The rift with Oculus Rift revealed - why Facebook needs a reality check

 


The "good" and "evil" sides of the tech world clashed this week, with the clean-shaven, youthful and extremely popular makers of the Oculus Rift VR headset agreeing to be purchased by the evil, goatee-bearded, dark forces of the hated Facebook mega-empire.
Many toys were thrown out of prams and as we see every week, there's always one joke everyone furiously types out and thinks they're the first with.

The future of facial recognition: big brother or our new best friend?

 

For better or worse facial recognition has become the technological elephant in the room. It's there, but nobody really likes to think about or talk about too much.
Despite the continued advancements of software and algorithms that would elicit gasps of awe in some of the other tech sectors, the ever-improving ability for machines to put a name to human faces is considered, in most cases, unwelcome.

HTC One (M8): all you need to know

 


  The dust from the announcement of the new HTC One is yet to settle, but even though there's still much more left to be said about HTC's new flagship, we're ready to offer you a curated set of must-read content. If you have even the slightest interest in this new beast of a smartphone, then you should definitely take a look at the articles listed below.

THE ESSENTIALS

HTC’s new flagship smartphone features a number of hardware and software improvements. For example, there's the much-talked-about “Duo” camera (it sports two cameras on its back). It also comes with a 5" display, ann upgraded processor and a more intense metal finish.

BlackBerry "Ontario" handset spotted on benchmark site, quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor in tow

A handset codenamed the BlackBerry "Ontario" was discovered at the Geekbench benchmark site. This could be the high-end device that CEO John Chen said that BlackBerry itself was developing for the U.S. market. The unannounced model is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor running at 2.15GHz. No released BlackBerry handset is powered by a quad-core CPU. The device also has 2GB of RAM and has BlackBerry 10.3.0.92 installed.

The beleaguered Canadian handset manufacturer has inked a deal with contract manufacturer Foxconn. The latter will design, manufacture, and warehouse low-end BlackBerry models over a period of five years. BlackBerry will provide the software for the new phones.

Early last month, Chen said that most of BlackBerry's new models would come with a physical QWERTY, something that has been linked to BlackBerry going back to its early days. The new high-end model is expected to feature a physical QWERTY, which should make most BlackBerry faithful happy. We could see this model appear in the second half of the year.

Firmware update for Nokia Lumia 1520 exterminates the bugs

The Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet is currently the highest spec'd phone in the Windows Phone universe. But that doesn't mean that issues can't pop up. Nokia is pushing out a firmware update for the device. The new version for the U.S. is 1028.3534.1347.2001. In Europe, the new version is 1028.3562.1402.00xx. The only item under the changelist is "General fixes and improvements (General performance and usability improvements)".

There are some with the device who believe that the Nokia Lumia 1520 is lacking in the video capture department. Perhaps this update will take care of any problems in that area which might be affecting the way videos are recorded on the handset.

32GB Asus VivoTab Note 8 priced at $329 from the online Microsoft Store

 

 

The Asus VivoTab Note 8 was introduced back at CES. The Wacom digitizer stylus makes this a great device for students and businessmen. That thought is confirmed by the inclusion of Microsoft Office Home and Student edition with the tablet.

The 8 inch screen on the Asus VivoTab Note 8 has a resolution of 1280 x 800, which works out to a rather low 189ppi pixel density. The Asus slate can scream that it has Intel inside. This is in the form of the Atom Z3740 processor. 2GB of RAM is on board, and there is 32GB of native storage available. A microSD slot can also be used to expand storage and the camera on back of the slate is 5MP. Windows 8.1 is pre-installed out of the box.

While in Vegas, Asus announced that the 32GB model would be priced at $299. At the Microsoft Store, the slab is being priced at $329, and there is no word about the 64GB variant. Shipping is free.

Two purported Galaxy S5 models appear on AnTuTu, with radically different specs

The SM-G900R4 US Cellular version of the Galaxy S5 has purportedly made an appearance in the AnTuTu benchmark database in a more or less retail version, seeing that a 1440x2560 pixels display is reported, alongside a 16 MP rear camera.

The processor, however, is the fastest 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 800, not the newest 805, which will be available to enter commercial devices in May or June of this year at the earliest, it seems. The rest of the specs include 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory, 2 MP front camera, and Android 4.4.2 on board.

