We’re calling it Sero. On the surface, it’s going to be a universal experience that will bring together our software services under a single app. “Sero,” after all, means “connected,” so it only made sense to develop an interface that will keep you connected across different platforms. It’s the first time in assistive technology history that users can enjoy a consistent user experience regardless of whether you’re on Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, or Apple TV.

The move to a single app means a great foundation for upward mobility. We can now deploy faster updates across the board. It means voice chat and text chat at home on your computer or on the road via your smartphone. It means the ability to download content from our ever expanding library, starting a movie on your Mac or PC and finishing it up on your tablet. You’ll be able to better rate, share, and favorite the content you want and lots more!

Yes, there will be some changes. For one thing, you’ll note we have done away with the System Access Browser. We’re no longer exclusive to Internet Explorer. Sero makes room for the kind of choices everyone else enjoys at their keyboard, but the intuitive nature of DocuScan Plus, System Access, and the former SAMNet will not be lost. Experts and novices alike will be able to immediately learn and leverage all the tools you’ve come to love and rely on for work and personal leisure.

We’re very excited about this step in our development. We think it has a lot of promise and is one more sign that times for the traditional assistive technology industry really have changed.

And, we would love for you to be a part of the final stretch of the development. We want you to be a beta tester. You’ll be among the first to kick the tires on our new universal app, and as long as you’re a participant in the beta program, you’re going to be able to enjoy all our services completely free of charge, but please sign up now because there is a limited number of seats to hand out. Please note the beta program will launch Sunday, May 8.

Ready? Join us in this next chapter of our persistent growth!

If you celebrate Christmas, may it be a merry one indeed!

Regardless of your holiday adherences, remember the gifts should be the least of our priorities. The most lasting bonds and memories are forged among friends and family, and we here at Serotek are glad to count you among our own. If it should happen that misfortune greeted you this past year in any shape, please accept our sympathies and our desire for you to experience a lift of spirit in the New Year.

Yours as always,

Your Friends at Serotek

What is DocuScan Plus?

DocuScan Plus, or DSP, is your affordable gateway to the written word. There are excellent mobile apps that let you snap pictures of items to read text, and while amazingly convenient, you sometimes need the efficiency of a dedicated computer app to consume books, brochures, bank statements, manuals, and important documents without fretting over camera views and proper angles.

Every technology has a time and place. With DSP, we’ve taken what you know about using a computer and created an intuitive means of converting print to spoken audio. Each upgrade brings a new wave of features and improvements.

Introducing DocuScan Plus V3.0

Is the new upgrade worth it? Well, check out these new features:

• You can count on clearer text results with the help of an updated OCR engine.

  • With the new DSP, it’s possible to grab your favorite bestseller from Bookshare right from within the DSP application.

    • Rely on nimble navigation of large files with better heading detection and place marking.

      • Speaking of large files, launching and navigating PDF files is now a breeze.

        • Want to convert between formats? We heard you, and now you can convert text to DAISY, MP3, or Braille, and store them in the cloud; formats include: .epub, .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt, .html

          • Now it’s even easier for you to open image files, including: .jpg, .png, .tiff, .gif, .bmp

            • Why launch an OCR application and then open a file when you can open files in DSP directly from Windows Explorer?

              • Do you find yourself switching between Mac and PC? Well, you’ll be pleased to know there’s now better consistency in functionality and UI between the Windows and Mac versions of DSP.

                • Don’t you hate it when other OCR products make you put your screen reader of choice to sleep? We’re partial to System Access, but we know you may disagree so feel free to use DSP in conjunction with the Windows screen reader you prefer.

                  • The new DSP comes with OCR for other languages, including: Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (including Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish

                  Download the Windows installer here.

                  Download the OSX installer here.

                  A Month of Discounts
                  

                  OpenBook and Kurzweil 1000, the other OCR options, cost $995. To each his own. At Serotek we work hard at developing solid performers without breaking the bank. The regular price for DSP is $299, and unlike our competition, we even give you payment options to make our lower price even easier to digest.

                  But, wait; in this month of July, we’re going to sweeten the pot even further.

                  Get your copy of the new DSP for only $249! Ready? Get the installers for your PC or Mac.

                  Can we do better? You betcha! Because you can get the new DSP for only $199 if you also take advantage of our discount on System Access.

                  Through the month of July, get your copy of System Access for only $299. At home, in school, and on the job, System Access is your key to popular applications. System Access Standalone lets you install full versions of the software on two computers. Stay on top of your e-mail inbox. Take control of PowerPoint presentations. Balance spreadsheet records. Read and write comprehensive reports, and navigate the web with the confidence of a seasoned professional. It’s your digital life after all. Own it!

                  In short, you get two great products for $498.

                  Accessibility Really is Anywhere
                  

                  So, let’s recap up to this point. DSP normally costs $299. Right now you can purchase it for $249. If you also want to buy System Access, you can own it now for $299, 25% off the normal price, which also means you can buy DSP for $199. Remember this is only good through July 31.

                  Surely it can’t get better than this? Actually, it can, because you do remember our kitchen sink deal, right?

                  Accessibility Anywhere is the perfect toolkit for a balanced life of work and play on your Windows machine, Mac and iOS devices. Pick and choose from the growing features of a screen reader, an OCR app, and a combined social network and multimedia library to stay on top of your job and special interests no matter where you are.

                  Subscribe to Accessibility Anywhere for $21.95 a month or $240 a year. Remember as part of your subscription, you do not pay separate for the new version of DocuScan Plus V3.0. It’s already a part of your subscription plan!

                  Questions?
                  

                  Leave us a comment or get in touch with our helpful technical support staff.

Do you wish it was possible to remotely access your friend’s PC regardless of their choice of screen reader? Or even, gasp, remotely help a sighted friend or family member?

Have you found yourself wishing the solution could be as intuitive as it is affordable?

Since 2007, Remote Incident Manager (RIM) has been a reliable solution for assistive technology trainers and tech support providers seeking to provide assistance computer to computer, and in its latest iteration, remote assistance is easier and more affordable than ever for everyone from the tech know-it-all to the green novice.

We’re rolling out RIM day passes, and here’s how we roll.

For the person offering help:

1. Buy a day pass from us. No sense in shelling out hundreds of dollars if you only need remote access every now and then, right?

2. Download and run a small program on your PC to start the remote session.

3. The program will give you a 9 digit code you will share with that PC user in need.

For the person receiving help:

1. Head over to SeroHelp.com, then download and run a small program to set up the remote connection.

2. When prompted, enter the 9 digit code you got from your techno-savior. Press Enter and presto! You’re connected.

If the computer has to be rebooted, don’t worry; the connection will come back on its own. So no matter how many of those annoying reboots are required while whipping that stubborn PC into submission, you’ll both remain connected through it all. Doesn’t that sound romantic?

RIM is compatible with all major Windows screen readers, on both computers. If you’re helping someone who isn’t running a screen reader, then our very own System Access will run in a special mode where you hear the speech but the other person doesn’t. Yes! This means that it’s now practical for you, a blind computer professional, to remotely help your sighted friends, family, and clients. Aren’t you amazing?

While we know you’re a tech genius, you’ll find helpful instructions all along the way. It’s so easy it doesn’t need any documentation. We do all the magic for you. And besides, why would we want you tearing apart our documentation and telling us how you would have written it differently?

So, the big question is, of course, how much will this all cost? How about five bucks to get someone out of deep doo-doo? But don’t procrastinate on helping your friend or relative with that pesky PC problem, because after 30 days, the price will go up to $14.95. Which still isn’t much money if you’re up the creek without a paddle.

We’re also sharing the love with our loyal RIM subscribers by slashing our subscription prices in half. Now for just $49.95 a month or $499 a year, you can help your friends, family, and customers with those vexing PC problems at any time, or even train someone else to become a tech god, just like you, if that were possible. And if you’re not yet a RIM subscriber, there’s no better time to get started, because now you don’t even have to pay that annoying $199 setup fee anymore. So now you’ll have money for therapy when you just can’t figure out why Aunt Tillie is having so much trouble watching Facebook videos of her grandkids on her 5-year-old PC. Or just buy her a tablet and still have some money left for yourself.

So come on, take a walk on the wild side! If you’re ready to take on the challenge of becoming a one-person PC tech support department, sign up now!

I’m here today to talk to you about the New iPad, or the iPad III, or whatever Apple is calling it. I got it on Release Day, so I was camping out at my front door and waiting for FedEx. I unboxed it about an hour before I left to attend a conference with my wife. The first thing I noticed is that it is a little thicker than the previous one, but not by much. You can’t tell visually, but you can feel the difference. It is also slightly heavier. I wanted to see if I could set it up without having to connect to iTunes. I turned it on, waited a bit, and was able to triple-click the Home button, which started VoiceOver. From there, I was able to sign in and configure it. Now, if I want to get iPods for my kids or iPads for my parents or in-laws, I can set them up.

iOS, and the iPad in particular,  has been one of the most flexible platforms for seniors ever, but they had to have a computer, which is backwards. Now, setup can be done right from the device with iOS 5.1. I took some time to play with my  first generation iPad running iOS 5.1, in preparation for giving it to my mother-in-law. I noticed that it’s running significantly slower than the iPad II or the new iPad. Still, for someone who wants to use it for Facebook and email, it’s still a perfectly adequate solution.

