All Deals

Over at our sister site, ATGuys.com cut the price on the Mobile Speak Pocket screen reader to $295. That's a $200 drop and the lowest price we could find. This screen reader works with many Pocket PC phones such as the HTC Tilt and XV6800. Update: the price has fallen to $265.50 through July 31.

Serotek is offering a huge prize package to one lucky person who fills out a short survey on accessibility products. The winner of the Summer Sizzle contest will receive, among other items, a complete System Access screen reading package, an Asus EEE ultraportable PC, a copy of Mobile Speak (any version), and a Victor Reader Stream. The survey is only one page and is quite simple. Contest ends September 1.

An EBay seller has posted a working Braille Lite 2000 with a current bid of $66. With about $12 for shipping, it's one of the best recent deals we've seen on this popular vintage notetaker. Auction ends May 27.

The accessible GPS market is getting even more crowded with the announcement of a beta program for Code Factory's Mobile Geo. This forthcoming software will run on Windows Mobile and Pocket PC smart phones and is based on the features of the Sendero GPS. Code factory is currently looking for beta testers, and we've linked to the details. Update: the link has been fixed.

Normally, we wouldn't waste space for a mention of a minor revision of a product, but revision 29 of Keysoft 7.5 for the BrailleNote family of PDAs is certainly worth a mention. Humanware has quietly rolled out support for the much faster and current 802.11G wireless protocol, with included drivers for a couple of different wireless cards. Other minor bug fixes are also included. The update is free for users of Keysoft 7.5.

If you're looking for a phone compatible with Mobile Speak or Talks but don't wish to shell out hundreds of dollars, try the Nokia 3230 in stock at CellHut.com Using coupon code NK323, the price falls to $149.98 with free shipping. It's an older discontinued model but still comes with a 1.3 megapixel camera and bluetooth. Combined with screen reading software, it's an inexpensive way to read and send text messages or browse your call log, among other features. Deal ends May 23.

The GW Micro blog points us to an upcoming resource for the pending Window-Eyes 7.0 called Script Central. It's a website with dozens of scripts which could enhance the next version of the popular screen reader. Scripts range from enhancements for Winamp to a weather applet. You can actually browse the page now, but the scripts will be pretty useless until the public beta is released.

ILA has posted several new items to their specials page. Among them is the Ove Glove Hot Surface Handler, a kitchen glove which can withstand very high temperatures, a Seiko braille watch, several magnification aids, and a big-button phone. Deals end May 31.

The popular software review site AccessWatch and owner Jamie Pauls have released a new tutorial covering the basics of Nero 8 with JAWS or Window-Eyes. Topics include burning both audio and data CDs, copying CDs, and obtaining help. The cost for the over one hour tutorial is $9.95, payable via Paypal.

Freedom Scientific has returned their popular open plan, where owners of HumanWare notetakers can upgrade to a PAC Mate Omni for half the cost of a new unit. This brings the prices down to $995 for the basic unit, for example. Owners of BrailleNote MPower, PK, or classic units have until October 31 to opt for the plan, and the units must be returned in working condition.

Our classic notetaker category on the Auction Gateway currently lists several Blazie models, all for great prices. A Type n Speak and Braille n Speak are both listed with starting bids of $80 while a Braille Lite has a starting bid of around $10. All auctions end May 7 or May 8.

Independent Living Aids offers free shipping and handling for purchases of $50 or more with coupon code "FREE05". It's one of the few such coupons we've seen from this site, which sells primarily blindness and low-vision products. The coupon is only good when placing orders online. Deal ends April 30.

An EBay seller has the Tiger Pro interpoint braille embosser with a starting bid of $6,000. Or, BuyItNow for $7,000. That's a substantial amount off the $10,000 list price. This embosser is only barely used and comes with original documentation and cables. Auction ends May 4 if not sold sooner.

BlindMiceMart.com has the XL-440 Talking Scale for $49.95 plus about $8 for shipping. That's $25 off retail for this 440-pound capacity unit. It also weighs in kilograms.

In an effort to help you find what you're looking for more quickly, we've introduced several new categories. If you're looking for a place to keep your files, try the hard drives, memory cards, and flash drives categories under storage. Our computers/hardware category now includes sections for desktops, laptops, portable devices, peripherals, and printers and embossers. There's a special cell phone category under phones. And finally, the useful websites and links we often post will now fall in our new resources category. You can view posts by category by selecting the browse link from the menu at the top of any page.

When I was a kid, I remember the thrill of receiving various braille sports cards. These cards featured the player's name and a vignet of information in braille in addition to the regular picture and info in print. While new cards are no longer made, many EBay sellers sell the ones from years past which you can view in our braille sports cards category on the Auction Gateway. While a blind child today may not recognize all of the names, they'll certainly still be thrilled to receive some of these as gifts.

Mobile Speak and Mobile Speak Smartphone are available at our sister site, ATGuys.com, for $249. Plus, delivery is free. This is Code Factory's popular software for Symbian phones like the Nokia N82 and 6682 and Windows Mobile Smartphones like the Motorola Q. Deal ends April 30.

An EBay seller has listed a working Braille Blazer embosser with a current bid of $9.95 plus shipping. This single-sided embosser was tested and is advertised as working. Auction ends April 11.

Though no products have been released yet, the promises by upstart software company Beacon Sys, Inc. are certainly intriguing. Among them is a bill identifier using the phone's camera which they say will cost in the tens of dollars. It would certainly be the cheapest such software program available for phones. A bar code reader and navigation software for transit systems are also on the horizon. We'll report more as products are released.

IndependentLiving.com has a new Alva 570 Satellite Pro 70-cell Braille Display for $6,700. With about $85 for shipping, that's about $3,300 off list. This braille display works with your computer's screen reader and comes with a carrying case and warranty from Alva. Only one unit is available at this price.