2) IZotope produces music technology software. They say they are committing to make their software accessible to the blind in 2010. Those interested are invited to contact them to test their software as they add the accessibility features.
http://bit.ly/abph1M
3) We have two great sources for audio interviews from the recent ATIA conference. Both feature a lot of interviews, discussing some existing but mostly forthcoming products, and you're likely to learn of some companies you hadn't heard of and which may or may not become important. One is the Blind Bargains Audio Index
http://www.blindbargains.com/audio/
and Serotek offers us 28 interviews
http://serotalk.com/2010/02/01/28-interviews-from-atia-2010/
4) SeroTalk Podcast 34 replays a couple of those interviews and more, discussing Blio Reader, Booksense, Oratio for Blackberry, Mobilespeak 4, and Talks 4.5
http://serotalk.com/2010/02/02/serotalk-podcast-34-blio-reader-booksense-oratio-for-blackberry-mobilespeak-4-and-talks-4-5/
5) This Fred's Head post describes the Windows 7 Magnifier, much improved over that found in previous versions of Windows.
http://www.fredshead.info/2010/02/windows-7-magnifier.html
6) Balabolka is a free program which lets you turn .doc, .rtf, .pdf and .htm files as well as the contents of the clipboard into audio files for use on an mp3 player using the SAPI voices found on your computer.. I haven't tested it for its accessibility or effectiveness.
http://www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm
7) Here's a Fred's Head post about how to marry Twitter and LinkedIn.
http://www.fredshead.info/2010/01/lets-get-twitter-linkedin.html
8) The editors at Gizmo's Best Freeware have produced Probably the Best Free Security List in the World, a very comprehensive rating of free security software.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/TmW2BJZLKv4/probably-best-free-security-list-world.htm
9) I haven't heard one way or the other about accessibility of this, but according to the editor at Gizmo, the New Free Edition of Paragon Backup & Recovery Impresses
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/pll51swijVs/new-free-edition-paragon-backup-recovery-101.htm
10) this Gizmo article is entitled How to Schedule Programs to Run Automatically. The System Scheduler program they recommend is fully accessible.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/RVaoix8gGtU/how_to_schedule_programs_to_run_automatically.htm
11) Jamal Mazrui has released version 1.3 of TestPage, a command-line utility and dialog interface for doing a simple, automated test of a web page for problems related to accessibility for users with disabilities, or to other aspects of HTML validity according to standards of the World Wide Web Consortium
http://EmpowermentZone.com/tpgsetup.exe
12) Humanware and CodeFactory have released Oratio for the newest Blackberry phones , a $435 screen reader which they have promised for some months, and whose name has changed during that time.
http://www.humanware.com/index.php?Action=Page.Link&PageLink=1449&To=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.humanware.ca%2Fweb%2Fen%2Fnewsletter%2F95.htm
13) Brian Hartgen will discuss access to iTunes version 9.2, primarily using his jTunes version 5 which works with JAWS, on Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 9 February at 01:00.
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2
14) Code Factory has released Mobile Speak version 4, which works on both Symbian and windows Mobile phones, allows you to tie a license to a phone number so that upgrades are free, and works on touchscreen and keyboard devices.
http://www.codefactory.es/en/products.asp?id=318
15) Larry Lewis, a Code Factory distributor, has produced two podcasts concerning this new release. His EyePod TechnoCast Volume 9A gives An Exploration of the Enhanced Text to Speech capabilities present in Mobile Speak 4
http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast9A.mp3 <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102973217125&s=564&e=001kuNkn706A5dSZS16YE-U10G44QBgy0Yijkfoltiml7s94LOeiQELpIBaYynTcMlodgvedqS6gs51zaCwFj1DYyt6HVfefjaict_rw1IDNIxsQ2M9JdMHE9SpYujStZvcpRCxcR0ucJF4kBQMqDfBjWB9Ga1bYxoi
And his EyePod TechnoCast Volume 9B poses the question: Mobile Speak 4 vs The iPhone: Which Offers Greater Accessibility?
http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast9B.mp3 <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102973217125&s=564&e=001kuNkn706A5cB1DzUEyZK8UcmktaecPguehBnCqK1gZXuZSzwjIwHkuJihFJrmfqsYbS46dOMwqBYYTZkQls9rB_q_S0_0RqajYHZ0dBS_eJRagYPIGYUh1ELQY-zfR6UhpyCROEXJe_opdJJHKWlYZ1vpHkiaEKG
16) At the same time, Code Factory has released a public beta of its navigation software running on windows Mobile phones, Mobile Geo. this version is compatible with Mobile Speak version 4, runs on the new phones it supports, and implements the latest Sendero GPS software. To read about it, go to
http://www.codefactory.es/en/manuals.asp?id=89
17) Gw Micro has released Window-Eyes scripts to enhance the experience of using Windows Live Mail with Window-Eyes.
http://www.gwmicro.com/scripts/Windows_Live_Mail
18) the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco produces a monthly newsletter where they announce their quarterly technology events, possibly discuss other tech news and trends, and also discuss other goings-on at the Lighthouse. To subscribe, visit
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1102117926249&p=oi
Dean Martineau provides adaptive technology training by phone, online and in person, with flexible arrangements, and at affordable prices.
Feel free to forward individual Tidbits, or the entire tidbits issue, to interested people (but make sure they don't already receive it; a lot do!) When doing this, please have the courtesy to cite your source, perhaps directing them to the tidbits web site (see below.) Remember that inclusion of an item in Tidbits does not signify an endorsement.
tidbits is intentionally concise, but I know a lot of people don't understand many of the items because little explanation is given. If a Tidbit brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and I'll answer as time, knowledge and inclination permit.
Visit the Tidbits page at www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm where you can subscribe to the rss feed, download the very useful Tidbits archive and grab back issues. All that welcome information for future issues can come to me at dean@topdotenterprises.com.
People can subscribe to Tidbits via e-mail: tttt-join@topdotenterprises.com (make sure to get all 4 t's into the address!)
Dean Martineau provides adaptive technology training by phone, online and in person, with flexible arrangements, and at affordable prices.
Feel free to forward individual Tidbits, or the entire tidbits issue, to interested people (but make sure they don't already receive it; a lot do!) When doing this, please have the courtesy to cite your source, perhaps directing them to the tidbits web site (see below.) Remember that inclusion of an item in Tidbits does not signify an endorsement.
tidbits is intentionally concise, but I know a lot of people don't understand many of the items because little explanation is given. If a Tidbit brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and I'll answer as time, knowledge and inclination permit.
Visit the Tidbits page at www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm where you can subscribe to the rss feed, download the very useful Tidbits archive and grab back issues. All that welcome information for future issues can come to me at dean@topdotenterprises.com.
People can subscribe to Tidbits via e-mail: tttt-join@topdotenterprises.com (make sure to get all 4 t's into the address!)