The new iPad has one GB of memory, as opposed to the 512 MB memory the iPad II has. It also has a wonderful, although useless to a blind person, retina display, which everyone agrees looks amazing. It has the same A5 dual core processor that is in the iPad II, but it does have quad core graphics. This is why the new iPad gets a little warmer than the earlier ones did. I don’t use graphics, and I use screen curtain, so I haven’t experienced this very much. LTE makes connection speeds much faster. The iPad can also be used as a hot spot, but I already have plenty of options to connect to the Internet, so this is not particularly compelling to me personally. Battery life is also good on the device, and I can use the same case I used for my previous iPad..

If I were sighted, the new retina display would convince me to buy the iPad. LTE and dictation are also convincing reasons to buy, for blind and sighted users alike. The current generation iPad is definitely a content-production device. You can use it to take high deffinition video, and the camera and iPhoto are amazing.

Apple sold over a million iPads on the first day alone, which brings me to a reminder to blind people. Many have referred to Apple as “a flash in the pan.” I don’t feel that hundreds of millions of devices are a flash in the pan. It is exciting to know that these mainstream devices are accessible and readily available to all.

You are welcome to send email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or 2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

Did you know that if a company built accessibility into its foundational methods of developing products and services, it would only be 2% of the total cost? Bolting on accessibility after the fact can easily cost 100%, because often the way a website, application, or device was built requires an overhaul of the system to make accessibility a seamless addition. Why then do companies refuse to embrace resource and monetary efficiency?

Last Thursday, we had the privilege of visiting with the folks at the Yahoo! Accessibility Lab. They were genuinely excited about accessibility to the point that accessibility is now a part of the company’s core product development process. Visitors to their family of services will find that the experience has been made more pleasant for persons with print disabilities. They admitted that part of their rationale is that making the adjustments to a project from Day 1 will result in a more efficient use of time, money, and resources. Thankfully, Yahoo is joining a slow but growing list of companies recognizing the value of universal access in a way that is mutually beneficial for the company and the buyer.

The change in attitude is owed to at least two factors:

First, companies like Yahoo and Microsoft each feature a team that is not ashamed to evangelize the virtues of accessibility. These are people like Alan Brightman, Victor Tsaran and others who coax, cajole and generally encourage the inclusion of accessibility in their companies’ line of products and services. They are people who recognize the inclusion of accessibility as a concrete benefit to specific people and not just another step in someone’s product roadmap. They are people who have, in some cases, moved to different companies and carried with them the same fervor for equal access to their new employers.

Second, companies that have made accessibility part of their core functionality are companies that have made the endeavor more than just a corporate promise. These are companies that have allowed their marketing rhetoric to trickle down to the developer base, or the brains behind the code that make the bells ring and the whistles blow. After all, developers are the ones on top of the evolution of the computer languages they rely on to make our favorite applications so compelling.

Until recently, assistive technology companies were the only ones fully invested in making accessibility a top priority. Now, however, developers working on the ground level are working under an obligatory environment to make accessibility gain equal attention. If companies could begin implementing force checks on accessibility at the development phase rather than struggling to apply a bandage later, accessibility would become commonplace both for the conscious developer and the company for which she works. The obligatory environment is one that would send developers to seminars and take advantage of other training opportunities. The word needs to get to developers that accessibility inclusion is more than just another feel-good ploy.

Often, the executives and product managers steering the boat have little to zero knowledge about product development. They are in charge because they have the business sense to turn the finished products into profitable results. They do not need to stay on top of .NET Framework and other environments to do what they do best, but a language they ought to be able to relate to is budgeting. If left unchecked, the lack of accessibility, also known as universal design, could easily convert to a financial burden.

Companies refusing to incorporate accessibility into their foundational processes are overlooking the potential for litigation in the not-so-distant future. Legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act have created a stricter framework by which manufacturers must build to make their products usable by persons with disabilities. These policies are calling attention to equal access so that if a law does not exist today, it might very well exist tomorrow. Companies should not develop products with a fearful eye to public policy. They should develop as a matter of course to serve a growing base of consumers, but if there are evolving rules about the accessibility of products and services, doesn’t it make sense for companies to build things right at the outset rather than risk unnecessary litigation later? The financial burden of defending against lack of accessibility claims detracts from the company’s capacity to create even better products for the consumer base as a whole.

With corporate transparency, we would be able to count on accessible products from conception. Making accessibility a part of the corporate culture will not occur overnight. It’s going to require a lot of noise from dedicated staff inside the companies and even more of a racket from the consumers outside of them. The transition may result in some occasional product delays as gaps are filled to ensure solid performance, but success will result in products like Windows 8 whose core functionality will hopefully be as accessible on the desktop as it is on the mobile platform. It will hopefully result in devices like the Kindle Fire whose second generation will hopefully bring much-needed accessibility to consumers. But to move from hope to fulfillment, companies need to do more than broadcast equality platitudes. They need to do more than just test and roll exercises to gauge the efficacy of the first version before making the second one better. They actually need to make accessibility part of their strategic planning.

If looked at strictly from a business efficiency model, universal design does much more than just make a product work for persons with disabilities. It also allows for better integration with products in the same class. If a company can minimize the amount of time it spends reinventing the wheel, it will be able to focus more on upward mobility and less on status quo improvement. Universal design translates to heightened market competition, because the field becomes level for both the innovative seller and the well-informed buyer. The perceived advantages of companies like Apple can be minimized when faced with platform standards that render accessibility as just another tool in the company’s typical arsenal. Such an outlook is completely independent of technical specifications. A higher level manager ought to be able to see this approach for the long-term vitality strategy that it is.

Persons with disabilities are looking for accessibility to become just another checkbox. The desire is not so removed from the current practice. The difference is that accessibility needs to be given a greater value. It needs to cease being a side project and needs to become an item on the core checklist. Microsoft is doing a great job of tapping into its support base of assistive technology experts to make this come about. Apple has long since understood this concept and has enjoyed a reputation of just getting it. Other equally intelligent companies would benefit from just doing it.

One organization that is attempting to bridge the gap in rural areas is the Tri-County Center for Independent Living in Eureka, which we had the pleasure of visiting. Unfortunately, there is still much work to be done. Navigating to their site shows only inaccessible Flash content. Still, what really stands out to me is that whether we are traveling through urban or rural areas, every stop has allowed us to meet dedicated, passionate, diverse people who without exception, have greater accessibility as a primary goal. If you would like to see and hear more about our trip, I encourage you to check out the video of Day 3 from the Microsoft Accessibility team.

We ended our day in Berkely, and look forward to visiting the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus in San Rafel on day 4. We will wrap up the next steps of our road trip in San Jose.

Please feel free to look for me online, as time and connectivity allow. You can listen via iBlink Radio, the Tech Chat Room on SAMNet, or via our Accessible Event at the Road to CSUN page. If you have the iBlink app, please feel free to leave us your comments there. On Twitter, you can follow me, as well as the Microsoft Accessibility Team. Also, don’t forget to search for the #Road2CSUN hashtag to keep up with all the exciting things that are happening on the Road to CSUN!

I do not say the following to leave anyone out, but I predict that if anyone is ready to meet the assistive technology needs of the 21^st century, it is companies like Boundless AT and Handy Tech, who offer end-to-end solutions without breaking the bank or robbing the taxpayers. Both are Serotek resellers, and we’re honored to work with them.

From Lake Oswego, we traveled to Corvalis, OR, and the home of Viewplus Technologies. This company also had a wonderfully enthusiastic and dedicated staff. They are passionate about Braille literacy, and it shows in their innovative products. They are responsible for some of the high-quality software and embossers available in today’s market. I saw the Emprint SpotDot Color Ink & Braille Printer, and am very excited about this technology. This is something that could be made available in a local office supply store or business center. Documents can, with very little formatting, and the press of a few buttons, be produced with print and Braille on the same page. Imagine how many more people might make their documents available in braille if it was as easy to do as going to the local Kinko or Office Max!

Remember that Serotek does not sell these products. I share them with you because I think they are exciting, and I believe they can revolutionize and revive the use of Braille. The high cost of Braille displays and embossers will not come down until someone makes a concerted effort to make this happen. The best way to encourage companies to see that taking such steps is worthwhile is to advocate for Braille. The more people who use it, and who encourage businesses and agencies to make their materials available in Braille, the more companies will see it as a viable medium, and will seek lower cost ways to produce and display it.

So far, the thing I have enjoyed most on this trip is meeting others who are passionate about accessibility. People are sometimes under the mistaken impression that working with technology is always fun. However, because we want to give people the kind of user experience they need and want, the focus is often on what is wrong and how it can be fixed. I’m meeting people who are passionate about independence and accessibility. It’s as if there is one big accessible chorus, and they are singing and asking when am I, when are you, going to join our voices with theirs.

I have heard often from people who feel it is not right that one blind person is seen as representing everyone. The fact is that for many people, you may be the only blind person they ever meet. Because their impressions will be based on each one of us, it’s time to forget our hang-ups and reservations, and jump into the accessibility pool with both feet. A great way to do this is through social networking. Companies are reading what consumers write, so your voice and mine, together and separately, can most definitely make a difference. Whether you contribute quite a lot or very little, what you say has power, and what you do has power. Whether you write a blog, post to Twitter, write a letter, or talk with your friends face to face, what you say can and does make a difference. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, or Chief Executive Officer. What matters is that you let your voice be heard.

