I know that sounds really drastic but it is true. Why should we care though? Because, fact is, disabled people need the internet.

There are a lot of things that make me want to question all humanity, simply because it seems that common sense is becoming more and more a luxury than anything else today. Why? Today, I read an article that’s just promoting nothing more than false intentions.

I’m on twitter a lot and I read what my followers post a great deal. When I saw the article about the notion that Verizon was fighting against Net Neutrality to benefit the disabled populace, I didn’t have anything clever to say. I didn’t have a retort to utter. I didn’t even have a tweet to formulate in wake of this. Ladies and gents, there’s simply no other word to describe what they are claiming and the propositions that they claim, other than one. It’s a word that fits all, I believe, given this context and the huge array of just false debauchery that Verizon is trying to cook up.

LIES.

If you have not heard about the FCC and their latest plan to destroy the internet do a Google search for FCC and net neutrality. You will get some really interesting articles that basically outline what their new rules will entail.

It’s a proposal that would ban Internet providers from blocking or slowing down access to websites but may let them charge content companies for faster and more reliable delivery of their traffic to users.

It sounds good on paper and in a simple sentence like that. It’s not. I will briefly explain why.

Anything can be abused, including this new law. Internet service providers (ISPs), like Comcast or AT&T—believe that, as providers of internet access, they should be able to distribute bandwidth differently depending on the service.

They’d prefer, for example, to create tiers of internet service that’s more about paying for priority access than for bandwidth speeds. As such, in theory, they could charge high-bandwidth services—like Netflix, for example—extra money, since their service costs more for Comcast to provide to its customers—or they could charge users, like you and me, extra to access Netflix. They can also provide certain services to you at different speeds.

For example, perhaps your ISP might give preferential treatment to Hulu, so it streams Hulu videos quickly and for free, while Netflix is stuck running slowly (or we have to pay extra to access it). If you don’t think that won’t wrack up a huge bill, you are wrong.

How many people use cell phones and access Facebook, twitter, Netflix, ETC. This will affect everything that’s connected to the internet and they can all have a separate charge attached for that device to access websites and content.

This will also affect your tablets, game systems, ANYTHING that is hooked up to the internet. Knowing the USA, those fees can be taxed. enough said.

Imagine that Verizon or AT&T don’t like the idea of Google Voice, because it allows you to send text messages for free using your data connection. Your cellphone carrier could block access to Google Voice from your smartphone so you’re forced to pay for a texting plan from them. Or, they see that a lot of people are using Facebook on their smartphone, so even if they have the bandwidth to carry that traffic, they decide to charge you extra to access Facebook, just because they know it’s in high demand and that they can make a profit.

Obviously this will be great for people who have money spilling outa their pockets and who live in a financial bubble ignorant of the rest of us but I don’t think the FCC remembers that not everyone has money, If this rueling gets past it will ban some disabled people from using the internet. Let’s be real here.

Take SSI. How much is your internet bill per year now and how often do people on SSI rely on the internet and websites that host special content like Facebook, for social collaboration and school websites that often hold YouTube videos, which can have a steep price on it too on top of your internet bill if net neutrality is killed.

People on SSI or even SSDI won’t be able to pay all of that, given the fact that disabled people use the internet more than anything else for more than just socializing. People host teleconferences on Facebook, promote goods on blogs, the list goes on and I should not even have to point these out.

These ISP;s certainly won’t remember that not everyone has money because they want to have the money and they will want to have the money that they think they should have any way that they can get it, including charging people like you and I to use an email provider that isn’t with your default ISP like, for example, if you’re using Comcast and you look at your Gmail. Comcast could charge you to access Gmail even though Gmail is free.

The reason why blind people use Gmail is that it offers a lot of customization. For example, it offers free IMAP and POP3 access to mail clients. Yahoo does not.

This is why I say that Verizon is spewing illogical banter. There’s a stereotype about us Americans that say, frankly, we are greedy.

Verizon and Comcast really want to have this new rueling passed just so they can get more money and the fact that Verizon is using disabled people as a valuable excuse to justify why they want to kill Net Neutrality just so they can have more money really makes me, well, disappointed at my own country.

Hears the claim Verizon makes. Without a fast lane, disabled Americans could get stuck with subpar service as Internet traffic increases.

The issue that’s a constant problem isn’t even about the speed of access but, rather, the simple act of accessing something. I don’t understand how this will help us access something such as a website that isn’t designed to be accessible or obtaining some key information that’s in an accessible element on the inaccessible or partially accessible website. Since the internet often has inaccessible websites, even today, we would just turn to the phone, or, in my case, text one of my minions to look something up for me, adding a winking smiley at the end just because. The issue of speed doesn’t even culminate into a logical fit within this particular claim, if people really knew about screen readers and magnifiers and such. Instead of slower speeds dolling out a subpar service it’s the incomplete and botched content that we cannot access because developers didn’t make whatever accessible.

If there were, indeed, a way for ISPs to create two lanes of internet access, one slow, with costs to use all these demanding sites like Netflix and such, and one fast, combined with services like Facebook, it would ban a lot of disabled people from accessing some very key information all together all because of costs that would be designated by the ISP and then that would be yet another contender blind and visually impaired activists would have to constantly advocate for.

State rehabilitation will not pay for internet as is, and that’s just one monthly cost to access all websites and services. If this were to actually be enforced people with disabilities wouldn’t have access to certain sites at all because of the high costs that will, without a doubt, be determined by the ISP.

This could lead to loss of employment, fewer educational opportunities because this will affect schools too, and overall fewer productivity and would make the unemployment rate for disabled people increase because a lot of disabled people work from home, using many sites and services every day that wouldn’t be able to be accessed because, oh no! The bill is really high!

Speed is not the issue and it infuriates me that Verizon even uses that as a claim. If people know about screen readers, magnifiers, and accessibility issues with software and sites then they will see right through this fallacy. If they don’t know about disabled people and access technology it would be a simple conclusion that would make sense in their minds even though its hugely false, that speed would help us.

Access is an issue but the irony is access would be an even bigger issue, coupled with taxes and stuff, I’m sure, will be added onto these extra speed costs and costs to access content, thereby bridging the disabled homeless and otherwise on an even wider separation all because of money. Access won’t be an issue, it will morph into a barrier, one that will always be up.

This is just for work. Could you only imagine how disabled people wouldn’t have access to sites like twitter, where news is happening all day, every day? Oh my god!I don’t even want to entertain that nightmare.

I just cannot believe that Verizon would even say such a disingenuous thing. It won’t help disabled people at all. It would ban some from even using the internet, even some who are not disabled. I don’t think people who work at these companies know that not everyone works at Verizon or otherwise, but hey, in America, it’s all about the money. It’s all about the money.

Join Jamie, Ricky and Joe for this week’s edition of the podcast where they sip Apple juice and talk about all things iOS 8. If you’re tired of hearing about Apple, never fear; there are other stories in this week’s show as well. After the news, Buddy Brannan visits with Jim Gashel about the new release of the KNFB Reader app for iOS. Stories covered in this week’s podcast include:

National Federation of the Blind Applauds Release of KNFB Reader iPhone App

iOS 8 Adoption Lags Behind Past Upgrades — So Far

What’s New in iOS 8 Accessibility for Blind, Low-Vision, and Deaf-Blind Users

The Accessibility Bugs in iOS 8: From Serious To Minor

Apple Confirms HealthKit Bug, Promises Fix by End of September

BlindSquare: Acapela Voices Temporarily Not Available in iOS 8

Braille Moves Forward in iOS 8

Apple TV updated w/ Beats Music channel, refreshed design, Family Sharing, & iCloud Photos

new Victor Reader 2 Update now live

New audio channel makes fashion accessible for people with disabilities

Fred Gissoni

Code Factory becomes global! Check our new website

New TalkBack for Android released. Check the release notes to see what’s new

New Kindle Voyager docking soon

New Amazon Fire Kids Edition

The 3MT Reader Android app is a simple, intuitive way for blind users to read epub and txt books

Microsoft confirms Windows 9 event for September 30, Technical Preview to follow soon after

The new Ken Burns PBS series, The Roosevelts available on the Web with Audio description

Roundabout

Intel Unveils Connected Wheelchair

The 12-y.o. Hero Behind the Lego-Braille Printer: A Not Impossible Original

Here is a link to SeroTalk Podcast 188 featuring Buddy Brannan’s interview with Shubham Banerjee

The Tough MudderExperience

Buddy Brannan joins Jamie Pauls and Ricky Enger for this episode of the podcast. Along with the top news of the week including an announcement from Serotek, jamie demonstrates our newly-released version of iBlink Radio for the Mac. Stories covered in this podcast include:

Serotek Announces iBlink Radio for the Mac

Why is Skype forcing a software upgrade on all of us?

GWConnect ends August 4

Free Online Training – Using Skype for Windows Desktop with Window-Eyes

Short Skype course from CAVI

Orbit Research and the Transforming Braille Group Announce Agreement to Produce Low-Cost Refreshable Braille Display

NV Access | Speech Synthesizer Survey 1

Mosen Consulting eBook, “iOS 8 Without the Eye”

Announcing: ChAPPters

Redbox agrees to provide better access for blind customers

Revisiting the “Switch to Android full-time” experiment

Microsoft is finally killing support for old versions of Internet Explorer

4 Reasons Microsoft’s Surface Might Bite the Dust

Windows ‘Threshold’ to drop charms, add virtual desktop

BlackBerry still on shaky ground, but it continues to secure lucrative security clearances

Dial-Up Still a Cash Cow for AOL

Apple, Samsung Agree to End Patent Suits Outside U.S.

Report: Sprint to Drop T-Mobile Bid, CEO | News & Opinion

Roundabout

70 Years of Smokey: The Story of America’s Firefighting Bear

Toddler squeezes through White House fence

With an All-Deaf Wait Staff, New Restaurant Asks Guests to Order in Sign Language

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again–our podcasts would not be what they are without feedback from our listeners. Once again, we take the time to feature some iReports that didn’t make it into our podcasts. It’s just our way of saying thanks for being you!

Welcome to our first SPN special from NFB 2014 in Orlando, Florida. Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp have been hard at work talking with many of this year’s convention exhibitors, so sit back and enjoy the following interviews from the 74th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind.

We would like to thank HIMS Inc. and Elegant Insights Braille Creations for sponsoring this year’s NFB convention coverage.

Matthew of Humanware talks with Ricky Enger about some exciting updates coming to the second generation Victor Reader Stream.

Joe Steinkamp visits with John Wilson of 3D Photoworks about 3D objects in real time and space.

Ricky Enger learns about Echo-Sense, a mobility aid for the visually impaired.

Joe Steinkamp explores portable low-vision solutions from Abisee.

Ricky Enger speaks with Tony of Enabling Technologies about their latest Braille embossers.

Joe Steinkamp talks with Odin Mobile about the latest news about their mobile phone solutions.

Heather of VitalSource Technologies talks with Ricky Enger about their accessible electronic textbooks.

Ricky Enger brings us some exciting news about the soon-to-be released KNFB Reader.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. The news of the week, your feedback, a book recommendation and an interview with author Shelly Brisbin about her new book IOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch are just some of the things you will hear on this week’s show. Topics covered in this podcast include:

A T Talk

Braille Sense v8.2 Released with Features YOU Asked For!

Book Trade Announcements – Dolly Parton Presents Braille Book To Blind Child

GrabPak introduces line of Braille First Aid Kits

eBay and The National Federation of the Blind Team to Optimize Accessibility of Site, Apps

When Just Listening Is Not Enough: Google Falls Short on Accessibility for the Blind

What Will It Take for Google to Find Its Voice

Comparing the Windows Computer with the Mac

As Technology Marches Forward, Who Gets Left Behind?

Verizon Says It Wants to Kill Net Neutrality to Help Blind, Deaf, and Disabled People

Mainstream Matters

Report corroborates Apple planning to announce new wearable product in October

Apple’s new Lightning spec allows for smarter, better-sounding headphones

Rumor: NFC, wireless charging, improved LTE slated for iPhone 6

Starbucks to Start Offering Wireless Charging in San Francisco

Amazon Prime Subscriber? You Just Got Free Streaming Music

Roundabout

The Top 24 Summer Books of 2014

Vessyl smart cup can tell Coke from Pepsi

Xbox Live’s Major Nelson » E3 2014 Binaural Audio Experiment :

Ricky recommends Room: A Novel Written by Emma Donoghue

Our thanks go out to Andre Louis and Patrick Purdue of PD Audio Productions for the theme music heard on this podcast.

The news of the week, a wayward mailbag and elocution lessons are all a part of this week’s podcast, and our interview with The National Federation of the Blind’s Curtis Chong is the icing on the cake. Topics covered in this week’s episode include:

A T Talk

Walgreens Now Offers Talking Prescription Labels for Blind Customers

Assistive Technology Design for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired Survey

CiscoVision Wiki | Main / 2014 Semester 2 Course Offerings

iOS Access for All | Your comprehensive guide to accessibility for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. by Shelly Brisbin

Learn to Use the Mac with VoiceOver (MAC)

Knowing What Is Good About the iPhone and What Is Not

My comments on the Braille Monitor Article concerning the iPhone | Thoughts from David Goldfield

GWKB2058 – McAfee Found to Block Important Functionality in Window-Eyes

Unexpected loss of ZoomText activation

Mainstream Matters

Apple’s HealthKit Is a Huge Headache for One Startup

iOS 8 will let you scan credit cards via the camera

What Android 4.4.3 could mean about the future of Android updates

Microsoft stock price hits 52-week high, suggests market approves of Nadella

Why an Amazon Phone Makes Sense

Roundabout

Blind? Listen to this 9-year-old: ‘Accept it and live life as is’

No Barriers Grand Canyon Expedition 2014 Jamie mentioned that he plans to read Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See: My Story by Erik Weihenmayer.

