Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, September 11, 2014 - Volume 474
The Week's News in Access Technology

A Flying Blind, LLC Publication
http://www.flying-blind.com/

This Week's Featured Advertisement: One Gently Used BrailleNote Apex 32 Cell Note Taker with QWERTY Style Keyboard for $2,395.00 USD

Flying Blind, LLC is pleased to offer one fortunate user a gently used BrailleNote Apex 32 Cell Notetaker with QWERTY Style Keyboard for $2,395.00 USD. This unit has been used for approximately four months and is begging to be used a whole lot more by one lucky recipient in the market for a notetaker line that has withstood the test of time! This unit is in fantastic condition, providing you with a $3,150.00 USD savings off of this unit's suggested list price. The BrailleNote family of products has been setting standards for intuitive, powerful, and portable information management for the past 14 years. This sleek and robust solution provides endless possibilities and opportunities for that one person wishing to give it a good home and benefit from its countless uses! Free shipping within the 48 Continental United States. This is a single unit that will be sold on a first come, first serve, basis. To be the first to secure this unit, please use the Buy Now link below. For additional questions, or to purchase this product offline, email featured@flying-blind.com or call +1 (216) 381-8107 today.

Buy Now - One Barely Used BrailleNote Apex 32 Cell Note Taker with QWERTY Style Keyboard for $2,395.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=R9QHSYA4JHRPC

Greetings,

1A) Much of the news this week pertains to things that are coming, but not yet available. If you would like to read about the coming iOS8 release, the new iPhone 6 and 6 plus, both of which are to come to North America next week, and the Apple Watch, which comes down the road, you can read this blog post:
http://applevis.com/blog/apple-carriers-ios-iphone-news/recap-and-opinions-apples-fall-2014-announcements

1B) Or listen to this podcast:
http://applevis.com/podcast/episodes/summary-apple%E2%80%99s-iphone-6-and-apple-watch-launch-event

2A) Meanwhile, if you want to hear what's coming soon in JAWS Version 16, four podcasts are waitng for you. FSCast 94 gives an overview:
http://www2.freedomscientific.com/FSCast/episodes/fscast094-JAWS_16_New_Editions.asp

2B) FSCast 95 talks about Command Search:
http://www2.freedomscientific.com/FSCast/episodes/fscast095-JAWS_16_Command_Search.asp

2C) FSCast 96 talks about the greatly-enhanced ability to read inaccessible PDF documents:
http://www2.freedomscientific.com/FSCast/episodes/fscast096-JAWS_16_Reads_Inaccessible_PDF.asp

2D) And FSCast 97 talks about more features:
http://www.freedomscientific.com/About/FSCast

3) While I (Dean Martineau) was in the middle of writing Tidbit Number 2 above, the JAWS 16 public beta became available for anybody running JAWS 15 to test; others can test it too in demo mode:
http://www2.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/jaws-public-beta.asp

4) Moving on to material and features fully available now, NVDA version 2014.3 has now been released, with particular benefit for users of Microsoft Office:
http://www.nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2014-3-now-available/

5) The GPS App BlindSquare can now be integrated with the free App Transit to provide bus route information. This podcast demonstrates how:
https://audioboo.fm/boos/2446432-blindsquare-s-transit-app-integration

6) In case you aren't sure about how Twitter chats work, this older post explains them:
http://www.olivero.us/blog/2012/09/19/what-are-twitter-chats-a-fireside-conversation-with-myself/

7) Last week, we gave information about some podcasts on Windows Phone 8.1, but the links did not work. This one should:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/buf2h2cc02ynyco/wppodcasts.zip

8) The Freshbooks accounting programs work well and are accessible under both iOS and Android:
http://www.freshbooks.com/

9) "The HTG Guide to Portable Bluetooth Speakers" might be worth a read given that this is a definite growth area for products:
http://www.howtogeek.com/196125/the-htg-guide-to-portable-bluetooth-speakers/

10) Speaking of such devices, this one might be handy for mostly voice listening, and the price is good:
http://www.podfeet.com/blog/2014/09/23-roker-sound-cube-portable-bluetooth-speaker-by-donald-burr/

11) Learn about the long-promised Vario Ultra Braille devices from Baum on Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 16 September at 00:00:
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

12) The next webinar from HIMS will be entitled "Ones and Tablets by Combining with Assistive Technology," and will take place on Tuesday, 16 September at 19:00 GMT. Register here beforehand:
http://hims-inc.com/webinar-registration/

13) Students in some schools can get Microsoft Office 365 for free:
http://bit.ly/1qMF6l3

14) Here is one user's account of finding alternatives to Google services:
http://lioncourt.com/google-free

15) Here are a wealth of podcasts from TechShare Europe thanks to Insight Radio from RNIB:
http://www.insightradio.co.uk/podcast-feed.html?category=special_features/techshare_europe_conference_2014

16) Learn "How To Use The Bookmark Bar On The iPad And iPhone"
http://myapplegadgets.com/ipad/use-bookmark-bar-ipad-iphone/

17) Does Mac speech using VoiceOver respond more slowly to keystrokes than speech on other platforms? This download link to a demonstration makes the case:
http://goo.gl/aS2hYX

18) From RNIB comes one researcher's answer to the question: "How are digital technologies affecting learning?"
http://www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-family-friends-and-carers-insight-magazine-insight-features/how-are

19) Learn about "Working As a Research Oceanographer" on Eyes on Success #1437:
http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/

SUBSCRIBE: Do you, a friend, or colleague wish to receive Flying Blind, LLC Publications? If so, please use or pass along our CAPTCHA-free sign-up link, which is: https://toptechtidbits.com/subscribe. You can also subscribe to Flying Blind, LLC Publications on the Flying Blind, LLC Website at: http://www.flying-blind.com. Either of these methods will provide you with an accessibly friendly and secure medium through which you can subscribe to our mailing list. Just enter your name and email address, click send, and begin receiving Flying Blind, LLC Publications. It's that easy.

FACEBOOK: Are you on Facebook? Stop by and "Like" Flying Blind, LLC to begin receiving Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday as part of your Facebook News Feed: http://www.facebook.com/flyingblindllc.

YOUTUBE: If audio / video is more your style, then you can follow Flying Blind, LLC on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/flyingblindllc.

RSS FEED: If you prefer an RSS Feed, you can access Flying Blind, LLC Publications as they become available using: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/rss.xml.

ONLINE STORE: Shopping for accessible technology? Check out the Flying Blind, LLC Online Store at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/store.html. All products offered in the Flying Blind, LLC Online Store are products that Larry L. Lewis, Jr. either personally uses, or publicly endorses. Flying Blind, LLC is proud to offer free shipping & handling on all orders over $100.00 USD within the 48 continental United States.

QUESTIONS: Tidbits is intentionally concise, and we know a lot of people may not understand some items because little explanation is given. If a particular Tidbit brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and we will try to answer as time and knowledge permit.

ARCHIVE: Visit the 2014 Tidbits Archive at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/tidbits2014.html where you can grab back issues.

CONTENT: Any information for future issues of Top Tech Tidbits may be directed to our editor, Dean Martineau, at: dean@topdotenterprises.com.