Another version - SM-G900H - appeared in the benchmark database as well, but this one is quite different, carrying a 1080x1920 pixels screen, and a 1.5 GHz octa-core Exynos 5422 processor plus Mali-T628 GPU. This model is rumored to be aimed at the European market predominantly. Besides the different processor and screen resolution, it also carries 2 GB of RAM, instead of 3 GB, and 16 GB of internal memory, instead of 32 GB, like the Quad HD S5. It still sports a 16 MP rear camera, 2 MP frontal, and Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

The upcoming Sony D6503 "Sirius" is more or less clear in terms of the specs upgrade it will receive in comparison to the Z1 - we are eventually getting a larger, 5.2″ display with thankfully an IPS panel, 3 GB of RAM instead of 2 GB  in the Z1, and the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat with a new Xperia Timescape interface, as well as a larger battery.

We also saw that the 20 MP camera will be capable of 4K video recording, in line with Sony's recent trend to do everything centered around the next video resolution craze. Now more screenshots have appeared from an engineering unit of the device, and they show some new camera modes are in place, too.

Double the battery life of your Xperia Z1 with the new Mugen Power case

Battery cases usually take a while to appear after a phone's introduction, and Mugen Power's new 3000 mAh wrapper for the Sony Xperia Z1 is no exception. The flagship was announced way back in September, but we will be getting Mugen's battery case on February 22nd, though you can place a preorder right now, for the healthy price of $89.50.

The phone's own battery has the same 3000 mAh capacity, so you can effectively double the arguably ho-hum endurance of your Z1, plus Mugen's product will serve as a protective case for it, so you shoot two birds with one pricey stone. 

LG G Pro 2 rumor round-up: here's what we know so far

About a year ago, LG presented its Optimus G Pro to the world – a phablet that found its way to a million pockets not long after its release. It was, without a doubt, a very capable smartphone built for those who didn't find a 5-inch screen large enough for their needs. Now, 12 months later, we're about to meet it's successor – the LG G Pro 2, which is going to be larger, faster, and better in so many ways. How do we know? Well, although the LG G Pro 2 has not been announced officially yet, plenty of rumors have already surfaced on the web, giving us a clearer picture as to what we should be expecting. 

How to put on a screen protector without applying bubbles or dust

Applying a screen protector to your phone or tablet correctly is not for the faint of heart, as the procedure seems to require more patience and steady hands than your average Japanese calligrapher or rice writer. The end result is also often unwieldy, with tilted corners, and bubbles, dust or debris trapped underneath your shiny new screen protector.

To ease the procedure's pains somewhat, alternative methods for putting on your protector exist, that simply involve some masking tape, and a lot less patience than usual, while the end result is much more bubble- and dust-free.

Granted, not everyone cares about screen protection in the days of Gorilla Glass 3, Asahi Dragontrail, or sapphire coatings, but even those are inevitably going to develop scratches - from the miniature to the more significant - which would diminish the resale value of a tablet or a phone. These devices are basically all-screen nowadays, and that's where you look at most of the time spent interacting with your mobile gear, so taking a bit of time to protect your expensive toy's display is utterly warranted. 

Fry's has the Moto G on Verizon prepaid for $89

American electronics retailer Fry's has a nice little deal on the Moto G. Until February 13 (Thursday), the Moto X's mini-me is up for sale at $89 on a Verizon prepaid contract. The offer, however, is limited to one phone per household.

On a regular sale, one will have to pay $10 more for the same offering. While you won't make a saving to truly boast with, that's ten bucks more at your disposal.

With this offer now available, Microsoft's $99 Lumia 520/521 deal from last week finds a compelling match from the Android competition. While the Lumia 520 is a superb budget phone, coupled with a generous one year of Xbox Live Music, the Moto G is, arguably, the more capable device of the two. It features a Snapdragon 400 quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, 4.5-inch 720p display, and a 5MP rear camera. This is all one needs to get the most of Google Play's vast catalog, bar the latest and most demanding games. 

Samsung Galaxy S5 rumor round-up: release date, price and specs

Now that 2014 is here, it looks like it's time to start thinking about the next-gen smartphones this year is bound to bring us. Well, if there's anything we feel certain about, that's the fact that Samsung is to release its new flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S5, in just a few months. It is rumored that the South Korean giant is going to be among the first companies in 2014 to unleash a new top-shelf smartphone, and we can't wait to see what it's really going to look like! Well, exactly what it's going to offer, and whether it will have something to truly wow us with... that we don't know, but there is already a good number of rumors, leaks and indications, all of which can be used to paint an almost believable image of the Galaxy S5.

We've already come across a number of leaks dealing with the Galaxy S5's release date, as well as some of its technical characteristics, such as its supposed screen size, CPU, camera and more.

Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors, Microsoft's new CEO, and the red Nexus 5: Weekly news round-up

 The day when we'll get to see the Samsung Galaxy S5 in the flesh is getting nearer and nearer. The phone could be announced later this month, for that matter, as invitations for an Unpacked event have already started to fly out. This upcoming event, however, isn't likely to be staged like a Broadway show. Instead, what we're expecting to witness is a short, low-key announcement. Rumor has it that multiple variants of the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be launched, and that the phone won't have any sci-fi-flick-inspired tech on it, so you can rule out those eye scanner speculations.

In other news, Microsoft announced its new CEO last week. After 14 years of leading the company, Steve Ballmer has been succeeded by Satya Nadella – former vice president of Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise group. "A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly," Satya stated. He has yet to unveil any specific strategic plans that could shape the company's future, however.

ZTE Nubia Z7 could be announced in March, possibly featuring a new UI

We’ve been hearing about a ZTE Nubia Z7 since January last year. Despite that, the only new high-end Nubia announced by ZTE since then is the Nubia Z5S. Still, the Z7 might be officially introduced soon.

According to Chinese website CNMO, ZTE intends to unveil the Nubia Z7 in March or April. The new device will be significantly larger than the 5-inch Z5S, allegedly sporting a 6.44-inch display of unknown resolution. So it is a phablet. Or maybe we should consider it a smartphone, since Sony dares to include its 6.44-inch Xperia Z Ultra in the smartphone category.

Classifications aside, CNMO reports that the Z7 could feature a new UI with a flat, minimalist design on top of Android 4.4 KitKat. An image allegedly showing the new UI’s notification center can be seen above (click to enlarge). The Chinese website assumes that the Z7 might look like the device seen in this image, but that may be just a reference design.

Rumor has it that the ZTE Nubia Z7 features a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM-8974AB processor, a rear camera with flash, and 128GB (not a typo!) of internal memory. We don't know if ZTE is planning to release the new device globally.

Hybrid carrier FreedomPop adds the Samsung Galaxy S II and a $5 unlimited talk and text plan

You might remember hybrid carrier FreedomPop, That's the company that uses a combination of Wi-Fi and Sprint's 3G/4G signal to offer low-priced data. Thanks to the use of Wi-Fi, it is offering an unlimited talk and text service for the ridiculously low price of $4.58 a month. The company also is continuing with its free service which means that you can get 200 voice minutes, 500 texts and 500MB of data each month for free.

The company also announced its highest quality smartphone to date, a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S II, for $169. While we do applaud the effort made by FreedomPop to keep prices low, we do have to shake our heads at a press release that announces that the carrier is  "giving customers access to the latest smartphones". The Samsung Galaxy S II is nearly three years old. But FreedomPop did add in its release that high-end LTE models are coming.

"With these new pricing plans we are declaring war on an industry that has for too long taken advantage of consumers and only widened the digital divide. We not only offer 12 months of comparable service for the price of 1 month, but all the billing complexity that frustrates users is gone. There is no need for an annual contract when the total annual cost is under $100."-Stephen Stokols, CEO, FreedomPop

WSJ: Nokia's first Android phone (Normandy / Nokia X) will be announced at MWC 2014

Sources “familiar with the matter” are telling the Wall Street Journal that Nokia plans to officially announced its very first Android-based smartphone later this month. More exactly, the Finnish company, which is about to be swallowed up by Microsoft (well, at least its phone division is), should show the Android handset at MWC 2014 in Barcelona.

Initially codenamed Normandy, the upcoming Android device could end up being called Nokia X. As previously reported, the Normandy / X should run a forked version of Android. According to the WSJ, the device won’t provide access to Google Play, and neither to other popular Google services. Instead, it’ll offer “a Nokia application store with Android apps”, plus services like Here Maps, Nokia Mix Radio and others. Feature-wise, we’re looking at an entry-level handset that supposedly has a 4-inch WVGA display, dual-core Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory, and MicroSD card support. The phone should have a dual SIM version, and multiple color options.

Bike2Power Bravo Case Review

 The majority of rugged styled cases for the iPhone on the market look so, you know, big and bulky – with no sense of style to liven things up. It’s unfortunate to say the least, especially when the it masks the beauty that’s attached to the prized smartphone. Someone has been listening intently to all the complaints! Although some of us aren’t too familiar with Bike2power, a company known to produce various bike related accessories, its Bravo case for the iPhone 5 is most notable for delivering that sense of style and premium to a rugged case.

This is simply beautiful! More beautiful than the majority of rugged cases out there, since it’s constructed from precision-machined aero-grade anodized aluminum. In fact, it pretty much matches the smartphone’s stunning brushed aluminum casing – while also maintaining a svelte body! Now it’s worth mentioning that it has an IP68 rating, which means that it’s waterproof in under 2 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. Even though it’s a sturdy case, we wouldn’t be too thrilled to see the aftermath of metal hitting pavement from tall heights – it just wouldn’t look pretty.

