There's been a lot of activity over at the ol' Blind Bargains Ranch. Unfortunately, this has meant a lack of posts for this week. I assure you, however, you will soon see the fruits of our work. Regular deals will return on Monday and watch for something very special quite soon. Stay tuned.

Code Factory has just released version 2.0 of their Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier software for the Pocket PC operating system. This update features support for user-centered licensing, compatibility with additional PDA's and other enhancements and bug fixes. This update is available at no charge to current users of Mobile Speak Pocket.

Amazon.com has the Western Digital Passport 250GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $99.99. With free shipping, we couldn't find this particular drive for less elsewhere. This USB-powered drive runs at 5400RPM and features a 2MB buffer.

Buy.com has the Altec Lansing 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System, model VS2421, for $40.24. With free shipping, we weren't able to find these speakers for less elsewhere. This system drives 28 wattts of power through 2 satellite speakers and a subwoofer. New Google Checkout customers can get $10 off.

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.

There's actually lots of quite accessible software available for your Symbian-based cell phone. Brent Harbolt discussed a large list of programs in a recent seminar now hosted on BlindSea.com. You can listen to the archive as well as find links to the programs mentioned.

ThinkGeek.com has the Staple-Free Stapler for $5.99. With around $7 for shipping, we weren't able to find this item for less elsewhere. Instead of using staples, this stapler cuts a tiny flap in the corner of your paper, and folds it in on itself, tucked in a tiny pocket.

MeritLine.com has the PQI 4GB USB flash drive, model I221, for $16.99. Plus, shipping is free. If it matters, it comes in black or orange, or perhaps blackish orange.

Amazon.com has the Black and Decker 15.6-Volt HEPA Cyclonic DustBuster, model CHV1500, for $39.99, with free shipping. This dustbuster features a HEPA filter, upholstery brush, crevice tool, and a 23-ounce capacity.

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.

ZipZoomFly.com has the Samsung 500GB internal hard drive for $79.99. With free shipping, it's the cheapest 500GB internal drive we've ever seen. Buy the way, if you're thinking of a larger drive like a 1TB, it would be cheaper to buy two of these instead.

MeritLine.com has a SanDisk 2GB MicroSD memory card with full-size SD card adapter for $12.99, with free shipping. This card works in all devices which support the MicroSD card standard, including many cell phones and PDA's.

MobileBee.com has the Nokia N82 GSM Smartphone for $454.99. With free shipping, we couldn't find this particular phone for less elsewhere. This quadband phone features a 5-megapixel camera with xenon flash, MicroSDHC card slot, built-in GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and is compatible with the KNFB Reader Mobile software package. With the activation of a new line of service from T-Mobile, MobileBee offers a rebate with an amount which varies based on the length of the contract and the phone plan purchased. The N82 is compatible with both Mobile Speak and talks screen-reading software.

We would like to apologize for the lack of content this week. Our staff is busy with final exams, so has lots of studying and test-taking to do. Perhaps you could study as well with the mobile site for reference.com. It gives you a dictionary, thesaurus, and reference info in a tidy, stripped-down interface. We'll start posting more deals again very soon.

Buy.com offers the Western Digital Elements 500GB USB 2.0 hard drive for $99.99. With free shipping, we couldn't find this drive for less elsewhere. This drive features an 8MB cache, and runs at 7200RPM. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

BlindMiceMart has the Vox 3000 Talking Kitchen Scale for $39.50. With about $6 for shipping, we couldn't find this particular scale for less elsewhere. This scale features a 6-LB 10OZ capacity, tare feature and expansion bowl.

There's a lot to like about Revolution Money Exchange, a new online payment service, not to mention $25 in free cash. The money transfer service which is similar, but seemingly easier to use, than Paypal, offers $25 for new opened and verified accounts by using the referral link on this post. In addition, you can send and receive money for free without fees. Signing up was simple and included a very understandable audio CAPTCHA. To claim the $25, look for an accept button after signing up. It'll be on your account's home page. Offer expires May 15.

