Serotek’s Accessible Digital Lifestyle is a hot topic and getting hotter. Here’s your chance to add some sizzle to your life by participating in our online survey and enrolling to win a complete digital lifestyle makeover. Here’s what you can win:
ASUS 8G 2 pound Netbook PC with 1 gigabyte of main memory and an 8 gigabyte hard drive fully
equipped for accessible, wireless, networking
A complete Serotek SAS package including System Access Mobile; four years of System Access Mobile
Network; and Neo Speech
The digital lifestyle makeover is worth more than $2,000 and all you have to do is answer a few really easy questions. What’s to lose? Maybe you’ll get hot and warm up your life with Serotek’s fully accessible
digital lifestyle.
Of course you don’t have to wait to win to get access and be accessible. You can start your makeover now. This summer we’re putting the fun in accessibility. If you’re one of the first 100 people to sign up for Serotek’s four-year software as a service (SAS) package, for only $24.95 per month, in addition to System Access Mobile for two computers; a four-year membership to the System Access Mobile Network, and Neo Speech, we’ll send you a Zen Stone MP3 player at no charge. Who says accessibility is all work?
user: jobhunter computer: Pentium 4 3Ghz HT
operating system: XP Pro SP2
screen reader: Jaws 6.2
rating: 4
comments: After hearing about all the problems that Jaws users have encountered when upgrading to AVG version 8.0, I decided to try and avoid those problems and installed Avast Home version 4.8 on my XP computer running Jaws 6.2. This version of Avast is free for non-commercial use. My experience so far with the program has been very positive.Installation was straight forward and learning to use the program has been very easy.
A tip gleaned from one of the blind tech mailing lists instructed users to open the program settings from the Avast icon on the system tray. From there, tab into the common settings and be sure that the “use skins” item is not checked. I would also recommend to tab into the “update basic” section and set the program update option to automatic. Other than that, I left all other options at the default settings.
The things I like about Avast:
1. The whole computer scan ran in 20 minutes instead of 1 hour for AVG.
2. Besides viruses, it is always scanning for rootkits and spyware which AVG only did with the full paid product.
3. It monitors all web pages for malicious activity, which AVG did not do.
4. It monitors all network traffic for network attacks and works in conjunction with your firewall software.
5. If you use IM clients or Peer-to-peer networks, it will protect you on both of these fronts. If you don’t use this, you can disable those services to save resources.
6. I noticed that after installing Avast, my computer boot up time is about 1 minute faster.
7. I have noticed that overall computer performance is better, which is a nice unexpected benefit.
And a few negatives:
1. Avast does not allow you to schedule a daily or weekly computer scan with the free Home version. This really isn’t a problem for me, since I had disabled this in AVG and ran the scan when I wanted it run. You will need to manually run the scan with Avast, which is very simple to do from the desktop icon.
2. You are required to register the Avast Home product or it will stop working 60 days after installation. This is a very simple process but does require sighted assistance if done through their web site. You can alternatively send an email to the support team stating that you are a blind user who needs to register and they will send you your registration code, which you will need to paste into the registration screen. The registration is good for 14 months, at which time you will need to re-register. Not a big sacrifice for free access to such a great program.
3. I did notice that downloading a large number of email messages in a single batch was about 20% slower than with AVG. If you only use web mail and not an email client such as Outlook or Thunderbird, then this will not affect you.
I have now installed Avast Home on all three of our home computers. I ran full scans of the computers after the installation and Avast found malware on one of the laptops that had gone undetected by AVG, Adaware and Spybot. That experience gave me the opportunity to see how easy it was to remove this problem from the computer.
I had been a happy user of AVG for the past seven years and it served me well. Their decision to design a new program interface that does not play well with screen readers is disappointing but not surprising. This has given me the opportunity to discover Avast Home, which I believe is a superior product to the AVG Free offering. I just hope that Avast continues to maintain a product interface that is screen reader friendly.
accesswatch review system custom -designed by Tyson Treasure
Welcome Beta testers. The Beta 4 build of AIM 6.8 is now available and ready for testing. We’ve heard your feedback and made some significant updates to this version.