Join Me at the Adobe Learning Summit 2014

I have been involved in Elearning for some time now and am really excited to be speaking at the Adobe Learning Summit 2013 in Las Vegas, NV on October 21, 2013. I will be sharing the work that I have been doing with Adobe Presenter 9 in the graduate courses that I teach and how it has changed my perspective on how to deliver course content on the web. My topic for the session is: 

Understanding Learner Intervention & Collaboration in Post-secondary Education  Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D. & John Dorbolo, Ph.D.

With a shift to learning anytime and anywhere, it is important for instructors to be able to provide timely feedback to students and intervene to keep students on course and heading in the right direction. In this session, learn about the Adobe Presenter 9 workflow and how college instructors can provide timely feedback to students who are taking courses online, as well as strategies to engage students to collaborate in the eLearning process. Find out how students can engage with the content as they interact with one another right within the Adobe Presenter 9 eLearning module. Case studies and examples will be demonstrated as to how this can be accomplished.

Brian Friedlander
Professor of Education
College of St. Elizabeth

New in iOS 7: System Wide Large Type

Apple’s new mobile operating system is out for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iOS 7 includes many useful features for all users regardless of ability. One feature that can benefit people with visual impairments is system wide large font. With this feature enabled a user can select a larger font size for use in all compatible apps; the only caveat being that app developers must build in support for this feature. Once widely implemented by app developers this feature will make it easy to have the perfect text size in all your apps. Instead of selecting a preferred font size in each app users will be able to choose a font size once for all their compatible apps.

Amazon Improves Accessibility Features of Kindle Fire Tablets

Amazon's newly announced Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX include built in accessibility features. Historically, Amazon has been slow to make their Kindle products accessible. With the new accessible Kindle Fire and accessible Kindle app for iOS Amazon maybe turning a new page. That being said, Amazon still doesn't want to make their Kindle eReaders accessible and has requested an exemption from the FCC.

Timely Time Teller App Keeps You Timely

The Timely Time Teller app is a simple app for iOS that gives you repeating alerts at set intervals. When alerts are turned on Timely verbally tells you the time at set intervals. For example, Timely could alert you of the time every 15 minutes. I found this helpful when rushing to get ready for school in the morning, with Timely giving me updates on the time I don't have to worry loosing track of time. When the app says, "seven o'clock" I know I have to be eating breakfast if I don't want to be late.

Apple Announces October 22th Event Likely to Foucs on new iPads and More

Today Apple sent invitations to members of the media for an October 22th event. The event comes just weeks after the release of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. Rumors have suggested that the event will focus on an updated full sized iPad and an updated iPad mini. The full size iPad will likely feature a new design with smaller side bezels similar to the iPad mini's design. It is also possible that the new iPad models will include some of the new features found on Apple's latest iPhone possibly even the Touch ID finger print sensor. Of course all of this remains speculative until Apple officially confirms the details.

OS X Mavericks Includes Switch Control Similar To iOS 7

Apple's new and free Mac operating system called OS X Mavericks includes a new accessibility feature called Switch Control. Switch Control allows switch users to navigate and use their Macs. Switch Control allows switch users to interact and control their Macs. Switch users are users who are only able to activate a few large buttons and who don’t have the ability to interact with the complexities of a keyboard or mouse. For example, a quadriplegic may be able to activate switches mounted on their wheelchair with their head. Switches come in all different sizes and configurations but they give users who are unable to interact with the keyboard or mouse the ability to control their computers. It is exciting to see Apple continuing to improve OS X accessibility as well as iOS accessibility. Switch Control on the Mac is similar to other switch interfaces and very similar to Switch Control on iOS 7. Click here to read about Switch Control for iOS 7.

OS X Mavericks Enhanced Dictation

Apple's newly released and free OS X Mavericks includes a cool new feature called enhanced dictation. Dictation allows users to speak to their computer and have their words converted to text. Dictation can be beneficial to poor spellers and people with dyslexia. The new feature allows users to dictate without an internet connection by downloading the speech recognition engine onto their Mac. In previous versions of OS X users could dictate to their Macs, but an internet connection was required. With the new enhanced dictation words also appear as you speak instead of having to wait for your words to appear. Watch the above video to learn more. Click here to download Mavericks from the Mac App Store.

Apple's Announcements Impact on Accessibility

This week Apple announced a variety of new hardware and software products at media event. While Apple executives didn't devote stage time to accessibility announcements as they have in years past, the announcements still impact accessibility and assistive technology.