Daniel Hubbell has really been the Accessibility Evangelist for Microsoft. The Bible has the following to say about God’s Word: “It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.” Dan has put out the word for accessibility, and is busy advocating for what the community needs. I think it is amazing that Microsoft is seeking information for us, by us, and with us. I do not doubt for a moment that this is indeed a history-making road we are traveling.

Our next stop is Eureka, in the great state of California. My main regret upon leaving Oregon is that while in her town, I was not able to stop and visit with Alena Roberts and her husband. Alena is one of the cohosts of the Triple Click Home podcast, and I encourage you to give it a listen.

Before I close, I would be remiss if I did not mention an additional gadget I have encountered at the Holiday Inns where we have been staying. They have the Popcake Maker, which we have all been enjoying very much. If you like, you can watch an interview on YouTube which describes Popcakes in more detail.

I should have internet connectivity today, and look forward to chatting with you. Feel free to listen or participate. You can listen via iBlink Radio, the Tech Chat Room on SAMNet, or via our Accessible Event at the Road to CSUN page. If you have the iBlink app, please feel free to leave us your comments there. On Twitter, you can follow me, as well as the Microsoft Accessibility Team. Also, don’t forget to search for the #Road2CSUN hashtag to keep up with all the exciting things that are happening on the Road to CSUN!

Some of the key points I am attempting to make are that accessibility and social networking are not new, nor are they difficult. They are things that anyone can do. By incorporating social networking into my travels, I hope to expand the interactivity of the whole experience, and to encourage others to do the same. In that vein, I have been using a wonderful accessible tool, the Hotels.com App. It uses my current location to provide information about nearby hotel deals, sometimes as much as 30, 40, or 50% off!

My aim is to post at the end of each day. However, that may not always happen. By the time we wrap up our day, it is quite late on the East Coast. I will post as soon as I can. I am tweeting regularly, so follow me on Twitter, or search for the #Road2CSUN hashtag for up-to-the-minute news. I am having some difficulty with my mobile internet connection, which should be resolved by tomorrow. In the meantime, please feel free to visit our event or join us in SAMNet Tech Chat. Other Serotek staff will be in and out of the room, and I will be there when I can. I do not feel we have any video to post from the first leg of the journey that is particularly unique, so I encourage you to check out the video being produced by the Microsoft Accessibility Blog team.

The weather so far has been wet, cold, and rainy, and I am fighting hard not to catch a cold that is doing its best to catch me. However, the chilly climate has been no match for the warm receptions we received at the facilities for seniors we visited on our first day of travel.

Yesterday, we left the Microsoft Campus around 9:30 a.m., and made our first stop at SeniorNet in Bellevue, WA, not far from the Microsoft campus. This organization provides peer-to-peer education in computer literacy and access to older adults.

Later, we visited the Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community. They are very much at the forefront of technology and are building a model home using the Aging in Place concept which implements various adaptive and monitoring technologies to help seniors live as independently as possible in their own homes, for as long as possible. They are also incorporating Microsoft’s Kinect in their physical therapy program, with very positive results. While there, I met a lovely fifteen-year-old girl who was in a serious accident this past December. She is getting therapy, and is progressing. I ask that you remember her and her family, as well as those who are working with her in your prayers.

It is difficult to describe in a single post all the impressions of this first day. Microsoft is presenting only on accessibility in Windows 7 at the moment. However, I did see the form factor for a Samsung tablet running Windows 8, and I think we will be quite happy with the overall accessibility in the forthcoming OS.

I was happy to see Tim Sniffen, who is the director of the American Lake Blind Rehabilitation Center, and look forward to meeting with a new Serotek reseller, Boundless AT.

I hope you will continue to follow me as we travel on the Road to CSUN.

I’m Mike Calvo, and I’m  back this week on the SeroTalk Podcast to discuss a product, simply because it works well, and it’s easy to use.

The product we’re talking about today is by a company called  Lantronix, and it’s called the XPrint Server. The XPrint Server takes care of one thing, and one thing only. Namely, it provides access to your network printers to any iOS device on your network. So if you have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, and you don’t have a printer that is specifically supported by Apple, you don’t have to. You can just plug the XPrint Server into your network, and it really is that simple. I connected the device to my network, found a note on my iPhone, double-tapped Share, and had a print copy in my hands in very short order.

The XPrint Server costs $149.00, and has been on back order ever since it has come out. If you want or need to print from your iDevice, you’ll find it’s the best $149 you ever spent. And, as always, you can find a link to it in our Show Notes.

I look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions. You are welcome to send email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or 2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

an audio discussion of my Disney experience, which first aired on SeroTalk podcast 94. My original written post is below.

 This past Sunday my family and I accompanied some friends to Disney World. Living in Orlando, I guess it’s not as big of a deal as it would be for the common tourist. I myself have always found it more or less enjoyable, something to do with the kids anyway. Last weekend I decided to satisfy  my curiosity about a new audio description device that I had heard about somewhere, and while looking over the Disney website I was reminded of its existence once again. WOW! At the risk of sounding totally cliché, it’s like I stepped into a whole new realm.

I have always known Disney to take a special approach to all its guests. I mean, they’re in the business of making dreams come true, right? I have never encountered issues with accessing any of the attractions. My guide dog has always been welcomed. In fact, Hurley was riding  around with my Son and me in one of their go karts on this trip, with no one batting an eye, but I have to confess this past weekend totally rocked my view of Disney’s effort to make their park a universal experience.

The device with no real name is offered free for the duration of your visit with a refundable $25 deposit. It is a 7.2-ounce handheld computer with over the ear headphones. It provides an interactive audio and visual menu that allows you to choose the type of information you would like to receive about outdoor areas – from a description of your surroundings to information about nearby attractions, restaurants, and entertainment. It gives audio descriptions for key visual elements like action and scenery. I’ve never experienced the Carousel of Progress in quite that level of vivid detail before. The device features assistive listening for persons with mild to moderate hearing loss. The unit even features captions for various audio and dialog. While we were only able to visit the Magic Kingdom this time, the system is available for all four Disney parks in Orlando. One of the things I’m looking forward to in a future visit is going to the Animal Kingdom and using the handheld captioning feature to learn more about the animals my family and I are visiting. I think it will be great to offer my children information about the animals with the same ease as any tour guide. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of joy I experienced being able to talk to my children about the amazing workmanship and attention to detail on attractions like “It’s A Small World” and others, and how I was able to connect with them and share my own experiences as a child at Disney. I can’t express how great it was to be able to use this technology to “see” the park like they did.

The technology is so sophisticated that at any point it would have been possible for me to venture out on my own and never feel at a loss as to where I was headed. Now, before you ask, no, the user does not get directions as to whether the facility is to your left, right, ahead or behind, but I attribute this to the early stages of any product development and the lack of pinpoint GPS accuracy that is absent in all mainstream orientation tools. Perhaps Google’s local map technology may help with this in the future?

As you may know, Disney does not believe in wasted real estate. Their idea of roller coasters consists of packed adventures that are just as capable of being heart-pounding as they are visually enthralling. Before, it was enough for me to bask in the delighted screams of my children and feel good that they were having fun. With my handheld device, however, I was plugged into an instant feed of information that allowed me to perceive the rides from a more highly involved angle. We’re not just talking front row seat here. We’re talking front and center detailed audio descriptions of costumes, props, settings and background scenery. The closest comparison to the experience I can think of is descriptive video. In 2001 I was brought to tears while experiencing “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” on DVD with my family without anyone having to tell me what was going on. As unforgetable as that day was, the problem is that video description is still quite two-dimensional. There is something completely different about a multisensory experience being aided by a voice telling you exactly what you are passing. You’ll hear details about the attraction that will in all likelihood escape the notice of even those who can see. There’s just too much competing for visual attention that the average guest will not be able to take it all in.

Like Serotek’s System Access to Go in 2008, Disney’s handheld device received the American Foundation for the Blind’s prestigious Access Award in 2011. I now know firsthand that the recognition was well-deserved. As AFB’s President and CEO Carl R. Augusto noted, ““Too often, swift advances in technology bring the rewards of convenience and entertainment to an eager world while inadvertently leaving those who are visually impaired behind.” I can testify that as far as I can tell, Disney has made people with disabilities a fully integrated part of their customer base.

Visiting the Disney World Resort prompted me to think about a couple things:

First, it occurs to me that as blind consumers, we spend so much time fighting for equal access that we too often forget to really praise the innovations of those companies that are doing it right. Apple may have needed the threat of litigation to make accessibility a higher priority, but unlike most companies, Apple rose to the challenge in such a way as to make accessibility one more selling point of their core functionality and blind people just one more highlight of their TV commercials. Olympus is another company that continues to make something as simple as voice guidance a key feature of their products to make them enjoyable for a wider segment of their customer base. So I wonder, why is it that our social networks buzz when there are critiques and gripes about the lack of accessibility in this or that product or service, but no one says a thing about achievements that are better than anything we could have hoped for? I mean, I expect to be treated as an equal by product and service providers but, as we all know, that isn’t true for the most part. So, when a company does do something right for us, shouldn’t we really let them and others in our community know?

