Microsoft Soundscape Reviews

The idea of sound navigation aid is ingenious. However, MicrosoftSoundscape comes short in almost every aspect of its implementation. MicrosoftSoundscape is not functional without a network connection. No way to download regions for offline navigation. MicrosoftSoundscape can't even determine your location when you're offline. MicrosoftSoundscape is not able to navigate along a previously recorded route. It can only navigate to a single point -beacon. There is neither a way to automatically navigate along a string of predefined beacons. Markers are great, however, you never know how close you need to be to a given market to hear about its proximity. For some markers you really want to be close, for others, you just may want to know that they are near.
MicrosoftSoundscape claims to be mostly for people with impaired vision. It doesn't have to be. It could be used to navigate in dense forests, in the dark, in the fog or snow storm. Sound navigation clearly has much larger potential. Actually, one has to wonder if this kind of sound navigation is not severely limiting audio stream a person with reduced vision needs to proced in order to stay safe in a busy city environment. The constant sound distraction coming from MicrosoftSoundscape could prevent its user from, let's say hearing a incoming car when crossing a street. What is also very frustrating is that there is nobody listening to user feedback. Well. That's a normal large corporation way.

I am blind and this is the first time I have had access to a any form of "street preview." For the first time ever, I can use VR to explore my neighborhood. Before Street preview, I could get a list of directions from a starting point to a destination, but I could not explore the map directly. I once rote a program in Ruby that let me explore a map of where I lived by entering commands like "move" and "turn" like a text-based game. Soundscape's Street Preview is better than that program in several ways. The binaural sound causes me to visualize the shapes of the intersections instead of having to parse a bunch of words and remember where I am going at the same time. I am unimpressed by most attempts at VR which both exclude me and fail to consider the use of sound. MicrosoftSoundscape is obviously well thought out and well researched, and it liberates me of needing a person to show me how to get places. Thank you.

I have been using MicrosoftSoundscape for the past two days, and overall, I enjoy it a lot. The virtual navigation mode is great for it allows you to explore communities worldwide. And I enjoy the audio beacon feature as well. If MicrosoftSoundscape had turn by turn directions within MicrosoftSoundscape without the use of third-party applications, and could alert you of upcoming intersections, say within 150 feet of the intersection, I think MicrosoftSoundscape would be even more useful to others. Thanks so much for its creation.

Testing out for a visually-impaired loved one. Concept is amazing and very exciting, but still has a ways to go. Often too slow/late on announcing intersections in downtown Manhattan, which is disappointing as this is the most appealing feature of MicrosoftSoundscape for navigation. Would be nice to be able to further categorize callouts. Biggest request: Please please please enable audio ducking or some kind of volume control for the voice! VIP like listening to music etc while walking just like the rest of us, and it’s not currently possible with extreme volume difference between voice and most music. Also, PLEASE consider pairing with or implementing Bose AR support in the near future (Bose Frames, etc)—with that increased spatial accuracy, this could be an amazing pairing!

I am visually impaired and thought I’d try out MicrosoftSoundscape. It’s a great concept but here are some problems I’ve noticed. First, I tried using it at an outdoor shopping outlet, but Soundscape wouldn’t recognize individual stores within the outlet and would only direct me to the outlet itself and the shops on the very outside of it. Another issue I had was with malls. I used it at my local mall and it cannot pinpoint the stores within the mall. I tried to set my own beacon in a specific store, but MicrosoftSoundscape doesn’t work in a multi-level building. I was on the second floor and MicrosoftSoundscape didn’t recognize that and didn’t direct me to stairs. As a visually impaired person, I know that navigating through a mall can be difficult and MicrosoftSoundscape isn’t much help.

I love the concept , but there are still alot of bugs on my end. So to start I use a2ed Gen. and a i phone 7. I also use bluetooth glasses with these.
I love the beacon , left and right beeps. It also tells us what direction to head, but not what direction we are facing.
Two other issues I have are; the beacon falls off 50 feet before the marker. There has been no improvement here in atleast 2 years. And lastly , this I have reached out to the Soundscape Team and still have issues with. When using the routes, I still miss markers, and have to circle back to hit the marker.
So lets be honest, its become more confusing. I would like to see it get better. Thanks

....in that way it’s a 5 star app. But it’s not perfect yet. It gets confused a lot which way you’re facing. (probably a hardware issue). Ideally it should work with the phone in my pocket but the phone’s compass doesn’t work well that way....the hardware issue.

