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Hims has released a free update to the BrailleSense line of notetakers with a variety of improvements and changes. Version 8.5 includes an automatic book downloader for titles from the NLS BARD service. In addition, users can now search for text in files globally, and read many file formats in the new document reader. Email set-up is now been streamlined, with automatic account configuration for Google, Yahoo, iCloud, and other providers. A new web radio database includes thousands of Internet radio stations for immediate listening. YouTube videos can now be downloaded. In the calculator, UEB is now supported, and additional conversions are included, such as between binary and decimal.
You can download the latest updates directly from the unit, or from the Hims Resource Center page. The complete release notes are below, and also available in Microsoft Word format.

The American Printing House for the Blind has once again partnered with Orbit Research to make a mainstream calculator accessible. The Orion TI-30XS MultiView Talking Scientific Calculator takes many of its cues from the TI-84 Plus, an accessible graphing calculator released in 2013. A small attachment makes this scientific model, also from Texas Instruments, accessible by adding voice prompts and a review mode among other features. You can order it now from APH for $399 plus shipping. We've included more information from APH's September newsletter below.

The first version of Firefox for iOS has been released to parts of the world, and it includes accessibility features from the start. According to a post on Marco's Accessibility Blog, all of the options and settings pages in the browser are accessible with VoiceOver. In addition, audio cues can be played when a page starts or finishes loading, similar to sounds you might hear in NVDA. Apple's App Store requirements mean that Firefox will use the Safari engine for displaying web content, so many features, and also some Safari bugs, will also exist here. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to install Firefox would be to sync your bookmarks and history across devices, including Windows, Mac, and Android. The new browser is rolling out slowly and currently available in Australia, Austria, and New Zealand. Expect it in more countries soon. If you're able to download and try out the browser, let us know your impressions in the comments.

Our first resource post on Windows 10 debuted shortly after the initial launch of the new operating system one month ago.
With 75 million devices now running Windows 10, and Windows Insider builds back on the fast ring for the bleeding edge crazy testers,
Microsoft is ramping up the hype machine for the launch of Office 2016. That release might garner its own fanfare, however, we thought we would revisit Windows 10 with another list of informative links and resources. We've broken out the topics again for those who want to just drill down to the "How To" section. Enjoy!

Apple has posted an accessibility overview page for its new TVOS, the software powering the new Apple TV and many of the standard accessibility features are included as expected. For new users, press the Menu button three times to activate VoiceOver. Many of the same gestures including flicks, taps, and the rotor are included. While the Zoom magnification feature is enabled, users can double click the Siri button to speak the focused content and magnify text up to 15X. Bold text, increased contrast, and reduced motion are also included, features standard on other Apple products. While closed captions are specifically noted, there is no mention of audio description on the accessibility page, though it certainly may be available under settings or in specific apps. The accessibility shortcut (pressing the Menu button 3 times) can be enabled to toggle VoiceOver, Zoom, captions, or other accessibility features though like on other Apple devices, the shortcut isn't enabled by default. Here's a link to the TVOS accessibility page.

Amidst the flurry of announcements from Apple today, a new program is being launched which lets users upgrade to the latest iPhone every year. But with a little bit of effort, there's likely a better deal to be had. Apple will sell you the latest iPhone starting at $32 a month, which includes AppleCare+, a $64.50 annual value. So assuming you want the AppleCare+, that's $334.50 a year for your phone. So, what's the alternative?

If you purchased your iPhone 6 16GB for $649, you can sell it now before the new models hit. many of the trade-in programs will let you lock in a price now and send in the phone once you get your new one. Amazon is currently offering up to $414.27 for this model. assuming your phone is in good shape and you get this amount, that's a net cost of $234.73. This particular example pays you in the form of Amazon credit which you may or may not want, but other services offer similar value, often in cash.

You can up your game further by selling your iPhone through eBay, Craigslist, or our own classifieds, where current models are still commanding $500 to $600. Apple's new program is based in part on convenience, and you'll want to determine if the extra $100 or more cost is justified given your budget and priorities.

Update: The original version of this article did not take into account the new increased prices for AppleCare+, which is now $129 for the 6S and 6S Plus.

Apple announced a major update for its Apple TV hardware at its keynote earlier today, and Siri's Voice Search is a cornerstone of its design. Borrowing a concept from set-top boxes such as TiVo, Apple's Universal Search will find your favorite movies or TV shows across Netflix, Hulu, iTunes, HBO, and other sources. Siri is activated using a button on the new Bluetooth remote, which features both a touch interface and physical buttons for volume, play, and other functions. As expected, the New Apple TV will include VoiceOver support, as confirmed by iMore's Rene Ritchie. The new Apple TV starts at $149 with 32GB of storage and will be available in late October.

After being down for over a week the National Library Service's BARD website and mobile apps are back online. The outage started shortly after regularly scheduled maintenance to the James Madison Building caused several systems including BARD to go offline over a week ago. During this time, patrons were unable to download books or magazines using the website or the iPhone or Android apps. The site was online briefly after the maintenance but then experienced the longer outage.

The National Library Service's BARD website, app, and associated services remain down and won't be back up until late Tuesday at the earliest, according to an informational Email sent to patrons. The BARD service, which provides book and magazine downloads via its website and mobile apps, was disabled after regularly scheduled maintenance at the James Madison Building in Washington, DC resulted in an equipment failure. The outage also means that magazines and other materials that are normally sent to patrons on cartridges are also delayed, as these are loaded using the BARD service. Here's one sample message from South Carolina.