19 Rare Recordings of Famous Authors

Our thanks go out to Andre Louis and Patrick Purdue of PD Audio Productions for the theme music heard on this podcast.

Join Jamie, Ricky and Joe as they discuss this week’s news of interest. Then, Jamie visits with Jeremy Curry about the recent merger of AI Squared and GW Micro. Topics discussed in this week’s podcast include:

A T Talk

Assistive Technology Leaders Merge to Expand Opportunities

Ai Squared and GW Micro Merge: Two Old Friends Join Forces

The Penguin Random House/Bookshare Partnership

The popular TapTapSee App is now available for Android

Quick Take: TapTapSee for Android Works Just like the iPhone Version, But Should It?

VoiceOver users: Journey towards accessibility, we are home: Our iOS Fleksy update is now fully accessible.

64 Ounce Games Has Reached it’s Goal

A Review of Chicken Nugget from Accessible Apps

TW Blue. Another accessible Twitter client based on The Qube.

Mainstream Matters

Are we starting to fall out of love with tablets?

Sprint partners with Spotify for music streaming

Sprint introduces its exclusive HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon

Hackers find first post-retirement Windows XP-related vulnerability

Hands-on with Firefox 29: More “customizable,” more Chrome-y

Are You Ready for a Driver’s License for the Internet?

Google’s self-driving cars hit 700,000 miles, learn city navigation

Blind Leading The Blind

Roundabout

How long should adults nap?

The 72 Worst Internet Sayings, Ranked

Listen to the fake sounds that could keep electric vehicles from hitting people

Welcome to this week’s edition of the SeroTalk podcast where Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss the top news stories of the week. After the news, Jamie visits with Hope Paulos of Fedora Outlier about all the exciting learning opportunities available from the company. Whether it’s iOS, Mac or Windows, they’ve got you covered. Also, be sure to check out their Delivering Access podcast which is also available on iBlink Radio. Topics discussed in this week’s podcast include:

Why the Windows 8.1 Update probably means no more Service Packs for Windows

Why I can live without Office for iPad

Windows Phone 8.1 Review

Purported iPhone 6 cases suggest design changes afoot

An Amazon Phone for Everyone—FREE!

Smartphone Makers Agree on ‘Kill Switch’ to Deter Thefts

5 ways Graphene material will change gadgets forever

5 myths about Heartbleed you shouldn’t believe

19-Year-Old Canadian Arrested for Heartbleed Hack

Apple says Heartbleed security flaw did not affect its software or services

Attention Pandora users! Pandora Radio 5.3 has broken some VoiceOver functionality. Read more:

Apple Patents Indoor Navigation System Based On Existing Wi-Fi Access Points

Apple Patents Graphical Interface For The Visually Impaired

Google Patents Tiny Cameras Embedded In Contact Lenses

The Rise and Fall of AIM, the Breakthrough AOL Never Wanted

Mailbag

From Brett Wilhelm:

Hi Serotalk. After listening to podcast 195, I wanted to comment on the issue of Braille notetakers versus IOS devices. Before I do, I will say that I am a proud owner of both of an Iphone 4s and BrailleNote Apex BT. I feel I have the best of both worlds, and can be more productive as a result. I’ll now discuss the areas I think my Apex docs best, followed by the things IOS does best.

Apex advantages 1. Instant start-up. The Apex powers on and is ready to work faster. 2. The battery. The Apex has a longer battery life and its batteries are user replaceable. And let’s not forget its longer battery life. 3. The Apex remembers its place in documents. 4. No need for Bluetooth. Unless I need to use it as a Braille display with IOS, there’s no need to use batter-draining bluetooth just to get Braille access to the device. 5. One keyboard, one device. I only need to touch one device.
I never need to move my hands off a keyboard and interact with a touch screen.

IOS advantages 1. The Iphone can be charged via USB, allowing it to be charged from a laptop even when no outlet is available. 2. More stability. Though Humanware has been constantly improving the stability of the Apex since its release, I find myself having to press its reset button on an almost daily basis. 3. App support. As great as the Keysoft operating system is on the Apex, it is not possible for users to design software for it.
With so many great IOS apps, it’s not always necessary to wait for software updates before the device gains more capabilities.

So, I think that IOS and notetakers still have a place in the blind community. I don’t see the disappearance of the notetaker or of blindness-spacific technology completely disappearing anytime soon. I hope you find this email informative and I look forward to more great podcasts from SeroTalk. Thanks, Brett Wilhelm

Blog comment from Jessica Rickards:

Keep up the great work guys! Excellent show, and quite an informative interview!

From Luis:

Hi SeroTalk hosts,

After listening to podcast 195, I wanted to reply about a couple of things mentioned.

First, I do have to agree with Mr. Steinkamp about fragmentation on iOS. It’s funny that he keeps on bringing up the original iPad which stopped receiving updates since iOS5.1.1. However, I did a full comparisons of fragmentation between Android and iOS. I was going to share the direct link. That I posted on a forum that I created over at SAMNet. And sadly because it was over 6 months ago, the post has fallen off the forum. But Apple has fragmented their OS since iOS2 with the introduction to appstore. Where the original iPhone back in 2007 came out. That phone couldn’t nor wouldn’t support iOS2.

Second, the comment about NoteTakers, has been around since 2010. Or even maybe earlier. I know the former CEO of Sero Tek has been against and I quote, “Blind Ghetto Products”, end of quote. But just recently I heard someone mentioning that he himself is now using a BrailleSense U2 Mini. And I know you will have a lot of people writing in about this. So, I’ll try to keep it short. The NoteTaker is as good as the user. If someone doesn’t know all about what the product can do, Then yes the product will be a waste of money. Like an Android or iPhone. Where I work sighted people have smartphones for there everyday tasks. But when I ask how is this feature working out for you? They stay quiet because they didn’t knew their phone was able to do that or they couldn’t figure out how to do it. So they just use the phone, email, and to watch YouTube or play games. While when I asked a student who used an MPower BrailleNote and is now using an Apex. He mentioned he preferred the Apex because it had more features. When I asked him like what or how are you using these features? His reply was, I don’t know I just know I like the Apex because it has more features. And for those who say, it’s just a waste of money. Since Main Stream devices are now accessible right out of the box. The device is, but the apps are only as accessible as the developers make them to be. Then, you’re at the mercy of them until they get around to fixing what they broke in accessibility. So, there is room for both, specially if you rely on Braille displays. Where on iOS Apple may break the ability to communicate with your Braille display as they have done on the last 2-3 OS updates. Or Google which according to an interview from That Android Show. It’s up to to the maker of the display to get it to communicate to your device.

Third, I don’t understand the hate on the front facing camera on the Nexas7, it did a pretty good job when I had to use it with Google Goggles. It was able to identify mostly everything I put in front of it. The same results that I get with my Nexas7 2013 model that has a back facing camera.

And forth, I am with Mr. Steinkamp about the Dice World posts. I rarely will post the generic tweet. More often then not. I will change the tweet to something random so not to bug my followers. Unless I beat Richard Wells. Then I have to brag about that great victory. As a matter of fact, I encourage anybody playing Bupster. To beat him in any and all Dice World games you play with him. He really enjoys giving gold to all.

Great podcast as always.

From Jake:

Hello all. I just wanted to say great job as always! I just had to comment on “It’s a Small World” turning 50. I vividly remember when I was a toddler, my parents and I went to DisneyWorld. This ended up being one of several trips that my family and I would take there. But my parents put me on that boat ride, and I can remember crying my eyes out from hearing that darn song so much. Obviously I got off the ride eventually, but I don’t remember the exact sequence of events that day. I have since grown to love DisneyWorld and Epcott Center. I haven’t been to either in several years, and I don’t believe I was ever at DisneyLand in California. I have also since grown to like that song. One other thing I remember is listening to a record my mom had in her vast collection, and I was fascinated at hearing the song in all the different languages. I definitely agree that the song has a good message. Well, thanks again for another good episode, and keep ‘em coming!

Best wishes, Jake

Roundabout

When Things Look Dark, Country Music Gets Sunnier

The science of seasonal allergies — and why they’re so awful

Two worlds collide on this week’s SeroTalk podcast as Jamie Pauls, Buddy Brannan and Alena Roberts–all part of the Triple-click Home team–host this week’s SeroTalk podcast. After the news, Jamie reviews the Braille Edge, the incredibly popular 40-cell refreshable Braille display from HIMS Inc. Visit the Tech Access DemoCast to hear Erin Edgar’s in-depth podcasts on the Braille Edge. Stories covered in this week’s episode include:

A T Talk

A closer look at iOS 7.1’s accessibility changes

Getting Started with the iPhone and iOS 7:An Introduction for Blind Users (IPHONE-IOS7)

My top 4 app picks for Braille Users of iDevices in news

Announcing the release of Sendero GPS 2014 products!

Samsung Focuses On Accessibility With An Ultrasonic Case, A Text-Reading Stand And Voice Labels

Made in India: LECHAL, a Bluetooth connected shoe that guides wearers with directions

Senate Bill Updates SSI and Would Help Elderly Poor

Music By Ear

My Son’s Experience with the Perkins SMART Brailler

Mainstream Matters

Chromebooks and education: A perfect match

Google drops its Drive storage pricing significantly, puts pressure on Apple to improve iCloud prices

Amazon ups Prime fee to $99 from $79: Customers likely to absorb it

Starbucks test will let mobile users order items ahead of time

Alena recommends mint.com for managing your finances.

Toyota: Apple CarPlay, yes. When? Not saying, actually

Report: iOS 8 to Include Transit-Heavy Apple Maps Overhaul

iOS 8: Apple considers Notification Center + Messages tweaks, removing Game Center app

New Version of Microsoft Office for Mac Slated for 2014 Release

Concept Video Tips 4.7-Inch iPhone 6 ‘Air’

How to access the combination list/month view on iOS 7.1

How to manually control when Siri listens to you with iOS 7.1

Mailbag

From Jenine:

Hi Serotalk Gang,

You know I had to comment on this one. I had to in part because my employer has invested a lot of time and energy into this show on many levels.

As you probably have read if you’ve read anything about the background of the show, it is based on a real person who got his first dog from GDF back in 1980. His son has made several Youtube videos talking about the making of the show and the concept. One of the things he says is that the show is not meant to represent every blind person or every guide dog team but to tell the story of his family.

His father, who is still around and still uses guide dogs but not from GDF, is one of these larger than life people who can get away with doing things like what you see on the show.

There are a couple places I think where we all have disconnects with the show. the first one is that we are all so excited to see “one of us” in a network TV show that we put a lot of pressure on the show to live up to every concept we have of our group, regardless of the story. A friend asked me recently if African Americans felt the same way about Bill Cosby in the 1980’s when he played Dr. Huxtable. That wasn’t reality for many African americans at that time. It was the story of one family though in one set of circumstances.

Another disconnect with the show is the time frame. the son, D.J. Nash, is trying to adapt stories from his family that happened back when blind people did not have the technology they have now, and because of story telling conventions, Growing Up Fisher is set in the present. Will Mel have an iPhone on one episode? Who knows? Also, and any of us who are long-time guide dog handlers know this, what was acceptable behavior for a guide dog back in 1980 is not acceptable today in some very subtle ways. Yes the general tennants of good behavior are still there but I remember a lot more barking and such being tolerated back in the day. Now if a guide dog barks, the entire room of blind people will start yelling at the handler. Convention Trauma!

I honestly was very worried when I first heard about the show last June. I thought, “Oh crap. How many ways can this go wrong?” Way too many. Our community can be hyper judgmental about these things and it won’t matter what the general public thinks.

I, like Joe, don’t think NBC will keep the show around long enough to have a chance but if it did, how would our attitudes change? I do know that the producers consulted with GDF and local guide dog handlers in the LA area but even then, dramatic license is what it is.

I honestly also have not watched the show beyond the pilot episode yet. I hate network television. 5 minutes of show, 5 minutes of commercial. I liked the banter between the family as it mirros my own whacky family banter. As for the guide dog interactions not always being completely politically correct, let’s be brutally honest. We can all cite times when we’ve done things with our dogs or allowed our dogs to do things that are less than by the book. We even tell stories and laugh about them amongst ourselves. Let someone outside of our community portray that though and it gets uncomfortable.

Finally, I wanted to address the issue of the main character’s “passing” for sighted on the show. Believe it or not, this still happens and people will still try to be sighted when they are clearly not. I see it often when people come to guide dog class. They interview just fine. they look good getting around. then they come to spend 2 weeks or 3 weeks with a bunch of other blind people and they self destruct because OMG, they’ve never had to face their own blindness before in such a public way. they may never have been around real blind people in all their variations.

I see this at blindness consumer conventions too. We as a group tend to have some social behaviors that aren’t quite what you’d expect. Granted, the social conventions work when we’re in big groups, loud voices, training to get places, that is, making a train of people to get places, some of us not being as well groomed or observant of others’ social cues as one might expect. That all can freak people out the first time they experience it. And now they are one of “US”.

Most of the people who “pass” have some remaining vision. I don’t know about the character in Growing Up Fisher, just how “blind” he is. I do know that people can do amazing things in pursuit of denial. I did growing up. Gee, grown up partial? My youngest sister faked her entire last year of high school. No one knew she was totally blind by then because she had good friends who propped her up, and she was good at faking it by then. They knew she had vision problems but …

so the whole plot line of the main character faking being sighted for years is totally plausible. Less so I think back in 1980 than now with the technology but none the less, still going on.

