Monday, 24 June 2013

Talking Tech for June 25th 2013

Update to Apple's accessibility page


Both the Accessibility and the Special Education pages on 

 

apple.com

 

have been completely redone to bring them up to date and more in line with the rest of the larger Apple site….  In addition, the resource page has also been updated.

 

Apple - Accessibility

 
 
Apple - Special Education
 
 
Apple - Resources
 
 
Great to see, and a reconfirmation of Apple's commitment to accessibility.


Apple TV update for 2nd/3d generation Apple TVs (5.3)

Updated my Apple TV today to find two new subscription channels: Qello and Crunchyroll.

 

Crunchyroll has over 20.000 videos and 10.000 hours of anime, Korean live drama and live action titles.

 

Qello is a streaming on demand service for HD concert films and music documentaries spanning from the 1920's to now.

 

You can subscribe to a 7 day trial for either  subscription channel directly from the Apple TV by just putting in an email address.  Just remember to cancel subscription if you don't want to continue via your iTunes account.

 

The update notes on Apple's support website:

 

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4448

 

also mentioned other channels including HBO Go, ESPN, and Sky News, but I guess due to licensing agreements etc, these are not available in Australia.

 

The other item in this update was reliability improvements in signing in to the iTunes store and playing purchased content.

 

It is good to see new channels coming to the Apple TV, just wish there was more channels to choose from in Australia.  Then again, I can always AirPlay ABC iView  or the BBC iPlayer apps from my iPad on to the Apple TV.

 

The iPhones Marimba ring tone has been made in to a music video from Cult of Mac:

 

This is just geeky cool.

 

http://www.cultofmac.com/232916/the-iphones-marimba-ringtone-was-made-into-a-music-video/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

 

Youtube link to the Marimba music video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=208VXVIVfzU

 

Seven great works that inspired geeks to change the world from ReadWrite:

 

These works include: NeuroMancer by William Gibson, The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner, Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C Clark, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, and Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson.

 

Sadly, I've only read 3 out of these 7: I, Robot, A Stranger in a Strange  Land, and Hyperion.

 

Actually thinking about science fiction, and quotable quotes, my most favourite  one is from Arthur C Clark:

 

"Any sufficiently  advanced technology, is indistinguishable from Magic."

 

Wonder if that is why the iPad when it first came out was so magical (smile).

 

http://readwrite.com/2013/06/21/7-great-works-that-inspired-geeks-to-change-the-world#awesm=~o9Dw3oBSzrpwJP

 

BBC issues Mobile Accessibility Guidelines from Net Magazine:

 

This draft document for both web and mobile accessibility looks quite interesting, plus evaluation points so that developers can work out if they have hit the target or not.

 

http://www.netmagazine.com/news/bbc-issues-mobile-accessibility-guidelines-132831

 

The BBC Draft Guidelines themselves:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/futuremedia/accessibility/

 

Schools in the US told to step up teaching Braille to students who are blind or low vision from Disability Scoop:

 

Wonder if this would be the same in Australia.

 

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/06/21/with-braille-schools/18205/

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