Updates to this release include:
Notifying buddies of the plugins you have installed by posting them in your Buddy Updates, controlled from a new preference added to the Privacy tab in settings
Minor UI updates to the plugin “Top Picks” manager
Internet Explorer 7 support and AIM 6.8 software detection for AIM Gallery
Default AIM chrome color changed from “Love, AIM” to “Skinny Dip” black and blue chrome
A replace option for Load Buddy List
Also look for additional plugins now available: IM Freaqs, Haiku, AIM Stats and more. Click “Get More” at the bottom of your Buddy List window and click through “Most Downloaded” and “Most Recently Updated”.
Click the Download AIM 6.8 Beta button above to get started now. Thanks for testing; we look forward to your feedback!
Note: This particular release of AIM is in Beta so feature, functionality and user interface may change without notice. I have been using Beta 3 and 4 without any problems using JAWS 9 and am really enjoying AIM 6.8 Beta.
The topic for Main Menu to air on GMT Wednesday, 4 June will be downloading and listening to music on your computer http://www.acbradio.org
ean Martineau provides adaptive technology training by phone, online and in person, with flexible arrangements, and at affordable prices.
Feel free to forward individual Tidbits, or the entire tidbits issue, to interested people (but make sure they don’t already receive it; a lot do!) When doing this, please have the courtesy to cite your source, perhaps directing them to the tidbits web site (see below.)
tidbits is intentionally concise, but I know a lot of people don’t understand many of the items because little explanation is given. If a Tidbit brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and I’ll answer as time, knowledge and inclination permit.
Visit the Tidbits page at www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm where you can subscribe to the rss feed and grab back issues. All that welcome information for future issues can come to me at dean@topdotenterprises.com.
Few days ago I reported that SHAPE Services has resolved the N82 issue with the release of IM+ All-in-One Mobile Messenger 7.08. Now the 7.09 release of this application is available for download.
I am not sure of the changes that were made in this particular version, if anyone has a change log, it would be great if you can put it into the comment bopx where I will be able to include that information into the post.
S60 device portfolio is expanding with Samsung L870
S60 Summit, Barcelona, Spain – The two-day S60 Summit was opened today in Barcelona. The event highlights the largest contingent of mobile application developers in the event’s history including more than 60 exhibits featuring location, enterprise, social media and productivity solutions as well as the latest devices. This annual event is open to all members of the S60 ecosystem, such as S60 device manufacturers, operators, service providers, hardware technology providers, software developers, analysts, scientists and academics from all continents.
“S60 Summit offers the S60 stakeholders an opportunity to share and discuss the S60 future trends and business opportunities,” said Matti Vänskä, Vice President, Mobile Software Sales and Marketing, Nokia. “Today the collaboration with one of the key stakeholders, Samsung, is strengthened with the launch of the business style L870. This announcement increases the total count of announced S60 devices to 79,” he continues. S60 supports a wide selection of device segments from S60 device manufacturers. In the S60 Summit, Samsung presented their latest stylish S60 mobile, Samsung L870. Leveraging the capabilities of S60 platform, the device brings full connectivity and business application offering to the hands of the business professionals.
“We are happy to compliment our product portfolio with yet another appealing S60 mobile, Samsung L870 that is fully customized with style, performance and user interface,” says, Jongin Kim, Vice President of Mobile Communication Division of Samsung Electronics. “With S60, we can successfully deliver the latest mobile technology with fully customizable applications and intuitive user interfaces.”
In this event, S60 further demonstrated the extended capabilities announced in April at Web 2.0 in San Francisco. The evolution of S60 Web Run-Time offering allows creation of personal and context aware widgets with access to information and functionalities from the user’s mobile device. This enables the development of exciting new services and mash-ups by combining the power of the Web with the power of the S60 platform. S60 is also expanding its support for open source innovation through Open C++, bringing support for Standard Template Library and other popular platform-independent C++ libraries to the S60 platform. The implementation of these technologies was demonstrated by several companies at the S60 Summit expo.
