Blind Bargains: all categories Deals, Sales, and News

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.

Amazon.com has 12 boxes of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix for $24.62. Add it to your cart via subscribe and save and the price falls to $20.93. With free shipping, this is the best deal we could find on this quantity of delicious brownie goodness. Each box is 18 oz.

NV Access has released the first beta of NVDA 2012.1. Version 2012.1 features an improved braille reading experience, indication of document formatting in braille; access to much more formatting information and improved performance in Microsoft Word; and support for the iTunes Store. A full change log and download links are available from the link on this page.

It's time to cast your vote in the 5th annual Blind Bargains Access Awards. Earlier, we solicited nominations for the best of 2011. Now, it's time to vote for your favorite in each category. Check the link on this post to view all of the nominees. The awards will recognize the greatest achievements, companies, websites, and people for 2011 and are decided by your votes. The deadline is Friday, February 10 at 11:59 PM ET Congratulations to all of the nominees.

Today only, Savings Angel offers a free one day pass using coupon code "FREEDAY". It's one of the few such coupons we've seen for this website, which aggrigates the best grocery deals, coupons, and sales and allows you to conveniently see them in one place. We posted a review of Savings Angel last fall.

Humanware is expanding its line of redesigned Brailliant displays. The B 80 features 80 cells and the same braille cells used on the Apex. For more information including links to a brochure and manual, check the link on this post. We've reached out to Humanware for pricing information and will update the post if we learn more.

Apple has released version 2.0 of their iBooks app for the iPhone, and iPad. This version adds support for iBook Textbooks, and methods to deliver interactive content to students. K-12 Textbooks from Pearson and McGraw Hill are available now.

Amongst the list of new products at ATIA 2012 comes news of a yet to be announced 40-cell braille display from Hims. The Braille Edge 40 will support Bluetooth and be compatible with practically any desktop or mobile device, according to the announcement. In addition to the cells, it will feature an ergonomic 9 key Perkins-style keyboard, two 4-way navigation keys and 8 function keys. SD storage and some built-in apps such as a calculator, alarm clock, and stopwatch. No pricing information is given.

Blio, the book reading app from KNFB Reading Technology, is now accessible on the Android operating system. The app was initially plagued with problems but the latest version solves these and is no self-voicing with any installed text-to-speech voice. Get it for free from the Android market. Blio is also accessible using iOS but accessibility challenges remain for the Windows version.

Number 1 In Service via Amazon.com has the Targus Chill Mat for Netbooks, model AWE39US1, for $6.99. Shipping is free with Amazon Prime or on $25 or more. This cooler is USB-powered and intended for 10-inch netbooks. It's an inexpensive way to cool down your netbook while it sits on your lap.

We're often asked "should one purchase a dedicated blindness braille notetaker, or a laptop or iPhone and a braille display?" Is there still a need for a dedicated notetaker, or have mainstream solutions paired with a display or keyboard replaced it? If you've moved away from notetakers, are there features that could cause you to rekindle your prior love for a notetaking device? Sound off in the comments.

Sprint is the latest carrier to announce forthcoming availability for Mobile Accessibility, allowing its customers to download the Code Factory screen access suite to their Android devices. Unlike AT&T, Sprint appears to be offering the full version of Mobile Accessibility as opposed to the stripped-down version from AT&T. Mobile Accessibility will be available in both English and Spanish, with versions designed for both Sprint and Boost Mobile to be releaced to the Android Market later this quarter. More info is available in the press release linked from this post.

Amazon.com has the Thermaltake BlacX eSATA USB Docking Station for $$37.99. That's $19 more than our last mention, but still the lowest price we could find. To review, this is a must have in your arsenal of computer gear. Take any sata 2.5 or 3.5 inch drive, pop it into the top of the unit like a toaster or an old Super Nintendo cartridge, hook it to your computer via e-sata or USB, turn the unit on, and the drive mounts. This is a great way to back up or access data when you don't have an enclosure hanging around. When you're done with the drive, simply power off the unit and press the eject button. The drive will pop up and you can pull it out.

The Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired is now accepting enrollment for their next semester starting in February. The cost is $500 but as always scholarships are granted to those who are paying for their own courses bringing the cost down to $150. Payment plans are available as well. Four courses are being offered this semester including a new course about Linux Administration. Many CAVI courses can prepare you to take computer certification exams which can lead to potential employment. For more information listen to an introductory podcast or check the link on this post to visit their website.

