all categories Deals, Sales, and News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

An EBay seller has listed a Juliet Interpoint Braille Embosser with a current bid of $500. The unit was recently serviced, and is being sold as working. This popular embosser prints on both sides of the braille page and accepts extra-wide paper. Auction ends April 5.

There's another VoiceNote QT on EBay with a starting bid of $195 plus $20 for shipping. This one is a classic running Keysoft 6.1 and comes with manuals, but no charger. The unit has been tested and does hold a charge. Auction ends April 6.

The NFB's Independence Market has reduced the price on the stand for the KNFB Reader Classic to $95 plus shipping. That's $55 off the original price for this item. This stand makes it easy to scan books and other printed material with the reader and includes an 18-inch arm and large base.

An EBay seller has listed a Braille Blazer embosser with a BuyItNow price of $275. Or, make an offer. This single-sided printer is advertised as working and does speak when powered on. As always, you'll want to ask any pertinent questions before making a purchase. Listing ends April 2 if not sold sooner.

An EBay seller has listed a Braille Lite 18 notetaker with an opening bid of $9.99 plus about $10 for shipping. It's being sold as is, but comes from a government surplus auction so may work. No power supply is included. Auction ends April 1.

An EBay seller has listed a VoiceNote QT notetaker with an opening bid of $49.99 plus about $12 for shipping. This unit powers up, but is being sold as is. It comes with standard accessories, but not much further information is given. Auction ends March 31. Update: The item has moved to a new page and is relisted for $0.99.