AccessWatch

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of May 16, 2009

2009-05-13T21:07:00.002-06:00

On this week's edition of Main Menu:

David Tanner talks with David Andrews about the new NLS digital talking book players soon to be released and David Andrews gives us a demonstration of the player. Next, David Tanner takes us on a quick tour of the NLS BARD site

Https://nlsbard.loc.gov

For downloading digital talking books. Lastly, Shane Davidson reviews Loco Locution from

www.allinplay.com

Main Menu first airs on Saturdays at 1:00 UTC; that's Fridays at 9:00 Eastern time in the U.S. The show repeats on Wednesdays at 1:00 UTC; that's Tuesdays at 9:00 Eastern time in the U.S.

Freedom Scientific Files Patent Infringement Suit against GW Micro

2009-02-04T12:54:00.002-06:00

The following is from the National Federation of the Blind's Braille Monitor. It is quite comprehensive as far as it can be at this point.

Begin article
Freedom Scientific Files Patent Infringement Suit against GW Micro
by Daniel B. Frye
When two of the leading producers of access technology in the blindness field have
differences that can apparently be resolved only in federal court, blind consumers
deserve to know what is going on. How might the dispute affect this small market?
Will the actions of either party influence consumer access to diverse, responsive,
and competitive products in the U.S. and international blindness communities?
Mindful of the importance of access technology to blind people and curious about
the rationale and implications of the row that has developed between Freedom Scientific
and GW Micro, we are reporting what we have discovered at this stage of the argument
so that our readers will understand the issues involved in this litigation. Here
is what we know at the moment:
On July 15, 2008, Freedom Scientific--the company that developed and promotes the
JAWS screen reader and the PAC Mate Omni as well as other blindness and low-vision
products--filed a patent infringement lawsuit against GW Micro, a smaller access
technology company known primarily for its rival screen-reading software, Window-Eyes.
The Freedom Scientific lawsuit alleges that GW Micro has ”willfully infringed" and
has "induced" others to behave similarly with respect to its U.S. Patent No. 6,993,707,
issued on January 31, 2006, for a "Document Placeholder" by ”making, importing, selling,
offering to sell and/or using within the United States computer software covered
by this patent.” The case was filed in the United States District Court, Middle District
of Florida.
As background, the Document Placeholder technology in question is the feature in
both JAWS and Window-Eyes that allows a user to identify a particular place or bit
of content on a Website and return to this same point on the Webpage (using a few
simple key strokes) repeatedly while originally viewing the page or during subsequent
visits. This technology is designed to make large and cluttered Websites more convenient
and accessible for blind computer users.
Both Dan Weirich and Doug Geoffray, the two principal executives at GW Micro, agreed
to be interviewed for this article on the condition that their attorney be present
to offer them legal counsel during the exchange. Mr. Weirich began by insisting that
GW Micro is not guilty of violating Freedom Scientific's document placeholder method
patent. While the GW Micro answer filed in response to the lawsuit on September 29,
2008, denies the allegations of willful patent infringement and contains six legal
affirmative defenses in response to the Freedom Scientific claims, we will focus
here on the basic arguments that most blind computer users will understand.
First, GW Micro questions the very legitimacy of the document placeholder patent.
Weirich told the Braille Monitor
that this technology--albeit in a more primitive form--has existed and been used
by various access technology companies since 1999, well before Freedom Scientific
acquired its patent in January 2006. In their answer GW Micro suggests that Freedom
Scientific may have misled the government in applying for this patent by alleging
that this technology was new and innovative, when in fact some version of it had
existed for almost seven years before the patent was issued. In the first GW Micro
public statement about this lawsuit, issued on August 15, 2008, Weirich said, "As
many of our users know, our screen reader--Window-Eyes--has had the capability of
returning to a specific line within a Webpage since version 3.1, which was released
over nine years ago, well before Freedom Scientific's alleged invention." Weirich
went on to note, "The implication in a recent Freedom Scientific press release that
GW Micro is benefiting from Freedom Scientific's investment at no charge is simply
not accurate nor in line with GW Micro's tradition of success and fair play.”
Second, both Weirich and Geoffray point out that the method, design, and functionality
of GW Micro's document placeholder feature are quite different from those in Freedom
Scientific's JAWS product. According to Weirich, the technology that Window-Eyes
relies on will allow the user of this screen-reading software to return to his or
her place even on a constantly changing Webpage; GW Micro officials explain that
the Freedom Scientific version of this technology relies on counting lines on a Webpage
and may not be able to return to a specific location on a Webpage that is often updated.
Further, Weirich and Geoffray emphasize that their version of the document placeholder
technology has nothing to do with HTML tags; instead they rely solely on Windows
MSAA tags to make their version of this technology function.
More important than GW Micro's technical legal defenses may be the sense of inequitable
treatment to which Weirich and Geoffray feel they have been subjected. In discussing
the basis and motivation for the lawsuit, Weirich said: "Both Doug and I have worked
in the blindness access-technology field for over twenty years; GW Micro has been
in business since 1990, and we had both worked for other companies before our time
here. Throughout these years it has always been customary for access-technology companies
to innovate and develop much of the same functionality in our blindness products.
