Top Tech Tidbits - Volume 196
The Week's News in Access Technology

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

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.

1) The fourth Serotalk chat is entitled Labeling Our Belongings, and participants discuss barcode scanners and color identifiers among other items.
http://serotalk.com/2009/02/13/tech-chat-4-labeling-our-belongings/

2) Authors of the NFB Access Technology blog have published A Follow-up to their recent Comparison of Mobile Geo and Wayfinder Access
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=411&SnID=1332588961

3) I haven't mentioned Blind Cool Tech since August 21, 2008, but it remains a good source for audio tech training and information. Currently in progress are series unveiling the secrets of Windows 7 and on how to use the Mac with Voice Over. Another recent podcast demonstrated the Magic Jack, a popular way to hook a landline phone to the Internet.
http://www.blindcooltech.com/

4) Thanks to Blind Bargains, we discover that 7-128 Software has updated its list of 25 best gaming sites for the blind, and has similar lists for people with other conditions.
http://www.7128.com/top25/topsiteslists.html

5) Gw Micro brings us our first CSUN announcement of the year: They will be holding a free advanced scripting class. This class is for people with solid programming knowledge. Apparently some audio recordings will be made available afterward. If you might want to attend, e-mail
aaron@gwmicro.com

6) As we begin to prepare for the release of Windows 7 later this year, the operating system appears to have some advantages. this blog discusses several, and also gives some interesting information about the new OS with netbooks:
http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2009/01/12/the-bumper-list-of-windows-7-secrets.aspx

7) the National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science, during its meeting at the main organization's Detroit Convention in July, wants to develop a panel of blind network administrators and information technology technical support staff. Hence, they need to find some of those people to be on the panel. If you are one, please e-mail:
curtischong@earthlink.net

8) Anyone anywhere interested in talking about books is welcome to join the mailing list Accessible World Booktalk, or aw-booktalk. to jmoin, send a message with the word subscribe in the subject field to:
aw-booktalk-request@freelists.org

9) We learn via E-Access Bulletin that there is a Facebook Accessibility Application, a tool to make Facebook more accessible to the blind.
http://fastlink.headstar.com/pp2

10) There is, according to Fred's Head Companion, a more accessible interface for Twitter, the "free social networking and micro-blogging service."
http://www.accessibletwitter.com/

11) Speaking of Twitter, Jawter is a set of scripts for the JAWS Screen Reader that allow you to interact with Twitter, the insanely popular micro-blogging social networking site
- without the need for any external software. In essence, Jawter turns your screen reader into a Twitter client.
http://randylaptop.com/2009/02/08/jawter-2/
And there is a podcast on Blind Cool Tech concerning this script package you can listen to. Download it here:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/bct/bct1319Jawter.mp3

12) SeroTalk Podcast 8 consists of Tech News and the latest on HDTV and DVS
http://serotalk.com/2009/02/16/serotalk-podcast-8-with-tech-news-and-the-latest-on-hdtv-and-dvs/

13) In the Gw Micro blog, GW Micro Announces Support for Java Applications
http://www.gwmicro.com/blog/index.php/all/?title=gw-micro-announces-support-for-java-appl&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

14) NVDA version 0.6p3 has just been released, with multiple changes and some new features, and it can be downloaded from
http://wwwwww.nvda-project.org/wiki/Download

15) "Distance Learning: How Accessible are Online Educational Tools" will be the next free EASI webinar, to take place Wednesday, 25 February at 19:00 GMT. Pre-registration required.
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm

16) A reviewer for Gizmo's Best-Ever Freeware has come up with recommendations for the best freeware download manager.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/eYtmQPPx_M4/best-free-download-manager.htm

17) As a reminder from last week, the upcoming Tek Talk will consist of answers to computer questions from listeners, or potential listeners. Send your computer questions in advance to
Boacosta@pacbell.net
The program will air at the usual time on GMT, Tuesday 24 February at 0100. The listening room has been renamed the Pat Price Tek Talk Room.
http://www.accessibleworld.org

18) Speaking of Tek Talk, they are always open to companies or persosn who want to make presentations on their technological services or products, or especially to unbiased tutorials, reviews or demonstrations of devices or software. Write to Robert Acosta:
boacosta@pacbell.net

19) Sendero GPS Group is giving discounts on upgrades and SMA's for a short time. If you upgrade you GPS system to the latest version by the end of February, or buy an SMA for two future upgrades, you can do so at half-price. If you do the same transaction in March, you get one-fourth off the usual price.
http://senderogroup.com/v50changes.htm

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