Top Tech Tidbits - Volume 199
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 March, 2009 issue AccessWorld contains a review of the Trekker Breeze GPS system, reviews of lower-cost screen readers, an interview with Amy Ruell, a review of the accessibility of Facebook, and more.
http://www.afb.org/accessworld

2) you can listen to a demonstration and
review of the Marvelsoft Digital Jukebox, a media player probably aimed at people without a screen reader or with limited use of it, here:
http://www.accessible-devices.com/TalkingJukeBox.mp3

3) SeroTalk Tech Chat 7 focuses on Cell Phone Models, Features and Third Party Software, and the site gives good links to sources for further information
http://serotalk.com/2009/03/06/serotalk-tech-chat-7-on-cell-phone-models-features-and-third-party-software/

4) In a different presentation, SeroTalk Podcast 9 Discusses Cell Phone Screen Readers and Software also.
http://serotalk.com/2009/03/06/serotalk-podcast-9-discusses-cell-phone-screen-readers-and-software/

5) Fred's Head tells us about two games: Niels Bauer Games has released Smugglers 4, a Windows turn-based science fiction space trading game. You can download a demo and get more information at
http://www.nielsbauergames.com/
And this article concerns Miriani: Online Adventure Game for the Blind
http://www.fredshead.info/2009/03/miriani-online-adventure-game-for-blind.html

6) David Bales has written another useful free guide, this one, a jaws guide for windows explorer on vista, and it includes a detailed description of advanced search techniques. Although it is written specifically for Jaws, nearly all of it is applicable to other screen readers. It is available at:
http://tinyurl.com/cp3cdr

7) Here is a Fred's Head posting listing many Disability-Related World Wide Web Sites
http://www.fredshead.info/2005/09/disability-related-world-wide-web.html

8) The reviewer at Gizmo's Best Ever Freeware has updated the choice for Best Free Backup Program
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/RYjE8lplV-w/best-free-backup-program

9) the same site offers us a post on 200 Free Outstanding Online Classes, along with links to universities that offer free online class material.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/ve-WQuS_Mw0/200-free-outstanding-online-classes.htm

10) And speaking of free stuff, Fred's Head tells us about Accessible Freebie Finder Websites
http://www.fredshead.info/2007/01/accessible-freebie-finder-website.html

11) A recent post to the NFB Access Technology Blog reviewed the Plextalk PTP1 Pocket recorder-player.
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=419&SnID=1332588961

12) This post discusses the Consumer Electronics Show and accessibility endeavors there.
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=416&SnID=1332588961

13) Apple has Released iTunes 8.1 With Accessibility Enhancements. Feedback I've seen mentions the accessibility enhancements apply to use with Voiceover.
http://www.lioncourt.com/2009/03/11/apple-releases-itunes-81-with-accessibility-enhancements/

14) Independent Living Aids is marketing a service called Voice on the Go, which lets you listen to and send e-mails, send SMS messages, and manage contacts and calendar from any phone for $5.95 per month.
http://ila.voiceonthego.com <http://app.streamsend.com/c/3199932/4151/UydoSzQ/IpjF?redirect_to=http%3A%2F%2Fila.voiceonthego.com

15) Jamal Mazrui has updated his chm2txt package, which takes Windows compressed help files and turns them into structured text documents, to version 1.1, using a more powerful converter.
http://EmpowermentZone.com/chm2txt.zip

16) The new Victor Reader Stream Companion software will be discussed by Don Barrett and Gerry Chevalier of Humanware, on TekTalk, GMT Tuesday, 17 March at 0:00.
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

17) The latest edition of the subscription-based Infotech audio magazine, January-February, 2009, contains reviews of the Plextalk Pocket recorder and the KNFB Mobile Reader as well as news from T and T Consultancy.
http://www.tandt-consultancy.com/pages/downloads.php

18) a New Zealand software company, Accomplish Ltd , has created an accessible accounting software package called CashManager. It has been specially modified to enable efficient use by the blind and visually impaired.
http://www.netguide.co.nz/20090216895/sightless-accounting.php

19) Cathy Ann Murtha announces the release of her new textbook, Outlook 2007 with JAWS for Windows 10.
http://www.blindtraining.com/catalog/

20) Verizon wireless customers now have a fairly affordable accessibility option in the form of Talks for Verizon Wireless, a $249 package with a version of Talks software that works on the Moto Q9C phone.
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-12-2009/0004987528&EDATE=

21) Nuance has announced Talks version 4.0 for second and third-edition Symbian phones, features SIM centered licensing, a new DAISY player, speech usable during calls on many phones, and more. this is a Word document describing the upgrade.
http://talknav.com/downloads/3rd%20Edition%20Handsets/TALKS%204_00%20Release%20Notification.DOC

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