Thanks for discussing the show in a very even manner. I know some people really hate it for a variety of reasons. Is it an ideal portrayal of blind people and guide dogs? probably not. It’s not meant to be though. It’s the story of a family that happens to have a blind father with a guide dog. Novel concept.
Jenine Stanley

From Greg Wocher:

Hello everyone,
I hope you all are doing well. I had some comments about episode 191.
First if you listen to the Security Now podcast you will find out that Steve Gibson, security guru, will not be updating his XP machines to something later. His reason is that there was a recent study that found if you run as a local limited user instead of an administrator on your XP machine you can eliminate nearly all vulnerabilities. If you want to hear more about this listen to the last couple of episodes of SN. So if you still want to run XP give your admin account a good password and always run as a local limited user instead. Secondly in this weeks and next weeks Security Now podcasts they are talking about how well Apple has done its security. It is really amazing what they have done. It is almost enough to make me switch back from Android. Now if they could get rid of that blasted iTunes software I just might switch back. LOL.

Thanks,
Greg Wocher

From Dominique:

Hey guys, listening to episode 190, and lol why not make your own Serotek phone? Just think of it. Aah, the SamNet phone! Buy it today!!! lolz. Just a thought, oh, and it could have the Ricke voice as the Speech TTS. I’d also be willing to give you my voice for that project. Just a thought. Talk later.

Blog comment from Amanda:

Hi,
I love tuning into the podcast and listening to the great stories and news you guys tell. I just have a comment about the show Growing Up Fisher. I have been watching the show and I really like it. I don’t think it’s a bad show at all. I am a guide dog user myself. I sure wouldn’t give my dog to someone when the harness is on either. The creater of this show has a dad who is blind. Don’t know if you guys knew that. I am on Twitter. Ricky and Buddy follow me as well as Joe. I also enjoy listening to Triple Clikc Home. Keep up the great work!

Roundabout

“Tastes Like Happiness”: Why Chocolate Fried Chicken Might Be The Future Of Fast Food

Want to boost your brain power? Walk more

HERO CENTRAL: Girl dials 911 with deactivated phone

Ricky and Joe hit the ground running just as soon as they arrived at this year’s CSUN convention. This year’s CSUN coverage is sponsored by HIMS Inc. We trust that you will enjoy the first nine interviews to come from this year’s convention. Be sure and check out the links to the various companies represented in the following interviews. They include:

HIMS Inc

AFB

Alexandra Vision

American Thermoform

Computer application specialties

GH

Maxi Aids

Tactalis

Telorion

Join Jamie, Ricky and Joe as they discuss the top news stories of the week. After the news, Jamie and Buddy sit down to talk about the release of iOS 7.1. Stories disccussed in this week’s podcast include:

A T Talk

29th Annual CSUN Conference on Disability news and info

Blind Bargains: The Updated Blind Bargains Guide to Attending #csun14 on a Budget

Blind Bargains: Meet the Visually Impaired Athletes of the 2014 Winter Paralympics

Blind Bargains: Solo DX Announces That They’re Closing Their Doors

Blind Bargains: Google Updates Text-to-Speech App with New Voices

Screen Magnification Survey

My Initial Thoughts On NBC’s Growing Up Fisher

Mainstream Matters

Weeks before expiration date, Windows XP still has 29% OS market share

Microsoft’s Attempt To Convert Users From Windows XP Backfires

Microsoft Security Essentials to nag Windows XP users

Target tech chief resigns as it overhauls security

Twitter error blamed for mass user password reset

Verizon has most reliable cellular network in test, AT&T has the fastest

Opinion: Does CarPlay go far enough, or should car manufacturers let Apple do more?

Apple Could Soon Make Siri Much Smarter, More Like ‘Her’

Mailbag

From Mike Arrigo:

Hi there. First, a slight correction. For the mac, Leopard which was 10.5 was actually the last version of the operating system to work on power pc computers. Starting with snow leopard 10.6, it was Intel only. It’s not too surprising that Apple dropped support for Snow Leopard, it came out in August of 2009, so it’s over 4 years old. Regarding the question of screen reader detection, ideally this should not be needed. Rather, the issues should be addressed at the heart of the matter. All major screen readers support features such as navigating by headings, reading tables, etc. What needs to happen is that the web sites need to use best practices such as putting headings in the right place, labeling their links, etc. Similarly, the screen readers need to keep up with an support the web standards as they evolve. If these things are done, there should be no need for a site to have to detect whether someone is using a screen reader. I’m also not a fan of the separate but equal approach. More often than not, what we get is not equal, it’s not as good. And again, if best practices are followed, there is no need for that in the first place.

From Eugene:

Hi Team,

I’ve been thinking about the topic of screen reader detection, as I’ve read both the survey and Marco’s article on the subject. My comments follow, but I’m quite opposed to the idea, and here’s why.

First, there’s the matter of employment. If a job-hunting organization like DICE can put screen reader detection into their websites, the info that somebody is using a screen reader may be sent to possible employers, and your chances of nabbing a job may be shrunk to near zero. Certainly, a screener in a company may not even bother passing the resume on if they see the addendum about screen reader detection on it. This alone should stop any consideration of this kind of detection, but there is a much more sinister reason.

A screen reader is inherently viral. It must have access to all the processes of the computer in order to grab the information requested by the user. It is also a key logger since this is crucial to its function. A web author can use screen reader detection to not only gain access to the screen reader, but may also (and, I suspect, rather easily) gain access to its functions and turn the computer into a constant source of reportage for the author. He could, with relatively little trouble, plant a bomb in the computer that may do something when a series of keystrokes is pressed by the user. When it comes to the Internet, I am paranoid, and although I know nobody is out to get me personally, they are out to get me impersonally, so this would be a very good way to gain control of a computer system.

The best way for accessibility on the Web to happen is for Web authors to follow the rules which are being sent out. If they do so, and use the Java accessibility protocols and tools, accessibility can almost be built into any application that is written. (The only glaring weakness to this argument is the QT model, which is notoriously inaccessible.)

The tools are out there. They’re easy to use. I know. I’ve done a bit of programming, and it’s very easy for a program to be accessible if you follow the rules. It’s the same way for web pages. Now, it’s time for the developers to wake up, hear the piper and follow his song.

Thanks for the podcasts, and keep the good info coming.

Yours, Eugene A. Hetzer Jr.

From shuiyee

Hi,

I am totally blind and listen to every of your podcast. I am from Malaysia. Sometimes when I listen to all the benefits you guys have in America I wish it would be the same here in Malaysia. We don’t have guide dogs here. I love dogs but because of my country being a multiracial and one is Muslim which they are very afraid of dogs. So its taking a very long time to even implement a guide dog here. It won’t be useful if we train our own dogs because it won’t be allowed in the shops or public transport. I am an adult blind facing chance of losing my job because I was training as a pharmacist when I lost my sight gradually through side effects of chemotherapy. I love reading books too and how I wish we have BARD app to read books. Even kindle app is not available here. Some ebooks that you guys can download for free we are not allowed to download here. I am just commenting that Americans are very lucky to be in America. However, I don’t complain much because I know there are countries that are far worse than Malaysia such as China or India, where there are many cases whereby the eye condition can be treated but due to poverty or lack of medical staff they can’t get it. I’m not even sure if I got the email address correct. So bye for now. Thank you for reading my email.

regards: shuiyee

Sent from my iPod

Another email from shuiyee

hi,

Since I’ve got the correct email I just want to ad my comments about the TapTapSee. I was sad when they started charging too. For us 1 us dollar is about 3.8 ringgit malaysia. So if you guys are paying ten dollars it would be about 40 ringgit for us. So I’ve decided not to use the app then. I wish to use audible too but everything is so expensive as we have to multiply US dollars by 3.8. Also I love your podcast, keep up the good work and hopefully there are many many episodes to come!

shuiyee

Roundabout

Bad brains: some people are physically incapable of enjoying music

What Happens in the Brain When Blind People Learn to See With Sound

Kids attempt to use rotary phone, confusion ensues

Welcome to this week’s episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. Once again, Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss the top news stories of the week. After the news, Buddy Brannan talks with the developer of the RiVO Keyboard, an innovative new input system for iOS devices.

A T Talk

Blind Bargains: Results of the 5th Screen Reader Survey from WebAIM Released

Why screen reader detection on the web is a bad thing

Thoughts on screen reader detection

Assistive Technology Detection: It can be done right

Apple ends security updates for Snow Leopard

Apple Releases OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 with Security, VoiceOver, and Other Improvements

New audio game from the Papa Sangre team looking for Kickstarter funding

Beta testers wanted for new audio zombie game. Fill out this form to apply

New album just released: Andre’s Idea Factory volume i

A rugged talking phone: how good is the Convoy 3?

Google’s Project Tango cuts the rug at Mobile World Congress

Mainstream Matters

Everything You Didn’t Know You Could Do with Google’s Voice Commands

Microsoft’s Cortana Described As A Mix Between Siri and Google Now

Microsoft experimenting with free version of Windows 8.1

Mac and iOS users, here’s how to install that major security fix

Apple preparing software update to enhance functionality of iPhone 5s Touch ID

Apple Patents Solar Charging System for Laptops

Apple TV sales topped $1 bilion in 2013, becoming Apple’s fastest growing hardware

For a few days, Apple TV comes with a $25 iTunes bonus

Tim Cook Soundly Rejects Politics of the NCPPR, Suggests Group Sell Apple’s Stock

10 questions successful wearable device makers will have to address

Everything’s Amazing And Nobody’s Happy

Mailbag

Blog Comment from Luis:

Hi SeroTalk podcasters,

I would like to comment in a couple of stories. Well, The first is a question about Fleksy as an alternative keyboard or default for iOS apps. Although I think it is a good thing for this to happen. To be honest, I have not read any of the stories talking about Fleksy as an alternative keyboard. But since a couple of apps have adapted this, I’m just curious as to which Fleksy keyboard is being used? For example, I believe Fleksy was introduced to BlindSquare before the whole controversy of Fleksy Happy Typing and Fleksy VO came up. Does this mean, that BlindSquare has an old version of Fleksy Happy Typing, or did it switch over to Fleksy VO? And if so, when or if Fleksy Happy Typing becomes accessible again, Will all of the adapted apps switch from VO to Happy Typing? I understand that maybe VO is an earlier version of Happy Typing, and if so, then why aren’t the users up in arms with this fact as they were when the people of Fleksy announced the 2 versions. Main Stream and Blind friendly version of the keyboard?

And my comment is related to RoundAbout. When Mrs. Enger and Ms. Salinger were sharing how great of athletes they were 5 years ago when they were in there early 20s. That took me back, when I was in college and played pool with my brother. Back then, I had some sight. But wasn’t a great player. Every time we’d played. At least once, I somehow hit the cue ball too low and at just the right angle. That instead of the cue ball rolling toward a pocket to sink a ball. It took flight and twice just missed a window and the door. Which at one point, someone had just came into the play area and if they would have been standing for a second longer. The ball would have gone between their eyes. So I can relate.

Roundabout

Blind Film Critic Hears Oscar Picks

Steve Jobs to Be Honored With Commemorative Postage Stamp in 2015

A $30,000 Waterbed That Vibrates With Music

Welcome to yet another edition of the SeroTalk Podcast. This week, Jamie, Ricky and Joe team up once again to bring you the top news stories of the week. Then, Buddy Brannan interviews Shubham Banerjee, a remarkable seventh-grader who has designed a proof of concept prototype of a very enexpensive Braille embosser. You won’t want to miss this interview, so sit back and enjoy the podcast.

A T Talk

American Foundation for the Blind Announces 2014 Access Award Winners

National Federation of the Blind Commends President Obama for Executive Order on Wages

Get the Picture! Viewing the World with the iPhone Camera (GETPIC)

Screen Readers: A Guide to Punctuation and Typographic Symbols

QuickBooks Desktop Accessibility – How we did it.

from Eyes on Success: Raspberry VI

Indian American 7th Grader Develops Braille Printer with Legos

Mainstream Matters

Comcast Deal Seeks to Unite 2 Cable Giants

TWIT covering the Comcast story

Verizon confirms ‘More Everything,’ brings price cuts, more data, global texting

And the winner of Austin, TX’s gigabit service arms race is… Grande?

Could Cell Phones Stop Drivers From Hitting Pedestrians?

Android Is Not Really Open

Strange bedfellows: Microsoft could bring Android apps to Windows

Gates Spends Entire First Day Back in Office Trying to Install Windows 8.1

Microsoft’s Surface 2 cleared for takeoff in cockpit

What Are “Smart” Credit Cards, and Why Are They Coming to America?

No, Flappy Bird developer didn’t give up on $50,000 a day

Our Internet Empathy Problem

Mailbag

From Mike Arrigo:

I wanted to comment on the article from the person switching from the mac to Windows. I’ve been using macs since 2008, in 2010 I gave away my pcs and use the mac exclusively at home. I have a windows 7 virtual machine installed but rarely use it. I agree that it’s important to really learn the operating system, not just the screen reader. The concept of interacting can take some getting used to, one setting in voiceover that you can disable is the option to automatically interact with items when using the tab key. When it comes to learning an operating system and a screen reader, I think it’s important that the screen reader stick to making the screen accessible and not changing anything in applications. A friend of mine who was used to using Jaws has recently started using NVDA. In Winamp, jaws allowed you to press space to stop and start play back, NVDA does not provide this, and at first, they were not sure what was going on. This is an example of a screen reader overstepping its bounds. Same thing goes for the Jaws virtual ribin. That has no business even being there. Instead, people need to learn the application commands for doing these functions, that way it works regardless of screen reader.

From Marvin Hunkin:

Hi. I am doing a course via http://www.johnsmiley.com/ And learning java. I have learnt c # from the command prompt. Scripting with php and databases, html , css.

Marvin.

