Everyday Bits and Bobs from the Vision Australia Vision Store (and some of my favorite ones)

 

David’s Top Five

 

Talking Key Ring Clock

 

As the name suggests, it just attach’s to the key ring and you can check the time and/or have the times spoken on the hour/Alarm as well.

Sometimes I just like a manual way of checking the time.

$23.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/talking-keyring-clock 

 

Audible and Vibrating Liquid Level Indicator

 

Lets you know the level of liquid coming up to the edge of a cup etc.

For me, I’m always adding milk after I’ve made a cup of coffee with my bean coffee machine, and because the milk is Luke warm when I’m poring in to the cup, I still like the fact I get warned from the sensor when the liquid is hitting the top of the cup.

$44.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/audible-and-vibrating-liquid-level-indicator 

 

Talking Kitchen Scales and Easy to See Measuring Jug Set

 

Whilst I find this great for the kitchen, because my wife and I are always sending parcels hear, there, and everywhere, these scales come in great for measuring the weight of your parcel as well smile.

$136.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/talking-kitchen-scale-easy-see-measuring-jug-set 

 

Talking Builders Tape Measure

 

Over the upcoming Christmas break, my talking tape measure is going to come in handy for myself, I have to measure up my office to plan getting some new desks etc for the new year.

$199.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/talking-builders-tape-measure 

 

Sangean Accesible AM/FM Radio

 

Fully accessible radio. I know the price, I know its not Digital, and I know the price is a bit pricy: but hey it works, everything is spoken, and in last years fires I wouldn’t have been without it.

$330.

 

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/sangean-pr-d17-amfm-accessible-radio 

 

Amanda’s Top Five

 

Explorer 8 hand-held video magnifier, board and card games, large print kitchen clock, and large print or Braille (on request) calendars.

 

To search for the Explore 8 and Amanda’s other suggestions, use the general vA shop link:

https://shop.visionaustralia.org

 

Apple’s Recent Event

 

All about the new M1 Chip from Apple in the new MacBook Air range, new MacBook Pros 13 inch, and the new Mac mini.

Note - the Macbook Air’s only come as an M1 chip computer now, whilst the MacBook Pro 13, and Mac mini is still available with an Intel chip as well.

Keep in mind, you can also get your hands on a MacBook Pro 16 inch which is still Intel.

As far as we understand at the moment, you can not run Windows on an M1 chip based machine, and we are also not aware that you can do it under a virtual machine either.

 

Check out Apple’s web site for more info on the M1, and go to the events page if you would like to listen to the Apple Keynote.

 

https://apple.com

 

JaWS 2021

The next update foo Job Access With Speech (JAWS) is now available.

I’m quite interested in how the voice recognition within JaWS will go for controlling features, and the image recognition in Word documents.

 

There are also new 2021 versions of Zoomtext, and fusion (combined JAWS and Zoomtext).

 

https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/

iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 12 Pro Max now Available to Order

 

To order, easiest way is through the iOs Apple Store app.

Note - you do not need an iPhone 12 Pro Max for LIDAR etc, the iPhone 12 Pro does this as well.

 

People distance function is utilize...

iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 12 Pro Max now Available to Order

 

To order, easiest way is through the iOs Apple Store app.

Note - you do not need an iPhone 12 Pro Max for LIDAR etc, the iPhone 12 Pro does this as well.

 

People distance function is utilized via the Magnification app.  Listen to how far people are away from you in real time.

 

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/people-detection-iph41bdfe6c7/ios

 

Other devices that also do LIDAR:

iPad Pro 11 2nd generation, and iiPad Pro 12.9 4th generation.

 

HomePod Mini’s Now Available To Order

 

Best way to order the HomePod Mini is via the iOS Apple Store app.

This is what I have been waiting for, $149 HomePods I can put around the house.

 

Apple Event for Wednesday 5AM November 2020 - One More Thing

 

One more thing. Join us for a special #AppleEvent on 11 November at 5 am AEDT. Tap the ♥️ and we’ll send you a reminder on event day.

 

I’ll be on the Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast after the event.

 

Here is the event page to listen and to catch up to previous Keynotes.

 

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/

 

Watch OS, iOS, TV OS, iPad OS, and HomePod  All Updated

 

Watch oS 7.1, iOS/iPad OS 14.2, TV OS 14.2, and HomePod 14.2 all upgraded.

 

http://www.apple.com

 

Logging in via a QR code when you Visit a Business

 

Whilst the iPhone camera does this which has QR Reading turned on already, this app I found for blind folks seems to do a much better job than the iPhone camera in locating the QR code.

 

VIP Code Reader:

 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vip-code-reader-blind-scanner/id1273427754

 

CSUN 2021 Online Conference

 

Find out more about CSUN being virtual.