Voice Dream Reader is the latest popular app to make the jump to Android. Version 1 was recently posted to Google Play for the same $9.99 price and offers an accessible way to read a variety of formats including .PDF, .HTML, and unencrypted EPUB files. Like its iOS counterpart, features are designed to benefit both those with no vision as well as sighted users, with a variety of visual and auditory functions to customize reading. Direct BookShare integration is also included. Due to the nature of Android, any built-in voice can be used for reading, though premium voices will still be available which offer word by word highlighting. The author includes some additional notes on future plans for the app which we've included below. Thanks to Jerry for the tip.

The National Library Service's BARD application is continuing a prolonged outage, caused by network infrastructure at the Library of Congress. This is preventing users from downloading books or searching content on the online service. According to the website FCW, the outage occurred after an equipment failure after a regularly scheduled maintenance on August 29 in the library's James Madison building. Other services, such as the copyright registration system are also currently inoperable.
Below is a sample short Email sent out by one of the state cooperating libraries. Thanks to Bryan Smart for the tip.

The Sendero Group has released version 2 of its Seeing Eye GPS app for the iPhone. This version adds the ability to save user points of interest, similar to the feature on its other products for the BrailleNote and other note takers. Also, a version of the program will soon be available in Australia. It's available now from the iTunes App Store. Check below for the list of changes in this version.

If you'd like to provide feedback on rehabilitation services in the United Kingdom, the RNIB would like to hear from you. The organization is conducting phone interviews as a part of the Early intervention and rehabilitation project which seeks to improve the support provided to blind people in the UK. Participants will be given a 10 pounds shopping voucher for participating in a phone interview. Check the link on this post for more info or to fill out the survey.

HumanWare has evolved its Prodigi magnification system by combining it with an Android tablet. The Prodigi Connect 12 includes magnification up to 40x, speech output on documents and menus, and optional distance viewing. The 12-inch included tablet also functions as an Android device, which includes access to Google Play apps and services. The new Prodigi retails for $2,695, with a $300 cost for the distance viewing add-on. We've linked to the product page from this post.

Some ambitious blind gamers spend hours finding tools and workarounds to play the most popular mainstream titles. One of the latest surrounds the popular game World of Warcraft, and a new website has been created to offer tips, macros, and tutorials for players who wish to try out the game without sight. The page is in its infancy but promises to include information for users to play any class in the game. Check the link on this post to learn more and follow the progress of the site.

TuneIn, the mobile app primarily known for its streaming radio and podcast features, has added a premium tier which includes a variety of content. Users can pay $7.99 a month to access 40,000 audiobooks on-demand, including many recently-released titles. MLB Radio broadcasts and commercial-free music channels are also included. A free 30-day trial is available. The TuneIn Radio app is available for both iOS and Android, though users report some accessibility issues with the latest Android version.

It's over 6 months away, but the time is now if you wanted to present on a topic at next year's CSUN conference. Topic submissions are now being accepted for the 31st Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, which will be held March 21-26, 2016 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Presentations will once again be 40 minutes in length, and presenters will need to register for the conference. We've linked to more information from this post. The deadline for submissions is September 25.

Earlier this year, we heard about a new personal assistant service called Magic which works entirely via text messages. It can be used for everything from arranging deliveries to solving complex situations where you just don't have time to personally attend to every matter.
In their own words, "We have trained operators standing by 24/7 to answer every one of your requests." What exactly can Magic do? "Anything you want. As long as it's not illegal. Seriously. Just try it."
At Blind Bargains, we're always excited for new services that promise to make our lives easier. But we need your help in deciding a good test case for Magic. That's where you come in. In the comments, let us know what we should have Magic do. Perhaps you just want some sushi on your doorstep. Perhaps you need someone to come over and mow your lawn. Or maybe there's something access-specific that Magic could help with. We're clearly less creative than you tonight, so leave your best ideas in the comments. Who knows, we may act on your request.
To sign up for yourself, text the word hello to 83489. For now, you'll be put on a waiting list as the service expands to let in more users. We'll report back soon with our results.

Accessible Apps has released a major free update to its Chicken Nugget Twitter client for Windows. Version 3.0, which is perhaps the biggest update ever, includes support for Twitter's new direct message limits, which now allow users to send messages up to 10,000 characters in length. Among the long list of additional features is support for scheduling tweets using the Buffer service, per-user sound packs, and support for muting individual users. The complete list of changes is below.

If you had trouble receiving a reliable data connection while at one of the recent NFB conventions, network jamming may be the reason. Smart City LLC, the company which provides wireless Internet services to several convention centers including the Orange County Convention Center, has admitted to interfering with wireless networks to block signals from cell phone providers. Visitors instead were presented the option of paying nearly $80 a day for Internet access, often more than the cost of an entire month of 4G service from a cellular provider. Smart City has been fined $750,000 and has claimed to cease the use of their blocking technology.

According to the FCC order .PDF, "Smart City (i) admits that it prevented certain Wi-Fi users at these locations from establishing or maintaining a Wi-Fi network independent of Smart City’s network, (ii) will implement a compliance plan under which it commits to not engage in Wi-Fi blocking, and (iii) agrees to pay a $750,000 civil penalty."