Today, S60 also announced the opening of the Ambassador website. The S60 Ambassador program encourages and engages the early adopters consumer segment in discussion and sharing information on S60-based products, services and applications. Visit and register at the Ambassador website at www.ambassadors.s60.com For more information on S60 Summit, visit www.S60.com/S60Summit08
The Accessible World News Wire, Indianapolis, Indiana USA
“HumanWare is proud to present the most recent GPS Orientation tool: Trekker Breeze! This new, all-in one device , easy and simple tool will assist you in your daily travel, providing automatically most valuable information such as Where you are, What’s around and Where to go next. The Breeze will allow you to record your favorite landmarks and routes, in the easiest manor. Only nine buttons to give you all the security you need to enjoy outdoor travel in confidence. This device is small, smart and it’s operation is yet so simple!
Come and join the Accessible World online world wide audience to learn more and see how the Breeze has simplified GPS for your convenience FROM Sam Adler, Market Development Manager for HumanWare.
Phone: 888-723-7273 Web: http://www.humanware.com
Email: sam.adler@humanware.com
Date: Monday, June 2, 2008
Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 0:00 GMT.
All Tech Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the presentation or podcast from the Tech Talk archives on our website at http://www.accessibleworld.org.
All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.
If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.
NOTE: The Accessible World Website now provides a software download that enables you to check your microphone before entering our rooms.
“Exquisite Italian Leather”
The Nokia N82 case is made of soft Palomino lambskin Italian Leather. This case will protect your phone from the dents and scratches of everyday life and is a perfect solution for protecting your valuable device. EPI continues the tradition of creating a fine form fitted case, made in the U.S.A.
•Keys of the Nokia N82 are exposed for easy use.
•Accessibility to the camera, data/recharger plug-in and infra-red ports.
•Full Screen visibility, Access to side controls, Low profile.
•Extremely durable with a superior design.
•Features the Ultra Swivel Rachet Belt Clip.
•We use the best materials to create quality cases that protect your cell phone.
For more information, please visit the website at:
When: Sunday, June 29, 2008 Where: Dallas, TX What: Training Who: Jeremy Curry
Come and join GW Micro for Window-Eyes training on Sunday, June 29 at the 68th annual NFB convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel located at 2201 Stemmons Freeway in Dallas, TX.
Explore the power of Window-Eyes using Office 2007 and Windows Vista. Learn about the advanced way Window-Eyes 7.0 implements scripts and how they can work for you! Don’t worry if you are not a scripter. We’ll talk about how you can easily install scripts that others have created, and what they can do for you.
The training will be held from 9 A.M. to Noon in the Plum Blossom Room, Atrium Lobby. The cost is only $10. You can register and pay the $10 fee by calling our Orders department at (260) 489-3671. For any questions, please contact Jeremy Curry at (260) 489-3671, ext. 210 or by email at jeremy@gwmicro.com.
Fixed a problem which prevented the SA Mobile Network browser from starting the Amazon MP3 Downloader.
Eliminated an error message which was appearing when logging into Napster from the SA Mobile Network browser. Note that other error messages still appear when using Napster with the current beta of Internet Explorer 8; this isn’t a problem with System Access or the SA Mobile Network browser, but we’re still working with Microsoft to remedy it.
Fixed problems with the log-in form on Pandora.com.
Internet Explorer and SA Mobile Network Browser
Improved access to pages such as the Comcast.net home page that have areas which frequently update themselves.
Improved access to Google applications, especially Gmail and Google Docs.
Fixed a bug in the new SA Mobile Network browser which prevented the browser from coming to the foreground on startup.
Windows Live Mail
This update introduces support for Windows Live Mail, Microsoft’s latest desktop email software for home users and the successor to Outlook Express and Windows Mail. As well as providing access to Windows Live Mail itself, System Access now provides fully automatic speech output in Windows Live Installer, making it easy to install and start using Windows Live Mail.
Miscellaneous
If you tap the Control key twice quickly, System Access will stop automatic speech in the current foreground window, such as reading of progress bars and status indicators, until you switch to another window.
Improved access to the Microsoft rich edit control, resulting in better access to the freeware Jarte word processor, among other programs.
Your SA Mobile Network notes will now be stored on SA Mobile Network servers instead of your home machine and/or U3 smart drive. This means that you’ll have access to all of your notes in one place whether you’re using your home machine, a U3 smart drive, or SA to Go.