 

https://www.csun.edu/cod/conference/sessions/

 

Some More Podcasts from Me

 

Beats Flex, and using the Intercom Feature on the Apple Watch, iPhone, and HomePod.

Both podcasts available at:

 

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com

 

Orbit Writer

 

For the moment, Vision Australia has decided not to bring in the Orbit Writer in to Australia.

I would suggest ordering it from the AT Guys at:

 

http://www.atguys.com.au

An Update about Apple Watch Family Sharing in Australia

 

Since I last did a talk with the Accessible Technology Users Group where I said family sharing wasn’t available yet for the Apple Watch, it now is.

 

An Observation or two about Widgets on the iPh...

An Update about Apple Watch Family Sharing in Australia

 

Since I last did a talk with the Accessible Technology Users Group where I said family sharing wasn’t available yet for the Apple Watch, it now is.

 

An Observation or two about Widgets on the iPhone

 

Just a tip, you can only fit a certain number of widgets on the Home screen without VoiceOver not being able to find them, so I use stack in stead which works much better anyway.

 

Apple 1 is Now Available

 

Bundle up to 6 Apple services in to one subscription:

Apple Music,

Apple TV+,

Apple Arcade,

iCloud,

Apple News+

Apple Fitness+ (coming later this year).

 

Individual (50G), family (200G), and premium (2TB) plans.

 

https://one.apple.com/au/?cc=au&urlDesc=&ign-itsct=one-NA-home-tile-apl-avl-102020&ign-itscg=10000

 

HomePod Mini Available to order November 7

 

No, I didn’t mention this in the show, but I’m getting 6 perhaps smile.

 

https://www.apple.com/au/homepod-mini/

 

One Benefit of the iPhone 12 Pro I’ve been Waiting for!

 

Camera on iPhone 12 pro tells people who are blind how far people are away via LIDAR.

 

https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-adding-customizable-people-detection-capability-lidar-equipped-iphones-and-ipad-pro

 

Beats Flex

 

In The Box:

Beats Flex, very short UsBC to USBC cable, Quick start, and warranty card.

 

Wired neck (flex form cable) style ear buds.

4 pair of different sized ear bud tips.

No in ear wings on the tips to secure them in the ear.

Magnetic ear buds and auto pause (start/stop music or answer call).

 

Each side of the wire as they sit next to your neck has an inline control unit:

The full length of the wire between the ear phones is 32 inch’s or about 81CM.

 The left inline control has the  small round Multi function button, medium rectangular Volume rocker, Microphone, and USBC port, and

The right inline control has a small rectangular pairing/on off button. 

 

No IP rating.

 

Multi feature Button functions:

1 stop/pause music or answer/hang up phone call,

 

If music playing

2 times next track or held fast forward,

3 times previous track or if held rewind.

 

Multi feature button can be thought of as  the  clicker on Apple wired Ear phones.

 

12 hours playing time.

10 minute quick charge for an extra 1.5 hours of playing time.

1 to 2 hours fully charge time.

Easily connect via the W1 chip to Apple Watch, and iPhone. via iOS iCloud.

No active noise cancellation.

Very clear on phone calls.

 

Colours - Black, Yellow, Blue, Grey, 

Can be used as general BT ear phones to other devices.

Medium range sound, great for spoken word, VoiceOver, not so good for music lovers.

Only $79Au.

 

https://www.beatsbydre.com/au/earphones/beats-flex

 

Snap on Cases from the AT Guys for the Orbit Writer

 

A 3D printed case to protect the Orbit Writer, but allow you to use it with the lanyard.

 

https://www.atguys.com

Talking Tech for October 26 2020

 

iOS 14.1 Released for the HomePod, iPhone etc - A Note Concerning Intercom

 

As of 14.1, the Intercom feature is only HomePod to HomePod, 14.2 will have the full Intercom functionality from Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad...

Talking Tech for October 26 2020

 

iOS 14.1 Released for the HomePod, iPhone etc - A Note Concerning Intercom

 

As of 14.1, the Intercom feature is only HomePod to HomePod, 14.2 will have the full Intercom functionality from Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad.

 

Here is my demo of HomePod to HomePod Using  The Intercom Feature

 

https://s302.podbean.com/pb/7c924a75d7efc3d3b685cd02c9543b25/5f910876/data1/fs54/339150/uploads/How_to_use_the_HomePod_to_HomePod_intercom_functionbawfb.mp3?pbss=7eed7e75-1a51-5ac1-924c-f14fe7420b88

 

 

A Note About the Camera View on the iPhone for detecting Objects

 

Due to the chip, this function besides letting you know there is a face in the camera view, is only available on the iPhone X and above, it doesn’t work on the iPhone 8.