It's time to once again recognize the best companies, products, websites, and people in the blind community. Nominations are now being accepted for the 5th Annual Blind Bargains Access Awards. You can submit nominations for any or all of the 12 categories ranging from best new product or innovation to best website for the blind (Blind Bargains isn't eligible). Hurry! Nomination submissions are due by Friday, January 20 at 11:59 PM Eastern. New this year is a category for the best mobile app.

We've made it! It's time for our number 1 story on our annual look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. And now, number one. Read more

We're just about done with our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. Number 2 is all about the Twitter drama and we go back to Joe Steinkamp for the story. Read more

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. Number 3 involves perhaps the most amazing iPhone yet. Read more

We've been counting down the biggest stories of 2011, but what will be number one? Tune in to Serospectives tonight at 9 PM Eastern where J.J. Meddaugh will join Joe Steinkamp and Jamie Pauls from Serotek to reveal the top three. Listen live and relive the best and worst of 2011.

If This Then That is a website that does exactly wat the title says, though the results may be much more cool than you think. Suppose you want to copy your important E-mails to your Dropbox, or receive a text message if it's supposed to rain tomorrow. If This Then That does all of this and more. All you need is a this and a that. A trigger can be anything from a new Facebook post to a Foursquare Check-in while a that can be one of dozens of actions, such as making a phone call or posting to Twitter. Accessibility is quite good for the site and we were able to set up our first task with ease. You can share your own tasks as recipes for others to use. Here's a recipe we made which will send you a text message whenever a new item is posted to Blind Bargains.

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. We're counting down the top stories of the year and will announce the number one live on Serospectives Thursday night. Number 4 takes us back to Android for a new program from a familiar face. Read more

Blind Bargains is continuing its partnership with 7-128 Software, featuring a new coupon for accessible game discounts each month.// All 7-128 Software Blind Bargains games work with JAWS and self-voice using SAPI. Not only that, but when you install your Blind Bargain game, it automatically upgrades any previously installed 7-128 Software GameBook or game to use your SAPI voices. For free!// Through February 15th, Blind Bargains gives you 20% off the GameBook, Perceptions Edition, which includes 5 games: the detective game Inspector Cyndi in Newport - Death Nell, the memory game Kim's Game, and 3 word games: The Definition Game, Completion, and Crambles. Retail is $25, but with the Blind Bargains Coupon, you pay $20.//The separate bargain game for this month is the season-appropriate Snowflake. You hear a number pattern and memorize it. You hear a set of number patterns. Which one is it? Easy at first. Devilish difficult at the 10th level. Retail is $5. With the Blind Bargains Coupon, you pay $4// The games are compatible with Windows PCs, including Windows 7.// 7-128 Software games can be played outside of the GameBook. Therefore the GameBook is not required before purchasing additional titles. However, it is still a bargain, and a convenient way to organize your games. Use coupon **BB1949* to get the deals, and check back next month for a new selection. Coupon expires on February 15. ---

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. We're counting down the top stories of the year over the coming days and will announce the number one live on Serospectives Thursday night. Number 5 belongs to one of the saddest days in the history of computing, and Kevin Reeves is here to talk about it. Read more

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. We're counting down the top stories of the year over the next week and will announce the number one live on Serospectives Thursday night. Number 6 belongs to a new Skype client that got many people talking. Read more

The National Federation of the Blind's Braille Monitor often publishes comparisons of technology in its pages. The January, 2012 issue issue includes one such comparison, giving pros and cons of several eBook platforms. We were a bit surprised, however, to see a rather scathing review of Blio, a project supported by KNFB Reading Technology and greatly hyped at NFB functions. To be clear, KNFB is a separate entity and now operates independently from the NFB. Many people still operate under the impression that the two are one in the same, however, and it is possible that the NFB is starting to disassociate with KNFB due to the lack of access for the Blio platform. Blio remains questionably accessible at best on a PC and completely inaccessible on the Android platform. The article itself is a good read, by the way.

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. We're counting down the top stories of the year over the next week and will announce the number one live on Serospectives Thursday night. Number 7 is live from Daytona. Read more

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. We're counting down the top stories of the year over the next week, and will announce the number one live on Serospectives next Thursday. Number 8 takes us to the land of desserts. Read more

We're continuing our look at the top stories of 2011. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of the year. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. Here are our earlier stories in case you missed them. We're counting down the top stories of the year over the next week, and will announce the number one live on Serospectives next thursday. Number 9 involves one of the most influencial apps of the year. Read more

Amazon.com has a Kingston DataTraveler 16 GB USB Flash Drive for $13.99. Shipping is free via Amazon Prime, or spend at least $25 to qualify for free shipping. This drive features a capless design and a key loop.