Don’t get me wrong. I would never suggest we lay down our arms and stop asking for equal access. In fact, I am a big promoter of using Yelp, Twitter, Facebook and other mainstream channels to express our opinions of restaurants that do not have Braille menus, retailers that do not produce eReaders that speak out of the box and facilities that think adding a wheelchair ramp is enough to make a place accessible. Just this morning one of my reviews on Yelp was blasted via email throughout Orlando. People will now be able to read the opinions of a fellow foody who just happens to be blind. Perhaps other restaurant owners will see my reviews that not only talk about the quality of food and customer service but also cover things like, did they freak out about my guide dog or did they have Braille menus. What I am saying is that whether we are praising a product or damning it, we need to break out of our blindness bubble of list-serves, forums, and chatroom communities and take our comments to the general public where their impacts are more likely to be felt by the parties responsible. We need to write product reviews. We need to send e-mails, and far be it from me to suggest we do something so outdated as picking up the phone to talk to a company about our experience with their product or service. And don’t tell me that you’re just one person and your voice doesn’t matter. That’s simply not true. When you combine individual voices they become a crowd.

Every voice counts, and if we are going to gripe loudly then we need to selibrate just as loudly when a company gets it right. Our feedback should not be limited to those aspects of life that have a direct bearing on our blindness either. We need to participate as consumers to be taken seriously as consumers. If you think about it, Apple and Disney must have spent millions of dollars on research and development and implementation to make their experience more than just accessible. Universal design is creating an experience that is simultaneously enjoyable to all, as opposed to creating a hierarchy of access to the same encounter. The least we could do is say “thank you” with our wallets, our reviews, and continued encouragement to make it better. I have a feeling that such encouragement would prompt more companies to use the secret sauce of their success to create some accommodations that are out of this world.

Second, taking a little of my own advice, I call upon all companies to rise to Disney’s standard. My dollars as a blind consumer are every bit as important as the dollars of my sighted neighbor. It is not enough to add a layer of accessibility to your products and services because a law directs you to. I am using my hard-earned money to pay for the same privileges as my sighted peers, and those privileges include my walking into your restaurants and ordering from Braille menus just like all your other customers. Asking your wait staff to read the menus to me is not being hospitable. It is being patronizing. We deserve better. Just as Apple now depicts blind people actively using their mobile technology, Disney ought to consider showing blind people enjoying the same facilities as anyone else, because the same marketing strategies that feed the bottom line can go a long way toward changing public misconceptions.

The landscape for blind people has not changed all that much in the ten years I’ve been involved with Serotek. What has changed is my attitude and my approach to these types of consumer challenges. I’ve decided I can either choose to look forlornly at the world I wish I could enjoy and get angry, or I can shatter the dividing line and be an active participant in that world. I hope for the sake of our collective progress that you will join me. So, when are you going to right a review? When are you going to call that company that has gone the extra mile and thank them or express your frustration with the lack of accessibility in a product or service? In short, are you going to have a little faith? Even though every time you ask for accessibility you may not get it, you have to continue to believe that there will be companies, like  those I have covered in this post, who will heed your cry for equal access and amaze us all with the outcome.

I have been asked on Twitter and in podcast emails about Bluetooth Earpieces or headsets. However, the ones I am going to talk about today are unlike devices I have reviewed in the past. Those were primarily designed for telephony, and had the ability to play music as an aside. The headsets I will be covering today were designed primarily to play music, although they have limited telephony function. There will be a compromise either way, so it is important when making a purchase to figure out what is most important to you and what best meets your needs.

I love Sony, but I’m going to be highly critical because of the price tag. Sony lists the cost of their Sony DRBT50 Stereo Bluetooth Headset as $249.00. As a good consumer, I like to make sure I get some “bang for my buck.” So I looked at them on SonyStyle.com where they were $249, but on special for $199. Then, I took a trip over to my favorite place to go shopping online, Amazon.com. Of course, you can find the link in our Show Notes. Amazon, who claims to be a Sony-authorized retailer, had the list price at $199, which is $50 cheaper than Sony said it was. But I ultimately got them from Amazon at $114 with Amazon Prime, and two days later, they were at my door.

So, let’s start with the good. Sony does not disappoint with these excellent A2DP headphones. The bass is full and loud, and highs are full. The battery is an important consideration, and gives you seventeen hours of battery life for a three-hour charge.

Unfortunately, there are some negatives, not the least of which is that you can’t charge via USB by plugging into your computer or compatible wall charger. Unfortunately, Sony chose to go the proprietary route, and sent along its own cord, which means I have yet another thing to carry, and if lost, would cost a great deal to replace. While Sony makes an attempt at providing player controls on the actual unit, they are very tiny, and are located on the back of the headphones, where they are hard to both feel and see. I would submit that blind people with very good tactile skills would have problems using them and doing things like moving back or forward a track with any kind of accuracy. In my opinion, the buttons are not at all well-placed. The mic is also poor quality, and I am holding Sony to a high standard, and rightly so, given their high list price on these headphones. Finally, while I am not claustrophobic, the headphones were extremely tight on my head. The other problem is the complete lack of a manual. When I did find one, I had to go through a site which collected documentation from various sources and required me to sign up. The manual described the process of pairing using graphics, which was not at all helpful. However, once paired, the earphones stayed paired with my iPhone. I no longer have them in my possession. I returned them because I couldn’t listen to them for more than about fifteen minutes without feeling like my ears were getting very hot and my head was being squeezed. For me, I give them a five out of ten.

I love the GOgroove SolaceAIR Ergonomic Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset, for many reasons, but first let’s talk about the price. I was looking to see what I could find for under $100. These retail for $74.95, and I found them for $39.99 with free shipping. I have seen them for as low as $24, but whichever price you find, I feel you get your money’s worth. Given the lower price point, I was also a little more forgiving.

Because I listen to lots of books, and often when I go to sleep, comfort is a big consideration. Initially, the impression is that the earphones will fall off. In fact, these fit loosely but comfortably. The sound is not as loud or full as the Sony’s, but very nice. These are a great pair of headphones, especially if your environment is not overly loud.

I found these are very easy to pair, and give audio feedback. Hold down the power button, listen for the tones, followed by a pause and another tone, and the device is in pairing mode. It does not require a code, but says you can use 0000 if needed. Because the manual was only one page, I chose to scan it instead of looking for it online. The battery life is incredible; 15 hours on a three-hour charge, using USB. This mini USB option is great, because cables are interchangeable, and easily replaced. You can also use the headset while it’s charging, which is a great plus. It is easy to pair this device, which is a good thing, because you may be doing it often. The Sony’s hold onto the pairing like a dog with a bone, while the GOgrooves tend to forget those devices to which they are paired. At some point, you lose audio and sometimes end up in No-Man’s Land when pairing. VoiceOver volume can get muted to zero on iDevices. This happened more with the Sony’s than the GOgrooves, but is a problem Apple will need to address.

The GOgrooves have only two buttons: volume and a power switch. There is no ability to go to next or previous tracks, and these don’t work with Siri or with voice recognition on Android. Even if you find these on EBay and don’t have the opportunity to return them, and even if you find they’re not for you, they still make a nice gift. I think I’ll keep using these, as I really enjoy them. Even though I wish they were louder, I’d rate them eight out of ten.

Even if you are using a device that does not have built-in Bluetooth, you have options for adding it so that you can use one of these headsets with, for example, the iPod Nano or the Victor Stream, which do not have Bluetooth capabilities. First, I started by looking for a solution for Apple-specific devices and found the i10s (NEW Luxurious Black) Tiny Bluetooth iPod Transmitter for iPod/iPhone/iPad/iTouch. This is tiny, and doesn’t require a battery. You simply plug it into the device, put your headphones into pairing mode, and they will find each other. The audio is great A2DP, with nice crisp sound and good stereo separation. The price is $49.95, and as with most Apple products, there is no discount. While it is worth what you pay, both in functionality and design, the price is a little rich for me, especially in light of what I am about to show you.

Unfortunately, this product also has its downsides. There is about a half-second delay between when the iDevice speaks and when you hear the audio through the Bluetooth headphones. Another thing I really didn’t like about this device is that it kills your battery. An iPod Nano usually lasts ten to twelve hours per charge, and this transmitter takes battery life down to four! So, you could have a situation where you have fifteen hours of charge on your earphones, and only four on your iDevice. Another thing to note is that one of the devices biggest benefits is also one of its biggest drawbacks, namely, the size of the device. The company also sells a wristband-style device that holds your Nano and the transmitter in place, and looks like a watch. However, you need to disassemble everything each time you charge the Nano. I would give it a rating of about a six out of ten. Your mileage may vary, but I can’t recommend this as an end-all be-all solution, especially in light of the next product.

The final device is the Miccus BluBridge Mini-Jack: Bluetooth Music Transmitter, which  adds Bluetooth ability to any Non-Bluetooth Audio Source. You can connect this into any device with an eighth-inch audio jack, and will allow you to transmit to any Bluetooth-enabled jack. This can be anything from your car radio, to headphones, to Bluetooth speakers. You get eight hours of battery life, and only a $36.99 price tag. It doesn’t add that much to the device, and works great with items like the Nano, Victor Stream, or any mainstream or blindness audio devices. You can charge it through the USB on your computer, and can use it while charging. I really liked this device for pairing both earpieces with the MacBook Air. I spent considerable amount of time trying to pair the GOgrooves, but pairing with the Miccus was effortless, and I have very little negative to say about it. I would rate it nine out of ten.

In general, I learned that because white space, spread spectrum technology like the type used for cordless phones is common, you will find you may have some interference. I don’t think I would go one hundred percent bluetooth, but it is an enjoyable experience overall.