Mac

Apple previewed OS X Mavericks at their World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. This week Apple released the Mac operating system to the public and announced that it would be a free update. Like iOS 7, Mavericks includes some exciting accessibility improvements including enhanced dictation and Switch Control. Click to read more about each new feature.

Adobe Presenter 9- Using the Drag & Drop Feature

With the release of Adobe Presenter 9 comes the Drag and Drop feature which gives developers a way to create interactive drag and drop questions to a quiz. The Drag and Drop feature is intuitive and allows you to create a number of different types of questions that can include both text and pictures. In the Halloween example, I created a simple Drag and Drop quiz called the Candy Challenge that allows the user to match a picture of the candy bar with the name of the candy. In the screencast below you will see just how easy it is to create a Drag and Drop question in Adobe Presenter 9.

New in iOS 7 and Android KitKat: Customize Subtitles and Captioning

Both iOS 7 and Android KitKat include the ability to customize captions. Now both major mobile operating systems include the ability to customize movie and video subtitles system wide.. For iOS, the customization settings are under Settings > General > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning. From that menu you are able to change the appearance of subtitles of any video played through the default iOS video player. There are many options for customization including font, font size, font color, and background color. Android includes a similar feature that can also be accessed in the settings menu. These options are a welcome addition to mobile devices and can make subtitles much easier to see. It is great to see both Apple and Google improving accessibility on their mobile products.

Bookshare Offers Free Membership to Disabled Veterans Attending School

Bookshare recently announced that they will be providing free membership for disabled veterans who are currently attending a United States college or university. Bookshare also serves disabled civilian students and others with print disabilities by providing free downloadable accessible books. Veterans who qualify, but are not enrolled in school will have access to a 30 day free trial. After the trial veterans continue using Bookshare for a $50 yearly membership fee. Especially on Veterans Day it is great that veterans who are disabled will be able to access over 215,000 accessible books from the Bookshare library. Bookshare's press release says,

"Accessible books can break down reading barriers and open a new lifeline to reading to go back to school, learn a new vocation or read for pleasure."

Livescribe 3 Smartpen: Do More With Your Written Notes

By combining the ease of hand writing, the power and accessibility of Apple's iOS devices, and audio, the Livescribe 3 Smartpen is a powerful tool.  With the smartpen you can start writing on a pad of paper and see your handwriting appear on your iPad or iPhone almost instantly.

When taking notes It can record audio that is linked to your handwriting, allowing you to easily hear what was happening exactly when you were writing.  It can easily search through notebooks of handwritten pages to find the right note in an instant, and it allows you to share your notes with anyone without copying or scanning.

The Livescribe 3 Smartpen is not just a refinement of last year's Sky Wifi Smartpen. The Livescribe 3 Smartpen adds new functionality by pairing it with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. The Livescribe 3 is still capable of syncing handwriting and audio, but instead of recording the audio from a built in microphone, the recording happens on an iPhone or iPad paired to the pen with Bluetooth. With the pen connected to an iOS device using Bluetooth, features like handwriting recognition and cloud based storage options are handled by the iOS devices. Most of the pens functionality is handled with the free Livescribe+ app that seamlessly manages the Smartpen.

Read on to find out more about the Livescribe 3.

Hardware and Requirements

The Livescribe 3 is a sleek and streamlined device that is about the same size as some thicker standard pens. The pen twists open to reveal the ball point tip. No more forgetting to turn on your pen, it turns on automatically when the tip is out. At the bottom is a special camera that allows the pen to track its location on the page. At the top of the pen is a stylist tip. The stylist tip hides a micro-USB charging port. Speaking of charging, Livescribe claims the pen gets 14 hours of battery life. At the top there is also an indicator light that shows the status of the pen. The Livescribe 3 uses advanced Bluetooth to connect to the companion app. The pen only supports Apple devices because they have the widest compatibility with the new Bluetooth standard. Livescribe may support Android devices when advanced Bluetooth is more widely available. The pen is compatible with iPhone 4S and newer, iPad 3rd generation and newer, and iPod Touch 5th generation. The companion app requires iOS 7.

The Livescribe 3 requires a special dot paper that Livescribe sells on their website. Some may think of this a negative, but the Livescribe notebooks come in a variety of sizes and are competitively priced.