Buy.com has Nuance's Dragon Naturally Speaking version 9.0, the standard edition, for $39.99. With free shipping, that's about $3 off our last mention and the lowest price we've ever seen for this voice recognition software. This program allows you to dictate into many popular programs and control the computer using your voice. A feature is included to remove ums and ahs from your speech.

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.

AreYouGame.com has the GeoSafari Talking Globe for $70.48 plus about $8 for shipping. It's the lowest price we've seen for this interactive item. This 12-inch globe will quiz you and your friends on states, capitals, world cities, waterways, and many other geographical facts using a fun and fast-paced format. The device talks and is accessible.

Buy.com has the Kingston 2GB SD Card for $10. With free shipping, we couldn't find a better deal on this card, since a deal back in March. Open a new Google Checkout account, and this card is free.

Buy.com has the Fujitronic Ultrasonic Humidifier for $34.99. With free shipping, we weren't able to find this particular humidifier for less elsewhere. It features an anti-fungus and anti-bacteria water tank, auto-shutoff, and more. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

Meritline.com again cut its price on the SanDisk 8GB MicroSDHC memory Card, now for $57.75. With free shipping, we weren't able to find this card for less elsewhere. This high-capacity microSD card is compatible with the Nokia n82 cellphone, the platform for the KNFB reader Mobile. A full-size SD adapter is included.

Buy.com has the Soyo FreeStyler 500 Bluetooth Headset for $10, with free shipping. This bluetooth headset features 6 hours of talk time and 180 hours of standby time. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off, yielding a net price of $0.00.

Buy.com offers the Western Digital 160GB My Passport Essential USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive for $79.99. With free shipping, we weren't able to find this USB-powered drive for less elsewhere. This drive runs at 5400RPM, and features a 2MB buffer. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off, making the net price $69.99.

Buy.com has the Kingston 4GB MiniSDHC memory card for $16.95. With free shipping, we couldn't find a better deal on a miniSD card of this capacity. This card includes a full-size SD adapter. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

This page from YumYum.com is entitled Student Cooking Ideas, but there's no need for you to be taking classes to enjoy the simple recipes and cooking ideas from this site. Recipes in several categories including chicken, eggs, dressings, and deserts are included along with simple instructions.

Buy.com has the Sandisk 4GB Secure Digital SDHC card for $21.30. With free shipping, we weren't able to find this particular card for less elsewhere. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

Amazon.com has the Denali 3.6V Lithium-Ion Cordless Screwdriver Kit for $14.21. Shipping adds about $5, or spend over $25 to get it for free. This kit features a wall-mountable charger, storage case, and 20-piece accessory set.

Amazon.com has the Philips DECT 6.0 1900MHz Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering Machine for $26.99, with free shhipping. This cordless telephone system features DECT 6.0 technology, which helps eliminate interference from wireless networks. It also features a speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones, and expandability to up to four handsets.

WalMart.com has the Hamilton Beach Talking Microwave, in black, now for $89.96. You can have it shipped for free to your local store or pay for shipping to your home. That's $10 over our last mention but still the lowest price we could find. It features 10 power levels, 8 presets for common foods, and English and Spanish operation. According to reports, most features are accessible and usable without sighted assistance.

ShopLowVision.com is giving away an Optelec Compact+ Portable Magnifier every month. Simply register using an online form to be entered into each 2008 drawing. It normally sells for $795 on their site. Thanks to The Ranger Station for the tip.

Dell is rolling out more laptop deals in their latest round of sales. Among them is the Vostro 1400 Intel Dual Core laptop for $579. Plus, their recycling program will dispose of your old machine for free, though you may get more for selling it. Note: This page is laid out in a grid style. First, you will find the names of each laptop listed. Later, you will see several "Customize It" links. They're placed in the same order as the names and descriptions, so you can count the number of links to find the appropriate customize button. It's really simpler than we just explained it.