I had a few questions from folks over the. Week end who couldn’t find the feature, but they were all using iPhone 8 or 8 Plus.

 

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Now in the Wild

 

Available now at your local Apple Store, online, and now expect a raft of videos etc about unboxing etc etc.

Another snippet of news I learnt over the week end, there is an extra sensor in the iPhone 12 Pro max for stabilization, but besides this, you might as well save yourself some money and just get the iPhone 12 Pro (if you are after a Pro - remember LIDAR) according to some folks on the web.

 

Sound Scape Street View Beta

 

This works well, you can virtually go to a specific location, and then use all the usual Sound Scape commands to look around, and choose “Go” on the Street View screen to keep moving in the direction you are pointing.  If you turn the iPhone, you will hear an orchestral sound and then feel a vibration to say you have locked on to a new direction and way you go again.

 

ChromeCast with Google TV

 

From beginning to completing setup, I was fully able to do this with Talkback in Australia.

To turn on Talkback initially, I held down Back/Down Arrow for 3 seconds to enable Talkback.

 

Hoping to do a podcast very soon.

 

My Demo of the New Nest Audio

 

A month or so ago Google had the event, and I assumed that the new Google Home now called Nest Audio was more or less the same, since no one had actually described it to me, and I didn’t double check on twitter smile.

Simply it is a pill like speaker, about 15CM tall, and similar touch spots to the Google Mini now called and updated Nest Mini which feels like the older Google Mini, but I’m assuming sounding a bit nicer.

At any rate, here is my podcast of playing with the Nest Audio.

 

https://s159.podbean.com/pb/d72e3dbd1c6db8c206c6f45d9cac257f/5f910684/data3/fs54/339150/uploads/a_bit_of_a_play_around_with_the_New_Nest_Audio_that_replaces_the_original_Google_Home6wrxx.mp3?pbss=33efed1b-db82-5260-b82e-7cf7c3034b5a

 

AfterShokz Now Has Their Own Website in Australia.

 

This is excellent news, plus I was able to get a go at the new AfterShokz OpenMove ear phones, and found them quite comfortable and like the fact that it now uses a USBC cable.

 

Here is my podcast of the AfterShokz OpenMove.

 

Https://www.aftershokz.com.au

 

Speaking of Head Phones, the cheap Beats Flex Look Quite Interesting

 

These have been out for a little while, are $79Au, have the H1 chip, have a wire connecting both ear phones, and sound quite good for listening to audio books, podcasts, VoiceOver etc, not brilliant at music if you are a music lover.

 

Hoping to get a pair of these this week, so I’ll let you know.

 

A few More Podcasts From Me

 

Tip on how to Force Quit an app on the Apple Watch, Mac, TV, and iOS devices.

A demo on how I use the workout app on my Apple Watch to do several Workout sub-routines.

Check these out on:

http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com

The Apple October Keynote Event

 

Here is the link to the October event (if you have Audio Description enabled it will activate).

 

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/october-2020/

 

HomePod Mini

 

HomePod Mini for only $149 Australian.

Note - HomePod still available.

HomePod Mini with Intercom feature, much smaller and lighter, and other features.

Pre-order November 7, and available November 16.

For all of the specs of the HomePod Mini and what it can do, check out the following link.

 

https://www.apple.com/au/homepod-mini/

 

iPhone 12

 

iPhone 12 (and 12 mini).

iPhone 12 Pro (and Pro Max).

 

Note - iPhone 12 Pro only iPhone with LIDAR Scanner and 3rd lens.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro 6.1 inch screen.

iPhone 12 mini 5.4 inch screen, and iPhone 12 Pro Max 6.7 inch screen.

Ceramic shield (4 times more drop resistant), Mag Safe connectivity, and sort of feels like an iPhone 4 or 5 with the glass front/back, and the stainless steel band around the edge.

All iPhone 12’s have 5G.

Remember, there are no USB chargers or ear phones in the iPhone box any more.  Plus the cable that comes with the iPhone is a lightning to USBC cable, so if you have existing UsB A chargers or USB wall sockets, you’ll need to grab a UsBC to USB adapter.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro  pre-order October 16, available October 23.

iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-order November 7.

Even with the toughened glass, I still recommend putting any phone in a case (such as the Mag Safe cases etc) and a glass screen protecter.

For all the specs of the iPhone 12 in its 4 variations check out the following link.

 

https://www.apple.com/au/iphone-12/

 

A Possible warning about the use of the Amazon FireTV Stick Lite with Alexa Remote in Australia

 

I just want to give you a bit of a warning about the Amazon FireTV stick Lite with Alexa Remote, when I got mine, it seems that because I’m in Australia and my Amazon account is also Australian, the Text to speech for VoiceView to make the FireTV speak does not work.