ClaroPDF App: PDF Text-To-Speech and Annotation (Giveaway)

ClaroPDF is an accessible PDF reader with many annotation options. The app uses text-to-speech to read any text based PDF. The app also includes numerous annotations options including highlighting, text boxes, underline, strikeout, shapes, and images. ClaroPDF includes a simple design that matches the interface of iOS 7. Unfortunately, there is no full screen option that hides all controls so you can better focus on your document. To start reading a PDF you can use the open-in feature of many other apps or import a document using Dropbox. Then you can use a number of high quality text-to-speech voices to read the document at up to 240 words per minute. It would be nice to see the maxim speaking rate increased to around 400 word per minutes for people who are able to understand high rates of speech. To start reading the document you can just tap on a word a press the play button.

Currently in version 1.2.6 there is a bug that causes layout issues with certain documents. The issue causes documents to not fill the entire screen.

Besides a great interface ClaroPDF includes a wide variety of annotation options. These annotations are easy to add and manage. ClaroPDF even includes the ability to add voice notes. One option that is not included is the ability to automatically add text notes to every blank in a document. This feature would significantly speed up the process of filling out forms.

ClaroPDF costs $0.99 and works on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Watch the video above to see ClaroPDF in action a click read more below to view screenshots of ClaroPDF in action. Click read more below for giveaway details.

Giveaway

RT & follow for a chance to win a promo code for ClaroPDF. iOS TTS app for PDFs. Terms apply. Check out my review http://t.co/6PJ7M1pegH
— Assistive Technology (@bdmtech) November 26, 2013

Retweet and follow the ClaroPDF below tweet  for a chance to win one of ten promo codes. Code expires on 12/24/13 and is redeemable only on the iTunes Store for the United Kingdom. Requires an iTunes account, subject to prior acceptance of license and usage terms. To open an account you must be above the age of 13 and in the United Kingdom. Compatible software and hardware, and internet access (fees may apply) required. Not for resale. Full terms apply; see www.apple.com/legal/itunes/ww/. For more information, see www.apple.com/support/.

Fantastical Makes Staying Organized Easy

Fantastical 2 is a well designed calender app for the iPhone. Many say Fantastical is the calendar app Apple should have made and I would agree. Just like the default calender app for the iPhone Fantastical is easy to use and syncs with all of your online calenders. But Fantastical includes some great features that makes scheduling, managing, and viewing your calender events easy. Thes are features that the default calender app does not include. Creating events is easy, you can type or speak in natural language to create an event. If you type "lunch with study group at 1 in library" the app will automatically fill the correct information into a new calender event.

Fantastical also includes a five day view that gives a great visual look at your week ahead. The month view also provides more visual information than the default calender app. Fantastical also integrates with Reminders and displays your Reminders along with your calender events. The app includes many features that allows users to customize the look and function of the app.

Fantastical's visual design  and easy event creation feature makes staying organized easy. Fantastical can help people with memory loss or executive functioning difficulty to stay organized. With Fantastical you only have to check one app to keep up with your calender and reminders.

Fantastical's latest update improved VoiceOver compatibility, but there remains some very minor VoiceOver issues. These issues make learning how to use the app slightly harder for VoiceOver users, but once familiar with the function of the app VoiceOver users should have no problem using the app. The developer has expressed that they take accessibility seriously which is great to hear.

Watch the above video to see Fantastical 2 in action and click read more below to view screenshots of the app. Fantastical 2 for iPhone costs $2.99 on the App Store.

Made for iPhone Hearing Aids to be Avalible in Early 2014

Apple announced Made for iPhone Hearing Aids along side iOS 6 now the first Made for iPhone Hearing Aids are set for release. Apple's partnership with GN ReSound helped to create the LiNX hearing aid. The LiNX connects directly to the iPhone using a special wireless technology. Unlike other hearing aids the LiNX does not use an intermediary device to communicate with the iPhone. Apple says the following about Made for iPhone Hearing Aids on their accessibility webpage.

"Apple is working with top manufacturers to introduce hearing aids designed specifically for iPhone. They’ll deliver a power-efficient, high-quality digital audio experience, and will allow you to manage your hearing aid right from your iPhone. Just look for the Made for iPhone label. Explore the FCC's hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) ratings of iPhone."

Use If This Then That (IFTTT) to Automate Simple Tasks

If This Then That (IFTTT) is a simple app for iPhone and Android that allows you to automate simple tasks. If you want to email every picture you take to your grandparents or tweet about every breaking news story IFTTT can do it for you automatically. The IFTTT app integrates with many other apps and services which allows it to help with a variety of  tasks. IFTTT can integrate with reminders, contacts, photos, messages, Twitter, Google Drive, Facebook, Blogger, Evernote, and many more services.