From Chelsea Cook:

Hi Serotalk Team,

I’m kind of behind the curve in listening to your podcasts—quantum physics is keeping me busy. Anyway, I had some comments on a few episodes:

Serotalk 183:

Cool on mentioning the space iBook. I had not seen that article until you mentioned it.

I don’t think I’m breaking any NDA’s here when I say that yours truly got the ball rolling at an internship a couple years ago. I wasn’t directly involved with the signification techniques—that happened after the summer project was over—but I did do some HTML coding to make images accessible. Basically someone would map out visual areas of the screen in HTML and I would add the descriptions, links, and give UI feedback. This system worked quite well on an iPad where you had a bigger screen, but the same principle could be easily applied to an iPhone or Mac trackpad screen. I see lots of potential for maps and other spatial things here.

Funny story: My colleague sent me an HTML map one day, I opened it and commented on how awesome his first try was. He was confused until he remembered that there didn’t need to be an actual photograph behind the map.

Triple Click Home 26: I remember Learning Ally’s math and physics books well. My primary reading medium is Braille; I cannot do math in audio at all! So I had to write down most of the equations anyway. The worst part for me was listening to those old guys read physics books—no stereotypes here—they always seemed to be old guys. Then there were the people who described diagrams with very little detail and you were yelling at the machine at 2 AM: “what is this picture?” Don’t even get me started on finding a specific problem for homework and having to rewind it three times to get the info when you finally found it. I use LearningAlly when I absolutely can’t find a book anywhere else, but I have trouble imagining people who rely on them. Maybe it’s just my field.

Regards, and keep up the awesome work! Chelsea

From Slau:

Hi Jamie,

I saw that you tweeted about your interview with Kevin Reeves on the podcast. I downloaded and listened while on the treadmill yesterday. Nice job and I’m enjoying the podcast in general. Keep up the good work.

I had to write to you to make a slight correction for the future. I know it’s probably a bit confusing but it regards my name. Actually, it’s pretty important to me so I’d appreciate your indulging me in this clarification. My birth name is Yaroslav. technically, it’s spelled with a J at the beginning and a W at the end. Unfortunately, that makes some people, who are unfamiliar with this Eastern European given name, to pronounce it much like I’m sure your screen reader will and that is Jaroslaw.

when my parents enrolled me in kindergarten, the principal took one look at my birth certificate and proclaimed that it would just be easier if they called me Jerry. First, the name Jerry is in no way connected to Jaroslaw. Second, because they took it upon themselves to christen me Jerry in school, my entire school career saw me using that name and it ended up on my social security and credit cards. My friends and family have always called me by my real name which is Jaroslaw or Slavko for short and, still shorter, Slau. I use the letter U at the end because it’s closer to the actual pronunciation of my name which has a soft V sound. Had I used a W, well, people would read it as slaw. Can you blame me for spelling it differently?

Anyway, I’ve long since changed my social security and credit cards to reflect my birth name and I never use the name Jerry. For future reference, I actually, quite literally cringe whenever I hear somebody refer to me as Jerry. It happens so infrequently that the effect is all the more pronounced if and when it does happen. In this case, I think I almost fell off the treadmill with a jolt.

Just kidding

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know in case it ever comes up again. Keep up the great work.

Cheers!

Slau

From Jenine Stanley:

Love the All Ladies show! It’s about time.

Regarding Apple wanting to get more into health and health and medical devices, how about a home unit that can interface with say a doctor’s office to send vital signs.

I have a couple medications that when refilled require me to take a couple hours, most of which is spent riding buses, to go to the doctor’s office and see not an actual doctor but a nurse practitioner and a tech who take my vitals and ask me several standard questions. They need to physically see me to do this.

Why not have a system by which you can do something like a Skype call, so they can physically see you and talk with you, and have a device that will take your BP, pulse, temperature and yes, weight and report those for both your tracking and the medical facility’s use. You could then use the various instruments, BP monitor, pulse/oxygen sensor, scale, etc. to keep records yourself or hook into programs like FitBit.

I do worry about Big Brother seeing that I have a passion for junk food at certain times and scolding me about it, but enough of my excuses for opposition.

This could be a really exciting time for people who have to use annoyingly inaccessible devices like glucose monitors. Why can’t an insulin pump be paired with an IOS app? After all, it’s not just taking the blood and hearing the numbers. It’s tracking and adjusting and controlling our own devices. Same thing with other imbedded medical devices such as pain pumps and e-stim machines.

And while we’re at it, I want a keyboard that will adjust if it notices me making certain typing erros due to hand fatigue. I love, love, love the wireless keyboard that came with my Mac but it isn’t always the best choice for my hands and I too noticed a big jump in hand pain with all of the multiple key commands for the Mac and VO.

Once I figured out though that there are Mac commands to do a lot of the same things and they use far fewer keys, life got progressively better.

Keep up the good work. And yes, I vote for you all to go to Broadway for a play and interviews.

Jenine Stanley

Blog comment from Matt:

I do wonder on this accessibility testing that John will be doing in his business. Will it only be for apps in the UK or both UK and US? Also what is accessible to one will not be accessible to another! So where is they going to get their standard on accessibility? Also it is nice to have usability built in as well as accessibility! These are two different things! I also don’t see why someone would would pay for this when they could just get this done by reaching out to the blind community for beta testers of the app! Because of John advance skills there is lots of things he sees accessible and user friendly that most don’t! So lots of questions on them do this testing and what kind of impact it will have on apps and such in the blind community! JST!

From Greg Wocher:

Hello everyone, I am a type one insulin diabetic. I have been a diabetic for 34 years, since I was four and a half years old. Not having to prick my fingers is something I would pay a great deal of money for. When I was first diagnosed they did not have the little finger prickers like they do now. When I was in the hospital they had to use a steril razor blade to prick my finger to get the blood to test it. They would use the corner and very quickly jam it down on my finger tip. This has given me a phobia when it comes to testing my blood and I don’t do it nearly enough. I hope this gives a bit of perspective to those who do not have to do this and help them to understand why something like this would be priceless.

Roundabout

Lisa Mouse Recovered From ‘Steve Jobs Time Capsule’

Blind card shark amazes with his astounding skills

10 things to know about Shirley Temple

Welcome to this week’s edition of the SeroTalk Podcast where Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss the top news stories of the week. In addition to the news, Jamie visits with the developers of Fleksy about their decision to release Fleksy VO specifically for the blind community, as well as their plans for future versions of the app.

A T Talk

Clarification of Fleksy VO for iOS

GW Micro – Window-Eyes – Certification

Twitterrific 5.6 updated to include live tweet streaming, list management support, a VoiceOver bug fix, more

Chicken Nugget 1.3 released! Filters, reversable timelines, relative times, more!

SpellStack 1.2.7 includes New Tutorials to make learning the game easier and VoiceOver improvements

Visit the IRS Accessibility Page for accessible tax forms and information

Introducing: A Modern, One-of-a-Kind Lifestyle Magazine for the Blind

Cool Blind TechPodcastProject RAY, Smart Phones Made Easy

Mainstream Matters

Apple execs reflect on the Macintosh at 30

iWork updated with new features and modest accessibility improvements

Next-Gen Apple TV Releasing In March; Gaming Support Coming Via Update

Apple eyes two bigger displays for iPhone, another report says

Pentagon says it didn’t buy 80,000 new BlackBerry phones

Symantec: No hard timeline on Windows XP support

Microsoft publishes a new expert guide to mastering Windows 8.1

Internet pay-TV is coming. Will you care?

Friday Poll: How careful are you about passwords?

Five Steps to Take Immediately If You’re the Victim of Identity Theft

Mailbag

From Jenine Stanley:

Thanks for another great show, including the coverage of the GW Micro announcement.

But come on, we want to talk more eyeball stories! I have to say that hearing about people’s prosthetic eyes falling out really had me putting off getting my own eye removed for years. Then I learned that it just doesn’t happen that often for most people with good muscle control. My doctor gave me exercises to do to keep my eye muscles strong and that helped.

My two favorite “eye on the loose” stories though are these.

When I was in class getting my first dog in 1987 there was a man who had a prosthetic eye. He was a big guy, tough and all that. He and our instructor got on really well as they were both Vietnam vets, tough guys and all that. Our instructor was one of those old school guide dog trainers who delighted in showing you just how tough he was … until …

One morning the student with the prosthetic eye sneezed hard and well, you can only guess what happened. He was sitting on one side of the instructor and I was sitting on the other. The instructor was so freaked out that he kept dry heaving and stammering that he couldn’t touch the eye.

The student kept saying someone had to get his eye before one of the dogs ate it, probably mine too as she had that unfortunate weakness.

I got down on the floor and started feeling around for the eye with directions from the instructor, between his gagging. Someone from the kitchen finally came out and helped retrieve the eye but whew, it was a long day for that instructor after that one.

The second story happened to a friend. She was riding a roller coaster and when they hit a bump, her eye flew out. She was panicking because she was trying to figure out how to tell the park people and where to look.

She got off the ride and was fussing around when two teenagers came up. The girl was gagging and looked like she was going to truly throw up everywhere. The boy was holding my friend’s eye in his hand. It had flipped back right into his lap. Some first date.

It’s stories like these and the often told and retold one about the dog in guide dog class who eats someone’s eye and then deposits it in the next day’s business, usually shining atop the pile of pooh, that really give such a positive impression of prosthetics. Yep, sometimes our sick humor really isn’t too helpful.

From Pam Francis:

Hi everyone, Thanks for another informative podcast. On the light side, in response to your listener’s comment concerning prosthetic eyes, I knew a girl in high school who had 1 prosthetic eye. If she got upset with someone, on occasion, she would throw her eye at the offending person or target. I am in no way defending her actions. It seemed odd enough that it stuck out in my memories of people in school. Also congrats to GW Micro aligning with Microsoft for those who use later versions of Office. I would be very interested in your opinion referring to GW Micro’s latest move. Do you think they could be dipping their toe in to Microsoft’s waters hoping ultimately to replace Narrator as their default screenreader in Windows? As much as I enjoy my Mac & the voiceover experience, every screenreader has its flaws. I know AI Squared has made enrolls with Apple having been allowed to introduce its Zoomtext as a choice for low vision users on the Mac platform. I would really like to see Apple open it up to other screen readers to give voiceover users usability when voiceover is lacking. It would further accessibility for everyone. I take issue with your stance on Fleksy’s latest move. I understand app & website evolution. Through the years, I have heard your team congratulate Fleksy in its endeavors to make an accessible means of gesture typing on a an onscreen keyboard for everyone. We as a blind community have been sold a bill of goods. We were used as a marketing arm for Fleksy in its endeavor to configure an accessible messaging app without having to look at the screen. I personally, don’t appreciate being used as their guinea pig. If our community was indeed a test market, they should have had the integrity to tell us as much. If they need to make it “pretty” for the sighted community to accept it, they are defeating their purpose by saying one must look at the screen. They can’t have it both ways. We were asked to pay $14.95 when the app launched, & were happy to do so; knowing accessibility isn’t free. We are now relegated to our own version of the app, which on their blog says will be free forever. What a sham!!!!!

We are not segregated per our ISP’s or cell carriers with reference to messaging apps. I am enclosing my communication with Fleksy & their response; which I might add is a direct contradiction to their blog entry.

http://fleksy.com/blog/

Hello, Obviously, we as blind consumers are now considered separate, but not equal. We were used as guinea pigs to develop your product. Initially the app was offered for $14.95 on the App Store. After you sucked enough of us in, made us believe you were actually interested in developing something that would allow us to be equal to our sighted counterparts, you then made it free for everyone. That in itself is not as big of a deal as your most recent release of a separate keyboard for those of us who use voiceover. The initial design of the app worked well with VoiceOver anyway. Of course, that was your mode of operation. You wanted us to believe we were something that obviously we are not in your eyes. You excepted the accolades given to you by anyone using an iOS device within the blind community along with various websites dedicated to blind and visually impaired users. Ultimately, you’re not being fair to us relegating us to a separate app. If your market was ultimately the sighted community, you should have marketed that way to begin with. Though we are a minuscule part of the population worldwide, we do have friends who make use of technology. We initially revered your app for its inclusion. This is the 21st-century. We as blind people are no longer in a broom closet sitting around stringing beads for someone else. Your most recent actions have damaged any integrity any future developers would have attempting to develop an app claiming to be useful to those of us who are blind, while asking for our help. We as a blind community are no one’s guinea pig. In my opinion, those of us who paid our hard-earned money initially for your app only to be told we now have a separate app which is free deserve a refund. Shame on you!!

Hi Pam,

We can offer a full refund to anyone who has paid and is not satisfied for any reason.

We do however, stand by our position.

The separation of the apps is only temporary, and is not because we are targeting sighted users, but because we are transitioning to a mode where the main Fleksy app consumes our own SDK.

Doing Fleksy as an SDK has posed significant technical challenges, and it needs to be 100% robust in order to be used by other developers. It is orders of magnitude harder than simply having our own app on the store. Rest assured, we are making strides and are fully committed to ensuring a great typing experience for our VoiceOver users.

Until we get there, we appreciate your patience.