While companies hurry to make their sites accessible to mobile phones and their tiny screens and slow download speeds, they're actually creating very usable and accessible versions of their pages at the same time. We mentioned the TV Guide site awhile back, and now we draw your attention to Paypal Mobile. This simple site lets you check your balance and send money from a fast-loading menu. The best part about these sites is that you don't need to really use them from your phone. They work just fine on your home computer, making them a great way to perform simple tasks with this popular site.

Meritline.com again has a folding luggage cart that will hold up to 66 pounds of stuff for $12.99. Plus, shipping is free. Use coupon code AC2074344OFF to get this price. Other sizes are also listed on this page. Coupon expires April 13.

Meritline.com has a 100 pack of High Quality CDR media for $9.99. With about $9 for shipping, this deal becomes better when buying more than one spindle of recordable disks. Shipping for 3, for example, was about $16. It's one of the best recent deals we've seen on CDR's.

For those looking for a cell phone compatible with Mobile Speak and Talks that won't break the budget, CellHut.com has the unlocked Nokia N72 for $209.98. Use coupon D2BN72 to get the price. Shipping is free when paying via Google Checkout. This phone features a 2 megapixel camera, dedicated music player buttons, and Bluetooth connectivity.

For anyone looking to start their own online store, start selling items on EBay, or perhaps find items for a flee market, Global Sources Direct may be worth a look. The store stocks thousands of items from China which can be imported in small quantities. You could then resell them for a profit. Items range from cell phone accessories to gifts and home items.

We've seen a lot of interest in cheap, but fast desktops so here's another one. Buy.com has an Acer Aspire Desktop M1610 which features a Pentium Dual Core 1.6GHz processor, 1GB memory, 250GB hard drive, DVD burner, and Windows Vista for $299.99. Plus, shipping is free.

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.

Meritline.com has a Netgear USB 802.11G Wireless Adapter for $16.99. Plus, shipping is free. This adapter will work with your wireless router to give your desktop or notebook wireless connectivity. A USB cable is also included.

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.

Buy.com offers these RCA 900MHZ Stereo Wireless Headphones, model WHP141, for $37.99 with free shipping. These headphones feature 3 channels of transmission and work up to 150 feet. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

The LevelStar Icon and Icon BraillePlus have added support for NLS digital downloads in their latest update, version 1.1. You can get it via the link on this post. It's a free update for current Icon owners. Thanks to Top Tech Tidbits among many others for the tip.

Buy.com has the Kingston 4GB DataTraveler 110 USB 2.0 Flash Drive for $17.95, with free shipping. This drive features a retractable USB connector. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

Buy.com has the Western Digital My Passport Essential 320GB USB 2.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $139.99. With free shipping, we weren't able to find this drive for less elsewhere. This USB-powered drive features a 2MB buffer, and runs at 5400RPM. New Google Checkout users can get $10 off.

MeritLine.com has the Pqi 2GB Secure Digital memory card for $9.49. With free shipping, it's the lowest we've seen for this particular card and one of the best deals we've seen for a 2GB SD card. This card will work in devices which support secure digital cards, such as the BrailleNote MPower and Victor Reader Stream.

Buy.com has the Maximo iM-390 iMetal Isolation Earphones for $19.99. With free shipping, we weren't able to find these particular headphones for less elsewhere. These earphones feature both 2.5MM and airline adapters, 2-foot extention cable, and carying case. New Google Checkout users can get an additional $10 off, yielding a net price of $2.95.

Amazon.com has the Adaptec Dual TV Tuner PVR 3610 Kit for $84.99, with free shipping. A $20 rebate cuts the price down to $64.99. This TV tuner connects to a PC, and let's you record up to two television channels simultaneously. This tuner also features an FM tuner, remote, and RCA and S-video inputs. Rebate ends July 31.

Buy.com offers the Kingston 2GB CompactFlash card for $12.95. With free shipping, we haven't seen a card of this capacity for less elsewhere. New Google Checkout users can get an additional $10 off, yielding a net price of $2.95.