Very Important smile, How to Listen to The Current Test Series Between Australia and Pakistan

In short, the Cricket app, and TuneIn Radio app have the live stream of the current two test series via Wisden.com.

Check out Stephen’s excellent webpage for this and other useful online streaming links.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/stephenjolley/livestreams

Freedom Scientific/FVO Group Changes It’s Name to Vispero

Freedom Scientific/VFO Group  has rebranded to Vispero.  Seems to be following along the foot steps of Aira.

https://vispero.com/vfo-announces-corporate-rebranding/

Microsoft Windows October 2018 Roll Out Put On Hold

If you haven’t upgraded yet, don’t, some users are experiencing lost files after updating and Microsoft has stopped the roll out for the moment.

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/10/the-windows-10-october-update-has-turned-into-a-real-mess/

Some Series 4 Apple Watch’s Rebooting With Day Light Saving Time in Australia

This is with the info graph Activity complication making the watch reboot with the change to Day Light Saving on Sunday the 7th of October which people in Australia will have gotten past by now, but trick was to let watch go flat, change the watch face, and then recharge/restart the watch.  Hopefully this bug will be fixed before Day Light Saving changes at the end of October and early November in the Northern hemisphere.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/07/apple-watch-series-4-crash-loop-bug/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+9To5Mac-MacAllDay+%289+to+5+Mac+-+Apple+Intelligence%29

Google Releases Voice Access App to Help Those with Limited Mobility

Gives control over the screen without having to touch, all done via voice: Go Home/Back, Click on button, and Voice dictate.

https://techcrunch.com/2018/10/02/google-launches-voice-assistant-app-to-help-people-with-limited-mobility-use-their-phones/

Link in Play Store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.accessibility.voiceaccess&e=-EnableAppDetailsPageRedesign

Help for Voice Access:

https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6151848

Google’s Event this week for October 9 

2018

Besides the update to the Pixel Phones, possible update to Chromecast devices and other hardware such as a slate tablet, I’m very interested in seeing how accessible the Google Home Hub with its 7 inch screen will be, and if the screen is a touch screen, how accessible it will be.

https://t.co/9NSAOO836U

Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Generation and the Amazon Echo 2nd Generation Available in Australia from the 11Th of October

The 3rd generation Echo Dot is an update to the Echo Dot 2nd generation with a fabric cover, and better sound.

The Amazon Echo Show is a 10 inch tablet with speakers.

Comparison Between the Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen and the Google Home Mini by Cnet:

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-new-echo-dot-vs-google-home-mini-which-sounds-better/#ftag=CAD-09-10aai5b

Which Amazon Echo to Purchase:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-echo-dot-tap-look-show-which-alexa-is-right-for-you/

Using Accessibility Options On An Amazon Echo Device With A Screen

https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-4?ie=UTF8&nodeId=202158200&qid=1538723297&sr=1-4&linkId=57763124

When To Expect Apple’s iPad Event

All gossip is for an October event concerning the iPad, so I guess we’ll soon find out one way or the other.  As iOS 12 has the new iPhone X style gestures, speculation is that we’ll see a new iPad with FaceID and no Home button/Touch ID.

I’m wondering if we’ll also see the AirPad smile.

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/10/03/when-to-expect-an-apple-event-in-october/

Vision Store Product Highlight - Google Home

A good solid smart speaker and music player.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/shop/product/google-home

If I used Terms Like - “Mushroom FM”, “Blind Side podcast”, “FSCast Podcast” or “Daily Fibre: you would work out who the guest is going to be on this weeks Talking Tech - Jonathan Mosen.

Jonathan Mosen is well known in the industry for his Blind Side podcast, the voice of FSCast podcast, the Daily Fibre, his various ebook and audio books, and before that, his work with Humanware, and aCB Radio.

Now Jonathan is pulling back a bit from all his current various commitments as he will be embarking on a new adventure with Aira.

Jonathan’s new role will be has Vice President for Australasia and Explorer Communications a position he will be taking up on October 15 2018.

Stephen and I discussed what now and in to the future with Jonathan.

Jonathan also detailed his thoughts and feelings in the latest Blind Side podcast 105 and a blog article on Mosen which detailed its closing down:

https://mosen.org/closing/

A Great Find Over the Weekend Double Adapters With USB ports

Found these at Woolworths, a double adapter but only has one plug for a standard plug, but 4 UsB points, great if you have to plug UsB devices in, purchased 3 to have behind my coffee machine, at the back of the freezer in the bathroom, and on the power board in the toy room/office.  Look for the Jackson brand.

