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Top Tech Tidbits - Volume 310
The Week's News in Access Technology

Distributed by Flying Blind, LLC
http://www.flying-blind.com/

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Greetings,

1) Recent additions to the gizmo site include Best Free Email Client
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-email-client.htm
How to Fix Problems Using the Windows 7 Troubleshooting System Tool
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-fix-problems-using-windows-7-troubleshooting-system-tool.htm

2) the Google Chrome operating system is now available on the Chromebook, a tiny computer that gives access to Google's online apps. this computer and that system can be made to speak using the Speakit screen reader. More about it on Serotek Podcast 70, item 8 below. Learn about that program from this Fred's Head post:
http://www.fredshead.info/2011/06/google-chrome-talks-with-speakit.html

3)AppAdvice regularly gives suggestions for the best iPhone apps in different categories. They recently came out with a list of the best apps for the visually impaired. the list has some glaring omissions, but is interesting and would get a person off to a good start with apps.
http://appadvice.com/applists/show/apps-for-the-visually-impaired

4) Freedom Scientific will now be distributing the Plextalk Pocket, the DAISY player and recorder made in Japan, on which the Book Port Plus is based. they will charge $275 for the player until October 31.
http://www.freedomscientific.com/news/pressroom/2011/plextalk-pocket-announced.asp

5) Dar.fm, which stands for Digital audio Recorder, has garnered good reviews from one accessibility-conscious reviewer and one mainstream reviewer that I know of. It gives you 2GB of space to store recordings of any streaming service available. It's like TIVo for radio, letting you record anything available and play it back when you want.
http://dar.fm/

6) On the opposite side of the accessibility spectrum, I am unable to verify this from here in Costa Rica, but one user reports that the Netflix site is now inaccessible to blind users. No indication as to whether this is true when using all screen readers, but if it is true it is a backward step that might call for some feedback to the organization.
http://www.netflix.com/

7) Serotek Tech Chat 107 is entitled Video Game News and Reviews for Disabled Gamers
http://serotalk.com/2011/06/23/tech-chat-107-video-game-news-and-reviews-for-disabled-gamers-2/

8. SeroTalk Podcast 70: Sell a Kidney, provides the usual rage of news and views for the fortnight.
http://serotalk.com/2011/06/23/serotalk-podcast-70-sell-a-kidney/

For questions and comments regarding Tidbits, please e-mail Dean Martineau at dean@topdotenterprises.com. Dean Martineau provides adaptive technology training by phone, online, and in person, with flexible arrangements, and at affordable prices.

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