That’s right! We have two new shows coming to Living On The Edge Radio.
First at 8:00 PM Eastern, we have the Living On The Edge Radio Countdown, Modern Rock/Alternative edition. We follow that up at 9:00 PM Eastern with the Living On The Edge Radio Countdown, Mainstream rock edition. These two shows count down the top fifteen songs as ranked by Billboard. Finally, at 10:00 PM, Living On The Edge with Wil and Denise comes your way for two hours of rock and conversation. Won’t you join us
This is great news for those of you who work with telephones in the office. Also, for those of you who are seeking a job in call centers, this is a great step forward!
GW Micro and accessaphone™Make Office Phones Accessible to Blind and Visually Impaired
For people who are blind or have vision impairments , accessing a phone in a typical office can be a difficult challenge. Caller ID and other important pieces of information are presented visually on the LCD display of most phones. While the numbers and other buttons on a phone are easy for a blind or visually impaired person to push because they are tactile, the information on the LCD display has been impossible to access . . . until now.
GW Micro and Tenacity have joined together to make office phones accessible to blind and visually impaired people through the use of GW Micro’s Window-Eyes and Tenacity’s accessaphone. accessaphone provides audible caller ID information from the telephone as well as audible message waiting, alternative input methods to conduct call control including intuitive keyboard hot keys (i.e. Alt A to Answer, Alt H to Hold and Alt C to Conference, etc.), a call log, the option to keep notes about the call, and much more.
“While accessaphone does include built-in text-to-speech, some users may select the option to silence accessaphone and enjoy the added benefits of using Window-Eyes.” said Dustin Armstrong, Director of Operations of Tenacity . “GW Micro has been a force in making various technologies accessible to blind consumers,” said Dan Weirich, GW Micro’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We are very excited to work with Tenacity to help continue to make the workplace even more accessible.”
For pricing and more information on accessaphone (www.accessaphone.com <http://www.accessaphone.com/> ), contact sales@accessaphone.com. Blind and visually impaired consumers who want to use accessaphone will need the latest version of Window-Eyes (www.gwmicro.com). After installing Window-Eyes, a free Window-Eyes script must be downloaded from GW Micro’s Script Central that allows Window-Eyes to work with accessaphone located at www.gwmicro.com/Scripts/Accessaphone. For pricing and more information on Window-Eyes, please contact GW Micro at (260) 489-3671, or via email at sales@gwmicro.com. <mailto:sales@gwmicro.com>
MegaDots 2.4 is out the door. Read the below information from Duxbury Systems.
News Flash: Introducing MegaDots 2.4
All the advantages of MegaDots 2.3, with so much more:
- MegaDots 2.4 supports the 2007 BANA Braille Codes Update 2007.
- MegaDots 2.4 has improved support for running on Microsoft Windows Vista
and Windows 7.
- The MegaDots installer now gives you a chance to say that your machine
does
not support using MegaDots in full screen, to make it easier for sighted
users to
run MegaDots in a window. MegaDots 2.4 also works in a window on a
number
of non-standard platforms where the MS-DOS full screen is not
available, such as remote desktop and emulated Windows.
- MegaDots 2.4 has been developed with Nimpro to import NIMAS files.
- MegaDots 2.4 contains Embossit 3.0, which offers more choices of embossing
through Windows, and handles interpoint/single sided output.
- MegaDots 2.4 offers support for brailling on some previously unsupported
embossers, such as the Tiger embossers from View Plus and the Index 4×4 PRO.
- MegaDots 2.4 contains a revised MegaPrn to drive print or braille output
through Windows. The revised program remembers your default choices for
both inkprint and braille printing.
- MegaDots has improved support for producing brailler graphics on some
embossers.
- MegaDots 2.4 has many improvements in its Nemeth Code translator.
- Dozens of other improvements.
Details are posted on the Duxbury Systems website
http://www.duxburysystems.com/news.asp
In an effort to cut down on unnecessary printing, Duxbury Systems is no
longer shipping
the Command Summary in inkprint and braille with the product. You can
produce your
own copies. See
http://www.duxburysystems.com/documentation/megadots/index.htm
Serotek has a deal through April 30 where you get $200.00 off System Access. Pretty damn good reason to switch, if you ask me! You can read all about it at http://serotalk.com/2009/04/15/200-reasons-not-to-purchase-an-sma/
I have been a member of the NLS pilot program since July 2008 after I got my ictor Reader Stream. We had a limit of 30 downloads in a 30 day period, but the proogram is at an end as of April 30, 2009. for those of you who have memberships, read the following.
To all users of the NLS download pilot service:
The pilot phase of the NLS downloadable audiobooks and magazines service will end April 28, 2009. It will be replaced by the permanent service Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD), which you will be able to access at a new web site, https://nlsbard.loc.gov, beginning Thursday, April 30, 2009.