Amazon is open to returns if you buy an item you do not like. So take the opportunity to try out new products, and give feedback that may help others, and will help Amazon improve as well.

I look forward to receiving your feedback and suggestions. You are welcome to send email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or 2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

I wanted to take a moment and share some ideas for Christmas gifts you might want to get for yourself, or for others on your list.

First, I’d like to tell you about the Twelve South PlugBug All-in-One Dual Charger for MacBook and iPad, iPhone, or iPod. The last thing I looked at from the Twelve South people was the fashionable, but not very functional Book-style case for the MacBook Air. This particular product has really hit a home run, and is part of my essential travel gear for the Mac. It replaces the two-prong plug on the Mac-Safe Adapter with a small device that gives you back that outlet, but adds the functionality of a USB port as well. This way, you can charge your Mac and any USB device from only one outlet. At $34.99, you can get it through Amazon and you can support Serotek at the same time. It’s available through Prime, so if you have that service, you can get it in two days.

Those of you who have been listening to me and following the podcast for any amount of time know that I am a self-proclaimed coffee snob. I’ve mentioned a number of espresso makers here, and some have bought them based on my recommendations. I have been using Nespresso products for about the past year, and if you are into Espresso only, which is important to note, the Nespresso Pixie Espresso Maker might be the machine for you.

It is Italian-made and uses 19 bars of pressure, and makes superb coffee. When I started with Nespresso, I was using their bigger unit. You put a small, mushroom-shaped capsule in the top of the machine, push a button, and it’s ready in a few minutes. The pixie is great because it’s small enough to put in a suitcase. I bought metal espresso cups which don’t break in transit, and set it up in my hotel room when I travel. So, there is some initial expense, but the using the capsules works out to about 65 cents a shot, which is cheaper and more convenient than finding and frequenting a local coffee shop.

This particular Nespresso model lists for $249, but you can get it refurbished on Amazon for $149. When you have the option of a return policy, I encourage buying refurbished products, especially if you buy lots of electronics. When someone receives and opens a product, then sends it back, the seller has to call it Refurbished or Like New. When they receive the product, they make sure everything is in good condition, and repackage it for sale. There’s not much point in buying some things new, because the moment you take them out of the box, they are worth the amount you would pay for the refurbished item.

You can buy 50 NESPRESSO Capsules Varieties COFFEE for $53.89. The Nespresso coffee is amazing, and comes in intensities all the way from two to ten. Awhile back, they had a specialty coffee with an intensity of twelve! They are wonderful coffees that will keep you up and going all night long.

Because it differs in some ways from the larger, countertop model, the Pixie is great for a blind person. The larger model doesn’t stay hot all the time because it would use far more electricity. So, when you want to use it, you have to press a button until a light comes on and your coffee starts coming out. With the Pixie, you turn on the power, and press the button once. When it’s ready, it starts pushing out your coffee. The Pixie comes with a small variety of flavors, but you’ll be able to sample a larger variety by purchasing the 50-count sampler, where you’ll get five different flavors and intensities.

You can purchase the Nespresso at standard brick and mortar stores, but you will pay higher prices. However, you can only order the capsules online. I like the Nespresso club because they deliver very fast. They are in Florida, so I usually have my order in one day, but people in most other locations receive it after two days. Overall, I am very pleased with the ease of use, as well as the excellent taste of espresso from this maker.

You are welcome to send email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or 2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

It’s well-known that I am constantly looking for high quality audio products, and today I want to talk about one that I initially had misgivings about, but later felt much more comfortable with. It is the **Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker. Before I get into my impressions, I want to let you know that if you’d like to hear all the products I speak about in this review, side by side, you can go into any Apple Store where they have all the products I’ll be discussing in one place.

When I first got the SoundLink Dock, I set it on a shelf and connected it with my phone. At that point, I hadn’t examined a manual at all, so this was not a terribly easy or intuitive process. The product is about the size of a hard-cover Bible when closed, with a choice of either a leather cover, which sells for $349, or a nylon cover, which sells for $299. To use the dock, you flip back the cover and basically stand the book on its spine. Across the top you have three slightly indented buttons which are, from left to right: power, auxiliary, and bluetooth. After a space, there are three more buttons: mute, volume up, and volume down. Note that when you mute the device, you need to either press mute again or volume up to unmute it. The only documentation that came with the unit was a print manual, but a Google search for the PDF, available from the Bose Website put me in charge of what I was doing in short order. After that, setup was very easy. I was anxious to try this with bluetooth. So, I held down the bluetooth button on the dock for a count of ten. This puts the dock into discovery mode. After that, it was easy to go into my iPhone’s Bluetooth settings and it connected immediately. Now, whenever I want to connect the iPhone, I only need to tap the Bluetooth button on the Bose, and it connects automatically, with no further interaction from me. The doc   will remember up to six Bluetooth devices.

The mistake I made with this product when I first got it is that I compared it to the sound of other Bose products, like myBose SoundDock Portable Digital Music System. Ricky has the Bose SoundDock Series II Digital Music System for iPod, which is similar but does not have a battery for portable use. Look for reviews of these and other docks in the archives. Both Ricky and I were thoroughly impressed with the sound of these docks, and I expected the SoundLink II to be comparable in that respect. This isn’t the case, as there’s a definite difference in sound quality with the SoundLink. With that said, there are certainly reasons to choose the SoundLink over the portable dock. For example, with the SoundDock portable system, be aware that it is for iOS devices only. It has a 3.5 inch jack for auxiliary input, but it does not lend itself to being thrown in a backpack. If you carry the iPod in the dock while walking, the iPod moves around and can become disconnected. In comparison, this morning, I was out tandem biking with my workout partner, and we were able to put the SoundLink in a backpack with no problem. One thing I didn’t like was that the cover needed to be open, so it had to sit on its little stand inside the backpack. The sound was phenomenal, although not as bass-intensive as my portable dock. The beauty of the SoundLink is that it is compact, but has big sound. While the sound is not as good as that of the portable dock I have or the SoundDock Series II that Ricky has, that slight trade-off in sound is made up for by its portability and the fact that you can connect it to a variety of devices. The battery life is documented at eight hours, although if you play it at maximum volume, it will only last about three to four hours, as stated in the manual. It is a little expensive, but is worth the money.

One of the things I like about Bose is that you can buy it directly from them, and you can choose to pay it off over a year. They charge your card monthly, and there is no interest. This makes ownership of one of these products quite compelling. Of course, if you want to buy one of these products outright, you are welcome to buy it from Amazon.com. You can do that through the links in this review and support our podcasts in the process.

I am one of those people who don’t necessarily trust Bose because there is a lot of variability among their different products. For that reason, I won’t buy a Bose product without first hearing it. Bose and Amazon both have 30-day return policies, but the ability to walk into an Apple or Bose Store in the mall really made a difference in my decision. Still, having it at home, and being able to use it in various real-life scenarios was the clincher. I will be keeping this dock and adding it to my essential gear when I travel. Overall, this is a great gift, but expensive, so buy it for someone you really, really love, or buy it for yourself.

I think it’s a “thumbs-up” for this product, and if asked, I’d give it four out of five stars. It’s just my opinion, but I think Bose could have worked a bit harder to make the audio a little closer to the other sound dock. If you want a nice shiny toy for Christmas, (and I’ll be talking about a couple other shiny toys for Christmas before the holidays come), this is one you definitely want to get for yourself. I know there are other sound docks out there, but you get what you pay for, and I think you’ll find that if you get this one, you’ll feel it was a good investment as I did.

If you found this review useful, or if you wish to contribute your own review, let us know by sending an email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or

2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

In the fourth and final part of our MacBook Air review, I am joined by Jamie Pauls, Patrick Perdue, and Lisa Salinger. When I started evaluating portable solutions, I looked at both the MacBook Air and the iPad. They are similar in size, for all intents and purposes. Of course the iPad has built-in 3G, which is a factor, but not a big one for me personally, since I can use my phone as a hotspot. So I’ve come to the conclusion that for a blind person, the MacBook Air is the more productive tool. Apple has really gone out of its way to make sure that the iPad is a viable alternative to a netbook or laptop for a sighted person. I am not faulting Apple because programs like Pages are not totally accessible on the iPad. Everything takes it’s time, and we will get there eventually. However, the fact that you can’t produce everything on the iPad that you can on the computer makes it more of an entertainment device for me, and I can get that from my iPhone. As a totally blind person, screen size really doesn’t matter to me, so there’s no compelling reason for me to use an iPad. I performed my test with the Sena Leather Case with Bluetooth Keyboard. It’s a great case and a great companion. If you’re going to just be doing email, notes, or some primitive document creation, the iPad would be fine, but if I could only take one device with me on the road, I would have to leave it at home, and would take the MacBook Air instead.

Lisa had a chance to play with the iPad, and stresses the fact that it has more screen real estate. However, this can present difficulties for someone who is blind. For example, dragging an app to a specific location and going in a straight line can be more difficult, because there is more area to cover. You do have more of a spatial view of a web page, so the experience is a subjective one, and what may be workable for one person may not suit the needs of another.

Patrick had extensive testing with an iPad 1. The extra real estate handled things like columns nicely, although finding and navigating them was a challenge. He was looking to buy an iPad primarily to work with a piece of sound editing software, but it was not accessible.