Oh what a year it has been. Just as other years will be remembered for their breakout stories, this year may be remembered as one which brought more questions than answers. This also became evident in our voting for the top 10 stories of 2011, where no clear winner emerged. But as the saying reminds us, the show must go on. Our panel of Blind Bargains and Serotek contributors each independently submitted their votes for the top stories of 2011. This year's panel included Joe Steinkamp, Jamie Pauls, Kevin Reeves, Matt McCubbin, and J.J. Meddaugh. We'll count down the top stories of the year over the next week, and announce the number one live on Serospectives next week. So without further hesitation, let's start off with number ten, involving a new Google operating system. Read more

GW Micro has released a free public beta of GWSkype, a new app which provides an accessible Skype interface for Windows. From the app, users can make and recieve calls, chat with other users, send and recieve files, and view contacts, among other features. The app is free for all Windows users, though a small GW Micro commercial will speak for those not running Window-Eyes. The native Skype should be unloaded to run this app.

The Independent Living Aids online store has the Olympus DM-4 Voice Recorder for $299.95. Use coupon "15DAYS" to slash the price to $254.96. With free shipping, it's the best deal we've seen for this item. It features accessible menus, support for playback of certain DAISY books, and 29 hours of battery life. Deal ends December 16.

Independent Living Aids once again offers free shipping on all online orders using the link on this post. In addition, receive 15 percent off orders of $200 or more using coupon "15DAYS". That yields many price lows for big ticket items. Normally, a $50 minimum order is required for free shipping. Some large items are excluded. Deal ends December 16.

There has been a lot of discussion about the current research from Vanda Pharmaceuticals regarding Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder, so we wanted to learn more about the study and what exactly is involved. In this podcast, we speak with William Hoos to learn more about the study and how to become involved. We also learn of an easy fund raiser for nonprofits which rewards $25 for a completed survey. To take the survey via phone, call (888) 389-7033. Or you can take the survey online More information is available in a five-part series from the Matilda Ziegler website. Here's an audio version of the article. You can also check out an Informational website on Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder as well as following @24sleepwake on Twitter.

GW Micro offers some deeply discounted magnifiers, notetakers, and braille displays in its end-of-year clearence sale. Some items are brand new in the box while others are demo units. Prices range from $125 for a SenseView Light to $2,995 for a BrailleSense QT. Prices are good while supplies last.

GuitarCenter.com offers savings of up to $150 depending on the amount purchased. Save $15 off $75, $50 off $299, or $150 off $799. Use coupon "SNOWMAN" to get the deal. The coupon works best when purchasing items priced just above one of these amounts. Pad your order with accessories such as cables, connectors, or stands if necessary. Plus, shipping is free on virtually all orders of $49 or more. Coupon ends December 24.

While not all items through Amazon grocery are better buys than your local stores, there are many items which you can check off your list and order from the comfort of your couch. For example, Amazon.com offers 16 Bars of Dove Bar Soap for $15.60. Sign up for Subscribe and Save to get the deal (you can cancel after your order).Plus, shipping is free. At 98 cents per bar, it's less than what you'll pay at most stores. Thanks to Mark for the tip.

Amazon.com has the Logitech Wireless Combo mouse and keyboard, model MK260, for $17.77. With free shipping, it's the best deal we could find for this set and comparable with the price for many wireless keyboards alone. The keys are claimed to be spill-resistent and the set uses wireless 2.4GHz technology.

Blind Bargains is continuing its partnership with 7-128 Software, featuring a new coupon for accessible game discounts each month.// All 7-128 Software Blind Bargains games work with JAWS and self-voice using SAPI. Not only that, but when you install your Blind Bargain game, it automatically upgrades any previously installed 7-128 Software GameBook or game to use your SAPI voices. For free!// Through January 15th, Blind Bargains gives you 20% off the GameBook, Perceptions Edition, which includes 5 games: the detective game Inspector Cyndi in Newport - Death Nell, the memory game Kim's Game, and 3 word games: The Definition Game, Completion, and Crambles. Retail is $25, but with the Blind Bargains Coupon, you pay $20.//The separate bargain game for this month is a brand new word game, Spelling Bee.What could be more fun than an old fashioned spelling bee?Hear the word. Hear its definition. Type in the correct spelling.As with an old fashioned spelling bee, you keep on spelling words until you get one wrong.What will your personal best high score be? Retail is $5. With the Blind Bargains Coupon, you pay $4// The games are compatible with Windows PCs, including Windows 7.// 7-128 Software games can be played outside of the GameBook. Therefore the GameBook is not required before purchasing additional titles. However, it is still a bargain, and a convenient way to organize your games. Use coupon **BB1934* to get the deals, and check back next month for a new selection. Coupon expires on January 15, 2012.