Users who know their passwords will be able to log on to the new site; users who rely on their browsers to remember their passwords will need new ones (follow instructions in Section II). All user accounts will be migrated to the new system, so you do not need to reapply. All materials previously downloaded will remain usable, so you will not need to redownload your reading material.
This message describes what’s new about BARD and explains what steps must be taken to access the new site. Please read the entire message carefully.
Section I. What’s new about BARD:
1. Unlimited downloading. The BARD service will no longer limit the number of books and magazines that you may download. Any account holder may download any item at any time. During heavy demand, however, NLS may limit the number of simultaneous downloads for each account.
2. New logon page. The site login will now use a form rather than a dialog box. It is the same type of logon found on most internet pages and should be immediately familiar to users of other sites. This is an important note for screen-reader users.
3. New search functionality. BARD searches will yield more effective results. The use of multiple search terms will return only results containing all of the terms.
4. New “Most Popular Books” list. By selecting the “Most Popular Book” link from the home page, users may access a list of the top twenty most downloaded books on the BARD service in the last ninety days. Fiction and nonfiction titles will be listed separately.
5. Redesigned magazine section. The “Recently Added Magazines” link will now display links to only the most recent issue of each magazine. Magazines older than one year may be accessed from each title’s magazine archive. Links to the archive are at the bottom of each magazine’s page.
Section II. Take the following steps to access the new site:
1. You must know your login ID and password to log on to the new site. For all users, your login ID is your e-mail address.
2. If you know your login ID and password, you will not need to do anything. Simply access the new site, https://nlsbard.loc.gov, starting Thursday, April 30.
3. If you have forgotten your password, you must obtain a new one before you can log on to the new site. Since the new site has a different address from the pilot site, you cannot rely on your web browser to automatically log in to BARD.
4. If you do not know your password but you are able to automatically log on to the pilot site because your browser knows your password, you must choose a new password. To do so, select the link “Update My Settings” from the site home page. From the settings page, select the first link, “Change Your Password.” Enter your new password twice, and then select the “Change Password” button. Remember this new password to access BARD.
5. If you cannot log on to the site because you do not know your password, you may have a new one sent to you. Access the password recovery page at https://www.nlstalkingbooks.org/cgi-bin/public/dtbscripts_v2/recoverpw.cgi. Enter your e-mail address and then select the “Send Me a New Password” button. A new temporary password will be generated and sent to your e-mail address. Once you retrieve the password, log on to the site and choose your new password. Remember this new password to access BARD.
6. If for some reason you are not able to use any of these options, please send a request for a new password to NLSDownload@loc.gov. Because of the anticipated large number of requests, please expect your new password within two business days.
The last day of availability of the pilot site will be Tuesday, April 28. The service will not be available at all on Wednesday, April 29, to allow user accounts to be migrated to the new site, which will be available on Thursday, April 30.
NLS appreciates all who have participated in the pilot test. Your feedback has allowed us to continuously improve the site and to plan future expansions, such as the inclusion of braille books. Though the pilot phase is ending, we remain open to your feedback about the BARD service. Please send your comments to NLSDownload@loc.gov. Send questions or requests about the book and magazine collection to your library.
I’ve received the letter from Freedom Scientific regarding this blog. The textt is below.
CERTIFIED MAIL-RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
March 17, 2009
Mr. William James (name and address)
Re: Resignation Agreement
Dear Mr. James:
As a reminder, you have a continuuing obligation to abide by your Resignation Agreement
dated May 29, 2008.One of the obligations is to refrain from making any written or
oral statement or taking any actions, directly or indirectly, which is disparaging
or negative concerning Freedom Scientific, its products, and its employees. A copy
of the agreement is attached for your information.
In particular, your March 12th posting on your blog, was disparaging to Freedom Scientific.
You will need to remove these disparaging remarks and any others on your blog or
other communications. Please be aware that the Company will take immediate legal
action if you do not remove these disparaging remarks by March 27th. If you have
any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Roy Rafalco
General Counsel
I have edited the text contained in the post referenced in the letter, and will be combing the blog and taking down any disparaging remarks by the posted date within the letter. If you want to see the pretty stationery Freedom Scientific uses, you can see it in Denise’s post entitled “Certified Lettter Received From Freedom Scientific.”
This post has been edited on 03/19/2009 due to the request made by Freedom Scientific’s Chief Finnancial Officer, Roy D. Rafalco. A certified letter was sent to me by Freedom Scientific citing I should remove or edit any disparaging remarks.
Update 1 to JAWS 10 has been released today. Not much in the way of new items has been added. here. Take a look at what’s new with this release.
it looks like the cat is out of the bag. StreetTalk VIP will be released midyear 2009. Not only is it rebranded, it will cost you $900 more. You also must have your PAC Mate upgraded to Omni, which is another chunk of change. If you are a StreetTalk 1.0 user, it will cost you $699 to upgrade. The going price for a new user is $+1,499.00. I do find this interesting that a press release was not issued on the front page, as I had to dig through the PAC Mate Headquarters link, then StreetTalk VIP. Here is the link.
