Blind Bargains

Blind Bargains Qast 50: The Golden Bowl


Joe is back from traveling, however, J.J. is not. Never to worry though, thanks to our Audio Master Patrick, you will hear J.J. from the creature comforts of a hotel room from an undisclosed location -- that isn't ATIA 2016. No really, it isn't. This week's show was recorded before that event. So the news this week is kind of light. We do have a product review, "Sound Off" and "Last Word" on tap. Plus a quick tip.

In the News:

Windows 10 is now a recommended update

A screen reader's guide to the Windows 10 taskbar

Accessibility Update for Windows 10 Mail

Use a screen reader to work with Mail and Calendar for Windows 10

Microsoft Shuffles Staffers in Renewed Accessibility Push -

Braille Displays, the good, the bad and the ugly

A Modern History of Assistive Technology for the Blind

Pixar's New App Gives the Blind a New Way to Experience Movies

Product Review: Nomad Pod Pro

Jenine Stanley is back to tell us about an accessory that might just come in handy for those Apple Watch owners who need a recharge on the go. The Nomad Pod Pro is a USB-enabled charger that can charge an iPhone 6, or later, and Apple Watches. The small battery looks like a hockey puck and it can give your Apple Watch a boost when you drape it alongside the device. The battery is estimated to give an Apple Watch two charges. meaning, if you charged your watch at home before you left, you might be able to go 3 days before needing to charge both the watch and this battery again. To learn more about this unit visit the Nomad site.

Tip: That Theme is Classic

It's 2016, but sometimes changing your Windows theme can still help in screen reading or magnification performance. Joe explains in this weeks' tip.

Sound Off:

Several people commented on the "CAPTCHA Be Gone" service from Accessible Apps,
however, this comment came in from MattFromFlorida and his thoughts posted on our show notes page for episode 49.

"Well, you can use web visume with Firefox if you use the older version of it like version 42 and then set it to never update and just use it for captures only! The other thing is to use Rumola and it is very good and the key is to just use the book mark feature and then you can use it with any browser with an internet connection. This includes IE! So now that I have Rumola for IE by using the bookmark I really have no reason to use Firefox! It is not expensive to use Rumola! I got like 50 or either a 100credits/ captures solving for only 99 cents and they are good for a whole year! So this is not expensive at all! So Just had to throw in my two cents worth on this! "

We speculated just a bit about the Freedom Scientific/Optelec deal in episode 48. Kevin writes in with a very important distinction about the company that is responsible for the merger of these two Assistive Technology giants.

"Gentlemen. One of your guests repeatedly referred to the company purchasing Freedome Scientific as a venture capital firm. This is quite wrong. It is, a private equity firm. A private equity firm is what, for some reason, we now call a leveraged buyout firm. The two types of companies could hardly be more different. Suffice it to say, that if a private equity firm buys a company you are dealing with you would be well adivsed to make new arrangements. They are interested solely in making a return on the money they invested and rarely care about long term plans or effects. You have been warned. Kevin Barry"

thanks for that Kevin, and it does frame that story in a whole new light!

"Last Word"

Why Women Like Deep Voices and Men Prefer High Ones
A floppy disk could hold up to TWO seconds of CD-quality audio

We had a really cool interview with Marty Schultz of Blindfold Games in episode 49 and our contest to win a free iOS game from said company is going on right now. To enter, go to [this contest page]((https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Vc7ZV-BloTWXAnBrWpUT0jhkTFAVA41iDqIH6WE_i2I/viewform) and fill out the form.

Next week, if all goes well, Jamie Pauls and Shelly Brizbin will stop by to tell us all about their time in Florida and ATIA 2016. And if things don't go well, um, we'll think of something... not sure what that is but everyone will find out in episode 51 of the Blind Bargains Qast.

Listen to the File


File size: 56.1MB
Length: 55:18

Check out our audio index for more exclusive content
Blind Bargains Audio RSS Feed

This content is the property of Blind Bargains and may not be redistributed without permission. If you wish to link to this content, please do not link to the audio files directly.

Category: Shows

No one has commented on this post.

You must be logged in to post comments.

Username or Email:
Password:
Keep me logged in on this computer

Or Forgot username or password?
Register for free

Joe Steinkamp is no stranger to the world of technology, having been a user of video magnification and blindness related electronic devices since 1979. Joe has worked in radio, retail management and Vocational Rehabilitation for blind and low vision individuals in Texas. He has been writing about the A.T. Industry for 15 years and podcasting about it for almost a decade.


Copyright 2006-2024, A T Guys, LLC.