When returning from a tradeshow in July, I arrived to learn of the lawsuit. We had
no preliminary discussions with Freedom Scientific about its concerns--no discussions,
no warnings, no courtesy calls asking us to stop use of the technology, no indication
at all was ever received from Freedom Scientific about this issue until the lawsuit
arrived on our doorstep. I just had a neighbor share the news with me that a tree
on the border of our property was dead. Similarly, I would have expected in a small
market like the blindness access technology community that some collegial exchanges
might have occurred before moving directly to litigation." Weirich went on to say,
"One of the things about this lawsuit that troubles me so much is that we are all
compelled to spend precious resources--precious resources that largely come from
rehabilitation and other government funds--on this lawsuit. We at GW Micro would
rather spend these resources on product development or other projects that will directly
benefit our consumers."
When we asked Weirich and Geoffray what they thought had really motivated this lawsuit,
they were both at a loss to give a definite answer. Weirich speculated that perhaps
GW Micro's increasing success and market share in the screen-reader competition may
have proved threatening to officials at Freedom Scientific. Weirich added that he
knows nothing about Freedom Scientific's finances, but he suggested by implication
that perhaps troubles on this score may have motivated the lawsuit.
In closing, Weirich asked that the Braille Monitor
report that "GW Micro is not going anywhere. We plan to stick around and provide
quality services and products to our customer base. This lawsuit is just a bump in
the road. This legal action will not prevent us from making further enhancements
to Window-Eyes."
Lee Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of Freedom Scientific, declined
the Braille Monitor's
repeated requests to be interviewed for this article. We even offered to conduct
Hamilton's interview in the presence of Freedom Scientific's attorneys, but this
did not sway his decision. In a December 19 email response to our interview request,
Hamilton offered the following:
Thank you for the invitation, which I received on Tuesday of this week, to contribute
our perspective to your forthcoming article. As you can appreciate, it was necessary
to seek advice from our legal counsel before responding, and I have only just received
that advice.
As you are aware, when it was clear that this issue might become a matter of public
interest, we published a press release outlining our need to protect our investment
in research and development for the benefit of our shareholders and customers. I
understand you have a copy of that press release. Our legal counsel has advised that
it would be imprudent for us to comment further at this time. It is my belief that
our press release provides a clear summary of our reasons for taking the action we
have, and this should be useful in balancing your article.
As you will no doubt be aware, we have a close and highly valuable working relationship
with the NFB. This is manifested in our regular meetings with the International Braille
and Technology Center and our active participation at NFB state and national conventions.
We value the NFB's role and function highly. Please be assured that we are not offering
any further comment to any media on this matter at this time; in no way is this a
refusal to speak specifically to an NFB publication on the matter.
In the absence of any further comment from Freedom Scientific about its lawsuit,
we reprint the press release that it offered when the action was first announced.
Here it is:
Freedom Scientific Files Patent Infringement Suit
(St. Petersburg, Florida — July 24, 2008) Freedom Scientific has taken steps to protect
one of its patented technologies by filing suit against GW Micro, Inc., according
to Dr. Lee Hamilton, president and CEO of Freedom Scientific.
“Freedom Scientific invests more in research and development than any other company
in the blindness technology industry,” said Dr. Hamilton. “We have a talented, experienced
team of developers and testers, many of whom are blind themselves. They develop innovative
solutions to the access issues faced by those with vision impairments and then turn
those ideas into products that make a difference. Along the way, Freedom Scientific
files patents to protect the investment it makes in developing new technologies.”
Freedom Scientific follows the standard business practice of filing patents for good
reason. Not filing for and then enforcing patents would stifle innovation. If Freedom
invests resources into developing new technologies only to find that other companies
can benefit from our investment at no charge to them, then there would be no incentive
to invest. Those with vision impairments would be the poorer for that in terms of
independence and employability.
This practice is by no means new in this industry. Freedom Scientific itself already
pays for the use of patented technologies pertaining specifically to assistive technology.
There you have the press release. At present this lawsuit remains at the preliminary
stages of litigation. The parties have not yet even commenced discovery. Motions
from both parties have been filed in a battle to determine the federal venue in which
this case will be tried. GW Micro would like the case moved to the federal district
court in Indiana; Freedom Scientific continues to urge that the case be tried in
the federal courts in Florida.
We will report further developments in this case as they emerge. In the meanwhile
it will be for consumers to draw their own inferences and conclusions about the ethical
and legal positions that Freedom Scientific and GW Micro have espoused and adopted
in this case. Is GW Micro being subject to legal bullying tactics from a larger and
more powerful player in the blindness access-technology field? Is Freedom Scientific
genuinely working to champion the cause of creativity and innovation for the long-term
benefit of blind consumers by suing its primary competitor in the screen-reading
software industry for infringement of its patents? Only time will tell.
End Article