After previous attempts of getting StreetTalk 2.0 out the door for the last two years, it looks like Freedom Scientific decided to scrap their relationship with Destinator Technologies and go with the leader, Sendero Group. Supposedly, FS and Destinator were trying to rewrite the StreetTalk application from the ground up by relying on code from Destinator. Now that at least 3 years have passed since StreetTalk was released, and no upgrades, FS went where they should have gone all along, with Sendero Group. A press release is supposed to be forthcoming today, but being the information leaked on Friday, it may or may not show up. The source I got this from had to yank it down,, but thanks to Google caches, the word is out!
This product is getting better and better as the releases come along. Read the information below about Mobile Geo 1.5!
Mobile Geo V1.5
Mobile Geo can now be controlled by voice: V1.5 is available as a free update for V1.0 users
Support for Microsoft Voice Command, implementation of a pedometer, significant improvement in POI functionality, and updated maps and POIs
Terrassa (Barcelona), Spain, March 4, 2008
Code Factory and Sendero Group are happy to announce the release of Mobile Geo version 1.5. This is a free update for users of version 1, which was released just last September. In the tradition of Sendero and Code Factory product development, the feedback from Geo users has been quickly incorporated into version 1.5 to include support for Microsoft Voice Command, new setting to define the maximum speed to announce approaching intersections, pedometer function to keep track of the traveled distance, new map and POI data, and many new ways to work with those points of interest. It makes most sense to hear about the points of interest in your direction of travel, something unique to Mobile Geo and the latest Sendero GPS products.
The portability and convenience of GPS in your Windows Mobile device is unparalleled, especially given the latest Geo features. Also unique to Geo are the vibration alerts. The automatic lookaround capabilities of Geo far outstrip other GPS phones, not to mention the Explore mode of Mobile Geo based on 9 years of Sendero GPS and talking map development.
If you don’t already have a Windows Mobile phone, it is well worth obtaining one in order to have the many benefits of Code Factory’s Mobile Geo accessible GPS.
For a comprehensive list of changes from version 1 to version 1.5, go to http://www.codefactory.es/additional_docs/en/MG/MG_changes_V1.0toV1.5.html.
To obtain a 30-day trial version of Geo for any of 20 countries, go to http://www.codefactory.es/additional_docs/en/MG/MG_get_a_trial.html.
If you are an existing user, we encourage you to update to V1.5 free-of-charge. To learn more visit http://www.codefactory.es/additional_docs/en/MG/MG_upgrade_1.0_to_1.5.html.
More links of interest:
• We invite you to listen to an audio review of Mobile Geo V1.0 recorded by one of our beta testers, Cory Martin: http://www.codefactory.es/additional_docs/en/Mobile%20GEO%20Review%20Final%20Release%20Version%202.mp3
• Read the Mobile Geo launch press release at http://www.codefactory.es/en/press.asp?id=60&y=2008&n=47.
• Find your closest distributor at http://codefactory.es/en/purchase.asp?id=54.
• Mobile Geo is compatible with all the supported devices of Mobile Speak Pocket and Mobile Speak Smartphone: http://codefactory.es/en/products.asp?id=258.
About Code Factory
http://www.codefactory.es
Code Factory is the leading provider of screen readers, screen magnifiers, and Braille interfaces for the widest range of mainstream mobile devices. Our mission is to break down barriers to the accessibility of mobile technology for the blind and visually impaired. Making accessibility means not just simple opportunity but also flexibility and affordability!
Our accessible solutions are used in more than 50 countries and 30 languages. Among Code Factory’s customers are well known organizations for the blind such as ONCE, and carriers such as AT&T, Bouygues Telecom, SFR, and Vodafone. We’ve also built strong partnerships with mainstream companies like HP, Microsoft, and Nokia as well as leading AT companies like Baum, HumanWare, Optelec and Sendero.
About Sendero Group
http://www.senderogroup.com
Sendero Group – the GPS company – is the Developer of the first accessible GPS and talking map software. GPS products “Powered by Sendero” software provide access to detailed street and business location information. The blind traveler can now be a co-pilot, not just a passive passenger in a car. He or she can keep the taxi driver honest, enjoy hearing about the sites and businesses being passed and know independently when to get off the bus. Students can also chart custom routes across campus or hikers can do the same in the woods.
Sendero staff, most of whom are visually impaired, know from personal and professional experience that orientation and mobility skills and tools for blind folks are key to the enjoyment and success in all walks of life. Sendero is first and foremost “the GPS company” as well as distributing other innovative adaptive technology.
For more information, feel free to contact Code Factory S.L.:
Code Factory, S.L., Rambla d’Egara 148 2-2, 08221 Terrassa (Barcelona)
info@codefactory.es, www.codefactory.es
Code Factory, S.L. – 2009