All News and Views

VFO, owners of the Freedom Scientific, Optelec, and AI Squared brands, is growing in size once again with the acquisition of The Paciello Group.

You can earn $5 and have a chance for a $75 Amazon Gift Card by participating in a survey about assistive technology use. The survey is being hosted by the UNiversity of Washington, and you can take it multiple times if you use various types of assistive technologies.

A very minor update for JAWS 18 has been released, on the heels of the bigger April update posted a couple of weeks ago.

The Google Play Awards, which recognize the best in Android apps, include an accessibility category and the nominees have been announced

one of the earliest methods for users to solve visual CAPTCHAs may now be obsolete once and for all. WebVisum, a Firefox add-on for solving the pesky visual puzzles, seems to no longer work with the latest version of the browser.

Netherlands-based Solutions Radio is debuting the 3rd version of its Webbox media solution. The device provides a simple interface to listen to newspapers, podcasts, books, Email, and other audio content and as of version 3, it's now portable

Version 2.7.3 of the KNFB Reader app for iOS has received one small but potentially very useful feature

A promised update to the Victor Stream 2nd Generation software has been released by Humanware which will be of most use to users of the Daisy Online service. Version 4.8 supports dynamic menus in Daisy Online, a service used by organizations to distribute books which is popular in many countries but not the U.S.

When Microsoft announced its plans for 2017, one of those plans was to implement support for braille displays through Narrator. With the release of the Creator's update, Microsoft has begun delivering on this promise. According to the December 2016 blog entry, "The (Windows Creators update) beta will support braille displays from more than 35 manufacturers, using more than 40 languages and multiple braille variants, including grade 2 contracted braille."." How well has that come to pass with the public release? Read on to find out my experiences from installing and running various devices on the new Windows 10 update.

VAUX is the first battery-powered speaker designed specifically to house the Amazon Echo Dot. Its cordless portability, enhanced audio quality and beautiful modern aesthetic lets you enjoy VAUX anywhere in your home environment. Plug, Play. Enjoy.

The latest version of ZoomText includes only two listed changes, but may be very helpful for certain international users and those experiencing stability issues.

It's barely spring, but the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) wants you to think about submitting a paper for its 2018 conference. ATIA 2018 will be held January 30-February 3 in Orlando, and the Call for Presentations is now open.

The American Printing House for the Blind has brought their popular Talking Typer program to the iPhone. The typing tutor and learning tool includes nearly 3 dozen lessons and is available now for $4.99.

As we posted earlier The Seeing Eye's 9th annual auction is currently going on, and it ends tonight.

As promised, Learning Ally has brought their Link reading app to the Android platform. The new version joins counterparts for iOS, Chrome, Windows and Mac and allows members to read their over 80,000- available titles.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is here, and while some of you may be dreading the process of updating to Microsoft's latest operating system, I've completed the mission and lived to tell the tale. Below I'll explain the relatively simple process so you can be up and running in no time.

Passports are one of the most important travel documents, and one country is working to make them more accessible for blind travelers. According to the Yonhap News Agency, The South Korean Foreign Ministry will begin issuing the modified passports on April 20 at hundreds of locations

Freedom Scientific has posted the April update to JAWS version 18 which includes a laundry list of changes with a heavy Google Docs and Microsoft Office focus.

It's time once again for the Seeing Eye's annual online auction, and this year's edition has over 500 items to tempt your fancy or your wallet.

A new USPS service may be able to scan your mail for you before it is delivered, potentially providing a more accessible way to read mail. The Informed Delivery service has been tested in several cities and is schedule for a nationwide roll-out on April 14.