Stream Newswire - New Download Resource Page

2009-01-28T08:09:00.002-06:00

I will be adding these links to the VR Stream Users site in a couple of days:

Dear Victor Reader Stream Friends:

The Victor Reader Stream, the world acclaimed accessible audio player, welcomes 2009 with a new download resource page and new software releases.

The first month of 2009 is almost complete and we want to bring you the latest news regarding Victor Reader Stream.

Firstly, a new resource page for finding download content for your Stream is now available on the Stream product and support pages.
Many of you have told us that the Internet is so vast it is difficult to know where to begin looking for content that you can download and enjoy on your Stream. To help you get started we have compiled a web page of sample Internet sources for digital books, music, podcasts as well as information about DAISY libraries. The new download resource page can be found at:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/find_content_for_stream

Here you will find sections for English, French, and German download sources as well as links to DAISY libraries.

We are also pleased to inform you that we are busy working on new software releases for both the Stream and Stream Companion. As we near the completion of these projects we will be able to confirm the new features and release date for these free software upgrades.

So stay tuned to this Stream Newswire as we will soon be able to tell you about new and fun ways to use your Stream.

Thank you ,
The HumanWare Team

Serotek to Launch Online Radio Station

2009-01-27T14:49:00.002-06:00

Looks like ACB Radio will have some competition. There's nothing wrong with that; I wish Serotek the best

From: Serotek Announcements [mailto:noreply@serotek.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 12:15 PM
To: jamiepauls@sbcglobal.net
Subject: Serotek to Launch Online Radio Station

Please do not reply to this message. If you don't wish to receive any more Serotek announcements, activate the link at the end of this message.