Best, Kosta Founder @Fleksy

Thank you for your response, I am still of the opinion, making an issue of separating the apps is a step back to the accessibility within our blind community and will damage any future integrity of any developer who may have our interests at heart needing our help as a community to perfect their product. You don’t seem to realize what it means, and has meant to us to be included within the sighted community having the ability to use a single app without worrying about whether or not it was accessible. We as a blind community were used initially to make the app accessible for everyone. That is why it makes no sense to me to separate the apps and make an issue of it to those of us who use voiceover. If you pay attention to your Twitter feed, I’m not the only one who feels this way. I needed more than 140 characters to illustrate my feelings. Again, shame on you!! Your issues with your SDK should not be the issue we as a consumer have to deal with referring to whether or not we have equality within your app. Why release a portion of it making us as the blind community feel as if we are second-class? Do it behind-the-scenes. Do it right. Don’t release it, until it’s correct. Thanks for reading. Pam francis

From Stan:

 Your discussion of having more than one screen access program is really quite important.  Let me give a real world example of how this plays out.  I work 20 hours a week at a genealogy library in the Medford, Oregon area.  I use both System Access and Window-Eyes.  I also have NVDA loaded on my home system.  I have access to WE at my worksite and I have SA on a thumb drive.  I do research at multiple websites at work I have both firefox and ie as web browsers.  There are sites where SA works more seemlessly than does WE.  On the other hand, firefox isn't able to be used with System Access because of the way that our website is configured. Because I also use docuscanplus from Serotek, I am able to scan pdfs in my work.  Twice a month we have to fill out timesheets that have to be scanned and sent to the service that pays me, the mighty docuscan is there to save the day so I need less sighted assistance.  

Although I can use WE to access my bank’s bill payment system, it is much easier and less of a pain to do what I do with System Access. In other words in terms of access technology, screen readers like web browsers work differently in different situations. Sorry for the long email. Keep up the good work.

Roundabout

5 things successful people do before 8 AM

Why music slows down when you yawn

Welcome to this week’s edition of the SeroTalk Podcast. After Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss the top news stories of the week, Joe interviews Justin of Solo-DX about their new MovieReading app for iOS that will allow you to listen to audio descriptions of movies from any theater or even from home. In addition to visiting their Web site, you can follow them on Twitter or send them an email.

News in A T

Listen to the NVAccess podcast for info about NVDA 2013.3 & exciting news about Open Office

RIP Winamp: iconic media player to be discontinued December 20th, 2013

AOL reportedly wants to sell Winamp to Microsoft

Accessing Spotify on the PC using the new app Blindspot

Experience Descriptive Audio at the Theater with a New iOS App MovieReading

An Immersion into Excel 2013 with Jaws for Windows

Help make Bookshare better, take the survey:

DoItWrite

Learn about DoItWrite from The Blind Educator

Mainstream Matters

Kindle Fire OS 3.1 Integrates Goodreads, Introduces Chromecast-like Second Screen

What “devices and services” really means to Microsoft

Why I may never install Office for Mac again

Hi again: Apple’s ‘lost’ iWork features find their way back

Samsung owes Apple $290M more in damages, jury says

30 days with OS X 10.9 ‘Mavericks’

FCC to consider proposal allowing airline passengers to make cell phone calls above 10,000 feet on some planes.

Is Voice the Key to Wearable Technology?

Mailbag

Blog Comment from Terry Miller

Not related to any present discussion, however “Tiz the Season”, I’m perplexed by the extremely loud Music played at each establishment within a Mall, or such place; when a Blind person chooses to investigate a place of Business. This is of course to draw in, “sighted Customers”. What results is a cacophony of mixed “loud” Music that doesn’t allow an independent Blind person to navigate or (for that matter) to interact with the Proprietor of an individual Store. The Lighting is another matter; because, many “pop-culture” establishments like to hi lite their individual articles for sale, with neon, or black lighting. All this constitutes non-verbal transactions. Both of these issues are on the rise. What say you?

Roundabout

How Music Affects and Benefits Your Brain

Toddler knows the name of all U.S. presidents, in order

Someone Recorded Crickets then Slowed Down the Track, And It Sounds Like Humans Singing

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

If there is one thing that can be said about a SeroTalk Podcast, it is that you never know what you’re going to get. Petting cheetah cubs, riding in self-driving cars and rapping about science are just a few of the stories we cover on this week’s episode. One thing you can be sure of, however, is that the SeroTalk podcast team will get you where you need to go all in one piece. Join Jamie, Ricky and Joe as they discuss the top stories of the week including:

The Next Chapter

A Review of the Socializer System Access Mobile Network App from Serotek

Entertainment Apps For The Blind And Visually Impaired

Papa Sangre II

Blind games: The next battleground in accessibility

Blind Bargains: Introducing the Cosmo Braille Writer

Life – A tactile comic for the blind

Using the Victor Reader Stream as an audible teleprompter

Now Hear This! Musings of a Blind Hearing Aid wearer

From Fedora Outlier: Managing Your Wireless Settings On Windows & Mac

Campaign for a more accessible Netflix

New release of the Kindle app for iOS adds Accessibility Quick Reference to the FAQ section in Settings

Amazon and Sony Don’t Want to Build E-Readers for the Blind

Blind Bargains: Amazon and Sony Are Requesting That The Accessibility Requirement Be Waived for E-Book Readers

Dropbox Folder Management Using JAWS for Windows

Screen Reader Failure: Innovation, Deterioration, Despair

Roundabout

H E A R and There Audio Magazine: Petting Cheetah Cubs at the Cincinnati Zoo

Science Rap B.A.T.T.L.E.S. Bring Hip-Hop Into The Classroom

What it’s like to ride in a self-driving car

Join Lisa Salinger on August 19 at 8 PM in the Pat Price Tech Talk Training room over at Accessible World to discuss our exciting new SAMNet Socializer. We look forward to seeing you there.

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

While Jamie is enjoying a bit of R and R after all of our convention coverage, Joe, Ricky and Lisa hold down the fort and produce yet another stellar episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. Along with the top news stories of the week and your feedback, Joe visits with the developers of Solara, an iOS-based strategy game from Esper Labs. Our thanks to them for taking the time to visit with us this week. Be sure to follow them on Twitter and express your appreciation for their hard work.

Check out our SPN Special: HIMS NFB Workshop Part 1

Listen to our SPN Special: HIMS NFB Workshop Part 2

Listen to our latest SPN Special A T Trainers

SPN Special: Using the SAMNet Socializer

want to hear more about the #Socializer? Check out @RangerStation and Ricky_Enger on ACB Radio’s Main Menu.

want to use SAMNet and the Socializer with another screen reader? Here’s what you need to know

EOL Extra, Noms Edition: Victory Is Life!

You can now view the show notes and listen to the audio of This Month in Tech for June

There’s a demo of the upcoming DirectionsForMe app on the current @serotalk episode. Check it out!

Great article on the truly global ramifications of the WIPO treaty on accessible formats.

AI Squared has just launched a ZoomText Certification Program. There are two tiers of certification: Essentials and Professional. Here’s a link with more information

HumanWare Announces Prodigi: a Breakthrough for People Living With Vision Loss

Infovox 4 now available from Triumph Technology

The Seeing Eye GPS app is out!

You can find the Seeing Eye GPS User Guide here

On the GPS topic Chris Grabowski has produced “SenderoMaps, More than a Map Manager, Comprehensive Audio Tutorial” from Mystic Access. This is over 2 hours in length and goes through the features of the program. The introductory price is $19.95.

Mike Arigo Comparing Nearby Explorer and Sendero Seeing Eye GPS

Official #GWMicro #SocialEyes for Facebook Page, $50 annual, pre-order for $25, to be released early next week

Thank You For Using The Internet! We Regret To Inform You That Your Free Trial Has Expired.

T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon Plans Promise Early Upgrades, but the Devil’s in the Details

Chinese woman electrocuted by iPhone may have used an unauthorized charger

Recharging iPhone blamed for another serious shock in China

Study Finds iOS Apps Just As Intrusive As Android Apps

Android 4.3 pops up on a Nexus 4 bought from Craigslist

Microsoft’s Making More Money From Phones, but a Lot of That Is From Android Patent Payments

Microsoft takes $900 million hit for unsold Surface RTs in 4Q13 earnings

Roundabout

OMG, kids these days: Digital tools don’t make students better writers

rom @gigaom: “British scientists have claimed success in charging a smartphone (a bit) through the use of…

‘Pet Flipping’ Is Now a Thing

Someday Your Guide Dog May Have Their Own Wearable Technology

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

This week’s podcast is packed with a lot of great content. After Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss the top news stories of the week, Jamie visits with Duyahn Walker about a recent television interview where he talks about playing video games from a low-vision perspective.

Facebook announces video on Instagram

Facebook’s Video Ads Now Likely Delayed Until Fall

Amazon adds group gift cards to Facebook

Microsoft on Xbox One reversal: Dude, E3 held us up

LG phone to sport always-on voice commands in 2014

Big Apple TV update adds HBO GO, WatchESPN, Sky News and more

Apple Updates Siri’s Response To Possible Suicide Risks

What’s Wrong with the iOS 7 Icons? by Ian Storm Taylor

OS X Mavericks First Impressions: A Little Good Going a Long Way

Introducing MBraille, the most feature-rich braille app on the app store.

Outdoor Play Tips for Toddlers Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Blind Bargains: Buy Your Version of Chicken Nugget Today

Blind Bargains: Purchase “Record Tech Demos Like A Pro” by Jonathan Mosen for $19.95

Vocalizer for NVDA driver 3.0.5 is available.

AN objective look: iOS vs. Android for the visually impaired.

Google Glass Already Banned In Many Places Months Ahead Of Release

One year later, the Nexus 7 has gone from the best to worst tablet I’ve ever owned

Feedly Launches New Cloud Platform to Replace Google Reader Ahead of July Shutdown

Google Fiber spawns startup renaissance in Kansas City

Roundabout

Google Patents Image-Capturing Walking Sticks

Edgbaston Queen Elizabeth Hospital offers doggy daycare for blind patients

In this podcast, Jamie pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp discuss the top news stories of the week including Apple’s WWDC keynote.

Reddit, Mozilla Join Coalition Demanding End to NSA Snooping

Chirpify Goes Beyond PayPal To Bring Direct, In-Stream Payments To Facebook, Twitter And Instagram

Bing’s U.S. search market share continues to climb

Amazon’s New Grocery Service: For $299, You Never Have to Leave the House Again

What I learned about the Xbox One from E3 | E3

Microsoft exec on Xbox One: No Internet? Get an Xbox 360

Download Chicken Nugget twitter client

Qube update available, works with new Twitter API. Start The Qube and auto update, alternatively, have an installer

iOS 7 looks great, but can it lure this Android user?

Editorial: The subtexts of Apple’s WWDC keynote

iFixit finds a plethora of minor tweaks inside the 2013 MacBook Air

Why the MacBook Air didn’t get a Retina display

Apple’s Rising Star: Craig Federighi

Report: Apple Ads Not Working Very Well

As Apple reorients its Maps, Google forges ahead

Our Position on the Posting on AppleVis of Information about Beta Versions of Apple Software

Roundabout

The OrCam: A Portable, Wearable Visual System for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons

Hands-free texting still distracting for drivers

Blind cyclists take to the track in Bristol »

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

The NFB13 agenda is now available online! Start planning your convention schedule now

Screen Readers at a Crossroads

Huawei Vision with Ray

There has been a significant update to TapTapSee

Introducing the new Socializer from Serotek

A brief tour of the Samnet Socializer

Developer suspects Facebook app is behind iPhone battery drain

Why you should always read the small print from Facebook

Fired Zynga Staff Hits Reddit to Talk Life Before the Massacre

WWDC 2013 Rumor Roundup: iOS 7, OS X 10.9, iRadio, and New Macs

New iRadio Ad Details Surface Ahead of Expected Launch Next Week

Eight changes I want to see in iOS 7 | iPhone

Apple vs. Samsung: It’s Thermonuclear War

HTC bleeding continues: Operations chief reportedly steps down

Microsoft goes public with Windows 8.1 upgrade policies

Amazon plans big expansion of online grocery business

Bose Reveals SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker And QuietComfort 20 In-Ear Headphones With “Aware Mode”

White House defends snooping of Verizon phone records | Security & Privacy

Mailbag

Thanks guys for the shout out. Here’s some info from the guide dog training perspective on taking your dog to an amusement park.

First off, the parks aren’t obligated to watch your dog while you go on the rougher rides so if you want to ride things like roller coasters, you may want to take along a person to serve as the dog holder while you ride. Know your dog before you go is really the key to going to any type of tourist attraction. If you’re going with people who can do sighted guide or if you want to ride a lot of rides and so do the rest of your party, making use of the amusement park kennels is a really sound alternative. Most kennels will require a health certificate which you can get from your vet at home prior to your trip.

So, what rides are safe for dogs? This really depends on your dog and if there’s anything that bothers him or her. Simple rides that just involve a sort of train car moving through things may be fine but there may be loud noises, deep booms, things flying around over your head, virtually or in reality, that can set some dogs off.

As dogs get older they tend to get more sensitized to loud noises and may shake, pant or even try to escape.

Of course any ride you need to wear a restraint on isn’t one that’s safe for your dog. Most general amusement park rides like trains, monorails, trams and such are fine and don’t require seatbelts. They have enough floor space for the dogs to lie down comfortably. This was certainly the case with the Disney World Frontier Land train, the Monorail, the boats on It’s A Small World and the tram on the energy Ride.

Some of the other rides like the dinosaur ride in Animal Kingdom might be a little rough for some dogs as the car simulates movement but again, that’s an individual dog decision.

I was told that if we did visit Animal Kingdom and did the Safari train, the dogs must be lying down and could not sit up and watch the animals. That’s fair as these animals might be distracted by the dogs.

One of my dogs hated anything that looked or smelled like a horse and would go into a barking, growling jag upon seeing one. I didn’t test it but suspected that it went for things like elephants and hippos too.

Back to the park trip, you want to make sure your dog is well hydrated. We found many water stations for people and dogs in Disney.

Then there’s the relief issue. Disney has set places for service animals to relieve. They are scattered throughout the parks and any cast member can tell you where the nearest one is. We found several with no problems at all. We also found misting stations for people that sprayed a fine mist of water. We let the dogs walk under these as well and it helped to keep them both cool.

