Some Suggested Places to Catch up with the New Hardware announced by Apple ON September 12 (US) 2023

Apple

The Apple’s Events Page where you can watch the new and Recent Keynotes

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

AppleVis

The Applevis Community page for blog articles about the September 2023 Announcements

https://applevis.com

Twit TV

The TWiT TV Network Does a Great live/Podcast on the Apple Keynotes where they have commentary abut the Event

https://twit.tv

iMore

I’ve always found the iMore a great source for info about Apple

https://www.imore.com

The Verge

Another one of my preferred source for Tch News

https://www.theverge.com

Some Podcast Suggestions

Appleviss, Living Blindfully, Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast.

You should be able to find these in your favourite podcast app.

Let Us Not Forget All the Software Updates 

iOs 17, iPad OS 17, Watch OS 10, TV OS 10, and HomePod 17.

Mac OS 14 usually comes out in October.

Several History items next for a bit of perspective.

Watch Phil Schiller Launch the Lightning Connecter on September 12 11 Years ago with the iPhone 5 which replaced the 30 pin connecter which made its appearance in 2003.

Now in 2023, its the USBC.

https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/07/apple-iphone-lightning-usb-c/

Apple Watch was Launch 8 Years Ago on September 9 2015

Of Course we are looking at the new Apple Watch, but it was pretty special when it came out.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/04/24/how-apple-watch-went-from-rumor-to-shipping-product-on-april-24-2015?utm_medium=rss

Apple AirPods Launched 7 Years ago in 2016 and Changed the World

Lets see if we get an updated AirPod or not.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/09/07/apple-launched-airpods-seven-years-ago-and-changed-the-world-again?utm_medium=rss

Amazon to Discontinue Classic Kindle Mac App Whilst it Works on a New One

Lets hope the replacement will actually be accessible later this year.

https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/05/amazon-kindle-app-mac/

Microsoft is Discontinuing Wordpad After Almost 30 Years on the Job

This always came in handy for reading RTF files which of course Notepad doesn’t (txt files only). 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-is-retiring-wordpad-after-almost-30-years-on-the-job/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

Google Search for an AI Future as it Turns 25

Surprises me that Google out of all of the main tech company’s seems to be running last on the AI race.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66659361?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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NASA Sounds Alarm about the Deep Space Network

https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/08/nasas-artemis-i-mission-nearly-broke-the-deep-space-network/

Space X Sending iPhone Emergency SOS Satellites in to Space 

https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/01/spacex-iphone-emergency-satellites-globalstar/

Nissan is Reusing Old Batterys from Electric Cars for portable Power sources.

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/nissan-reusing-batteries-leaf-electric-vehicles-make-portable-102828299

Anchor Just Announced its most portable battery yet that Could Charge a Home

https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/smart-home/anker-just-launched-its-most-powerful-portable-battery-that-could-power-an-entire-home/#ftag=RSSbaffb68

Sound Scape is Back on the iOS App Store

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/soundscape/id6459021379

September Apple Event Confirmed for the twelfth 

Or 13 our time.

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

iPhones and iPads Compatible with iOS 17 Reminder

https://www.makeuseof.com/which-iphones-and-ipads-support-ios-17-ipados-17/

Amazon Event for September 20 2023.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/amazon-will-show-you-its-newest-devices-in-september/

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Sam Taylor Joins Vision Australia as an AT

If you are wondering where Sam has gone from Pacific Vision, he is going the Technology Services team at VA as an ATS.

How the EU’S New Battery Rule Could Change Your iPhone

https://www.macworld.com/article/1993926/european-union-battery-regulation-removable-iphone-ipad-macbook-2.html

The EU’s Digital Services ACT Goes into Effect

https://www.theverge.com/23845672/eu-digital-services-act-explained

Google Wants you to Search for a Song by Humming It

https://au.pcmag.com/streaming-music-services/101381/google-wants-to-let-you-search-for-a-song-by-humming-it

Folding Phones are Everywhere, are they Any good?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/24/foldable-phone-flip-guide-2023/

Why Note Taking Apps Don’t Make Us Smarter

https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/25/23845590/note-taking-apps-ai-chat-distractions-notion-roam-mem-obsidian

I Don’t know How it’s Managed it, But Spring for X (Twitter) is Still Available 

You Can Finally Buy Lego’s Braille Bricks

https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/24/you-can-finally-buy-legos-braille-bricks/

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Be-My-Eyes AI Assistant

My experience so far: overall quite positive, still a way to go with positive 100 percent object recognition.