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
pr@serotek.com
612.720.1068

Technical Contact :
info@serotek.com

Serotek to Launch Online Radio Station

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn - January 27, 2009 - Serotek Corporation, the leading provider of internet and digital information accessibility software and services, will launch a new online radio station this week. The station is called SAMNet Radio and can be heard from http://radio.samobile.net. The name of the station is derived from Serotek's online community, the System Access Mobile Network, or SAMNet. SAMNet Radio will air the best music of the last 40 years, the latest technology news, live and interactive voice chats, and a portal for all to know what is happening in the SAMNet community. Directed at an audience who is blind or has low vision, SAMNet Radio's slogan is "Your station, your community." The station's manager is Michael Lauf, former creator, host and producer of HandiTalk, the first interactive internet radio program to discuss the needs of the blind and visually impaired. "I'm excited to oversee a radio station that specializes in the needs and interests of the visually impaired community," said Michael Lauf, SAMNet Radio station manager, "The combination of music, home-grown podcasts, access technology news and interviews, and interactive talk shows, all on one radio station, will make us like no other entity in the world." The inaugural broadcast will stream live on Wednesday, January 28, from the Internet Café of the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) annual conference in Orlando, Florida. Those unable to attend ATIA can hear what is happening at the event and stay abreast of news announced at the show. Reactions to the first broadcast will also be discussed during the next installment of Serotalk, Serotek's podcast and interactive blog. For more information about Serotalk, visit http://www.serotalk.com. To add the RSS feed for Serotalk to your web browser, news reader or podcatcher, visit http://serotalk.c! om/feed< /a>.

Serotek Corporation
Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops software and manufactures accessibility solutions under the System Access brand. Committed to the mission of providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek began with the launch of the first online community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with visual impairment. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful, affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment. For more information, visit www.serotek.com.

Activate this link to stop receiving Serotek announcements.

Giving Twitter A Chance!

2009-01-25T18:18:00.002-06:00

I signed up with a Twitter account about a year ago and used it briefly, but just couldn't get into the swing of using it. Thanks to the Serotalk podcast discussed in my previous post, I decided to give it another go. After just one day, I think it is safe to say that I am hooked. I have a good friend who can't understand why anyone would text a person via cell phone when they could simply call them. As addictive as texting is, it does sound completely crazy when you try to explain it! I don't think I will even talk to my friend about Twitter!

A New Podcast In Town!

2009-01-24T17:11:00.002-06:00

It has been a long time since I've been excited about a podcast. While I still enjoy Blind Cool Tech, it isn't the podcast it used to be. Don't take me wrong; I'm not criticizing anyone for not podcasting anymore. The AccessWatch podcast went by the wayside a long time ago. Nevertheless, it is a good feeling to be excited about a new podcast the way I was when I first discovered the medium eons ago.

The podcast that is causing me to check my RSS feeds anxiously these days is the Serotalk podcast. Unlike FSCast from Freedom Scientific which I also enjoy listening to, the Serotalk podcast does not focus exclusively on one company or one screen reader. While Serotek's System Access products are understandably front and center, much of the discussion translates to whatever your screen reader of choice might happen to be at the moment.

If you haven't checked it out lately, I strongly urge you to do so.

__________

Minor But Needed Updates To AccessWatch

2009-01-24T15:56:00.002-06:00

I have just updated the AccessWatch web site to reflect the latest versions of screen readers and have added a bit of content as well. Not much new will be evident, but that will change soon.

IBM and GW Micro Join Steering Committee for Accessibility Interoperability Alliance Expanded Committee Drives Associations Strategic Mission

2008-08-18T08:11:00.003-06:00

Way to go GW. Great news!

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — August 4, 2008 — The Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA), a coalition of leading information and assistive technology companies dedicated to enabling developers to more easily create accessible software, hardware and Web products, welcomes the addition of two new steering committee members: Doug Geoffray of GW Micro and Richard Schwerdtfeger of IBM.

The five-member Steering Committee guides the AIA in its mission to improve the lives of people who can benefit from accessibility technologies. The AIA accomplishes this by encouraging the enhancement of current technologies, creating new technologies, and promoting the implementation of APIs and specifications across platforms and the accessibility industry.

"We are very pleased to have Doug and Rich join the AIA leadership team. They both have a pragmatic understanding of the technical and business challenges facing the accessibility industry today, and have a long history of working across boundaries to advance the state of the art in accessibility," said Rob Sinclair, Chair of the Steering Committee and director of the Accessibility Business Unit at Microsoft. "Their technical expertise and long-standing relationships with members of the AIA make them highly valued additions to our Steering Committee. We look forward to working with them in this new capacity."