The interface is a little confusing and it’s not always clear which app mode you should select by default and when / why you would use one of the other modes.

One suggestion:
MicrosoftSoundscape is very useful when you are in an unfamiliar place, especially in a place where you should keep your phone out of sight. Being able to utilize headset remote functions to control MicrosoftSoundscape would be helpful. i.e. tie the headset remote fast forward function to trigger a one shot what’s around me when running in what’s ahead of me mode

I use SoundScape in a rural environment. Many streets do not have sidewalks. Therefore, my guide dog and I are concentrating on what is immediately underfoot, not surroundings It's nice to hear intersecting and paralell streets. And, when get the chance, time and motivation? We explore and I take mental notes on streets which do have sidewals.
Beacons are also a must, but I wish someday for a way of limiting beacons to only a few hundred feet, not miles away.

This developer is very Receptive of feedback. However, I would love to have turn by turn directions in this application. I don’t want to be forced to have to open two apps just to get that job done. Please fix this as soon as possible.

I am blind, and I use Microsoft soundscapes to help me explore my neighborhood, and any new areas I go to, it announces the streets and points of interest. Also I can set markers to help me locate bus stops and other points of interest, thank you Microsoft I appreciate the effort you use to keep the top running. I use open ear headphones such as aftershocks and bows frames

I work as an O&M instructor with people who are blind and have visually impairments and I’m loving MicrosoftSoundscape! Biggest wish is that we could add beacons based on dropping a pin on a map and then re-labeling it instead of having address as label. For reference points, sometimes you need breadcrumbs and you can’t do that unless you know addresses or businesses along your route.

MicrosoftSoundscape is great but every time I relaunch, it says ‘We are having trouble finding your current location.” Please fix this issue I am someone who is visually impaired and and walk on my own a lot. I would gladly use MicrosoftSoundscape if the issue were resolved. MicrosoftSoundscape is great, very accurate but incredibly frustrating and annoying at the same time. Thank you.

This is a great amazing app. I understand that its new and beta stage but what i do not understand is why this is not available for iwatches? I was so excited when i tried this out on my iPhone and was so amazed that i thought, ok now i have to get an iwatch! It is a huge pain using my white cane and iphone at the same time. Why no iwatch support?

I just really have gotten attached to Soundscape.
I have used it in Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, and Valley City ND. It functions well in all of those places. Not perfect, but other similar services are not nearly as accurate and give one the information to travel independently in different outdoor environments.
Jim Klein
Jamestown, ND

Many good features. Wish there was turn by turn navigation options within app. And ability to share markers with community.

I would like to make an effusive congratulations to the creators of the Microsoft Soundscape App.

I have tried the new version with the Bose Frames and the experience is brilliant!

You are creating something very useful and disruptive to help the visually-impaired people and you are achieving this thanks to a powerful and simple totally new concept.

A very very BIG congratulations.

I hope with the effort of all, we can create a more inclusive and accessible better world for everybody.

Javier Pita - CEO NaviLens Technology

Nice to use on iPhone but no iPad version? Can’t download it on iPad.

It is awesome to hear what’s around me. My wife and I will be using this a lot. It would be nice to have turn by turn directions built right into MicrosoftSoundscape though.

MicrosoftSoundscape is very amazing. But can you add some features? Number one can you please add a feature so that people can navigate through buildings? Another thing, make it so we can listen to music while we are using it please. Thank you.

Delayed when above jogging speed

Simplify even more on everything with featured better search options for any keyword.

This has worked wonders for friends with visual Disabilities, it also helped me when I need help walking somewhere new. Works amazing.

I really want to like MicrosoftSoundscape and I like the idea of it but something is really messed up. It will announce the streets ahead correct but if the street is on the right it says left and if I am heading south it’s says I am heading north. Please work on MicrosoftSoundscape because it has great potential.

Latest update seems to have broken app. Goes to a screen that asks you to activate motion and fitness. However if you do that there was no place to activate motion and fitness. Also cannot close the screen. Does not appear to be anyway to get back to sound scape home screen. Please fix MicrosoftSoundscape!

This will radically change the lives of those with visual impairment. Kudos.