We are pleased to announce updated versions of our popular search apps for Jaws for Windows and Window-Eyes users. These programs provide a simple way to search for products from dozens of merchants, including products from blindness-related companies. Thanks to Grant and the development team at Freedom Scientific, the Jaws Research-It add-in is now compatible with Jaws 13. Window-Eyes users can install our updated Product Search script, a custom box which allows you to search for products and scroll through the results. With the app, it's simple to browse descriptions and open the websites for the products you are interested in. Other features allow you to copy the product's URL to the clipboard or export your results to a text file. Jaws users can try the Research-It script, written by Sean Randall. The Blind Bargains Product Search allows you to search for specific items directly from the Jaws Research-it command. You can find these programs on our new apps page, a central page where we will post the latest applications that are compatible with our site. If you have any comments or ideas for improvements, please don't hesitate to write us. If you are a developer and wish to create a Blind Bargains application for any platform or device, please send us a message. We offer simple tools to make programming apps as simple as possible.

Not everyone needs a state-of-the-art professional digital recorder. If you're just looking for a simple device to record memos, phone numbers, grocery lists, and more, consider the Wilson Digital Voice Recorder for $33.95 from the Independent Living Aids online store. Shipping is free on all orders through December 31. It includes over 8 hours of recording time and the ability to download your recordings to a computer via USB. It uses two AAA batteries (not included).

The low-cost travel company Megabus is offering 200,000 free seats on its midwest, northeast, and southeast routes between January 4 and March 1, 2012. Use promotional code "GOFREE" when booking your trip. They claim that several seats are available on each route. Megabus offers express bus service between dozens of major cities including Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Toronto, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

Coffee is great, but it can be a pain to deal with. While some romanticize the daily ritual of preparing delicious coffee made with french presses and other premium methods, most people just want a decent cup of joe. Drip coffee is somewhat convenient, but the taste usually isn’t great and drip makers brew in bulk. For many people single serving coffee makers are the way to go. Here are the major brands compared. Read more

It's another Woot Off at woot.com. If you're not familiar, Woot, the website that normally sells one deal per day, occasionally runs a Woot Off where they quickly sell through as many items as possible. Some deals last for an hour or two while many only last for a few minutes or less. Once an item sells out, a new one is posted. Check the link on this post to see what's currently for sale in the Woot Off and check back over the next couple of days as items are sure to change often.

Buy.com has the Waring Pro Professional Popcorn Maker for $49.99. With free shipping, this is the best deal we could find on this item. This popcorn maker features a 300-watt detachable kettle, built-in stirrer, magnetized door, removable serving tray, and more.

Amazon.com Warehouse Deals offers 128 Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts for $20.45. Shipping is free on $25 or more or with Amazon Prime. That's just under 16 cents per Pop-Tart and the lowest price we've seen in several months. Warehouse deals usually sell out fast.

Amazon.com Ware House Deals offers 4 12.2 Ounce Boxes of Apple Jacks Cereal for $6.91. Shipping is free on $25 or more or with Amazon Prime. That's $1.73 a box and the lowest price we've seen for this cereal. Warehouse deals usually sell out quickly.

We find deals on a little bit of everything around here. Amazon.com offers 2 50-ounce Bottles of Tide Free and Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent for $9.67. Plus, shipping is free. To get the deal, follow the link on this post and then clip the 50 cents off coupon using the link on the page. Sign up for subscribe and save to get another 15 percent off (you can cancel after you order). That's less than 10 cents per ounce and a better deal than most grocery stores.

Walmart.com has the Hickory Farms Signature Hickory Favorites Gift Set for $8.98. Shipping is free on $45 or add 97 cents for shipping. It includes 5 ounces of their Signature beef summer sausage, a smoked cheddar blend, sweet hot mustard and sea salt and olive oil crackers.

The Online Candy Shop via Amazon.com offers 72 Cella's Chocolate Covered Cherries for $21.24. Shipping is free with Amazon Prime or on $25. Cella's has been in business for nearly 150 years and claims to make the only chocolate-covered cherries with a 100 percent liquid center. The reviews back up their quality as well.