Richard Schwerdtfeger is a Distinguished Engineer, the IBM Software Group Accessibility Strategist and Architect, Chair of the IBM Accessibility Architecture Review Board, and a Master Inventor. His responsibilities include guiding the overall accessibility architecture and strategy for IBM Software Group and he participates in numerous W3C standards efforts including HTML, WAI Protocols and Formats, and Ubiquitous Web Applications. He chairs the W3C WAI-ARIA subcommittee accessibility effort for Web 2.0 applications as well as OASIS and IMS GLC Access for All accessibility standards efforts.

Doug Geoffray is co-owner of GW Micro, Inc. and leads the software development and product support groups. Geoffray has been developing assistive technology for more than 25 years. He currently oversees a team at GW Micro that focuses mainly on Window-Eyes, a leader in Windows screen readers.

About the Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA)

Initiated by the accessibility industry, the AIA is a group of leading Information Technology (IT) and Assistive Technology (AT) companies, content providers, and other key engineering organizations, working to collaborate on the creation of solutions to long-standing compatibility problems that hinder the development of solutions for people with disabilities. Since its founding in 2007, AIA members have worked together to develop accessible technology for customers with disabilities. Founding members of AIA include Adobe Systems, BayFirst Solutions LLC, Microsoft, Novell Inc., Claro Software Ltd., Dolphin Computer Access, GW Micro, Inc., HiSoftware Inc., Madentec Inc., Texthelp Systems Inc. and QualiLife. More information about the AIA can be found at http://www.AccessInteropAlliance.org.

__________

Of Lawsuits and Press Releases

2008-08-15T10:41:00.001-06:00

Over the past several weeks, I have been trying to sort out my feelings concerning the lawsuit Freedom Scientific has filed against GW Micro over placemarkers on the Internet. The foremost emotion I have experienced is sadness. It is not often that a press release from a screen reader developer makes me sad. Usually, I smile when a new release of a screen reader comes out. I eagerly await the myriad of demonstrations and interviews touting new features. Occasionally I smile when a screen reader developer sponsors audio description of a TV show or participates in an episode of Home Makeover. Sadness is an emotion I experience less frequently. I dread the day that Fox News does a short piece on two screen reader developers suing one another over a feature that makes using the Internet easier for blind people. Another emotion I have been experiencing is anger—anger that we even have to talk about this at all; anger that I even care about patent infringement and HTML tags; anger that support lists are spending more time belittling the competition than dealing with real questions concerning how to use their favorite screen reader.
The last emotion I have been experiencing lately is fear. The stakes are really high for all of us—the developers and the users alike. This is no game and it’s not a TV show where everything will turn out right in the end; it’s reality in the most brutal sense of the word.
Everyone reading this probably has an opinion regarding who should or who will win this lawsuit if it ever goes to court. I am no different. I would submit for your consideration, however, the possibility that, in the end, nobody will win. That, my friends, is a truly sobering thought.

GW Micro Response to Freedom Scientific Lawsuit

2008-08-14T13:11:00.004-06:00

Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 15, 2008 -- GW Micro, Inc., a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company dedicated to providing high quality adaptive technology solutions for blind and visually impaired individuals, announced today that it has received notice of a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Freedom Scientific, Inc., the self-described "world leader in technology-based solutions for people with visual impairments." The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,993,707 for a "Document Placemarker." GW Micro has reviewed the claim and believes it is overreaching and not consistent with what Freedom Scientific told the Patent Office when obtaining its patent. GW Micro intends to defend itself vigorously and expects to prevail in court.

"As many of our users know, our screen reader -- Window-Eyes -- has had the capability of returning to a specific line within a webpage since version 3.1, which was released over nine years ago, well before Freedom Scientific's alleged invention," said Dan Weirich, GW Micro's Corporate President. Weirich went on to note that, "The implication in a recent Freedom Scientific press release that GW Micro is 'benefit[ing] from [Freedom Scientific's] investment at no charge' is simply not accurate nor in line with GW Micro's tradition of success and fair play." Finally, Weirich concluded, "We will aggressively defend both our legal position and our place in the assistive technology community."

