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Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, March 15, 2018 - Volume 652

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 Smart Beetle 14 Cell Braille Display with Executive Products Carrying Case for $795.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

Photo of the Smart Beetle 14 Cell Braille Display for $795.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

Flying Blind, LLC is pleased to offer One Gently Used Smart Beetle 14 Cell Braille Display, manufactured by HIMS, for $795.00 USD, approximately 25% off if its suggested list price.

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Price includes shipping within the 48 continental United States. We have only one of these units available, and it will be sold on a first come, first serve, basis. To be the first to secure this unit, please use the Buy Now link or Add to Cart button below.

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Greetings,

1) Pay with Chip purports to be an app for Windows and Android that makes online shopping much easier for everybody:

https://www.paywithchip.com/

2A) Considerable improvement when browsing with the latest FireFox version and support for more Braille displays are among the most important features in NVDA version 2018.1:

https://www.nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2018-1-now-available-for-download/

2B) Meanwhile, members of the NVDA community are planning this year's online NVDACon, and are asking for presentation ideas, short and long:

https://nvda.groups.io/g/nvda/topic/nvdacon_calling_all_topics/13218771

3) The March 2018 issue of AccessWorld offers a review of the game 'A Hero's Call', a review of 'The New Edition of iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch', by Shelly Brisbin, a 700-page book, coverage of 'New Accessibility Support Options Courtesy of Google, Microsoft, and Be My Eyes', and an introduction to 'The UniDescription Project':

http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubnew.asp?DocID=aw1903toc

4) The popular Accessible NCAA Tournament Bracket is back, and groups can join so that their members can vie with one another to see whose predictions are most accurate:

https://www.terrillthompson.com/ncaa/

5A) The big CSUN conference happens next week. Web Axe gives us this CSUN 2018 Conference Preview:

http://www.webaxe.org/csun-2018-conference-preview/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

5B) You'll be able to watch the keynote address on YouTube, on GMT Wednesday, 21 March 2018 at 00:30:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAEJx4GlRPQ

5C) AIRA is offering free Explorer access to many places in San Diego, and non-Explorers can use the system with only the iOS app, no glasses. People can also check out their forthcoming new glasses:

https://medium.com/aira-io/coming-to-csun-e5a2229bd79b

5D) And you can download DAISY, HTML or ePUB versions of the CSUN Program Materials:

http://www.daisy.org/csun-2018-files

6) CATIS (Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Standards) certification will be available for technology trainers, and you can register for a webinar on the topic, as well as other developments in the Vision Studies program at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. You will have missed the first session; the second will be on March 28 2018 stateside:

https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4232437/CATIS-Webinar

7) Here is objective research on Firefox 58, Chrome 64 and NVDA 2017 compatibility:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/firefox-58-chrome-64-nvda-2017-compatibility-when-every-aparna-pasi/?published=t

8) The VisionAware Blog offers 'A Quick Look at the New Victor Reader Trek':

https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/a-quick-look-at-the-new-victor-reader-trek/12

9) Now you can enable 'Follow-up Mode' with Alexa so that if you have a series of questions, you can just ask them naturally:

https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/10/now-you-can-have-a-conversation-with-alexa-without-screaming-hey-alexa-for-every-request/amp/

10) On the other side of the personal assistant skirmish, Google Assistant is now available on the iPad:

https://www.blog.google/products/assistant/introducing-google-assistant-ipad/

11) There are four streams running constantly, through which you can listen to the outside world. The locations are Jamestown, NC, Far Rockaway, NY, London, UK and Tallinn, Estonia. And they are in a playlist (M3U):

http://www.andrelouis.com/outsides.m3u

12) Lens is a visual search engine. When you take a picture with your phone, Google will do an analysis and provide insights into what you're looking at. Now it's getting even better, and can store information from business cards as contacts, and even describe landmarks you've spotted. Now available for Android, with an iOS version to come soon:

https://coolblindtech.com/google-lens-describes-landmarks-creates-contacts-business-cards/

13) You are invited to join the private beta testing group of EyeSense, a new sight companion designed for the blind and low sighted. You can teach EyeSense faces or family and friends, and also any object you would like the app to identify. If you are an iphone user with iOS 11, you can request to join from this Private Beta Link:

http://bit.ly/2FnqgxJ

14) This video claims to offer 'Ten Simple Tricks to Search YouTube Like a Pro':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCddrLwH-fc&feature=youtu.be

15) 'The Accessible Digital Project' may be able to pay for reviews of audio described content. Check this page for information:

https://netflixproject.wordpress.com/join-our-team/

16A) In podcast developments, some experienced podcasters have joined forces for a monthly iCast:

https://iaccessibility.net/icast-1-introductions/

16B) Podcasts can be divided into sections for convenient navigation with some players. The Blind Side Podcast 377 discusses this and much more (MP3):

http://traffic.libsyn.com/theblindside/TheBlindSide77.mp3

16C) FSCast #151 shares what's coming up for JAWS in March 2018 and more (MP3):

http://podcast.freedomscientific.com/FSCast/episodes/FSCast151-March_2018_JAWS_Update,Jack_Mendez_from_the_Louisiana_Center_for_the_Blind.mp3

