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

Why sighing makes you feel better What did the Big Bang sound like? Take a listen

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.

After a bit of an absence, Jamie, Ricky and Joe are back with another podcast. Did you miss us? We decided to let the rest of the Serotek team have their say with our 2012 SPN holiday review special. In addition to our holiday review special, Ricky Enger, Mike Calvo and Joe Steinkamp sat down to discuss the current state of mobile accessibility in our latest SPN Mobile special: Scratching the Surface with Mike Calvo.

In SeroTalk Podcast 133, we discuss the top news of the week. Then, Jamie Pauls sits down with Dennis of Aftershokz to discuss the company’s latest generation of bone conduction headphones. And now, it’s time for the news!

Syria suffers Internet ‘blackout’; cut off from the outside world

Apple releases iTunes 11 with “dramatically simplified user interface”

Analyst: Apple’s iPad 4 is not selling well. Why? Blame the Mini

iPod Creator: Scott Forstall ‘Got What He Deserved’

Apple SVP Eddy Cue Fires Richard Williamson For Botching Apple Maps

Report: Apple bumps Android from top spot in U.S. smartphone market on strength of iPhone 5

Apple Sold 11 iPads Per Hour On Black Friday While Microsoft Sold Zero Surface Tablets

Windows 8 off to a slow start with consumers in month one, says NPD

Pricing for Microsoft’s Surface Pro Revealed; $899 for 64GB, $999 for 128GB

RIM’s Stock Up 55% in Past 30 Days on BlackBerry 10 Optimism

AT&T is the worst-rated wireless carrier for the third year in a row, according to Consumer Reports

Google+ chief: Facebook is the social network of the past

Like it or not, nonreplaceable CPUs may be the future of desktops

Every computer term you’ve ever wanted to know, explained in our tech dictionary:

Barnes And Noble’s Nook App Gets VoiceOver And Zoom Accessibility

Everything you ever wanted to know about iMessage – in a braille booklet

New Podcast: YouPlayer: Not Just Another YouTube App for iOS … it’s one that Claims Full VoiceOverSupport!

Navigating the Windows8 Start screen with the Keyboard

Mailbag

Blog comment from Jim

Roundabout

Smart specs may replace guide dogs

the voice behind Siri (interview with Kerin Jacobson)

For this very special holiday podcast, each member of the Serotek team was asked to review an item that they felt would make a good holiday gift. As you listen to the voices of the Serotek team members, feel free to follow the links in these show notes so that you can further explore the items of particular interest to you.

If there is one thing blind people are passionate about, it’s audio. Brian Kevelighan starts off our show with a review and demonstration of the Jawbone Big Jam Box. Next, Matt Campbell reviews the Koss PortaPro headphones. Finally, Mike Calvo rounds out our first segment by reviewing three sets of headphones—the new Aftershokz Sportz 2, the Radius 2 earbuds, and the Bose in-ear Sports earbuds.

Next, we focus on taking our audio on the go. Buddy Brannan visits with Danny of the Braille Superstore about the brand new Tiny Tunes MP3 player, designed especially for the blind. Then, Richard Wells visits with Laz Mesa about the Rockboxed Sansa Talking MP3 Players.

To round out our discussion of all things audio, Lisa Salinger shows us how to make music with the QChord. Shane Jackson has produced an in-depth review of the QChord.

Getting a Feel for the QChord is a manual written specifically for the visually impaired by Jackie McBride.

Hear the QChord by going to a page with QChord songs and sound clips

If you would like to purchase a QChord, or for further information, you may email Jackie McBride.

Next, Joe Steinkamp tells us about the OXO 10 Piece Pop Up Container Set.

Patrick Purdue stops by just in the nick of time to tell Jamie about the Wenger Braille watch.

After that, Ricky Enger makes house cleaning fun by introducing us to the Litter Robot self-cleaning litter box.

Rounding out this year’s holiday festivities, Jamie Pauls helps us make a great espresso with the Nespresso Pixie espresso maker.

You can listen to our Coffee Charge special from last year where Mike Calvo goes into some detail about what makes a great cup of espresso.

Watch a YouTube video of the Nespresso Pixie in action.

Feel free to email resources@serotalk.com with holiday ideas of your own.

Welcome back to the SeroTalk Podcast. There’s just a tiny bit of news from Apple on this week’s show. After that bit of news, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp discuss the rest of the week’s news stories.