Daniel R. Weirich
GW Micro, Inc.
725 Airport North Office Park
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
ph 260-489-3671
www.gwmicro.com

Review added for AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition version 8.0.1 build 100

2008-08-06T14:41:00.002-06:00

Review added for AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition version 8.0.1 build
100

This is an alert to let you know that emerson has just added a review for
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition version 8.0.1 build 100. You may read it by
using the following link:
http://www.accesswatch.info/reviewdisplay.php?pid=0000000210

Special announcement from Bibles for the Blind

2008-08-06T11:17:00.003-06:00

-----Original Message-----
From: blindattic-bounces@blindtreasures.com
[mailto:blindattic-bounces@blindtreasures.com] On Behalf Of Keith Reedy
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 11:04 AM
To: blindattic@blindtreasures.com
SubjSpecial announcement from Bibles for the Blind,our BRF
files are now on our site for free download.

We are pleased to announce that the BRF files that we have used to
create hard copy braille our now on our website.

The KJV Bible, 17 BRF files, The daily devotional My Utmost for His
Highest by Oswald Chambers 4 BRF files and more. For details see:
www.biblesfortheblind.org

Keith Reedy

Stream News Wire: Software 2.0 Re-Release

2008-07-14T12:47:00.002-06:00

Dear Victor Reader Customer:

This is to announce that the re-release of Stream 2.0 is now available for download. The new version is 2.0.6 and can be downloaded from:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_software

There you will find 3 choices for the English version 2.0 with Samantha, Tom, or Daniel text-to-speech voices. The Release Notes for 2.0.6 are the same as for the original version 2.0.3 and are also available on the above page. The Release Notes explain how to install the software and list in detail all new features and improvements. Briefly,to install follow these steps:

- Download the software zip file from the above link

- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file from the zip file. You do not need special unzip software. Simply press Enter to open the zip file and you can then select the UPG file.

- Copy this UPG file to the root of your Stream SD card.

- Disconnect the Stream from the computer, connect it to AC power and turn it on.

- The Stream will automatically start the update process which takes about 1 minute during which time it will announce intermittent "please Wait" messages. The Stream will power off when the new software is installed.

- You may then remove the UPG file from the SD card.

After the new software is installed, the Release Notes document will also be available in a HumanWare sub-folder of your Text Bookshelf so you may read the Release Notes with your Stream. It is in html format on the Stream so you can navigate it by any of heading levels 1, 2, or 3.

This version corrects the issues with NISO e-text talking book formats where Fast Forward was causing the Stream to shutdown and where page navigation was not working. Examples of NISO e-text books are the Stream built-in User Guide, NFB newspapers, and Bookshare.org books.

Following are important points regarding this new version 2.0.6 release.

1. Audible Bookmarks
For future improvements, Audible has changed their playback engine and this new engine is included in Version 2.0. It does not affect how you listen or navigate in Audible books but it required a change to the way Stream identifies Audible books in the Stream's bookmark database. This will result in the loss of reading position and bookmarks saved in version 1.2. Prior to installing you may wish to note the elapsed reading time position in your Audible books so after installing you can then use the Go To Time function to quickly return to your reading position. Subsequent Audible book reading positions and bookmarks will be maintained.

2. INFO key Announcement of SD Space Remaining
After the original 2.0.3 release , we received reports that SD space remaining does not report correctly on all cards. We investigated this and found that some cards have incorrect value for total space usage but it is not clear why. It is related to Windows and/or Linux not updating this value after adding or removing files. We left the feature in as it seems to report accurately in most cases. It is not specific to any brand of card or size of card. We were able to correct one card by reformatting and re-transferring the files but it is not clear this is always the solution. Also, if the space used has an incorrect value it does not appear there is any other problem with the data on the card. We will investigate an alternative method to reporting SD space for a future release.