Australian Invention to Help the Blind

Smart glasses due out in 2025 which uses AI and object recognition to tell you about the world around you.

Same goes here for AI object recognition, lets see how it goes shall we!!!!

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/australian-glasses-invention-to-help-the-blind-20230814-p5dwh8.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_technology

Lazarillo Now Available on the Blind Shell Classic 2

Lazarillo excellent app for iOS/Android, now can use it on the Blind Shell Classic 2. Great app and well done on the BS 2 interface.

VO Starter for Teaching Voiceover on iOS is Back

Fantastic, if you know any one who has trouble learning VoiceOver on iOS, this is the app for them.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vo-starter/id6455786629

Interesting New Product on the Vision Store

Mobile Phone 3D Screen Amplifier

A foldable stand with a magnification screen which sits in front of the smart phone and magnifiers the screen up to 3 times.

Great for viewing videos or having a closer look at a photo without changing settings on the smart phone.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/mobile-phone-3d-screen-amplifier.html

Pre-Orders for The Braille Doodle from Touch Pro Foundation

40 thousand dollars worth of pre-orders received in 18 country’s.

No money up front, place name to receive 40 percent off Braille Doodle scheduled for release in the coming months.

I also managed to get my hands on one, and I’m very impressed.

Pre-order interest form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeI7MW9eMkXcEeF63hQSxPdia3Bj6njZAw522yLNHPvXTKOIA/viewform

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Vision Australia Digital Access Assistive Technology Survey

https://visionaucx.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9XmHczxfoUMwFh4

Bindi maps Navigation Survey

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WC5ZM8L__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!AWdtzaBl4_YqQypD7rdzit6SkKUl2dv1uRe7GK2Ez1M3L0ThJi6WtYhv2niQEYrdGWkSj3WmfnQCSUvtXTps8-BVPdY$

Be-My-Eyes Extending Testing Virtual AI Assistance from August 15

https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/introducing-be-my-ai

Musing about assistive tech for home, school, and employment

Note - these are just recommendations and ideas, check at the end of the show notes where to get further assistance or information.

For low vision folks, please get an assessment for any video magnification equipment/software.

Thoughts on main stream and assistive tech for home as a person who lives with low vision

Windows

Windows 11 PC desktop or laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

Zoom, Zoomtext

Mac

M2 MBP 14 Pro

System Zoom

Other 

Good size LED monitor

Monitor arm

Large print keyboard

iPhone or Android smart phone or tablet.

Smart phone or tablet stand

Printer/scanner

Shokz

Video Magnifier: portable, desktop.  Or units that have both magnification` and speech.

Thoughts on assistive tech for school/further study as a person who is low vision

Windows

Windows 11 PC laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

Zoomtext or Zoom

Mac

M2 MBP 14 Pro

System Zoom

Other

Good size LED monitor

Monitor arm

Large print keyboard

iPhone 14 plus

iPad

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Printer/scanner

Shokz

Video Magnifier: portable, desktop, wearable, magnification/speech.

Thoughts on assistive tech for employment as person who is low vision

Windows

Windows 11 PC laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

Zoomtext

Mac

M2 MBP 14 Pro

System Zoom

Other

Good size LED monitor

Monitor arm

Large print keyboard

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPad

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Shokz

Video Magnifier: portable, desktop, wearable, magnifidcation/speech

Where to get assistance on deciding best tech fit or funding.

VA AT Help Desk.

VA AT service.

VA Bursary awards

Job accesss

Etc

Call Vision Australia on 1300 847 466 or email [email protected]

For many of the products, go to the VA Store online shop:

Https://shop.visionaustrlaia.org

Contact the Vision Store email [email protected] 

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Musing about assistive tech for home, school, and employment

The show today is blindness related, and next weeks show will be on low vision.

Note - these are just recommendations and ideas, check at the end of the show notes where to get further assistance or information.

Thoughts on main stream and assistive tech for home as a person who is blind

Windows

Windows 11 PC desktop or laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

NvDA, Narrator  or JaWS

Mac

Mac mini

M2 MBP 14 Pro

VoiceOver

Other 

Perkins Brailler

iPhone 14 Pro

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Printer/scanner

Shokz

Thoughts on assistive tech for school/further study as a person who is blind

Windows

Windows 11 PC laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

JAWS for Windows or NVDA

Mac

M2 MBP 14 Pro

VoiceOver

Other

Perkins Brailler

Brailliant BI40X

Victor Reader Stream 3

iPhone 14 Pro

iPad

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Mini Guide

Printer/scanner

Shokz

Thoughts on assistive tech for employment as person who is blind

Windows

Windows 11 PC laptop I7 with 16GB of RAM

JAWS for Windows

Mac

M2 MBP 14 Pro

VoiceOver

Other

Perkins Brailler

Brailliant BI40X

Orcam

Victor Reader Stream 3

Braille embosser

iPhone 14 Pro

iPad

Bluetooth keyboard

Smart phone or tablet stand

Stella Trek

Mini Guide

Shokz

Where to get assistance on deciding best tech fit or funding.