Apple

iPad vs. iPad 2 vs. the new iPad

Apple iOS 5.1: First Take

Apple TV’s new user interface: Hands-on

iPad 3: What we didn’t get

Apple’s next-gen iPad: New battlefields emerge

Google

New Android voice assistant, Robin, rides shotgun

Google may be planning Siri rival for later this year

Google dishing up ‘Key Lime Pie’ for Android?

                                Google+ Hangouts become accessible to the blind

CSUN 2012

Reporting from CSUN in San Diego

5 good news stories from CSUN 2012

Listen to more great CSUN 2012 coverage from Blind Bargains and Blind Access Journal.

CSUN12:  The ultimate user experience

AT

Tween resources

VizWiz: What’s New in Version 1.4.1    

HumanWare Victor Reader Stratus M Version 2.1 – Listening Made Easier

eBooks

The eBook Backlash

 Action Required: Are Your Kids Using Technology in  School?

EU and US team up on e-book antitrust case against Apple, publishers

General Tech

Amazon may be mulling plan to create TV shows

Time to Kill Off Captchas

Mailbag

This week, we respond to more iReports, emails and blog comments from our listeners including yet another endorsement of the Aftershokz wrap-around bone conduction headphones.

Roundabout

With no sight and plenty of lines, blind actors make the scenes

Visually-Impaired Veterans Share Support and Information

On this week’s podcast, Mike Calvo joins Jamie Pauls, Joe Steinkamp and Ricky Enger live from the Road To CSUN.

Be sure and listen to all of our CSUN coverage on SPN Radio.

You can also listen to Triple Click Home Episode 4: Beefed Up Book Reader Thing and an upcoming episode of That Android Show coming very soon.

After their visit with Mike, Jamie, Joe and Ricky tackle the news of the week.

AT

Neal Ewers’ Review Of The Olympus Ls100 is now available on Blind Cool Tech.

Extra Extra Read All About It: Exciting Sendero Announcements

Blind Bargains: Ask the Readers: What Would You Pay for a Truly Accessible Phone-based GPS System

@ariadneGPS: Version 2.0 is on the store. Podcast on the web site at http://www.ariadnegps.eu/

Georgia Tech’s BrailleTouch is a Braille writer for iPhone

Apple

Beatles Ringtones Come to Apple’s iTunes Store

Apple’s latest sandboxing deadline delay signals moving goalpost for devs

Rumor Mill

Ignore Microsoft, Office will be coming to the iPad real soon

Smaller iPad in ‘testing stage,’ says research firm

Don’t discount Apple’s interest in a smaller iPad, says analyst

iPhone 5 rumoured for autumn, not summer

iPhone and Android apps now required to have privacy policies

Mailbag

Among the many emails we received for this week’s podcast, Dave from Dublin, Ireland provides a link to some accessibility features of Sky TV, available in the UK and Ireland.

Round About

Google to release heads-up display glasses before the end of the year: what can we expect?

@AccessSanDiego: San Diego Zoo has an Accessibility Guide in Braille! Get it at Guest Relations.

Is Skype a social network? Microsoft’s dark horse has legs…

‘Smart cows’ can text owners when mooood strikes

Contact The Show

Feel free to write us by sending a message to: resources@serotalk.com

Follow the SeroTalk Podcast on Twitter

Happy Tenth Birthday To Serotek!

Wikipedia entry on the origins of the song “Happy Birthday”

You asked and we delivered! Serotek makes DocuScan Plus available on a monthly installment plan.

Egypt Revisited by Mike Calvo

Apple

Apple Mac OS X ‘Mountain Lion’ takes more bites out of iOS

Apple sold more iOS devices in 2011 than it sold Macs in 28 years

Apple responds to iOS contact data sharing: ‘It’s a violation’

 Apple iTunes chief accepts Steve Jobs’ Grammy

Apple to announce the iPad 3 on Wednesday, March 7?

Apple’s Android nightmare: Google’s Motorola purchase gets EU OK

Google

DOJ approves Google, Motorola Mobility merger

Google’s grand vision: what the Motorola deal means for Android

General Tech

Windows 8: Enabling accessibility

Road To CSUN

Microsoft Anti Virus blocks google.com

Norton gets personal with One

AT

Hope 1.0 is now available

ChromeVox version 1.18.0 is now available

How to Add an Attachment in Outlook with Window-Eyes

Internet Explorer 9 with Jaws and Window-Eyes textbooks $75 each.

Braille Under Siege As Blind Turn To SmartPhones

Braille is spreading but who’s using it?

Round About

new TechTalk show details online

Medical ‘miracle’ as doctors recover blind woman’s sight by putting a tooth in her eye

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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