Rnib themselves had done anything more than market the name and get paid (well so what is new).

Honestly, I'm fine with the built in Apple maps for directions. I've even found Google maps to be accessible and free on the iPhone for looking up directions ahead of time. Siri is more for in the moment walking. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with good old SIRI. You can even give her instructions like, "Get walking directions to A street and B street," and she'll find the intersection. She got me right up close to a bookstore I wanted, and helped me find my way out of a neighborhood park to a near-by intersection I knew. Just specify walking directions to her.

The only thing that doesn't work so well is shopping plazas. I don't know how big those are in the UK. I mean like a strip mall, or one giant block of buildings all crammed together into basically one building with a bunch of shops snuggled up right together with no space between. For instance, a big shopping plaza might be located at 123 South Cherry street, but the nail salon might be 123 S Cherry Street, suite K, which is the same address, but actually you have to follow the sidewalk around the corner of the building. The maps don't get that specific. They just get you to the main address.

Otherwise, SIRI serves me well, and I haven't seen the need to get a 3rd party app for directions. Now location, environment, that's a whole other deal. BlindSquare, Ariadne, that Sendero Lookaround free app, those are a different arena.

Interesting, the different ways we characterize programs. Our talking microwave has a female voice, so I would say, "She's too damn happy."

As for your question, SIRI will give you directions as you go, like a car's GPS does. "In 50 feet, turn left onto S Mason street." "In 60 feet, the destination is on your left." She won't say things like what street you're coming up to, just directions such as, "In a quarter mile, turn right onto north College avenue." She won't tell you that there's a street between you and there, or how close the street is. You'll have to anticipate street crossings on your own. Google maps is more for listing out the whole route before hand, but again, it doesn't do street crossings. I'm having trouble getting Apple maps to show me all the directions at once, so that's why I use Google. Apple maps will speak on its own as you go, but you can also review the directions with voiceover. IF you're approaching the destination, the auto speech might only call out at 60 feet, but you can use voiceover to read as you hit 50, 40, 30... so on. Sorry for my American measurements!

Adding on to this, my method of attacking a new route is to really look it up good on Google maps first. I know the layout of my city pretty well, so I just need to know what streets to look for. If I'm in a new place, I might use something like Ariadne or BlindSquare on the way to tell me the names of the streets I'm approaching between my starting point and destination. I can remember the directions, so it's not so much SIRI I need on the way as landmarks. Where am I, what is this address? Am I close? Heading the right direction? Am I on the right street? Apple maps doesn't do that.