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SeroTalk Podcast 191: XP Pocolypse

jpauls — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 22:12:55 +0000

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 191: XP Pocolypse

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

SeroTalk Podcast 138: Facebook In Need of a Fist

jpauls — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:37:14 +0000

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 138: Facebook In Need of a Fist

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

SPN Special: Mobile Devices

jpauls — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:49:51 +0000

Listen to our SPN Special: Mobile Devices

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

SeroSpectives: This Month in Tech for August 2012

jpauls — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:53:34 +0000

Listen to SeroSpectives: This Month in Tech for August 2012

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?

SeroTalk Podcast 121: All About Me

jpauls — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:58:34 +0000

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 121: All About Me

This week, Serotek’s own Matt Campbell takes a break from development and joins Jamie Pauls and Ricky Enger on the podcast. Here are links to the stories discussed in this week’s episode:

SeroTalk Podcast 102: Squishy Dots

jpauls — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:33:29 +0000

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 102: Squishy Dots

Jamie Pauls and Ricky Enger welcome Joe Steinkamp back to this week’s podcast. After a brief discussion about Joe’s recent computer problems, the three of them tackle the news of the week.