Alexa is fine, but you won’t be able to navigate with VoiceView unless you have a US account.  When I tried with the help of my son to force my region and language to US, VoiceView worked for about 2 mins and then stopped.

I hope this was me, but something to be careful about if you are considering one of these devices and you are in Australia, and have an Aussie Amazon account.

As we go to air this week, I’m still waiting on my Google TV stick so here is hoping the experience with the screen reader is different.

At any rate, there is still the Apple TV smile. 

 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Fire-TV-Stick-Lite-with-Alexa-Voice-Remote-Lite%C2%A0/dp/B07ZZW1B82/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=amazon+fire+tv+stick+with+alexa+remote&qid=1603068376&sr=8-5

 

Virtual Event - International Council on English Braille  

 

The link to the International Council on English Braille (ICEB)

General Assembly Running from today through to Friday morning from 6:00am AEDT.

Stream commences half an hour earlier.

 

I think it is amazing with these virtual events, that in some ways they are more accessible to a wider audience than people having to travel, pay for accommodation, worrying about physical access or for some folks, they may be well enough to attend virtually but not physically.

 

In some ways, a bit sad that it took a pandemic  to prove a bit of a point about virtual conferences.

 

Links to audio on demand and podcasts also available from the page link below.

 

http://live.braillecast.com

The Apple October Keynote Event

 

Here is the link to the October event (if you have Audio Description enabled it will activate).

 

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/october-2020/

 

HomePod Mini

 

HomePod Mini for only $149 Australian.

Note - HomePod st...

The Apple October Keynote Event

 

Here is the link to the October event (if you have Audio Description enabled it will activate).

 

https://www.apple.com/apple-events/october-2020/

 

HomePod Mini

 

HomePod Mini for only $149 Australian.

Note - HomePod still available.

HomePod Mini with Intercom feature, much smaller and lighter, and other features.

Pre-order November 7, and available November 16.

For all of the specs of the HomePod Mini and what it can do, check out the following link.

 

https://www.apple.com/au/homepod-mini/

 

iPhone 12

 

iPhone 12 (and 12 mini).

iPhone 12 Pro (and Pro Max).

 

Note - iPhone 12 Pro only iPhone with LIDAR Scanner and 3rd lens.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro 6.1 inch screen.

iPhone 12 mini 5.4 inch screen, and iPhone 12 Pro Max 6.7 inch screen.

Ceramic shield (4 times more drop resistant), Mag Safe connectivity, and sort of feels like an iPhone 4 or 5 with the glass front/back, and the stainless steel band around the edge.

All iPhone 12’s have 5G.

Remember, there are no USB chargers or ear phones in the iPhone box any more.  Plus the cable that comes with the iPhone is a lightning to USBC cable, so if you have existing UsB A chargers or USB wall sockets, you’ll need to grab a UsBC to USB adapter.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro  pre-order October 16, available October 23.

iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-order November 7.

Even with the toughened glass, I still recommend putting any phone in a case (such as the Mag Safe cases etc) and a glass screen protecter.

For all the specs of the iPhone 12 in its 4 variations check out the following link.

 

https://www.apple.com/au/iphone-12/

 

A Possible warning about the use of the Amazon FireTV Stick Lite with Alexa Remote in Australia

 

I just want to give you a bit of a warning about the Amazon FireTV stick Lite with Alexa Remote, when I got mine, it seems that because I’m in Australia and my Amazon account is also Australian, the Text to speech for VoiceView to make the FireTV speak does not work.

Alexa is fine, but you won’t be able to navigate with VoiceView unless you have a US account.  When I tried with the help of my son to force my region and language to US, VoiceView worked for about 2 mins and then stopped.

I hope this was me, but something to be careful about if you are considering one of these devices and you are in Australia, and have an Aussie Amazon account.

As we go to air this week, I’m still waiting on my Google TV stick so here is hoping the experience with the screen reader is different.

At any rate, there is still the Apple TV smile. 

 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Fire-TV-Stick-Lite-with-Alexa-Voice-Remote-Lite%C2%A0/dp/B07ZZW1B82/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=amazon+fire+tv+stick+with+alexa+remote&qid=1603068376&sr=8-5

 

Virtual Event - International Council on English Braille  

 

The link to the International Council on English Braille (ICEB)

General Assembly Running from today through to Friday morning from 6:00am AEDT.

Stream commences half an hour earlier.

 

I think it is amazing with these virtual events, that in some ways they are more accessible to a wider audience than people having to travel, pay for accommodation, worrying about physical access or for some folks, they may be well enough to attend virtually but not physically.

 

In some ways, a bit sad that it took a pandemic  to prove a bit of a point about virtual conferences.

 

Links to audio on demand and podcasts also available from the page link below.

 

http://live.braillecast.com