The quick recommendation: EqualEyes gives speech access in older phones and comes pre-configured but is very expensive. Seniors phone is a neat simplified package, my personal favourite is still Big Launcher.
The longer answer:
As well as Big Launcher, there are a number of launchers which have been designed for the vision impaired or elderly, most of which try to make the interface as simple as possible and in many cases restrict the features you can access easily. Because of this, I would recommend them to someone who really needs a simplified phone, with other features hidden from use.
EqualEyes Accessibility – $64 (Free 30 day demo) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.equaleyes
EqualEyes comes completely pre-configured. It has three screens with two columns of five icons already setup. The icons are about 14mm high, single colour (green by default) and the launcher automatically uses Talkback speech. One great feature for speech users is that it implements its own ‘explore by touch’ which means that it’s completely useable without sight even on Android 2.x. It also includes an OCR app built in, phone book, dialler, call log, messages, weather, ‘Where Am I?’ and more. The font varies from 9pt for the icon labels, up to 34pt for messages. The biggest drawback for many will be that a 2 year license is an in-app purchase for $64. The demo works for 30 days.
OdinHome by Colin A Jones – Free – https://play.google.com/store/search?q=odinhome&c=apps
A basic single screen, which gives you access to a few of the phone’s default key functions (though some of the buttons didn’t work on my Note II). It does give you access to the all apps list, though not in large print and nothing else is modified – it also only displayed on about ¾ of my screen. With Talkback, text labels (calendar and applications) are read but other buttons are unlabelled.
Fontrillo, the Easy phone – Free (Beta), full version released soon – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fontrillo
10 screens & an SOS button: settings & Quit, Memo, Flashlight, Camera, Gallery, clock, contacts, messages, dialler and call log. Font sizes range from about 10pt in call log received time, to 18pt for the name of the caller. Works well in many areas with Talkback, but not all buttons are labelled.
Phonotto Simple Phone Seniors – Free – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gammapps.SimplePhone
A single screen with clock, three contacts shortcuts, dialler, call log and text message functions. Text sizes vary – Text message contact is about 28pt but the message itself is only 14pt. Using Talkback, buttons are listed twice when swiping (once as simply “button” and once named correctly), otherwise seemed to work ok.
Seniors Phone by Mobili – Free – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.simplymobile.simplephone
A single screen with buttons to call contacts or send pre-set text messages, including location information or SOS message. Weather, time and battery also displayed on screen. Most details are in 16pt. With Talkback, most buttons have visual text labels and work well although several image only like the ‘back’ button read simply as button).
Phone for Elderly People by App Maker It – Free demo, full version costs $2.37 – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=peplite.b4a
One screen with up to six big buttons to directly call contacts, however the setup screens are in about 8pt. With Talkback, the main buttons read, but battery status etc don’t read.
Summary
EqualEyes looks promising though the price is very steep and the fonts vary in size. Most of the others here are much more restricted and also vary in font sizes. Seniors Phone is a great neat package for what it does. Personally for many large print users I’d still recommend Big Launcher.
22 Point Blog! 