Software Deals, Sales, and News

Echolocation is being talked a lot about these days. There's a new book on how to teach yourself to echolocate, and now from Swiss researchers, there may be an app coming soon that would map out a room using echoes. The app would be able to map out a simple room to help orient the blind person. The technology could also locate a person within a room because everyone's echo is unique. This could make finding our friends or learning the layout of a room that much easier.

Apple announced today that it's adding new content to the apple TV. If you have an HBO Go account, which requires you to be subscribed to HBO, you can now watch content on your apple TV. They have also added ESPN content. In both cases, you need a cable or satellite subscription to access these new features. Note that some people are reporting that the sign-up screen for HBO Go is not accessible with VoiceOver. Let us know your findings in the comments.

Christopher Toth, maker of Hope the Accessible Pandora and Q-read, has added Chicken Nugget, an accessible PC twitter client to his website. The app is still in beta, but you can now download the beta from the website. You can also purchase an official copy of the app for $15.00.

On Friday, Microsoft released its new version of office for the iPhone and iOS devices.
The app is called Office Mobile for 365 Subscribers and as the title suggests,
the app is only for current 365 subscriber's.
There is a way to buy a one month's or year's subscription within the app or on Microsoft's site. Students can also get a special 4-year license for $79.99. According to a post on Apple Vis from Bryan Jones, the app is usable, but there are a number of accessibility issues.

We have known for quite some time that twitter was going to change it's API and potentially make many twitter clients no longer work. As of June 11th, Easy Chirp and the Qube no longer are working. Q-Continuum, the developer of Hope the accessible Pandora and Q-read has come out with a new twitter client called Chicken Nugget. This link will take you to a dropbox page where you can download the file. The app is still in beta.

AI Squared has announced that the newest version of Zoomtext, version 10.8, is now available. For all current users of Zoomtext 10, this is a free upgrade. Some of the changes include: improved reading support for Outlook 2010, great improvements in Excel 2007 and 2010, and better support of IE 8 and Firefox. Depending on your settings, the update may happen automatically or you can select update in the menu.

VOStarter, the first app to offer training on the VoiceOver screen-reader for iOS has just been released to the app store. Developed by Michael Doise, VO Starter offers tips and hints navigating various iOS elements such as buttons, text fields, tabs and more. It also allows one to practice interacting with these different controls. VO Starter is currently free for a limited time.

HumanWare has released the HumanWare Communicator, an app designed to allow a sighted person to comunicate to a deaf blind individual using an iOS device and a braille display. The deaf blind individual writes messages on the bluetooth braille display, and the sighted person is able to respond using the touch keyboard. All interaction appears both on
the deaf-blind person’s refreshable Braille display, as well as visually on the screen of the iOS device. The HumanWare Comunicator app costs $99.99, and is available now from the iTunes app store.

aisquared.com offers 10% savings during their Spring Sale. Use coupon code "SPRING" to get the deal either online or when you call 800-859-0270.

This code is good on anything they sell: there's ZoomText (new products and upgrades), the ZoomText Large-Print Keyboard, the two brand new ZoomText Camera packages, the i-loview handheld video magnifier and ZoomText Express. Deal ends April 30.

Q Software Solutions, the developers of the Hope Accessible Pandora Client, have just released QRead, a fully accessible E-reding program for Windows. QRead offers fast and efficient access to several popular e-book formats, allows for an unlimited number of bookmarks, and interfaces directly with all major screen-reading software. We'll be posting a review of this program in the coming days. QRead can be purchased at an introductory price of $20. Click on the link to get more information, or head on past the break for the full press-release.

Hims has released version 6.2 for their brailleSense and VoiceSense line of Notetakers. This version adds support for content from the national Library Service, the ability to read and write Spanish documents, and support for the optional “Sense Dictionary”. Version 6.2 is a free upgrade, and is available now from the link on this post. Thanks to Rich Cavallaro for the tip.

Humanware has released Keysoft version 9.2 for the BrailleNote Apex. This update adds the ability to convert PDF documents so they may be edited in KeyWord, and natively read in the Book Reader. This upgade also adds enhanced braille display support for the QT model, as well as improved file downloads. Version 9.2 counts as an SMA upgrade, and costs $129 for customers who do not curretnly have an SMA count.

We've obtained some literature on what appears to be some upcoming products from AI Squared. AI Squared appears destined for the mobile arena with ZoomReader, a $19.99 electronic reader and video magnifier for the iPhone 4 and 3GS and ZoomIt, a $4.99 product with just the video magnifier. The ZoomReader product also appears to possibly include some OCR
capabilities. The description from AI Squared is after the jump, though remember nothing has been released yet and things may change. Update: The ZoomIt app may not come to fruition, from the info we are receiving.

Freedom Scientific has released Jaws 12 to the public. New features implemented in jaws 12 include: a settings center, an alternative interface to the Microsoft Office ribbon, a text analyzer, automatic update notifications, and much more. For a full listing of new features and download links visit the link above for all the details on this major new release.

Nuance has released the first version of Talks for Windows Mobile phones, that's not sold through Verizon Wireless. This version runs on phones running Windows Mobile 6.0, 6.1 and 6.5 standard, and does not support touchscreen devices. We are unsure as to pricing and licensing information.

The Sendero Group has released their Sendero GPS LookAround iOS ap for $3.99. This app announces the current Heading, street, city,
cross street and nearest point of interest to your location. The ap is only compatible with the iPhone 4 and 3gs, and not with the iPod touch.

The first public beta of Jaws 12 has been released. Jaws users can download the beta version of this product and use authorization from jaws 11 until the full SMA upgrade is released later this year. Freedom Scientific recommends checking for updates weekly to insure users have the most up to date software. Features of this new release include: Jaws BrailleIn, contracted braille typing, Settings Center, Virtual Ribbon Menu, and more. visit the link above for more information on the Jaws 12 public Beta and all of its new features.

KNFB Reading Technology, Inc. has released version 6.4 of their KNFB Reader Mobile software. This latest release adds color recognition, glare detection, tilt feedback, the ability to export captured text to the notes application, and various bug fixes. This version is free for all existing KNFB Reader Mobile customers.

Nuance has rleased version 5 of their Talks screen-reading application for Symbian phones. Talks 5.0 adds support for touchscreen S60 5th edition phones, improved support for the calendar and email application, and improved audio handling. Talks 5.0 is a free upgrade to existing Talks 4 customers.

Blastbay Studios has released version 0.1 of the Blastbay Game Toolkit, software which allows you to design your own audio games. No prior knowledge of computer programming is required. The toolkit features a high-speed game engine, versatile scripting language based on C++, extensive documentation and examples and more. Pricing has not been anounced, though anyone is able to test and give feedback for this beta release.