To start using the app you can choose from hundreds of pre-made recipes or make your own. A recipe could say " If I post a new post on Blogger, tweet its title and a link, "or  "when I arrive at school,text my mom" The app constantly checks your recipes and completes the action at the correct time. It reduces the need to do many monotonous tasks. It also bridges the gap between different web based services allowing you to spend more time using the services and less time managing your digital life.

IFTTT also integrates with certain connected home systems. Using IFTTT in concert with the WeMo connected home platform you can have your lights turn on automatically when you get close to home or turn off the TV when you are far from home.

Some of these recipes can be helpful for people with executive functioning difficulties. For example, the app can automatically check the weather, and if it is going to rain remind you to wear a jacket. The possibilities are almost endless because of the customization the app offers. The app can also complete actions based on your location. You can set up the app to call, email, or text message someone when you arrive or leave a certain location. This could be helpful for parents who need to makes sure their kid has arrived to school safely in the morning. For example, you could set your childs iPhone to email you everytime they arrive or leave school.

IFTTT has an iOS app and website both are free of charge. Click read more below to view screen shots of the IFTTT app in action.

PDF Expert 5: Well Designed PDF Management App with Text-to-Speech

PDF Expert 5 is a well designed PDF management app for the iPad. The app includes many useful features that allow you to read, edit, and annotate PDF documents easily. Unlike some other feature -rich apps, PDF Expert 5 does not feel cultured. The elegant design makes the app easy to use. PDF Expert is an assistive app because of its text-to-speech integration with the added benefit of extra features.

One caveat, while the app is good for non-disabled and dyslexic users, I would not recommend the app for VoiceOver users because of some VoiceOver problems I have found. Readdle, the maker of the app, should work on fixing these VoiceOver problems so blind and visually impaired can also benefit from the app. 

PDF files can be imported from numerous cloud storage services including Google Drive, Drop Box and SkyDrive or using the "open-in" feature of many other iOS apps. You can also view other file types, but the built in text-to-speech reader is only available for PDF documents. Files can be organized into folders or dragged and dropped into different sections.

PDF Expert's text-to-speech function works with any PDF with digital text. It does not work with PDF documents that have text within images. To read a compatible PDF, turn on text-to-speech in the reading mode menu and then press play. You can start reading at the middle or end of a page by highlighting a word and pressing "read from here." Text is read with the default iOS voice that many may recognize as the voice of Siri. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase additional higher quality voices. The app also requires you to re-enable text-to-speech every time you switch PDF documents. This is inconvenient if you switch are between PDF documents quickly.

Click read more below to continue reading about PDF Expert.

Viewing a PDF document is also a breeze. PDF Expert includes a quick scrolling mode and thumb nail view to allow you to easily navigate large PDFs. You can also change the background to sepia or night for easier viewing.

Aside from the text-to-speech features PDF Expert includes a number of editing and annotation features. Annotation options include highlighting, underlining, shapes, strike-through, stamps, signatures, and text. These annotation options are intuitive to use and you can easily can the color of highlights and other annotations. If you would like to add text to a PDF document you do not need to worry about overlapping any original text because the app automatically wraps your text so it will not overlap. Unfortunately, the app will not read your text annotations back to you using the built in reader, but you can always use the built in Speak Selection feature.  

PDF Expert also includes a review mode which allows you to edit and markup existing PDF documents. To learn more about this feature see the below video.

With PDF Expert's easy to use annotation and editing features and its built in text-to-speech reader PDF Reader is an ideal app for any iPad user who wants increase productivity. PDF Expert 5 is compatible with iPads running iOS 6 or higher and is available for $9.99 in the App Store.

Microsoft and GW Micro Team Up to Offer Window-Eyes Free to Office Users

GW Micro, the makers of the Window-Eyes screen reader, has teamed up with technology giant Microsoft to offer Windows-Eyes to Microsoft Office 2010 and newer users for free. Windows-Eyes can read elements on the screen aloud allowing the blind, low-vision, and print disabled to have full access to their Windows PC. Window-Eyes can also output on-screen content to a Braille display for users who prefer Braille. This new partnership will increase the affordability of Window-Eyes and allow more people to benefit from its features. Window-Eyes normally costs almost $900 while Microsoft Office costs far less. GW Micro and Microsoft believe this new partnership will allow millions of new users to access their computers using Window-Eyes. Rob Sinclair, Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer says the following about this new program,

"By partnering with GW Micro in this endeavor we are demonstrating Microsoft's onging commitment to provide all of our customers with the technology and tools to help each person be productive in both their work and personal lives."