Finally, remember that your dog is going to be working very hard if guiding you through an amusement park. There are people going every direction, most of whom are oblivious to your presence. The dog will be doing a lot of weaving, dodging and stopping. Be sure to praise a lot during the day.

If you’re at a park for multiple days, give your dog a break in the kennels for a half day or so to keep from exhausting him or her.

We were worried about burnt paws too but whatever they pave the Disney grounds with stayed fairly cool. Then of course it rained and that was a moot point. Check your dog’s feet throughout the day to make sure they haven’t gotten burned while standing in line. Now there’s a good excuse to take the short line route.

If you don’t know about the accommodations for a particular park, ask. Most major parks and park chains do have information about service animals and kenneling. Your guide dog school will also most likely have some information or know who to call to get it. If you have questions about your particular dog’s abilities to handle things in an amusement park environment, by all means call your school and talk with the training staff.

I’ve had my dogs in a number of parks and other tourist venues over the years, including a jeep ride in sedona, Arizona that rivaled some roller coasters. Looking back, I might not have taken my then older dog on that one but he faired well, better then me actually.

Just use common sense, don’t get so caught up in the experience that you forget the other living being with you, your dog, and have fun!

Jenine Stanley

Roundabout

Domino’s Pizza testing pizza-delivering drones

Pepsi vending machine takes Facebook love, not money

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

Roundabout

Your brain could be your new password Arlington Marathoner Guides Blind Runner Away from Explosions Visually impaired Texan’s fun-filled journey through Boston Marathon finishes just minutes before explosions

Sponsor

Looking for headphones with a safer open ear design so you can still talk with others around you or hear your environment? Aftershokz Headphones utilize Bone Conduction audio that lets you listen to your favorite tunes, or SeroTalk network podcasts, yet still be able to hear your nearby surroundings. You can get 40% off if you use the promotional code SPN40 at the checkout area on the Aftershokz website just for being a listener of this very podcast!

To learn more about these amazing headphones, and to read about the new Bluez with wireless options, visit Aftershokz.com. You can also catch SPN’s own Mike Calvo, from last year, reviewing a pair of the Aftershocks that he uses in his daily work.

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

In our very first SeroTalk podcast for the month of April, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp discuss the top news stories of the week which include:

Slammer worm slows

802.11g coming!

Linux legal battles

An overview of access on Linux

AS Windows 95 fades, a first look at the new .NET environment

Apple rumor, 20 GB iPod on its way

Mac OS 10.2 coming with no relief for those needing access

A wrap up of CSUN

Pac Mate review

A review of Open Book vs Kurzweil 1000

GW Micro to appear on Main Menu April 16^th, 2003

Ai Squaired releases ZoomText 8.0

Mobile Pal plus GPS

This week’s show presents yet another guycast with Jamie, Buddy and Joe. As you might expect, there is no shortage of opinions on all the stories discussed below. Send us an email, leave an iReport via iBlink Radio, or leave a comment on www.serotalk.com to give us yours.

New Sendero 2013 line up

VoiceOver saved in Apple, Samsung patent battle

An Update on the Seeing Eye app Being Developed by the Sendero Group

Blind Vets Warn Against VA Funding Guide Dogs

A keyboard that rises up from flat touch screens

White House: You have a right to unlock your cell phone

Rumor: T-Mobile to move to no-contract model soon

Smartphones to outsell feature phones in 2013 for first time

Twitter Killing TweetDeck for iPhone and Android

Facebook unveils redesigned, cleaner News Feed coming to iPhone, iPad & Web

Google at work Amazon Prime competitor

Get ready for used digital goods stores from Amazon & Apple. patents.

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 rumored to use eye-tracking software

Minor security flaw found in Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2

Talkback v3.0 released

How to Prevent Accidental Spending on In-App Purchases on Your iPhone

Apple’s iPhone might have been a ‘Mobi’

Apple reportedly cutting back on iPad 9.7 orders

iPhone 5S rumored to launch in August, new iPads in April

Apple’s iWatch may be unveiled this year, Bloomberg says

Mailbag

From Snowbunny

Hey, guys, great podcast!  You asked who doesn’t have Dropbox these days.  Well, Yours Truly, for one.  I’ve never been comfortable with the premise of Dropbox, you can walk a fine line regarding legality pertaining to what you have and send people on Dropbox.  Seems to me this was mentioned on a long-ago Serotalk podcast.  Copyright issues need to be taken seriously here.  Thanks too for the upcoming CSUN shows, can’t wait!  Beth

Roundabout

Pet Peves of the blind and visually impaired

Eat a Banana to Remedy Over-Caffeination

Seeking your opinion: should Serotek Start a newsletter?

Complete Serotek’s survey for your chance to win an iPad Mini

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

While Ricky and Joe were scurrying around at this year’s CSUN conference, gathering excellent interviews for your listening pleasure, Jamie, Lisa and Buddy sat down together and did the podcast thing. We trust that you will enjoy the results of our musings.

CSUN: It Won’t be Hard to Access BARD with the Upcoming iOS App from NLS

Ananse Productions Gets Fancy with Letter Clever for iOS and Android

LookTel VoiceOver Tutorial

Making Zombies, Run! 2 accessible

Netflix Agrees to Caption All Videos by 2014

Solo-DX

What Will Sequestration Mean for People with Disabilities?

Microsoft’s Office 365: Business users’ top questions (and answers)

Amazon launches Cloud Player app for iPad, iPad Mini

As sink Nook sales, so slumps B&N’s fiscal health

Google’s Andy Rubin: ‘No plans’ to open Android stores

iPad Mini to bury 9.7-inch iPad in 2013, says DisplaySearch

iCloud nearly back to normal after early morning outage

Tim Cook doesn’t like Apple’s falling share price, either

iTunes U crosses 1 billion downloads—have you used it?

Prepaid Carrier Could Be Stuck With $100 Million Worth of Unsold iPhones

Bloody well time, Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7

Mailbag

From Robert Carter:

Hi,

In podcast 143, Rodny said that 1password did not allow passwords to be stored in the cloud. This is incorrect. 1password uses Dropbox to store an ncrypted database of your passwords. This allows one to access passwords across platForms and from multiple devices.

I have been working with the developers of 1password to make it fully VoiceOver compatible.

Robert Carter

Typed with BrailleTouch

Sent from my iPhone

From Chelsea Cook

Hi Serotalk Team,

Once again, another great, thought-provoking,  and funny podcast! I listen to SPN every week.

I had some general comments about this week’s show. Regarding the rats seeing in different spectrums, I think that is super cool. As a physics and astronomy student, I get asked all the time how I can do astronomy when blind. What people don’t realize is that optical observations account for very little these days; major things happening in the universe  are usually always in spectrums the human eye cannot process anyway. Once viewed from this perspective, people seem to think it is the coolest thing ever. But imagine if I could look into the night sky and see in a different spectrum than my sighted peers? What do you mean, you can’t see that X-ray binary?

I think fingerprinting the human voice would make dictation a lot more accurate than it already is. At least for me, the conversations with Siri break down when I am tired.

Technology keeps changing. Like Joe, I really, really want an Apple watch. Imagine breadcrumbing your place in a crowded room with your bag, iPhone neatly tucked away inside? then, when you wanted to come back to your spot, you could tell the watch to locate the phone and play the hot and cold game until both devices had found each other and subsequently your seat? Vibrations? Bluetooth? NFC? These are the reasons I write realistic science fiction; wouldn’t it be cool to see ideas come to life that fifty years ago were just dreams? And still no hover car as of yet. Darn!

Regards,

Chelsea

PS. You guys should start a “shownotes book list.” I can never remember all your recommendations

From Michael

Dear SeroTalk land,

I am an avid listener who hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Regarding Podcast 142 on what Ricky mentioned; I find it fascinating how Apple once used unreliable voiceprint technology in Mac OS 9.2 as an account login option, than compared to the technology now days being used for Dictation and Siri.

Alos, I don’t know if people are aware of the iOS app called “Braille Pad” (student or pro). Even though I haven’t had the opportunity to try it myself, I believe it allows six key entry via keyboard and I’m not sure about touch input. I encourage other visually impaired/blind iOS users to give it a try.

However, I am familiar with the Mac version of it, which is called “Braille Writer” (student or pro). Braille Writer Pro makes a descent substitution for Perky Duck on a Mac, but found it currently incompatible with VoiceOver navigation.

Anyways, that is all I wanted to say and hope this is somewhat interesting.

Great job with the podcasting and am looking forward to hearing next week’s episode.

From Michael

————————-

P.S.    I tried to leave an iReport from my iPad, but couldn’t find an Info button, or any other button to create and submit a report, otherwise I would have loved to talk about what I wrote.

Michael’s World

Visually Impaired Student

www.mts.net/~wefour

From James Mannion

Hi everyone,

I really enjoy many of the podcasts on SPN including both That Android show and Triple Click Home. I listened to Serotalk 143 and really appreciated Mike’s comments concerning the horrable inconsiderate selfish Samsung suit. I completely agreed with Mike’s assessment, but find myself looking for anything if there is truly something to go on at this point that gives us reason to be confident that they are not going to have success either there and then here in the US or launch the same thing in the US with or without their success in Germany. Yes it is wrong on every moral and technical level when you consider that the end result they are asking for is for Apple not to be allowed to provide us access and possibly for no one to be able to. Do we necessarily have confidence that judges care about that though. I use my phone for a lot every day and it makes me sick to think that maybe just around the cornor Samsung is going to be taking that away from me in their own selfish inconsiderate persuit of more billions of dollars. I also understand that they are just using us as a pon in that persuit as well. I find myself quite concerned about it wishing I had reason to be confident it is dead and put in its rightful place.

Jim

Another email from James Mannion

Hi,

I have a speaker recommendation for Mike Calvo to check out and review. They are the Vanatoo Transparent one speakers. They are sold on amazon and on their own site, http://www.vanatoo.com/ I have been using them for a while now as computer speakers and I also have an airport express hooked up to them as well for airplay streaming. I would give them a 9 out of 10 for sound for sure. They have numerous connectivity options that prove very convenient. They look fantastic. I sold my Bose Companion 20 speakers after coming across these in a store and buying them that day. The Bose sounded pretty good some of the time, other than when something was playing that hit on that 60 hz bass hump they had and if you could ignore their constant club echo sound. Yes the bose companion 20 sounded amazing for their size, but I didn’t care they were smaller than they could have been and those sound characteristics took something away from them. You might want to check out these Vanatoo speakers. They are pretty cool.

Roundabout

Why Did Bach Go Blind?

Virtual boy teaches autistic children social skills

Blindness not stopping ex-cop

Recommended Reading

As promised, here is a link to the excellent book Beethoven’s Hair by Russell Martin that Jamie mentioned during our Roundabout segment.

Do you enjoy our SPN Podcasts? You can help us out a whole lot by taking this very short survey.

In Podcast 140, Ricky Enger, Lisa Salinger and Joe Steinkamp discuss the top news stories of the week. Topics covered include:

BlackBerry Z10 review: a new life, or life support?

U.S. Carriers Rally Around BlackBerry 10

Ticketmaster dumps ‘hated’ Captcha verification system

Microsoft Office 2013 review: Designed for tablets, but great for everyone

Windows Weekly 297 discussing Office 2013

Is Windows 8 a bad OS for tablets? It’s time to decide…

Microsoft Surface Pro 64GB comes with only 23GB of available storage space

Apple iPad jumps to 128GB, starting at $799

Apple releases iOS 6.1 with more LTE carrier support, Siri/Fandango movie ticket purchasing, iTunes Match song downloading

★ AppleTV 5.2 Update Brings Accessibility Changes

Barnes & Noble Plans to Eliminate 30% of Stores Over Next 10 Years

Serotek has a shiny new Web site

Triple-click Home Episode 14: “Now Peter”

SPN Special: 2012 Outtakes

New BookShare Tools Announced at ATIA 2013

Announcing the release of BookSense 3.0.

Braille Sense U2 and U2 QWERTY are available at a promotional price of $5,595 (plus $45 shipping) through June 30th.

HumanWare – The all new Victor Reader Stream

AFB’s AccessNote for iOS has been released.

BrailleTouch has been released

Facebook Accessibility is now on Twitter

White House Announces Audio Descriptions for Public Tours

Detailed image descriptions now available

Mailbag

From Mike Arrigo:

I’m not sure how many consumers actually attempt to unlock their phones. Most people do not know what an unlocked phone is when I mention it. People should do their research more, as I have mentioned previously, the benefits of unlocked phones are many. I think making unlocking cell phones other than through your carrier gives carriers too much power. There are no laws that require carriers to unlock their phones, so if they decide they don’t want to do this, you are stuck.

All the more reason to purchase unlocked phones in the first place.

Many countries have laws requiring carriers to unlock your phone once your contract is complete, unfortunately the United States is not one of them.

I agree with Ricky about Google’s NFC thing. I don’t like the idea of replacing my passwords with some kind of chip.

Blog comment from Sue:

Hello. Love the podcasts as usual. Jamie, you mentioned that you have a drawer filled with floppy disks, and so do I, Well a few months back I got a windows7 computer and love it. Well I do have a lot of stuff on floppy disk about 40 of them. I needed an external one and I got one on Amazon the HDE external floppy disk drive was I think around 10 dollars or so. I just installed it and it is quite easy to use. It comes with a small disk and some paper instructions, but for me I plugged it in to one of the usb ports on the computer and it just works. So thought I would recommend it it for anyone who still has a bunch of floppy disks around and still use them.

Roundabout

Kids See Through the Challenges of Blindness

The Experiences of a Guide Dog owner and his dog on their first cruise

Staying in touch with the home front: Technology in the midst of war

Here is a link to the Blinded Veterans Association Web site

Here is a Wikipedia article on Paradigm Shift

Please take this screen reader user survey and help spread the word about System Access.