When I’m on the road, I need access to production-quality tools, and programs like Garage Band were not accessible on the iPad. My next priority was email, which I don’t really like on the iOS devices, although email with Siri on the iPhone 4S is great. I still feel much more comfortable using SAMNet email or Outlook. Next, I looked at the ability to write letters or review spreadsheets, and could not find any compelling reasons to do these tasks on the iPad. Even entertainment-related apps are often barely accessible on the iPad. On the MacBook Air, I can run Windows, either through VMWare or BootCamp, and I can run Lion. This is very important to me because I can run Windows on a Mac, but I can’t run Mac on anything else.

Lisa is of the opinion that the iPad might be inconvenient for some because a Bluetooth keyboard would be a needed accessory for increased productivity, but would just be an additional item to carry. She also observes that all of the iPad discussion is from the point of view of those who used an iPhone or iPod Touch first, and says that even though the iPad is different, it might involve less of a learning curve, especially for someone who has never used an iOS device. While Lisa contends that the smaller devices like the iPhone or iPod Touch are a better choice for someone with little or no usable vision, I feel that the iPad is “the way to go” because it is so versatile and it does have many options for peripherals. If someone already has his or her phone needs met, or doesn’t want the expense of not only the iPhone but the monthly charges, I feel that the iPad is a better choice than the iPod Touch because the extra space makes the learning curve that much less steep. Also, with the iPad, you can turn 3G on and off, and you don’t need a contract in many cases. So, you could use 3G for a month, maybe while traveling, and not use it for the next few months.

Patrick observes that the concepts learned on the iPad transfer more easily to the smaller iOS devices, but that it is harder to go from the smaller devices to the iPad. I love the fact that Apple has implemented the same gestures into the track pads on their desktop and laptop computers, so that your knowledge is transferable. As a blind consumer, I would like to continue to buy from Apple because they have met my needs. And the MacBook Air configuration I reviewed in  Part One is, in particular, an awesome device.

Lisa got this same configuration about two weeks ago, and describes the initial, out-of-box experience, beginning to learn Lion, and ultimately, the transfer of information to Windows:

She says: “When I first unpacked the MacBook Air, I was in awe of how small and light it is. But then I opened it up and was not sure which was the power button. The Escape, Function keys, and Power button run in a single unbroken row across the top. There’s really no space to label often used keys. Of course, I can count, but that is a little slower. Also, my previous experience with a portable computer was a netbook. Men and those with larger hands will find the MacBook Air is easier to type on because the keyboard is nearly full-sized.

“I found the setup to be fairly easy, but not without problems. When I was asked for a password, it did not click every time I entered a key. I understand this is a security feature, but as a new user, I thought that all key presses were not being registered. Using it was and is a bit of a challenge. I wouldn’t say it is harder or easier than Windows. It’s just a different way of thinking, interacting, and doing. Part of the reason I decided to get a MacBook Air is that the OS is becoming more popular, and I wanted to learn more about the world of Apple so I was better informed. I’ve decided my approach will be to try comparable Mac apps first, and to only use Windows on that machine if the Mac apps, for whatever reason, are not meeting my needs.

”Currently, I’m liking Mac Mail a lot better than Outlook. So for work, I’m running Windows 7 under VMWare Fusion, and I’m using IE and SAMNet. And then, I’m using Lion for mail and Twitter with Yorufukurou, commonly referred to as the Japanese Swear Word Twitter Client. It has many nice features, and with the possibility that the Qwitter client for Windows may not undergo any further development, this is an excellent solution. I don’t feel like I have to be tied down to using exclusively Mac or Windows. I can just use whatever works best to get the job done. (End comment).

Jamie asks about a comment I made in Part One, and it still stands. I have never found Lion or Leopard to be productive for me. I don’t want to paint with a broad brush and state that it is not productive, but for me, I have not found it to be the case. What I am waiting for is the merger of iOS and Lion, or whatever the Mac OS is at that time. Then, I will be able to use my MacBook Air the same way I would use an iPad, an iPhone, or an iPod, but with the strength and features of a computer behind it. When I want to get work done, I don’t use it on the Mac side. But I do use it in the studio. I’m not a Mac person per se, but I love the hardware and the fact that it works with both platforms.

Patrick weighs in on the productivity aspects of the Mac: “I’m more of an audio guy, and I do as little of the typical office productivity stuff as I can. I use a program called Reaper for editing. I’ve used it in Windows, but wanted to try it on the Mac. It is accessible, but it’s not laid out in such a way that it is productive. I use the Mac for everyday tasks like email, Twitter, and the web. If I really want to get any work done though, it’s definitely Windows. I was using a MacBook Pro, and now I have a Mac mini. I also ordered a MacBook Air which is on its way. One thing I do have to say is that when you transfer from one Mac to another, the migration process is really awesome, and I wish it were that simple in Windows.” (End comment)

Jamie summarizes the issue of productivity: “In visiting with a lot of people who use both Mac and Windows, I hear very consistently that mail, Twitter, and in some cases browsing, is very pleasant. But when it comes to productivity, most of those people go back to Windows.” (End comment)

Maybe this is elementary to those of you who are using this feature on your iPhones, but I believe that a company that takes the time to vocalize how many faces are visible in the camera app on a cell phone so that a blind person can enjoy taking pictures like anyone else, will ultimately fix whatever is wrong as long as we advocate properly. I think Apple does care about us as a consumer group, and they have demonstrated it beyond the shadow of a doubt. It goes far beyond anything that they would be constrained to do, and shows an incredible attention to details. I have no fear in saying that I know that Apple will ultimately fix whatever is not working properly, which is why I will continue to be a very satisfied Apple customer. It’s priceless to me that my wife can just hand me her iPhone, and I can turn on VoiceOver and fix whatever is wrong with it.

Before closing, I’d like us to discuss accessories, to find out what you are using, and how it is working for you.

Lisa begins: I like the sound of the Verbatim hard drive Mike covered in the last segment. I may also get a USB card reader. I have a Victor Stream, and even though I can use the cord for transfers, I’m very accustomed to using the SD card. The one thing I felt was a priority was to get a case. I was looking for something a bit more in my price range. Because I don’t travel extensively, I don’t need something that is quite as rugged as some of the bags that have been discussed. But finding a case took quite a bit of time. I looked at approximately 120 cases which ranged from decorative skins, to books, to neoprene sleeves. I wanted something I could carry separately, and after much searching, I found the rooCASE Netbook Carrying Bag for Apple MacBook Air 11.6-inch Laptop. This looks like a miniature laptop case with the standard handles and shoulder strap. There are some features I like, and some which I feel could be improved. I especially like the way the handles felt in my hand. I feel they are nicely shaped, and neither too large or too small. The inside is padded, and there is a compartment with a velcro closure into which you slide the MacBook Air. The bag has more of a briefcase feel, with defined borders, which means that it is difficult to put much more in it than is essential. The Mac adapter will fit inside, as will a pair of small headphones. There are compartments on the front which can be accessed with a zipper. The compartments are lined up in a row so that your equipment is organized and that streamlined look is maintained. One compartment fits the iPhone exactly, so you may have trouble if you have it in a bulky case. I was surprised by the compartment which is meant to hold an MP3 player. Since the bag is designed in part for the MacBookI did not understand why they did not make that compartment slightly larger. It did not fit the iPhone, nor would it fit an iPod Touch, and roughly an inch was all that was lacking. However, this pocket has some interesting features in that it can be accessed via a magnetic flap on the front of the case. It also has a port for attaching earbuds, but since it does not fit my iPhone, I will probably store my tissues in that quick-access compartment. I bought this case for about $35, and although it is not as feature-rich as some, it is more than adequate, especially if you do not travel extensively.” (End comment)

Patrick weighs in on accessories: “I’m probably going to get the Waterfield Designs case mentioned in Part Two. I need an external drive larger than 640 gb. What I just bought is a Toshiba Canvio 1.0 TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive – HDTC610XK3B1 (Black), and it’s $99. The verbatim drive is beautiful, and I looked to see if there was a 1TB version of the Verbatim drive. I chose the Toshiba because I needed a larger capacity drive. I also got the Duracell inverter mentioned in Part Three.” (end comment)

One of the things I would like to do but haven’t yet is to see if I can pair the MacBook with my Bluetooth headset. The camera is also very nice and can be used for Skype. This machine is extremely useful, and is going to be with me until it doesn’t work anymore. It is a great balance between price, power, and productivity.

I encourage you to go to our website and read the other parts of this review to get the big picture and fully understand all that we have discussed. You are welcome to send email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or 2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

Today, we continue our discussion of the MacBook Air. In Part One, we discussed choosing the right size and configuration, and talked about functional cases in Part Two. Today, I’d like to talk to you about battery options. But first, let’s start with storage.

Some of the things that distinguish the MacBook Air are its portability and small size, but these are also its curse. As I said in the first segment, the problem is that going from a 128 GB SSD to a 256 GB is $300, and the read/write times on the 128 are actually faster. (This is currently the case with my 11.6 inch MacBook Air, 2011 release.) I would submit that if you are going to need the faster processing and larger size SSD, that you wait for the prices to come down. Even now, you can buy SSD’s that can be retrofitted.

For those of us who don’t want to break open our pretty, new MacBook Airs, there are other options, which come in the form of external hard drives. In the past, hard drives were quite expensive, but drops in price and increases in capacity have made them a viable and economical option.