VA AT Help Desk.

VA AT service.

VA Bursary awards

Job accesss

Etc

Call Vision Australia on 1300 847 466 or email [email protected]

For many of the products, go to the VA Store online shop:

Https://shop.visionaustrlaia.org

Contact the Vision Store email [email protected] 

A few more things.

The Weatherology app for iOS

Using Human speech to announce the Weather.

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/weatherology-weather-together/id557268375

Chat GPT comes to the Android Play Store

Actually I’m going to sneak Bing from Microsoft in here as it uses Chat GPT 4, and is of course on both Android and iOS

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.bing&hl=en&gl=US

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Talking Tech for August 1 2023

Exploring Tech Webinar for Accessing the Printed Word now up on Youtube

Covering Magnification and print to speech from printed words on mail from the mail box, on packaging etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecXIAgGF1F0&t=2s

Apparently This has been a Thing for about a decade, ASMR

This is a physical response  in your body (tingling)to particular visual, audio or both stimuli for relaxation, mindfulness etc, and is experienced differently for each individual…

Here is a good intro article on ASMR:

https://naturesoundretreat.com/complete-guide-to-asmr/

And here is a good Youtube intro with examples and how it works without the initial whispering smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-nLDznr-tI

Search for ASMR in Apple Music or I’m assuming other music streaming services, and of course Youtube where There are over 13 million YouTube videos.

Remember lots and lots to choose from to find what you like.

I’ve also found a few skills on Amazon Echo for ASMR as well.

For me I’m specifically more of a music or nature sounds person, which is why I loved this app recommended to me called MyNoise when I was doing a bit of research on ASMR.

Amazing sound app, you can change all the elements of each sound track: eg all the different sound track elements: eg birds, waves, crowd noise all in the same track to get your best personal listening experience.

The MyNoise app link for iOS

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/mynoise-relax-sleep-work/id813099896

The MyNoise link for Android

://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mynoise.mynoise&gl=AL&pli=1

My Quick Thoughts on the Shocks Open Fit Ear Phones

Sluggish with VoiceOver on iOS, slow response to gestures on the ear phones, a bit easy to knock off ears even with the ear hooks.

Sound itself isn’t to bad, and phone calls are clear.

https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/shokz-openfit

Twitter Changing It’s Name/Apps to X

Twitter X renamed App Now on Both Android and iOS.

Confusing thing is, all the content inside the X app is still twitter smile.

Samsung Product Announcement

Yep, new Z Flip, Fold, galaxy S9 tablet, and Galaxy watch 6.

More of a tweet upgrade in most ways.

https://www.engadget.com/summer-samsung-unpacked-2023-everything-announced-at-the-event-134721886.html?src=rss

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Things You Can still Do Offline with Electric Type Things

No Internet or wifi required  in other words or for quite a lot, no internet at all.

Victor Reader Stratus 12m plus Wifi.

Listen to audio CDS, commercial audio books, music, documents, and daisy books.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/victor-reader-stratus-12m-wi-fi.html

Victor Reader Stream 3.

access documents, daisy books, music, and record/listen to voice notes.

SensePlay OCR ET.

Access documents, daisy books, music, record/listen to text/notes, FM radio, and navigate smart phone/tablet.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/sense-player-ocr-et.html

Brailliant BI20X or BI40X

Access/edit documents/BRF, daisy books, time/date, , calculator, and access smart phone/tablets as a Braille display withh a Perkins style Braille keyboard.

Brailliant BI20X

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/brailliant-bi-20x-cells.html

Brailliant BI40X

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/brailliant-bi-40x-cells.html

Mantis Q40

Access/edit documents/BRF, daisy books, time/date, and access smart phone/tablets as a Braille display with a QWERTY keyboard.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/mantis-q40.html

WeWalk.

Sonar function.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/wewalk-smart-cane-54.html

Victor Reader Trek.