In Podcast 139, Buddy Brannan joins Jamie Pauls and Ricky Enger in a discussion of the week’s top stories. Topics covered include:

Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday in the U.S.

Twitter Blog: Today’s turbulence explained

MSN Messenger gets nixed for iOS, Skype says ‘hello’

Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet hits U.S. and Canada on Feb. 9  

The PC is Not Dead. Yet.

Amid Declining PC Market, Lenovo Says It Would Consider Bid for RIM, Others

Google looks to ditch passwords for good with NFC-based replacement

Google hints at possible “X Phone” with long battery life, wireless charging, and an unbreakable case

Report: Samsung Galaxy S4 will debut in April

New podcast on iBlink Radio: Android From an Accessible Point of View

Android malware could reach the 1 million mark by year’s end

RIM relaunches app store as ‘BlackBerry World,’ music and video content coming soon

Samsung Goes After BlackBerry in New Ad

RIM tries to keep its business customers ahead of BlackBerry 10 launch

Amazon’s latest acquisition could bring dictation back to Kindle devices

Be sure not to miss out on the new update for iBlink Radio v2.2.0. Now supports the iPhone 5!

ACBRadio: tuner8 has been posted to the website

2013 01 16 Touch Type

Screen reader survey

Mailbag

As promised, here is a link to the Lost and and Found Sound series from NPR.

Roundabout

How a Blind Man Conquered the Appalachian Trail Using Technology

Why Bad Grammar Makes Good Passwords

Lisa Salinger joins Jamie Pauls and Joe Steinkamp as they discuss this week’s crop of stories, including the big one that prompted the title of this podcast. Finally, Joe and Jamie have a surprise for those who listen in past the credits at the end.

New Facebook Graph Search gives users power to slice and dice info from friends

How Facebook Graph Search Can Help Journalists

How The New Facebook Search Is Different & Unique From Google Search

Why Facebook doesn’t need its own phone

Microsoft Office 2013: What to expect on the pricing front

Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet is expected to arrive in ‘weeks’

Microsoft’s Surface needs a reboot: Here’s how

Another top retail executive leaves as Apple looks for new head

Specs leak: BlackBerry 10 L-Series shows multiple variants, decent horsepower

RIM Attracts 15,000 Apps For BlackBerry 10 In 2 Days

A User’s Perspective on the Insignia Narrator Talking HD Radio

UEB & You: What You Need to Know About Unified English Braille

Nexus 7 Screen Protectors Survey

Verizon Wireless Introduces Mobile Accessibility App For Customers Who Are Visually Impaired

Mobile Accessibility Survey

Book Review: All You Need and Want to Know about iMessaging

HIMS is Pleased to Release Sense Notetaker v7.0 patch 2 featuring Support for Learning Ally

Download KeySoft 9.2.2 today!

2013 Rose Parade with Audio Description Now Available for Download

ZoomText 10.06

J-Say 11

Time to enroll in CAVI courses

Mailbag

From Mike Arrigo:

Great show as always.

Skype on the Mac is much more accessible than in windows. It has built in features to notify you of things such as receiving messages and when contacts sign in and out. The chat window is an html view so it’s fully accessible. I’ve merged my messenger and skype accounts, and I think this is a great thing. I don’t think text chat is dead yet, just like on a mobile phone, if you want to tell someone something very quickly, text messaging is quicker, and it also allows you to multitask and do other things while having an on going chat.

Regarding the iphone for straight talk, you have to pay full price for the phone I think. I wonder if it’s unlocked. I sure hope so, to pay the price they are charging for a phone that is locked is nothing but a rip off.

Regarding blackberry 10, I wonder if that will be accessible or if it will join the ranks of windows phone 8.

I agree with Ricky about the specialized smart phone. There’s simply no reason for that. The main stream phones that are available are accessible, assuming they use an accessible platform. People need to bite the bullet and learn how to use them the same as everyone else.

From: Ali

Hello,

I enjoyed listening to podcast 137. You guys provided a good perspective.

As far as backing up an iOS device, I still prefer backing up in iTunes, that way, you are certain all your content is completely backed up, and software updates are quicker.

Is there a difference between the Mac and windows version of iTunes? I have only used the Windows version.

Best regards, Ali

Roundabout

1928 video of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, captioned and audio described

Welcome to this week’s edition of the podcast where Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp discuss the top news stories of the week. We also respond to your emails, blog comments and iReports as we go along. Enjoy!

Microsoft Messenger Service not going anywhere just yet

Skype Switcher Tip: Use Compact View

Report: New, cheaper iPhone could cost as little as $99

Walmart now offers iPhone 5 on Straight Talk’s no-contract unlimited plans

T-Mobile rips up contract on unlimited data plan

Consumers pay the hidden costs for the ‘free’ app ecosystem

Happy Birthday, iTunes

RIM has made ‘notable progress,’ but ‘still a lot to do,’ says analyst

Facebook stock cracks $30 ahead of event next week

Size matters: Lenovo unveils 27-inch tablet

Kickstarter had a monster year with nearly $320 million in pledges

Audi: We’re ready to test autonomous cars on public roads

NHTSA details new sound requirements for hybrids and EVs travelling under 18 mph

Nuance hopes to make cross-platform voice recognition a reality with Project Wintermute

Will voice recognition make touch obsolete? Intel says yes

things I learned by pretending to be a blind Internet user for a week

We Live In a Sighted World, Like it or Not.

SixthSense, a new 3D sound horror shooting game for iOS which is playable by the blind

HumanWare Lowers Prices on BrailleNote Notetakers by Roughly 20 Percent

Building a Better Smartphone for the Blind – but can we count on accessible apps to go with it?

2012 DVD Hot Picks, All with Audio Description

Mailbag

From  Jenine Stanley

I’m listening to the End of Year in Tech special and enjoying the discussion very much. Regarding the discussion of the viability of NVDA as a screen reading option from vocational rehabilitation services, I can’t speak directly to that screen reader’s power and flexibility but I can speak to the general practices of especially state-funded rehabilitation services in buying technology.

It is so rare to find someone within a state rehabilitation agency that actually has a solid working knowledge of the capabilities of screen readers beyond what the manufacturer tells them in a structured demo. This is why it’s so hard to get them to look at any alternatives from the Freedom Scientific products, until now. The magic word in this new scenario isn’t functionality. It’s FREE!

With budgets for state services shrinking to nearly nothing, being able to access a free product gets that case closed a lot faster than providing a high-featured screen reader that costs over $500 at least along with added costs of training in the use of that screen reader. Whether it actually works for the person’s needs or not is often irrelevant.

I know there are conscientious rehab professionals out there who don’t do this but sadly they are few and far between and as state services consolidate and use personnel who have little experience with blindness providing services, as is the case with some VA centers who have eliminated their VIST coordinators, those people will look at cost versus functionality.

Blog comment from Luis

Hi all, I wanted to respond to a couple of stories you touched on.

First about the Android Nexus 7 mic problem. The issue is still there. I tried to patch the Nexus 7 to a recorder to get the full affect of the sound for a recording. And I did so after Jelly Bean 4.2.1 came out. I thought it was the cable that I was using and traded it for another. But the same interferance was in the background. Then I listened to this podcast and was because of you Jamie, Ricky, and Joe. Did I found out the issue was within the unit not the cables. Thank you for that.

Also would like to comment on Ricky’s pondering of how Twitter seems to be more popular with the blind community over FaceBook. I believe that the reason for Twitter being more popular with the blind then FaceBook, is because of the client. You had clients like Qwitter and now The Cube that make it easy for the blind to be on Twitter. Without any ads for us to put up with. That’s on Windows use, then you have iOS users. Who have apps that give them a similar experience. The popular app has always been TweetList but now something similar would be Twitterrific. Avoiding the default Twitter app that has more stuff for you to flick through while reading your timeline. While FaceBook has no type of client for the blind to view or reply, or post on Windows like Twitter does. Nor are any of the apps for iOS as good as the Twitter apps. Although the default FaceBook app for iOS has come far when accessability is concern. But also, and I’m not sure if I’m alone with this. But the timeline for FaceBook isn’t always consistent. You may be looking at your timeline one minute, and comeback 30 minutes later. And you’ll see some new posts mixed with the same posts you saw 30 minutes before. And at least with the mobile version of Facebook, and the FaceBook app don’t always show the same posts at the same place of your timeline.

And perhaps it’s this that draws blind users to be more active on Twitter then on FaceBook.

Have other comments to make on other stories. but think I went to long. Great job starting off the new year.

Roundabout

Find Out If an Interview Is Going Well by Asking the Interviewer About His or Her Job

Tech Doctor Podcast: Sounds From Antarctica

Mike Calvo is joined by Ricky Enger and Lisa Salinger to discuss the recent mobile device updates as well as current and future trends.

A Look at the Latest in iOS and Android

iPhone 5

Arstechnica Review of iPhone 5

Drop and Durability Test for iPhone 5

iPhone 5 Lightning Adapters to Remain Reassuringly Expensive Courtesy of Authentication Chip

Teardown revives hopes that Lightning might be USB 3.0-compatible

Verizon won’t relock the iPhone 5’s GSM

iOS 6

Maccessibility » A First Look at VoiceOver in iOS 6

Op-ed: iOS 6′s Do Not Disturb and the ring/silent switch

Taking Apple’s Passbook for a real-world spin

How to add almost any gift card to Passbook

Wrong turn: Apple’s buggy iOS 6 maps lead to widespread complaints

Top 10 Secret Features of iOS 6

What can you say to Siri in iOS 6?

Android Jellybean

Google Nexus 7 review

Accessibility Gestures for Android 4.1, Jellybean

Acapela TTS for Android

Siri-ous New Voice Assistant for Android devices

Join us for another episode of the SeroTalk Podcast as Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp tackle the top news stories of the week. After the news, Jamie Pauls and Patrick Purdue join Mike Calvo to discuss the iShower, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless shower speaker.

In The News

Amazon’s new 7-inch Kindle Fire: twice the RAM, faster processor, longer battery life, $159

Kindle Fire HD 8.9: how the new Kindle tablet compares with the competition

Amazon just put Android tablets on notice with the Kindle Fire product line

Amazon debuts new Kindle Fires, just don’t call them gadgets

The quest for the best search engine: Bing It On

Google wins patent on face-to-unlock feature

A Windows user’s life with the Mac, two months in

Nokia aims to dazzle with Windows Phone 8 Lumia 920

Nokia mangles Lumia phone launch by faking camera’s capabilities

No new Apple TV this year, report says

Apple: We didn’t pass iPhone, iPad device IDs to FBI

iPhone 5 rumor roundup

Apple claims dibs on new dock adapters, report says

The BrailleNote Battery Scandal

An indoor navigation solution for blind users? Check out Navatar

FSCast Episode 69, Augusst 2012 discusses the upcoming release of Jaws 14

Roundabout

AT&T to test Text-to-911 service in Tennessee

Why Remote Workers Are More (Yes, More) Engaged

Please take this screen reader user survey and help spread the word about System Access.

Replay the Accessible Event Archive of SeroSpectives: This Month in Tech for August 2012

About Our Guests

Rich Cavallaro is a computer information technology major at Hofstra

University graduating in December 2012. Technology has been a passion

of his since a very young age.  He has been an instructor for the

Technologically Empowered College Students (TECS) program for students

in New York since 2009. With his vast knowledge of both mainstream and

assistive technologies, he assists in developing the webinars to

ensure that TECS participants have the most accurate, up-to-date, and

accessible web resources available. During the weekly conferences,

Rich facilitates the discussion, answers questions, troubleshoots

technology and most importantly, shares his experiences and unique

perspective on life as a college student.  Besides technology, audio

is also something Rich enjoys.  He broadcasts quite frequently on his

college radio station, WRHU (We’re Radio Hofstra University).

He can be contacted either via email

or by following him on Twitter.

Luke Leiby, from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, is fifteen years old

and in 10th grade. He is interested in music, especially production,

recording, and engineering. He writes: “To me, technology is growing quickly day

by day, and I like to keep up with the latest and the newest, and see

what technology the visually impaired can use.”

Estin Talavera is the Assistive Technology Specialist for the Envision

Vision Rehabilitation Center. In addition to assessing and training

patients on assistive technology, Estin is also one of the instructors

for the annual Envision Assistive Technology Camp for middle school and

high school students with vision impairments and a podcaster for the

YouTube Assistive Technology podcast “Tips, Tricks. .” Estin is

Also currently seeking a degree from Wichita State University in general

studies with emphasis in communication sciences and disorders,

psychology and sociology.

In the News

How to upgrade your Hotmail email address to @outlook.com

Windows 7 poised to topple XP as leading OS

SeroSpectives Special: Mountain Lion

Apple’s $1 Billion Win Over Samsung: Q&A

5 reasons the Apple Samsung Ruling is Good for Everyone

New iPhone’s Bigger Screen to Have 5th Row of Homescreen Icons?

iPhone 5 not likely to support NFC, says new report

This iPhone app reads your heart rate in seconds by staring at your face

Watch live TV on your phone! No, really

Amazon’s cloud music service gets scan and match

Blind and visually impaired fastest growing iPhone market

Verizon launches accessibility app for visually impaired

Ten Affordable Screen Readers

Super Egg Hunt Plus is now live.

Google’s Self-Driving Cars Complete 300K Miles Without Accident, Deemed Ready For Commuting

Will the elderly ever accept care from robots?

Welcome to yet another episode of the SeroTalk Podcast where Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp take a look at the news stories of the week. After the news, Jamie visits with Mark Marvel of Blind Ambitions Groups about Blind Ambitions Magazine, a new publication dealing with various blindness-related issues.