I like the Verbatim Leather Wallet 640GB 3.0 USB Portable Hard Drive for several reasons. It is a USB 3 hard drive, and it is also a SATA hard drive. You can plug a SATA cable into the drive, or it comes with its own SATA cable with a USB plug, so you can connect it to any standard USB port. And of course, if you have a computer running USB 3, it’s really going to fly. When I was looking for a hard drive, I was looking for something that is small, inexpensive, and has a large amount of storage, which is exactly what I found in this device. It is important to note that there are a few different models, including a USB 2.0 version, so using the above link will make sure you get to the one I’ve discussed here. I originally saw this drive at the airport for $170, and fell in love with it, but wanted to find it at a lower price. As I said, the drive has a 640 GB capacity, fits in a shirt pocket, and is wrapped in leather, and it’s only $68. Ironically, the USB 2.0 version is $86.

As I’ve mentioned before, I have my SSD split into two, so I have BootCamp with Windows 7 64-bit on one partition and Lion on the other. Considering that I have 60-some gig on each side to play with, that’s not a whole lot when dealing with either Windows or Lion. So when I’m home, I keep it plugged into my desktop, and I perform a backup frequently. Then, when I am traveling, I take it out of the computer, put it in the case with the laptop, and I’m all set. Whenever I need something, which isn’t all that often, this is perfect. I had the opportunity to use this awhile back when I was doing something and I blew some drivers away, and had to go back to the original BootCamp which I kept on the drive. The drive has been amazing because it helps when I need the extra space, but I didn’t have to invest in the bigger SSD. It doesn’t drain my battery a lot, and I can store things quickly. I highly recommend this particular Verbatim Drive because it’s rugged, it looks good, it feels good in the hand, and it’s economical and fast.

And now that we have a way to efficiently back up, let’s explore some power options. First, we’re going to talk about the Duracell DRINVP175 175W Pocket Inverter with 2.1 Amp USB Port. This is a power inverter, and one nice thing about it is that it is about $50 cheaper than an adapter specifically designed for the MacBook Air. It also has the advantage that it gives you access to a 3-prong outlet. You can even plug in a power strip for multiple devices. This inverter is sleek, small, and ideal for use in a vehicle or plane. At $43, this is an unbeatable price, especially when compared to our next device.

The QuickerTek External Battery For All of Apple Inc.’s MacBook Air is priced at $399. This is a situation where the thinking is that if you have a MacBook Air, you’ve got beaucoup bucks. I’m sure this device is awesome, but I didn’t buy one. $400 for a battery that’s going to give me 6-10 hours of additional use from the MacBook Air is more than I need. Because of all the available devices, and because they can do so many things, I don’t need that many hours of  charging time when I’m on the move. I would assume that if you do, $400 is a good price to pay, but before you do, it’s a good idea to consider all your options. This one is a lot of money, and it’s heavy! At a pound and a half, it weighs as much as the MacBook Air and requires a special Mac adapter. I’ve put it here for the sake of full disclosure. But in the type of connected world in which we live, in most cases, we are rarely disconnected from power for any length of time. By dimming my screen, I get approximately 5.5 hours of battery life on Windows or Lion. For the most part, this more than meets my needs.

The next device is the Energizer XP18000 Universal AC Adapter with External Battery for Laptops, Netbooks, and More. The thing about this is that, much like the power inverter, it is open, so you can use it with your laptop, netbook, or Mac. At $143, it is a little expensive, but could be great if it is something you need. If you opt to use one of these, you’ll need to consider the overall strategy of how you use the device. It might or might not all fit in the Waterfield Designs case I reviewed earlier. That is a small case for essentials. If you carry a small arsenal of stuff, you might consider a larger case. It seems to me that this would fit the ticket much better than the $399 battery. Personally, I carry the power inverter because I don’t have much need of a battery. The inverter is the right price, and can be great if you are in a pickle and really need to plug in your device.

Finally, I am still just as enamored with the MacBook Air today. I know that some time has passed due to the death of Steve Jobs and also the Amazon Kindle Fire fiasco, but I’m just as excited about this computer. In the fifteen or so years I’ve been carrying portable devices, this is one of my favorites, and the price was worth every penny.

In part four of this discussion, we’re going to talk about the one question I keep getting over and over and over. The MacBook Air is a great device, but the iPad II is considered by many a productivity tool. So which should you get, and are they equal? Please do send in your questions. We’re also going to have a few other people who have MacBook Airs on the next podcast to talk about their experiences.

You can certainly send email to resources@serotalk.com, leave a comment on the Blab Line, at (866) 997-blab or 2522, or send us an iReport on iBlink Radio.

By the way, I am still at guide dog school, and since I’ve had so many questions about the quality of the microphone on the MacBook Air, I’ve put away the equipment I usually use, and am recording from that. So if you are interested in hearing what that sounds like,

Check out the audio version of this podcast.

It seems that on the whole, people like and need to carry their technology with them. This seems even more true of blind people, maybe due to the fact that some hardware and software is specialized. And even though we’re carrying more stuff, and we’re carrying it more often, we’re usually doing it one-handed because the other hand is holding a harness or a cane. A case should protect the technology you’ve invested in, so it’s important to find one that does the job and does it well. In this case, it may mean paying more than expected for a good, functional bag that meets your needs.

Many cases seem to be designed with fashion in mind rather than function, and that is true of the first bag I have for review. It is the Twelve South BookBook Hardback Leather Case for 11-Inch MacBook Air. It sells for $79, and it is absolutely gorgeous. It looks like a nice, leather-bound Bible or family photo album, and it looks very much like a book. So, you can have it on a table or bookshelf, and no one would know you have a MacBook Air inside. The leather is de-stressed-looking so it shouldn’t scratch or get marked up easily. When you lift the top of the case, the top of the MacBook Air comes up as well. However, this bag has no strap or handle. It can easily fit inside a briefcase, but by itself, for my own personal needs, it is not functional.

The next case is the McNair Slim Brief – Tumi. I love Tumi, and think they’re an excellent company. They are he crème de la crème oft bags, and this one is no different. This is a fantastic bag, but is not really good for my needs. It looks like it will handle a 15 to 17-inch laptop, so the 11-inch really floats around and has too much room to move. The bag has excellent zippers, and pockets of different sizes. There is also a compartment with a magnetic closure that will hold various printed materials. The bag has lots of cushion. It is made of ballistic nylon, and comes in black. I really like leather, but the nylon seems durable and water-resistant. The back of the bag has an excellent feature for all of us who travel with our technology. There are zippers across the top and bottom rear of the bag. When you unzip these, you have a sleeve which will fit snugly over the pull-up handle of a piece of luggage. The carry strap is comfortable and doesn’t slip off my shoulder. It feels like the same material used to make seatbelts, so it shouldn’t fray or tear. The strap attaches to the bag with a locking mechanism, which I like very much. This cuts down on the possibility of either the strap or the attachment point breaking, and is another way to ensure that your equipment stays protected. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a cheap Tumi bag, and at $255, this one is no exception. I’m trying to find a different bag from Tumi, hopefully in leather, that is better sized for the MacBook Air.

The final bag is the MacBook Air Wallet shown with 11″ MacBook Air and accessories from Waterfield Designs. It comes in various colors, but I chose black. It’s ballistic nylon with de-stressed leather around the edges, so if you sit it down often, it shouldn’t show extra wear. It isn’t much to look at, but it’s a great bag for my needs. It has a much thinner profile than the Tumi bag, and everything fits snugly and does not shift. The zipper goes about halfway around the bag, so you have plenty of room to insert the MacBook Air. The bag has three compartments for accessories. The smallest one is ideal for a cell phone. I use the medium-sized one for accessories, and the largest compartment accommodates an external drive. (We’ll be talking more about drives and power options in Part Three of this review, so I hope you either tune into that podcast or read the blog). There is an elasticized pocket on the back of the bag which is great for stashing small items you need to access quickly. While this bag is thin, it is more a case than just a sleeve. The bag has ample padding, and the MacBook Air fits securely, and does not move around. There is a compartment behind the main one that I use to hold the Kindle and some cables. There are several options for the strap on this case. You can opt to have no strap at all, you can have O-rings added and use your own strap, or you can use one of two straps they sell. There is a ten dollar difference between the two straps, so I got the better one, which sells for $22. The basic strap sells for $12.The bag sells for $89 for the 11-inch and $99 for the 13-inch MacBook Air. This is an amazing bag, and is definitely the one I use most.

Please take some time to look at the wealth of resources associated with this and all podcasts and product reviews. The show notes will allow you to link to the products discussed, and to additional information on the topics that are covered.

I welcome your comments and questions, and will address as many as I can in Parts Three and Four of this review. You can submit your thoughts by sending an iReport through iBlink Radio, emailing the podcast team, or calling the Blab Line at (866) 997-blab, or 2522.

first of a four-part audio review about the new MacBook Air, released in July of 2011.

In this first part, we’ll discuss its features and specifications, along with what makes it stand out. In part two, we’ll be focusing on cases. Traditionally, bags for the MacBook Air have been more fashionable than functional. I’ll talk about some bags that look good, but get the job done. These bags are not economical, but are well-made.

The MacBook Air has an excellent battery. Traditionally, it lasts about 4.5 hours under Windows and about 5 hours when using Lion. However, even the longest batteries run down, and often at the most inconvenient times. Part 3 will cover portable battery and charging options.

To wrap it all up, part 4 wil compare and contrast the MacBook Air and the product most similar to it… the iPad.