Victor Reader offline functionality and GPS.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/victor-reader-trek.html

Stella Trek

GPS, and OCR.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/victor-reader-trek.html

OrCam MyEye Pro

OCR, Face Recognition, currency identification, bar code reading.

https://shop.visionaustralia.org/orcam-myeye-pro.html

Two items that are not yet on the VA web shop website is Envision, and QBraille, but both can be supplied by Vision Australia Vision Store..

Envision Glasses

QBraille

Notepad, Daisy reader, calculator, alarm, date/time, stopwatch, countdown timer, calendar, and access to a smart phone/tablet via the Perkins style Braille keyboard.

Blind Shell Classic 2.

Contacts, text/voice notes, calendar, flash light, games, magnifier, timer, stopwatch, FM Radio, camera..

Accessing peripherals such as head phones, speakers, keyboards.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

Smart phone/tablet.

Offline apps, downloaded content such as books, podcasts, TV shows and Movies, games, take text/voice notes.

Plus all of the accessibility functions including using the camera as a video magnifier or Bluetooth enabled smart devices.

Not to mention accessing peripherals for using Braille, keyboards, head phones, speakers  etc.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

Smart Watch.

Time/Date, Downloaded audio books/Music, flash light, health and wellbeing activities etc.

Note - with the Apple Watch you can connect it to a Braille display.

Not to mention accessing peripherals for using head phones, speakers  etc.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

All smart watch’s still need a smart phone to connect to.

desktop or laptop computer

Offline applications (word processing etc), , downloaded content such as books, podcasts, TV shows, and Movies.

Not to mention accessing peripherals for printing and scanning, head phones, speakers, Braille displays, keyboards etc.

Just think about what you can access when you’re flying and you are in airplane mode.

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Ok Tried to Avoid AI News for a While, but Here are Some Interesting articles for listeners to read, learn a bit more about AI,and get a sense of what is happening.

Bill Gates Explains Why we Should Not beA Afraid of AI

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/12/bill-gates-explains-why-we-shouldnt-be-afraid-of-ai.html

Amazon CEO Explains How They will Complete with AI Race Search

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/06/amazon-ceo-explains-how-the-company-will-compete-in-ai-race-.html

Open AI is Forming a Team to Rein in Super Intelligent AI

https://www.engadget.com/openai-is-forming-a-team-to-rein-in-superintelligent-ai-214333388.html?src=rss&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAItHf3ac-H0PDfsNfNM_BY_F93R8atQBdXqtkoRpg-anTpYPOhbvxFOOvHpusD4Fn3sRtvF0mMJhQe16NSbEpgiQKTLooWWVnf8AfshcmoU67xAIOv8aqmnbXFf1K_aokbyZEl9XKr9mbUvnt6LMeRej2_Yx7PVbC6sZsQFDtZNs

Yes AI Could Disrupt Education, but Perhaps that is Not a Bad Thing

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/14/ai-artificial-intelligence-disrupt-education-creativity-critical-thinking

MIT Study, Chat GPT Increases Productivity

https://mashable.com/article/mit-study-chatgpt-increases-productivity-decreases-inequality

AI are Becoming News Readers in Asia, Could They Come to Australia

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-13/artificial-intelligence-news-readers-becoming-common-in-asia/102591790

Generative AI Like Chat GPT Could Improve Web Accessibility

https://venturebeat.com/ai/how-generative-ai-tools-like-chatgpt-can-revolutionize-web-accessibility/

Is Robo-Debt More Likely if we Give AI to Much Power

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/another-robo-debt-disaster-s-inevitable-if-we-give-ai-too-much-autonomy-20230712-p5dnlv.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_technology

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An Update About the Philips Air Fryer 5000

App for Android and iOS not very accessible, but usable via Amazon Echo.

My Find of the Tefal Grill Fry Classic Air Fryer

Has real and usable knobs: one for time, and the other for temperature.

https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/tefal-easy-fry-classic-air-fryer-ey2018

July Webinar 2023

Reading hard copy print via Magnification or Text to Speech

Register at the following link:

https://visionaustralia.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D1LBn7TXQDiYxEkdWEVM3A#/registration

Bursary 2024 Now Open

Apply now for this grant to support your study for next year with Cert 4 and above.

https://www.visionaustralia.org/bursary

Humanware Explore Magnifier app for iOS and Android

A simple to use magnification app for your smart phone.

iOS

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/humanware-explor%C4%93-magnifier/id6443956466

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.humanware.hwmagnifier

Threads, An Instagram App - Share Ideas/Text with Friends

Mainly accessible for VoiceOver users.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threads-an-instagram-app/id6446901002

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