Another Find Over the Weekend, this time Grandfather Clock Skill For The Amazon Echo

Doesn’t chime, but you have the relaxing pendulum tick tick of the grandfather clock.  Just search for Grandfather clock in the amazon.com.au Australian Store.

Catching Up With The Podcasts From the Vision Australia Retail store

If you want to keep up to date with the podcasts/demos that Amanda and I will be doing from the Vision Australia Retail Store, use this link:

https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/category/vision-store/

Quick Update On Main Features of Apple’s OS updates

There appears to be nothing special in TV Os 12.

Watch OS 5 Main Points

For Apple Watch Series 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Activity competitions,

Automatic workout detection,

Podcasts app on Apple Watch,

Walkie-Talkie now on Apple Watch,

Smarter Siri (plus Shortcuts),

Better notifications,

Check content of webpages on Apple Watch,

It is possible with Watch OS 5 to slide up from the bottom of the screen or down fro the top to go in to the Control Centre (from bottom) or Notifications (from top).  These remind me of the iPhone X style gestures and do take a bit of getting used to.  Unlike the flick up or down gesture on the watch face to access Notifications or Control Centre, these gestures will work on the watch face, list of apps or when in an app.

Mac OS Mojave

Dark mode,

4 new apps: Home, News, Stocks, and Voice Memo, and

A redesigned App Store.

FaceTime not supporting up to 30 people to later this year.

Now available as of September 25, and you can download the Mojave update from the Mac App Store.

iOS 12

Faster and More Responsive back to iPhone 5s and earlier iPads/minis  (check on Apple.com).

Screen Time,

Granular control of notifications,

Live Listen come to AirPods,

Siri Shortcuts,

Voice Memo is now available on the iPad,

New iPhone X gestures on iPad for Home, Notifications etc,

FaceTime supporting up to 30 people with iOS 12.1.

Major Feature of IOS 12 - Siri Shortcuts

A discussion of Siri Shortcuts.

Here is the link to my Siri Shortcut testing notes:

http://davidwoodbridge.blogspot.com/2018/09/my-siri-shortcut-testing-notes.html

ESIMM nOt Yet Available In the iPhone X S or S Max

ESIMM support is still in beta as the show goes to air. Hopefully with iOS 12.1 it will be soon released and the telcos will be offering it.

Several Podcasts From Me

Using the 3 new features on the HomePod - Multiple Timers, Find My iPhone, and making/receiving a call.

New iPad iPhone X style gestures come to the iPad.

A catch up with Steven Bennett from Dolphin Computer Access about their products in Australia.

Expanding On The iPhone X Style Gestures for the iPad With VoiceOver

It looks like there may be a new iPad coming soon that may no longer need the Home button due to the iPhone X gestures.  With these you can:

Short drag up from bottom: Home button,

Long drag up from the bottom: App Switcher,

Short drag from the top: Control Centre,

Long drag from the top: Notifications, and

Short drag up then down rom the bottom: show/hide the Dock when within an app.

Of course, for the meantime, you can still use your Home button in the existing iPads.

Speaking of the iPad, it is great to see the Voice Memo now being available ob the iPad with iOS 12.

Orbit Reader 20 News

Orders for the Orbit Reader have been so well received, Vision Australia is now waiting on the next shipment.  We’ll let you know when the next units are available to buy.

Audible App Comes to the Apple Watch

Now possible to sync your books over to the Audible app on your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.  Just make sure you have updated to the latest version via Updates in the App Store app. When you want to sync a book that is in your Audible app, go to the menu button associated with the book. And choose Sync to Apple Watch, that simple.

Of course, you’ll need head phones to be able to listen to the Audible books.

Sound Scape - 3D Audio GPS navigation App

Now available in the Australian iOS App Store,

I did several media events for Microsoft on the sound Scape launch last week, and

My best likes about the product.