16D) We have Blind Bargains Qast 136, and then the Blind Bargains team will be off at CSUN bringing the conference to us at home through interviews:

https://blindbargains.com/bargains.php?m=18567

16E) Learn about experiencing art non-visually in Eyes on Success #1811:

http://eyesonsuccess.net

17) Comcast is providing audio described coverage of the Paralympics. More about that, and other accessibility enhancements, can be found at:

https://corporate.comcast.com/stories/comcast-launches-new-accessible-tv-features-ahead-of-2018-paralympics

18) And finally this week, The New York Times is lauching an audio book bestseller list:

https://the-digital-reader.com/2018/03/06/nytimes-launches-audiobook-best-seller-list/

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Flying Blind, LLC Classified Ads:

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1.) One Gently Used Smart Beetle 14 Cell Braille Display with Executive Products Carrying Case for $795.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

Price: $795.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $25% off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/2FTP57S.
Description: The Smart Beetle is a 14 Cell Braille display that brings the world to your fingertips by connecting to multiple devices with up to 5 simultaneous Bluetooth connections! It's the lightest, most portable Braille display available. Take it with you to school, to work, or on vacation and have reliable, Braille access ...

2.) One Responsibly Used Braille Edge 40 Cell Refreshable Braille Display With Executive Products Leather Case for $1,995.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

Price: $1,995.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $600.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/2FlJsQq.
Description: Not only does this tactile gem connect to a variety of mainstream devices, but you can also effortlessly take notes, read books, schedule appointments, and perform a variety of tasks using its onboard calculator as a standalone device. The Braille Edge offers you the best of both worlds at a most affordable price ...

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Flying Blind, LLC Online Store Highlights:

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1.) Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired 5 CD Set - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

Digital Download: $19.95. | 5 CD Set: 31.95 + Shipping
http://blindyoga.net/flying-blind
Flying Blind, LLC is pleased to marry its passion for physical, mental, and spiritual wellness with adaptive technology by partnering with BlindYoga.net, your source for Accessible Yoga Instruction for persons who are blind or vision impaired ...

2.) Welcome to OWAC! Operating Within A Cloud! 'OWAC: Where The Sky's The Limit!' - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

OWAC Onsite = $1,000.00 USD + Pre-approved travel expenses. | OWAC Remote = $500.00 USD
http://bit.ly/OWAC-HTML
The OWAC Professional Development Workshop marries decades of assistive technology know-how with the fast-paced expectations of a predominantly sighted world. Are you serving students ...

3.) 'iOS in the Classroom: A Guide for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, iOS 9 Edition' Authored By Larry L. Lewis, Jr., President, Flying Blind LLC, and Published by AFB Press - AFB Online Store

Paperback: $29.95 | Online: $17.95 | ePUB: $20.95 | Kindle: $20.95
http://bit.ly/iOS9-ITC-AFB-FBLLC
This book represents a 'must have' for any direct service provider working with vision impaired consumers who are using iOS technology within their educational or pre-vocational settings ...

4.) Silver Indoor Outdoor Talking Thermometer for $16.95 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

http://bit.ly/1HHaM7I
Indoor and outdoor temperature spoken at the touch of a button, Fahrenheit or Celsius, volume control and on/off switch. LCD visual display can show either indoor or outdoor temperature ...

5.) Large Print Address Book for $16.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

http://bit.ly/1Q1LZxC
Spiral bound book. Holds up to 500 address listings. Three address listings per page. Includes 20/20 pen. Durable covers with inside front and back pockets. Alphabetical tabs and ample room ...

6.) Smart Beetle 14 Cell Refreshable Braille Display with Executive Products Carrying Case for $995.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

http://bit.ly/1OHltXe
A Pocket-sized Power Pack That Fits Your Lifestyle and Your Budget! Ultra-Portable 14-Cell Braille Display with 5 Simultaneous Bluetooth Connections! Smart Beetle is a 14 Cell Braille ...

7.) Large Print Check Register for $8.75 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

http://bit.ly/1TmcA6r
Spiral bound register helps keep better control of check recording. Contains spaces for 14 entries per full page. Size: 5" x 9" ...

8.) Braille Edge 40 Braille Display with Executive Products Carrying Case for $2,495.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

http://bit.ly/1O5ircy
The most powerful and versatile Braille display, with the features of a basic Notetaker! Manage Your Daily Life! Braille EDGE 40 is not only a most reliable, high-performance refreshable Braille ...

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