Google Smart Contacts May Help Monitor Blood Sugar in the Future

Google is rapidly developing new wearable technologies. Google's first attempt at wearable technology, Google Glass, has attracted a lot of press attention, but is still not available on the mass market. They also cost $1,500. Google's next foray into wearable technology maybe less flashy and less expensive, but may have a greater assistive technology impact.

Google's smart contact will sit on the eye like conventional contacts, but do much more. Google's initial idea is to measure blood sugar in tears for diabetics with electronics integrated into the contact. Instead of drawing blood to monitor blood sugar Google's smart contact would analyze blood sugar within tears. This system would eliminate or reduce painful finger pricks and also allow for more frequent testing. A small LED light inside the contact would then illuminate different colors depending on the blood sugar reading.

While this technology is still in development the idea is very exciting. If smart contacts could benefit diabetics maybe Google can adapt them to benefit people with other disabilities or conditions. Could a contact detect sound and give a visual notification to a deaf user? Imagine this, a smart contact for the deaf senses volume of sound and direction and notifies the user. A loud sound off towards a user's right side would illuminate the right LED very brightly while a soft sound off towards a user's left would dimly illuminate the left LED. While Google has only confirmed smart contacts are in testing for blood sugar testing it is exciting to think about the possibilities five or ten years down the line. Hopefully smart contacts for blood sugar monitoring will reach the market sooner than later and will assist people with diabetes.

What's on my iPad? Assistive Apps I Use as a Dyslexic Student

As a dyslexic high school student my iPad, with a number of assistive apps, has become a very valuable tool. With my iPad I can read and fill out a PDF using text-to-speech, read a book with Voice Dream Reader, or map out my ideas with Inspiration Maps. The iPad mini is a perfect size for my needs allowing me to read sitting up, or reclining comfortably while listening to a book. Before I got the iPad I would either be tied to a computer to read using text-to-speech, or reading on the tiny screen of my iPhone. Here's a list of my favorite iPad apps and how I use them to help me both in and out of the classroom.

Voice Dream Reader - $9.99

Voice Dream Reader is a text-to-speech reading app that allows users to read a wide variety of files through the app. The app includes the ability to buy very high quality text-to-speech voices for use with the app. Voice Dream Reader allows you to highlight  important parts of a passage as you read along.. One of my favorite features is the ability to download and read Bookshare books from within the app. Currently  Voice Dream Reader does not support  Bookshare books with images, but hopefully will add that feature in the near future. In all Voice Dream Reader is a must have for anyone who prefers reading with text-to-speech.

Click here to read a full review of Voice Dream Reader.

Read2Go - $19.99

Read2Go is another app for reading Bookshare books. Bookshare provides accessible digital books to members. Using Read2Go users to keep their books at their finger tips all the time. The app has a choice of two text-to-speech voices. While Read2Go does not have as many features as Voice Dream Reader the support it has for books with images is a plus.

Click here to read more about Read2Go.

Tegware Bagel and Boogie Board Perfect Together!

I have been following the digital writing market for some time now and was intrigued when I learned about a new product from Tegware, called the Tegware Bagel, which marries an iPhone case with a small Boogie Board eWriter display, which was released at CES 2014. Having reviewed the original Boogie Board when it was released, I saw first-hand how liberating it was to use for jotting down notes and for doodling and have enjoyed using one ever since. In fact, I now keep a Boogie Board Jot 4.5  on my desk at work to write down reminders and telephone numbers instead of wasting paper. There is a certain beauty in the simplicity of technology when it is done right and in this regard, Tegware has found a sweet
spot for using Kent Display's eWriter technology to marry it to an iPhone case. At first glance one might say why would you need to have another display when you have a digital device

like an iPhone? That was my first reaction, but soon I realized that there are times when you just want to jot something down quickly when you are on the phone and having access to the Tegware Bagel is ideal for that.

The Tegware Bagel uses the pressure sensitive Boogie Board eWriter technology which gives you the smooth feel of writing on paper. The Tegware Bagel iPhone case is lightweight with a magnetic closure, has a good feel, and is made of high quality synthetic leather and is suited for the iPhone 5/5s and comes in a variety of colors to match your personal needs. The folio case comes with a stylus but in a pinch you could always use your finger. Once you jot something down you can quickly erase it by clicking on the erase button, which quickly refreshes the screen. The Tegware Bagel is powered by a non-replaceable built-in coin battery and has been rated for up to 50,000 erasures. If you have used the original Boogie Board then you will feel right at home using the Tegware Bagel. Writing or jotting down things feels really natural on the Tegware Bagel and is a really handy compliment to your iPhone. Short of being able to take the Tegaware Bagel out of the case to use in other venues, the product delivers a high quality writing experience for jotting things down when you are in a pinch.