The Week’s News in Access Technology
Distributed by Flying Blind, LLC
http://www.flying-blind.com/
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Povidi Announces the Availability of the SoundPost Orientation System For North American Customers
On November 3rd Povidi NZ LTD announced the availability of the SoundPost Orientation System for customers who live in North America. SoundPost is the first orientation solution of its kind offering vision impaired customers an unparalleled means of safely identifying a desired location while traveling throughout their community. SoundPost consists of a hand controller that the user holds to locate strategically placed base stations which can be mounted to doorways, light posts, ambiguous bus stops, etc.
For additional information, or to purchase a SoundPost Hand Controller (US$175), Base Station (US$195), or a Kit which includes 1 Hand Controller and 2 Base Stations (US$545), simply visit http://www.flying-blind.com/ and select the appropriate “Add to Cart” button.
Greetings,
News
1.) New Accessibility Features in Firefox 3.6
Firefox 3.6 will have a host of new accessibility features.
http://tinyurl.com/ylzzsty
2.) CWDO Webinar on Mobile Devices
Here is he archive from July’s CWDO’s webinar session on mobile devices, cell phones and the basics of what you should know as a person with a disability when looking to get a mobile device – with a Canadian flavor:
http://www.ideal-group.org/cwdo/090626/
3.) NFB Podcast Comparing the Mac and PC
The people at the NFB’s National Technology Center have gathered with an additional participant to produce a podcast entitled Comparison of the Mac and Pc User Experience.
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Audio/OS_Windows-Mac.mp3
4.) Tweetymail Email Interface to Twitter
Tweetymail is an e-mail interface to Twitter which some find to be very useful:
http://tweetymail.com/
5.) Tactile Access to the iPhone Is Here
The November, 2009 issue of the Braille Monitor contains an article entitled Tactile access to the iPhone is here.
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm09/bm0910/bm091005.htm
6.) Guidelines for Accessible iTunes U Media
The National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH has written guidelines for content providers who would like to create accessible iTunes U media via captions, subtitles and audio descriptions.
http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/wgbh.org.2010579900
7.) The BrailleNote Apex Ships in December
Humanware announces that its new notetaker, the much smaller and thinner BrailleNote Apex, will ship in December.
http://hcamarketing.cmail3.com/t/y/l/ujykhr/yhjdjtlyr/t
8.) Two Opportunities to Learn About the Apex
Two opportunities are coming up to listen to information about the Apex. First, on GMT Saturday, 14 November at 02:00, Marlaina will interview Humanware staff on ACB Radio.
http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream
Next, this device will be the topic for Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 17 November at 01:00 GMT.
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2
9.) HumanWare and the Intel Reader
Humanware has also announced that it has allied with Intel, and is one of the distributors for, the new Intel Reader, a portable device for scanning and reading documents.
http://hcamarketing.cmail1.com/t/y/l/ujoul/yhjdjtlyr/y
10.) Serotek’s View of the Intel Reader
Not everybody within or without the blind community who has analyzed the Intel Reader thinks it is a step forward or a particularly good deal, as this post from the Serotek blog articulates:
http://blog.serotek.com/2009/11/what-i-think-about-intel-reader.html
11.) Safari Computer Books for Subscribers
Safari makes computer-related books available electronically for a subscription. this is a link to an accessible version of their site for subscribers:
http://www.safaribooksonline.com/access
12.) Review of Sound Forge Pro 10
Here is a review, not concerning accessibility, of Sony’s sound editor Sound Forge Pro 10.
http://tinyurl.com/yb63enq
13.) Lighthouse Seminar: Build Your Own Website
Build Your Own Website! is the topic for the next quarterly accessibility seminar at the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco, on Friday, 4 December at 21:00 GMT. To gain access to the online or phone conference broadcasts of the session, e-mail
info@lighthouse-sf.org
14.) CarrollTech Course on ZoomText for Beginners
The Carroll Center announces a new course available from CarrollTech, ZoomText for Beginners.
http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/a7f6f6fd4312a3c62dc98cb4c83fdffb?pa=342416301
15.) Accessible Rockbox MP3 Player from Accessibleelectronics.com
Accessibleelectronics.com is selling an off-the-shelf MP3 player, modified using the Rockbox riemware to make it accessible and add to its original features. the expandable 8GB player sells for $79.99.
http://www.accessibleelectronics.com/Specials.html
16.) A Case for the BookSense
You can now get a case for the BookSense players.
https://www.gwmicro.com/Catalog/BookSense/?moreInfo=7200-328
17.) The Capten Voice-Activated GPS Device
Independent Living Aids is the first US dealer for the Capten voice-activated GPS device, which costs $475 and also plays fm radio and holds 1 gig of MP3 files.
http://www.independentliving.com/prodinfo.asp?number=240460&utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=7159611&utm_campaign=ila%20-%20Introducing%20the%20World%27s%20First%20Voice%20Controlled%20GPS%20System
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