all categories Deals, Sales, and News

Speculation has run wild ever since the release of a GPS product for GW Micro's Voice Sense that a similar offering may soon be available for the Braille Sense. Now, this and much more is available with the pending release of the Braille Sense Plus. This 2 pound notetaker includes a large 8GB of built-in memory, built in wireless and Bluetooth capabilities, and a software upgrade which allows for the use of the SenseNav GPS software. The intro price is $5,995.00 and GW Micro expects to start shipping the unit in May.

Serotek, who perhaps produces the screen access program with the most frequent updates, is back at it again with version 2.4 of System Access and System Access to Go. The latest release allows for magnification up to 6X the original size, which can be adjusted in .25x increments. Also, many of the media content features found in the Victor Reader Stream will now also be coming to LevelStar's Icon. This will happen once a firmware update for the Icon is released. Many of these features are available both on System Access and the free online System Access to Go product.

We have staff on the scene at the CSUN conference in Los Angeles and have just learned of the first major announcement of the week, Humanware's Trekker Breeze. The breeze weighs less than a pound and includes a built-in GPS receiver. The possible down-side, however, is the lack of point-to-point directions. So it basically serves as a tool for gaining information about your surroundings, which may be a tough sell compared with the many other GPS options available. That being said, for those looking for a simple solution without a lot of required setup, this may be the perfect product. Retail for the new unit is expected to be $895. It won't be released until at least the summer, and we'll post more as we find out. Note: The link has been updated with Humanware's press-release.

Buy.com has the Oregon Scientific Talking Blood Pressure Monitor for $38.99. Plus, shipping is free. It not only speak your blood pressure, it will also announce the pulse rate and the mean arterial pressure. A memory function is also included, though we are unsure how well that works with speech. It requires a single AAA battery to run.

Normally, we wouldn't mention a print book, but this one may be of some interest to those studying the assistive technology field. Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired and Blind People gets to the heart of what makes specialized technology work. It gives primarily an engineering background and is ideal for those looking to creat their own devices or systems and perhaps for students as well. It's a hefty $269, but Amazon.com gives 5 percent off for preordering the book now, which makes it $255.55, shipped free. No word yet on an EBook or other accessible formats.

For nearly two years, the Blind Bargains Auction Gateway has provided an easy way for people to find blindness-related items on EBay in dozens of categories. Today, we've extended this functionality to three additional EBay sites. The gateway's same useful features are now available for EBay Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. You can use links near the bottom of the page to change your country at any at any time. If you've never used the gateway before, it lets you search for items on EBay in categories ranging from braille printers to talking watches andcalculators.

As one might expect, the Ranger Station blog is starting to pile on CSUN coverage. Already, several press releases are posted, and we'd expect to see more as the week unfolds. Be sure to check out this great resource for CSUN news and commentary.

The highly anticipated update for the Victor Stream digital book player, version 1.2 has been released. The free update adds several enhancements to the music player, a built-in SD card format utility, support for NIMAS textbooks and content from the Serotek System Access Mobile Network, and several other improvements.

An EBay seller and Blind Bargains reader has listed a new-in-the-box Pac Mate Omni QX400 PDA/notetaker for a BuyItNow price of $1,000. With free shipping, that's roughly half the cost of a unit direct from Freedom Scientific. The Omni is the latest version of Freedom Scientific's line of accessible notetakers and includes a QWERTY keyboard. All cables and standard accessories are also included, according to the description. Listing ends March 18 if not sold sooner. Update: This item has now sold.

NVAccess, the nonprofit largely responsible for the development of the free NVDA screen reader, will be demonstrating their new speedier support for Firefox version 3 at CSUN. Two members of the development team are attending thanks to a grant from the Mozilla Foundation. Read the complete details by checking the link on this post.

GW Micro has released their schedule of events for the CSUN conference in Los Angeles. Sessions on March 13 and 14 include Window-Eyes scripting, the SenseNav GPS, the portable SenseView, among others. The announcement also hints at some new products and enhancements.

The CSUN pre-press has definitely started to roll. Freedom Scientific is giving a huge push to their low vision products including offering CSUN attendees a free MAGic version 11 trial that will work until August. Other sessions for the Pac-Mate Omni, magnification aids, and a happy hour are also announced in this press release. We're unsure if those not attending the conference can obtain the MAGic trial.

First it was Sendero GPS for the BrailleNote. Then, Sendero reached out to the Voice Sense by GW Micro and hinted of more GPS partnerships to come. Now, Code Factory will become the third technology company to bring Sendero's award-winning GPS products to a new device, this time to the Windows Mobile platform. More details about this and other Code Factory releases wil presumably be available during CSUN next week.

Future Forms still offers coupons good for discounts on braille paper by filling out an online form. At last check, this included a coupon good for $5 off your order, which would make many of their prices for a box of paper at the lowest price we could find.

Be sure to keep checking our new Swap Meet for great deals on used equipment. RonnyMillsapFan is selling a Pac-Mate TNS for only $200, among other things. Posting ads and replying to others on the swap meet is totally free.

The folks over at 7-128 Software created a special St. Patrick's Day game book with five accessible games, just for our readers. How cool is that? Play "Inspector Cyndi in Newport - When Irish Spies are Smiling." You're a Detective in Newport in the 1890's. Who stole Mr. Holland's experimental submarine? Why are Father McNamara's parishioners so diligent? And just who are General Demonics? Inspector Cyndi can help as you question Phineus the Fiendish Fenian and other Newport citizens to find out and solve this crime.

Play Kim's Game, from Rudyard Kipling's book. Can you remember the objects? Can you beat the clock? Can you achieve the 10th level? Can you do it with the Easy button turned off?

Synonyms and Antonyms, is the word game equivalent of slalom skiing.

Play Crambles and Completion, two other simple but addictive word games. All games are self-voicing. Enter coupon code "DUBLIN" and save 20 percent.

In the March specials list for Independent Living Aids, get a tactile map of the Middle East so you can keep track of current events for $5.50. Or, save money on a food storage vacuum sealing system, a pots and pans set, or an AM/FM/TV radio. Check the link on this post for the complete list. Some items tend to sell out fast, though all specials will end March 31.

For a reader, BlindMiceMart.com has a Dressy Lady's Gold Tone Talking Watch for $47.50. With about $7 for shipping, we couldn't find it for less elsewhere. According to the description, "This stunning beaded band with glossy black and pearl-colored beads separated by gold-toned beads sets this talking watch apart. a clear female voice is easy to hear. Voice feedback makes setting this watch a snap. Bold black hands and numbers contrast with white face and gold casing for easy viewing.

GW Micro has released a free upgrade for both the Voice Sense and their SenseNav GPS product. It's available as a download from the link on this post, or it can be downloaded directly to the unit if a wireless connection is available. It includes better powersaving options, more control over Windows Media files, and faster navigation of webpages among many other enhancements. The GPS upgrade includes the ability to create a route directly from the list of points of interest, and more options for controling what information is spoken. A complete list of changes is available and is too numerous to mention here.

An EBay seller has listed a Braille Blazer embosser in good condition which you could buy now for $159.99 plus about $35 for shipping. That's one of the better deals we've seen for a used braille printer in recent months, assuming it lives up to the advertised condition. Listing ends March 2 if not sold sooner.