News stories discussed in this episode of the podcast include:

General Tech

Apple’s $1 Billion Win Over Samsung: Q&A

5 reasons the Apple-Samsung ruling is GOOD for everyone

Apple-Samsung verdict shows that Microsoft thinks different

Apple Stores reportedly still face budget cuts, unhappy workers

Samsung Ativ S officially announced: 4.8-inch 720p display, Windows Phone 8

iPhone 5 not likely to support NFC, says new report

Looks Like T-Mobile’s Not Getting the iPhone… Again

Mark your Microsoft calendars: Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 launch dates revealed

Inkjet printers, take a bow: Lexmark exiting the business next year

AT

Doing It To Win: Veterans Raise Bar At Paralympics

Documentary Film “Going Blind” To Have September Capitol Hill Screening for US Legislators

A Brief History of Early Talking Books and Players

New NT Art Gallery Exhibit Helps Visually Impaired

Roundabout

Will the elderly ever accept care from robots?

How your tweets may prove you’re a psychopath

Please take this screen reader user survey and help spread the word about System Access.

Welcome back to another episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. Here are the stories that Jamie, Ricky and Joe discuss on this week’s show:

The cloud is still the safest place to be for small-to-medium businesses

Netflix’s new feature makes TV show marathons easier

YouTube Re-Imagined: 505,347,842 Channels on Every Single Screen

Amazon’s 10-inch Kindle Fire caught sailing through FCC certification

RealPlayer for Android exits beta

Windows 8 and Surface: Why has Microsoft gone so quiet?

RIM chief: BlackBerry 10 could be licensed to handset rivals

Apple

Apple Retail Stores Seeing Significant Layoffs of Recent Hires?

Apple is in danger of being boring

Judge urges Apple, Samsung CEOs to talk settlement

iPad Mini? Nah, here comes the iBook

Computers stolen from Steve Jobs’ home

AT

ClaroRead for Mac

Anywhere, Everywhere: That’s Accessibility

iOS or Android for the visually impaired revisited: Jelly Bean or iOS?

Where to go phone app for finding relief areas at airports.

Humanware is offering $200 off of the Trekker Breeze until August 31

Roundabout

Illinois allows mini horses as service animals

Michael Lauf’s ATIA 2011  interview with Cheryl of Jacksonville, Florida about her guide horse

Learn about Serotek’s SAMNet Vets program

London 2012: Isobel’s story – YouTube

Please take this screen reader user survey and help spread the word about System Access.

Welcome back to another episode of the SeroTalk podcast. In this week’s episode, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp discuss all the news of the week. Following the news, Lisa Salinger demonstrates Voice Book VO, the new Facebook app discussed on last week’s podcast.

Microsoft

Attention all Windows users: patch your systems now

Nokia Maps to replace Bing Maps in Windows Phone 8, report says

Microsoft offers glimpse of Office 2013 on Windows RT tablet

General Tech

Verizon offers buckets of data with the Share Everything plan

Amazon Cloud Player

Facebook plugs in WordPress for social sharing

Now in Skype: Advertisements

Reality check: the self-driving car

‘MasterChef’ Blind Chef Contestant: The Judges Discuss Christine’s Unique Advantage

AT

Tech Sessions at the 2012 American Council of the Blind Conference and Convention

AppleVis:  Welcome our New Team Member!

Jamie and Joe appear on ACB Radio’s Main Menu show.

Android (Still) Not Very Accessible

direct Download for 30-day trial of Kurzweil K1000 13.01

NVDA 2012.2.1 Released   

Networks Set To Launch Video Descriptions

Apple

Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display  

Apple CEO says Mac Pro update to come ‘next year’

Here Are The Services, Businesses, And Markets Apple Just Shook Up 

Apple’s WWDC keynote: What we didn’t get

What iOS 6 tells us about the next iPhone

Apple selects TomTom as primary iOS 6 maps provider (update: confirmed)

Upcoming iOS 6 To Have Upgraded Accessibility Features

Apple could still strike Android, Windows Phone with iOS 6 zinger

How Garmin Failed to See the iPhone Threat

Roundabout

Blind Olympic torch bearer runs unguided, assisted only by smartphone

Once again, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp tackle the news of the week. Stories talked about in this episode include:

Windows

Microsoft’s Windows 8 Release Preview: What’s in and what’s out

Why flatten Windows 8? Because Aero won’t run on a phone

Apple

Apple’s Cook right about PC-tablet fusion fantasy

Video clips of Cook’s interview at this year’s D10 conference are now online.

Apple’s Cook pours cold water on iPhone 5 with 4-inch screen

Do these blueprints show the iPhone 5?

Apple now selling Nest Learning Thermostat

iPhone officially goes prepaid in the US via Cricket

Facebook

Is Facebook building an iTunes/Google Play competitor?

If Facebook dies (and it might), its killer will be born mobile

General Tech

Israel: Don’t blame the Flame cyberattack on us

Privacy Group Wants Google’s Driverless Cars Kept off the Road

The numbers behind RIM’s impending collapse

AT

Screen Reader User Survey #4 Results

Jim Denham’s first impression of the Braille EDGE display

Kevin Reeves Audio Boo: Blue Collar Jobs for the Blind

using iphone with a braille display as a notetaker

JAWS 13.0.924 May update is released.

J-Say 10 is released!

New BrailleSense Update is Released

Roundabout

Doc Watson, Blind Guitar Wizard Who Influenced Generations, Dies at 89

Welcome to this week’s SeroTalk podcast where Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp once again explore the top news stories of the week. Enjoy!

Windows

Avira Antivirus update wreaks havoc on millions of PCs

Intel Windows 8 tablets to hit retail stores in November

$99 and a trip to a Microsoft Store will get you a clean Windows install.

General Tech

Yahoo’s revolving door of CEOs: What happens next?

Is Facebook Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory?

 Google to centralize Android development and sales

Google bringing new smarts to search with Knowledge Graph

Mobile Computing

Is Mobile Computing Good For Productivity?

 Verizon to kill grandfathered unlimited data plans, makes my decision to leave easier

iPhone 5: Nothing decided except October (or not)

Reuters: iPhone 5 to have 4-inch screen

AT

iOS or Android for the visually impaired: nine reasons that count

Flipboard Updates with Background Audio Player, Gallery, and Accessibility Features

NVDA 2012.2beta2 Released    

NV Access Podcast: Episode 2    

Victor Reader Rewards – Save $75 on a new Stratus or Stream!

American Foundation for the Blind wind-up talking book record player

Roundabout

When did music become unimportant?

Woz: I don’t have broadband, and I never thought I’d get girls

Paralyzed Individuals Use Thought-Controlled Robotic Arm to Reach and Grasp

Despite various Internet woes, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp manage to discuss this week’s news stories.

Smartphones

RIM unveils BlackBerry Screen Reader for people with visual impairments

HumanWare Announces Changes to Non-Visual Access Software for BlackBerry Smartphones with discontinuation of Oratio for BlackBerry

Skype killing Windows Phone: Nokia responds

How the Blind Are Reinventing the iPhone

Apple

Why Mac Computers Are Becoming More Favorable Among the Blind

Apple may launch $799 MacBook Air this year, claims report

Who wants an iPad Mini? About one buyer in two

Apple HDTV rumor roundup

Apple releases iOS 5.1.1

General Tech

Microsoft angers users by cutting Media Center out of Windows 8

Microsoft SkyDrive vs. Apple iCloud and the folly of cloud poaching

Microsoft developing Kinect-like controller that uses sound waves

4 Ways Your Business Can Avoid Being a Menace on Twitter

Social Security Administration starts providing online statements

For anyone in the US, tell me will be discontinued on 1st June of this year.

AT

There is a new Tech Doctor podcast with Anna Dresner discussing her new iPhone book.

Important notice of future SPL Studio script development         

AccessTalk has a new RSS feed (as of podcast 5)

Victor Reader Stream updated to version 3.5

Mailbag

First we hear from Kevin Barry in the following email.

Both of the Directv IOS apps are completely accessible.

That means completely. No funny workarounds etc.

The iPhone app allows you to program a dvr from anywhere (very useful when halfway around the world or closer) and the iPad app allows that plus direct control over networked boxes plus even some live playback.

I wonder where Joe heard the DTV apps weren’t accessible?

Then we hear iReports from Veronica and Randy Shelton.

Roundabout

Paralyzed Woman Finishes London Marathon

After the news, stay tuned for an interview about the Cisco Academy for the Visually Impaired. Jamie Pauls talks with Joshua Loya and Kerry Hoath.

With Ricky Enger enjoying a well-deserved week’s vacation, Lisa Salinger joins Jamie Pauls and Joe Steinkamp as they explore the top news stories of the week.

Privacy and Security

To Read All Those Web Privacy Policies, Just Take A Month Off Work

Living in Public: What Happens When You Throw Privacy Out the Window

Microsoft Security Essentials 4.0

Windows 8 Release Preview in June

Cloud Storage

Free storage for you: Google Drive to arrive today

How to use Google Drive with keyboard shortcuts

Dropbox Sharing Gets Easier with Direct Links to Anything in Your Dropbox Folders

General Tech

Skype for Windows Phone is basically useless

Stage set for Windows 8 hybrid, iPad showdown

Apple

Apple is better off without Steve Jobs

Tim Cook Prefers Settling To Suing and Has a Huge Quarter

 Apple may unveil new MacBook hybrid this year, says analyst

Why we shouldn’t get too excited about a ‘Liquidmetal’ iPhone 5

AT

Getting Started with the iPhone and iOs5 for Blind Users (IPHONE-IOS5)

Top 10 iPhone Apps for the Visually Impaired

Braille Reference

Formerly Recording for the Blind, Serving Veterans Since 1948

Introducing DBT 11.1sr4

Braille Formats: Principles of Print-to-Braille Transcription, 2011.

Feature Writer Alena Roberts – Paying For a Taxi in New York Just Became More Accessible

Descriptive Camera, 2012

Mailbag

Loved the most recent podcast.

Oh yeah, I remember those Talking Book records in the boxes with straps.

They had a unique smell too, musty library basement, but somehow really comforting.

And I thought I was hot stuff at age 7 when I could replace a record player needle with the new one they sent me from the Cleveland Public Library.

Ok, down the old tech road, does anyone remember the Type and Talk external synthesizer? It was one of the first external synths and the fun thing about it was that you could turn the little speed wheel to the point where you could hear each little electronic blip it made to make one sound.

As for the whole employer checking you out on Facebook thread, it should scare some people. I know I pay more attention to my Facebook posts and tweets but also make sure my grammar and spelling are as good as I can make them.

From my Old Fogey side, I read some posts from blind people on Facebook who also say, there and in other forums, that they are seeking jobs, and I just shake my head. Horrific grammar, bad spelling, which I’m as guilty of as anyone, but with bad grammar it’s a double whammy, inane feuds with other people on Facebook and generally immature posts add up to someone I wouldn’t hire, blind or sighted.

I got unfriended by someone at work because she had trouble posting personal stuff to her Facebook page then those of us from work she’d friended calling her on some of it. I felt badly because I like her and enjoy some of her non-work stuff, but whew, she’

S young enough to be my daughter, which is depressing in and of itself, but she also doesn’t have many boundaries.

The other weird thing about Facebook is that people are starting to use it like email and I doubt they realize that everything, even their emails to each other that land on Facebook pages, is archived, by the Library of Congress no less.

My husband was involved with a non-profit organization for rare diseases. It was for one specific condition and much talk had moved from its email list to its Facebook pages. He tried a Facebook account and freaked at the public nature of it and what people posted about their medical conditions. Being a good conspiracy theorist, he said he bet the insurance companies just loved it.

He said this loudly and often to the organization executive director, seeing it as irresponsible to promote the sharing of pretty sensitive medical info in an open forum like that. Things have shifted a bit since he’s been complaining but still …

Sadly too I see it with guide dog handlers. They’ll put out on Facebook that they have this or that issue with their dogs, never contact the school for help or anything. I know sometimes people have issues with their guide dog schools, but we can’t help you if we don’t know you’re having problems and we won’t know that probably because we don’t friend every grad or ask them to friend us. Whew.

Great show as always. Keep it up!

Jenine Stanley

From the blog:

Tim Sniffen writes:

Jamie’s Reply:

As promised, here is a link to the Main Menu show featuring a demonstration of SkyDrive.

Roundabout

Is Your Smartphone Helping You as Much as It’s Hurting You?

In this week’s podcast, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp must do battle with a thunderstorm and a really loud lawn mower. There is one casualty as a result of the ensuing battle, but the show must go on and so it does. Who is forced off the island, so to speak? What are the top stories of the week? All of that and more awaits you as you listen to this week’s episode!

Entertainment

Dick Clark dies at age 82; fans pay tribute on Twitter

Social Media

Twitter’s no-lawsuit pledge: “We will not join the patent wars”

Why Facebook needs to build a browser

Legal Department

Apple and Samsung to meet out of court for settlement chat

Apple prepared to go to trial in the US over e-book pricing

Internet

Ex-FBI cyberexpert: Potential for digital Pearl Harbor is real

FedEx Office teams up with Google Cloud Print

Windows

5 Computer Maintenance Tips You Should Not Ignore!

Computer Maintenance Tools Available In Windows 7

How to bring the Start menu back to Windows 8

Cell Phones

Verizon’s 4G LTE blankets two-thirds of U.S. population

Next iPhone said to ditch glass for Liquidmetal, arrive in June

Carriers ponder Apple iPhone subsidy uprising: Will it work?

Will Windows Phone 8 makers be more free to tweak the OS?

Ebooks

Publishers Call for Industry Cohesion on Accessible e-Books

Why e-book DRM will die, and why this will make no difference to Amazon and Apple

AT

Learning Ally Audio App for your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Product Evaluation: BrailleNote Apex from HumanWare

Roundabout

Are Internet Friends Real Friends?