For a long time, earlier versions of the MacBook Air were viewed as laptops that people carried around to look cool, but couldn’t do that much. These early versions were very expensive. The Air’s initial claim to fame was as the laptop that could fit in an envelope. In fact, if you put the MacBook Air in a FedEx envelope, it will fit easily. The device is slightly thicker in the rear, and tapers down to the front where it is quite thin. You can even check out this video on YouTube of a man using the sharp edge of his MacBook Air to cut vegetables.

As Apple saw the wisdom in making the MacBook Air more valuable than just functioning as the must-have fashion accessory for the traveling executive, the price has come down, and the latest version of the MacBook Air sports more power than previous models.

The most recent incarnation of the MacBook Air comes in 11.6 and 13-inch models. I’m totally blind, and I see little compelling reason to buy the larger screen size. The 13-inch model has a slightly larger battery, but actual battery life is only extended by about 30 minutes. Additionally, both screen sizes come with the same processor options.

The base price for an 11.6 inch MacBook Air is $999.00. With this configuration, the standard is a 1.4 GHZ Intel processor with 4 GB RAM and a 64 GB Solid State Drive. In fact, all MacBook Airs use solid state drives. The next step up outfits the MacBook Air with a 1.7 GHZ i3 processor with 3 MB L2 cache. Finally, the 1.8 GHZ i7 processor has 4 MB of L2 cache. That extra megabyte can really make a difference, especially when doing processor-intensive tasks like viewing YouTube videos.

Because MacBook Airs use solid state drives, , there are no moving parts, and boot times are quite fast. On average, it takes about 10-12 seconds to boot into Lion, the operating system for the Mac, and about 20-25 seconds for Windows to start. When I reopen the lid after putting the Mac in standby, access to information and internet connectivity is back in roughly 4 seconds. Drives come in 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB capacities. However, with Apple, all things are not necessarily created equal. Price difference between the 64 and 128 gb drives averages between $60 and $100, but there is a $300 price difference between the 128 and the 256 gb drives. Additionally, benchmarks show a decrease in speed with the 256 gb drive that is not seen with the others. Still, if you need additional storage, you are not without options. You can use external devices,like I’ll be covering in part 3, or access your data from the cloud.

The last configurable item is memory, and can have a maximum of 4 GB.

The audio is quite a bit louder than it is on a netbook or similar computer. An ingenious feature allows grooves near the hinges at the rear of the MacBook Air to function as speakers as well as vents for the fan.

The MacBook Air with 128 GB drive is not available from the Apple retail store, but can be ordered from the online store. It cost $1350, and would have been $1650 with the 256 GB drive.

The right side of the unit contains a USB port and a Thunderbolt Port for connectivity to an increasing number of devices.

The left side contains a second USB port, a headphone jack, a microphone, and a built-in camera.

In this age of smart phones and other internet-enabled devices, it’s rare that a laptop needs to run for 4.5 hours at a time. The MacBook Air has a small power supply that is easy to carry. The keyboard is full-sized and comfortable to use, although the arrangement of a few keys is different when using it under Windows. The keyboard is backlit, and its brightness, as well as that of the display, can be adjusted.

I mostly use Windows, but I use Lion to demonstrate Serotek’s Mac-compatible products. I have had this MacBook Air for three to four weeks,I feel that Lion is functional but not necessarily productive for my personal uses at this point in time. I love the MacBook Air’s solid build and quality and I like the fact that Windows can be run on a Mac.

This is by no means a full review of this machine it’s just my personal opinion as a consumer. If you have questions on something that I didn’t cover in enough detail or comments, I would love to hear from you. Contact us either by submitting an iReport on iBlink Radio, (available for Android and iOS), or by calling the Blab Line at 866 997-blab or 997-2522.

Let’s do some math! On this plan, your Atom-based netbook running Windows XP will set you back about $1160 in total, assuming you’re somehow able to keep your internet usage below 200MB a month. (Note: Nobody does this.) If you want a slightly more realistic plan—a still-anemic 5GB a month—you’ll have to step up to $60 and month, which pushes your cost of ownership to $1640.

Even a modest cellphone plan adds up a to a lot in the long term, but we expect something in return: decent calling plans, effectively unlimited data, and a free, or at least heavily subsidized handset. The only thing you’re getting here is an oppressive transfer cap, some Wi-Fi hotspot access and about $100 off street price on a few modestly-specced netbooks. I guess if you’re set on AT&T’s data service anyway, it’s not a terrible deal, but it’s sure as hell not a good one. [

If you’ve read this article in AFB Accessworld, you’ll know I have firsthand experience with a ghetto. When my parents came to Miami from Cuba looking for new opportunities, they joined a community of other Cubans who were here for the same reasons. Our community was a place where we proudly celebrated our Cuban heritage and where the Cuban culture remained alive and well. But it was also a place that trapped us in poverty; a place where expectations were low; and ultimately a place which isolated us from the rest of society. It was a type of ghetto.

Did we prefer being poor, stereotyped, isolated and hopeless? Of course not! But there was an unspoken sentiment that leaving the ghetto would also mean leaving an important part of yourself behind, and that you would sacrifice the culture that made you who you were if you tried to blend seamlessly with mainstream society.

Over time, I came to realize that my cultural differences didn’t need to isolate me from those outside my community. In fact, those differences are a part of what make me interesting. I learned that there was a whole world full of people who had their own interesting differences to celebrate, and that despite all our differences, we were exactly the same in many ways.

This is a truth I had to learn not only as a Cuban American, but as a blind person as well. I spent much of my life listening to the stereotypes about blind people. We were socially inept. We were unemployable. We were to be pitied. We had to be provided with basic necessities to make our insular world habitable, but we were too different from the rest of society to ever be a part of it in any meaningful way.

I knew that I didn’t fit any of these stereotypes. I was sociable, I had talents, and I certainly didn’t want any pity. I didn’t need anyone to take the liberty of creating a world for me which contained only the things they thought I might need. I was perfectly capable of thinking for myself, and I wanted the freedom to choose what I would and would not do. I needed to bridge the gap between the blind ghetto the world thought I should live in and the place I really wanted to be.

Early on I understood that technology would play a huge role in bridging that gap, not just for me, but for the millions of other blind people like me. It isn’t just about bridging the gap to employment, which is certainly important. It’s about providing a way for blind people to have fun, to be entertained, and to communicate with the rest of the world without any geographical, social or economic barriers.

Over the years, I have watched mainstream technology evolve from something available to only an elite few to something completely ubiquitous. I have seen technology emerge from complex, bulky gadgetry comprehensible only to geeka to user-friendly, pocket-sized and smaller devices which can be enjoyed easily by those who have no tech savvy whatsoever. And during this time the price of mainstream technology has plummeted so that even the most budget-conscious consumer can pick up a state-of-the-art computer for $400 or less.

But has this trend carried over in to the assistive technology arena? Is there a push to provide compelling access to off-the-shelf products? Are AT companies designing easy and affordable products that don’t require hours of training to operate? The answer is a resounding no!

But why not? Is it because blind people are content to remain in the blind ghetto? Are we content to continue paying thousands of dollars for access to proprietary products which provide only a fraction of the functionality of mainstream products? Is it because we are content to remain a niche market rather than insisting on being seen as viable consumers who share the interests of our sighted counterparts? Is it because blind people simply don’t want access to entertainment or social networking? The answer to these questions is also a resounding no!

Ghettos, you see, not only keep insiders in, they keep outsiders out. The blind ghetto discourages mainstream technology companies from making their products accessible. A select group controls the sales to the ghetto and like it that way. The ghetto barriers protect their market share even though those walls can deny their customers access to the riches available to everyone outside the walls. It takes gutsy companies to build and market products that tear down the walls and it is these “disruptive” technologies that excite me.

Finally, in the past couple of years we have begun to see products that break down the ghetto walls. And each time a “ghetto-busting” product is introduced, its success enriches us all. Look at some of these products: Packmate from Freedom Scientific, runs on the Windows Mobile platform, and allows users to install their own software rather than depending on a specific group of preinstalled proprietary applications—exactly like mainstream PDAs.. Mobilespeak from Codefactory, puts blind cell phone users on a par with their sighted friends; and maybe the most fun “ghetto-buster” is the exciting Apple 4th generation Nano which, for the first time, gave blind folks the same accessibility to their “tunes” that every sighted teenager has enjoyed for years..

My company, Serotek, is a big participant in “ghetto-busting.” Today, Serotek introduced the Socializer, an application which provides access to instant messaging services such as MSN and AIM, as well as easy access to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. The response has been overwhelming and runs the gamut from tech savvy users clamoring for MySpace to be added to the application, to technical neophytes who have no idea what Facebook and Twitter are, but are anxious to find out. In a world that is becoming ever smaller with instant and ubiquitous one to one communications, Serotek tore down the ghetto wall and invited blind folks everywhere to be full twittering members.

The response shows clearly that blind people do want to live the accessible digital lifestyle. We do want to share photos on Facebook and Flicker and keep in touch through Twitter and MSN. We do want to chat with friends and family about how cool the iPod is, instead of waiting for an AT company to produce something half as good for twice the price. So let’s be loud about it! Let’s make our voices heard. Whether you create a petition, write an email, twitter to your new social network, create a group on Facebook, or just pick up the phone, let it be known that you want to tear down the walls to the blind ghetto and proudly live the accessible digital lifestyle.