Tuesday 28 June 2016

Talking Tech for June 28 2016

VFO group adding AI Squared

 

I’m not sure what the implications of this will be, but now e have a single company selling the two major screen readers: JAWS and Window-Eyes, and the two major screen magnification programs: Zoomtext and MAGic.  Then we have OpenBook as well plus all the low vision hardware from FS and Optalec.

 

http://www.freedomscientific.com/About/News/Article/167 

Conferences coming up in the US and the UK

 

National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Convention June 30 to July 5 2016

 

https://nfb.org/convention 

ACB Conference and Convention July 1-9 2016

 

http://acb.org/2016program 

Sight Village Conferences Uk 

 

Various dates and locations: July, September, and November in the uK.

 

http://www.sightvillage.co.uk 

This App Makes the iPhone or iPad Accessible for Deaf Blind People: 

Open Access Captions

 

Developed by the Brisbane-based Conexu Foundation, the app directly connects callers via a live captioner so that phone conversations can be read as they happen.

 

Currently in trial, use app (free) to indicate interest in the trial or email hello@conexu.com.au.

 

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/06/this-app-makes-your-smartphone-accessible-for-deafblind-people/ 

9Now on the Apple TV

 

Finally got a useful live or replay shows app on the Apple TV, 9Now use is quite usable.

The only issue I had was when trying to sign up via the iOS app the agree to privacy agreement checkbox wasn’t accessible, so ended up doing the signup to get a 9Now profile via the website.

 

 

Creating a Shortcut file for Mac/Win to open webpages

 

I’ve been asked this over the years, and only rediscovered this in the last week or so when I got several questions about the same thing.

 

Very very easy: simply create a file with two lines: [InternetShortCut] URL=“insertWebLink” without the aquotes, and save as a text file with the .url extension.

Note - if your using Textedit on the Mac, turn the rtf Textedit in to a text file via Shift+Command+T.

Monday 13 June 2016

Talking Tech for June 14 2016

Here are my quick notes for The Apple WWDC 2016.  I have included a link after each section that will take you to the Apple preview page for that section.

 

A surprise at the end of this post regarding some audio described content.

 

Watch V3

Faster launching, of apps.

Faster accessing of recently used apps.

Faster replying.

new activity clock face and Numerals clock face.

easy clock face switching.

Making it easier to call emergency services internationally.

Enhancements to the Activity and workout apps.

Activity and workout apps now for  wheel chair users: rolls rather than steps.

New Breathing app.

 

http://www.apple.com/watchos-preview/

 

TV OS

 

Updated Remote app for Apple tv including Siri support.

Searching by topics with Siri.

Dark mode on the Apple tv.

When downloading an app on iOS, will now download on Apple tv.

Single sign on for multiple subscription services.

 

http://www.apple.com/tvos-preview/ 

 

OS X

 

OS X changed to Mac OS.

New version of Mac OS Sierra.

Better continuity including auto unlock from Apple watch, universal clipboard between iOS/Os X., and desktop icons now available on other Macs.

Optimising storage.

Apple pay brought to safari on the web securing via the iPhone touch ID..

Siri will now be on the Mac: search files, search the web, sending messages, finding movies etc.

 

http://www.apple.com/macos/sierra-preview/

 

iOS 10

 

Better notifications on lock screen with 3d touch.

Siri - better functionality and opening up Siri to developers. 

Keyboarding - beter predictive text functionality.

Enhancements to [Photos, and Maps.

Redesigned News, and Music apps. 

Home Kit now has its own app: Home.

Phone - voice transcriptions of voice mails.  VOIP integration to recents and favourites, lock screen etc. 

Messages -  Emoji   suggestions  from words you type. Richer links.  Faster responses to messages. Opening up Messages to developers.

 

http://www.apple.com/ios/ios10-preview/

 

Swift Playgrounds for iPad

 

Learn to code with this new app on iPad: will be VoiceOver accessible.

 

http://www.apple.com/swift/playgrounds/

 

Availability of the New Updates

All previews of TV OS, Mac OS, watch OS and iOS available for developers from today with full 

release this Fall in the US (Spring in Australia).

 

Watch the Apple Keynote from Apple’s Event page

 

http://www.apple.com/apple-events/june-2016/


Apple Leading the Way Again in Making Two of Their Promo Movies Audio Described


I think this may be a first for any mainstream company: have a listen to the iOS 10 intro, and how  developers got in to coding.  Will ned to play these through Safari on iOs or Safari on Mac.


iOS 10 Intro

 

Watch the film

 

How Developers Got in to Coding

        Watch the film about how developers got their start.       

 

NV-Access Announces the next Update of NVDA 16.02.

 

One of the great outstanding features with this update is the announcement of a mis-spelled word when typing.

 

http://www.nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2016-2-released/

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Talking Tech for June 7 2016

WWDC 2016 June 13-17

 

Apple’s developer conference is coming yup on June 13. A number of possible things that may be announced besides the fact that it’s a developers conference, the same as Google iO may include:

Developer previews of: iOS V10, OS X 10.12 with Siri integration, Siri SDK for iOs allowing Siri to be integrated into 3rd party apps, new Apple watch and TV os.  

Along with these software releases, we could expect new MacBooks to be announced.

 

Albert (Accessible) EFTPOS Terminal from the Commonwealth Bank

 

The following is a link to a demo I did of the Android training tutorial on how to use the accessible pin entry function on the Albert EFTPOS terminal.

Note - you will have to get the merchant to turn the accessible mode on.

 

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/mf/web/enbg75/Albert.mp3

 

BrailleNote Touch from Humanware Now Available

 

A free tutorial from Mystic Access on the BrailleNote Touch

 

http://www.mysticaccess.com/index.php?sc_page=108 

 

Go to the Humanware home page for info and price ($7.495):

 

http://www.humanware.com/en-australia/home 

 

Sonosthesia The Guide to Setting up Sonos from a Blind Persons Perspective

 

An excellent guide on how to setup and use the Sonos speaker system.

 

http://mosen.org/sonos/ 

 

Top Ten Mac Apps 

 

My most used Mac apps.

 

AirFoil,

Amadeus Pro,

Audio Hijack,

iTunes,

Docuscan,

Mars Edit,

Messages,

Music Healing,

Skype,

Twitter,