Link to the Sound Scape app on the App Store, Youtube Audio Described launch video, and my audio orientation demo to the App:

iOS App Store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-soundscape/id1240320677?mt=8

Youtube audio described video of the Sound Scape launch from the Microsoft Event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB4SLNq0yTk&feature=youtu.be

My Podcast on Sound Scape:

https://davidwoodbr.podbean.com/mf/web/ppybig/Demo_of_the_Microsoft_Sound_Scape_iOS_app.mp3

Apple Keynote Held Thursday September 13 2018

New Apple Watch Series 4,

3 new iPhones: iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and iPhone XS Max,

Updates fro HomePod: multiple timers, find my friends, and Message/phone calls, and

When Mac Mojave will be available.

My thoughts on the keynote: very drawn out, no audio described videos, and no mention of the AirPower wireless charging pad still.

Apple Watch Series 4

Available 21/9/2018.

Bigger physical screen and more room for content,40MM, and 44Mm,

can still use 38mm or 42mm bands,

Fall detection,

ECG monitoring from Digital Crown (not sure if available in Australia yet),

50 percent louder,

Moved mic to other side of watch for better recording quality,

Haptic Digital Crown, and

Longer battery life.

https://www.apple.com/au/watch/

iPhones

iPhone Xs - pre-order from 14/9/2018 available 21.

iPhone Xs Max - pre-order from 14/9/2018 available 21.

iPhone X R - Pre-order from 19/10/2018.

iPhone Xs and Max

5.8 and 6.5 inch screens,

Super Retina display,

Faster FaceID,

A12 Bionic Chip,

Record in stereo,

Dual SIMM (one physical SIMM and one ESIMM),

Dual camera system,

Up to 512GB storage,

Silver, Gold, and space grey,

Glass and stainless steel construction, and

iP68 protection.

iPhone Xr

6.1 inch screen,

Liquid Retina display (CD),

6 colours: blue, white, black, yellow, coral, product red,

Up to 256GB,

Glass and aluminium construction, and

iP67 protection.

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

From the Apple Store with The new Hardware you can now purchase:

iPhone 7, 8, iPhone XS, and iPhone Xr.

Apple Watch: Series 3, and Series 4.

So no more iPhone SE or iPhone 6s, and Apple Watch series 1.

Update from the Sunu Band Workshops at Vision Australia Last week

Caught up with Fernando Albertorio from Sunu about the Sunu Band.  Podcast link follows:

https://s138.podbean.com/pb/41bd9e7f801eb46d865e3d2b04aba63a/5b9ef52b/data1/fs54/339150/uploads/discussion_about_the_Sunu_Band_from_the_Vision_Australia_Vision_Store.m4a?pbss=54be31a9-0b7e-5237-ce44-27ccbc7f10dc

JAWS 2019 Public Beta

From the FSCast podcast Episode 158

JAWS load time faster,

Backward and future compatibility for Microsoft Office scripts,

Improvements to Braille re formatting. With Office (Word in particular),

Audio dDucking is back,

More work on the Tab key: no longer echos such as Alt+Tab,

Support for Skype 8 continues,

Speed increase in downloading the public beta and future updates,

Braille and Text viewer improvements,,

Easier access to Nuance voices via a dialog  box rather than going to a website,

Better control over detecting spelling mistakes: eg a subtle sound, and

getting rid of prompt to unload with JAWS+F4: will just unload.

Public beta out soon after the podcast aired.

Not all features may be in public beta cycle.

FSCast Page:

http://blog.freedomscientific.com/fscast

Great New Function In Google Home - “Hey Google Play Musical Chairs”

Found this over the week end for all the family or anyone else for that matter to play musical chairs with Google Home.

Great iPhone and Apple Watch App - Repeat Timer

Repeat Timer - Excellent timer for timing intervals for Apple Watch and iPhone

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/repeat-timer/id443410415?mt=8&app=watch

You Can Now Use Alexa with Cortana in Windows 10

If you use Windows 10 with Cortana, this is one way you can also enjoy another smart assistant and stay on the same machine.

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2018/08/15/amazon-alexa-microsoft-cortana-team/

Microsoft Recently Announced RS5 When Released Will be Known As Windows 10 October 2018 Release

I am noting this as there has been tremendous strides in the Windows Insider RS5 builds for Narrator, and everyone should take a look at when the Windows October 2018 update is officially released.

A Review of Sound Scape from AFB AccessWorld

We may be seeing Sound Scape from Microsoft very soon in Australia, so I thought it was important to refresh peoples memory of the app.  The only feature not in the article is the new Marker item to mark specific locations.

http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubnew.asp?DocID=aw190805&mode=like