3. Recording Audio Bookmarks
In Stream 2.0 there is a bug whereby audio bookmarks can only be recorded by pressing and holding the Record key while you voice your recording. The single press at start of recording and second press at end of recording does not work. . This will be corrected on the next version. For recording audio notes, both methods still work.

We appreciate your patience over the past two weeks while we addressed the NISO text book playback issues and we hope you will enjoy the many new features and improvements in version 2.0.6.

Thank you,

The HumanWare Team

Reviews For UK Audio Network version n/a

2008-07-04T09:33:00.000-06:00

Reviews For UK Audio Network version n/a
Average Rating: 5 Based On 2 Reviews
Date: June 21, 2007, 7:36:17pm
user:
jajoehl
computer: Dell Pentium
operating system: Windows XP Service Pack 2
screen reader: JAWS for Windows version 8.0, NVDA version 0.5, SA to Go beta
rating: 5
comments: The UK Audio Network is a fun and interactive website containing lots of
games. These include trivia, Name That Tune, and several other great games. You will
also find accessible greeting cards, radio stations, and a whole host of other fun
things to pass the time. This website is totally self-voicing and does not require
the use of a screen reader. The UK Audio Network is located at
http://www.pressakey.net.
Have fun!
Date: July 04, 2008, 10:17:26am
user:
blake
computer: home-built computer, Intel Pentium 4, 1.8ghz processor, 1GB RAM
operating system: Windows XP Pro
screen reader: jaws 9.0
rating: 5
comments: I agree with everything the previous reviewer stated. In addition, the
UK Audio Network also offers audio-described movies, radio drama and blind sports
events. A recently added feature I like is the audiobook section, wich offers audio
versions of books in the public domain (books whose copyright has expired. Example:
Aesop's Fables.
accesswatch review system custom -designed by
Tyson Treasure

Review For Klango Player version 2.0 Beta

2008-07-04T09:27:00.000-06:00

Reviews For Klango Player version 2.0 Beta
Average Rating: 5 Based On 1 Reviews
Date: July 04, 2008, 9:52:44am
user:
blake
computer: home-built computer, Intel Pentium 4, 1.8ghz processor, 1GB RAM
operating system: Windows XP Pro
screen reader: jaws 9.0
rating: 5
comments: Klango is a free audio player for Windows. Like Windows Media Player, it
can play formats such as wav, mp3 and wma. However, Klango Player is unique.
First, the program is self-voicing. No screen reader is needed. Klango Player uses
any Sapi 5 or Sapi 4 voices installed on your computer. Sapi 5 is preferred. Klango
makes Sapi5 voices speak from different speakers, depending on what section of a
menu the user is in. According to the documentation, Sapi4 voices have problems speaking
from different sound card speakers.
The second reason Klango is unique is that it integrates a social aspect. There is
a forum where any registered user can post messages. Each user has a microblog and
can send private messages to each other.
Although Klango Player is currently in Beta, the developers stated on the forum that
Klango will remain free.
To try Klango, visit
www.klango.net
accesswatch review system custom -designed by
Tyson Treasure

Navigating And Updating

2008-07-01T16:58:00.002-06:00

I have just posted a 30-minute audio tutorial on navigating the HumanWare web site, downloading the latest updates to the VR Stream software and Stream Companion software, extracting the Stream software update file
and moving it to an SD card. I do not actually update the Stream in the recording,
but I do give step-by-step instructions for how to do so.
Here is a direct link to the file.

Stream NewsWire - Version 2.0 Software Released

2008-06-30T12:50:00.002-06:00

Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:

HumanWare has released the latest Stream software version 2.0.3. This is a free software upgrade that can be downloaded and installed on your Stream. To download the software visit:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_software

Select the link to download the new software version 2.0. On the same page, you will also find a Release Notes document describing in detail what's new and the installation instructions. Briefly,to install follow these steps:

- Download the software zip file

- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file from the zip file. You do not need special unzip software. Simply press Enter to open the zip file and you can then select the UPG file.

- Copy this UPG file to the root of your Stream SD card.

- Disconnect the Stream from the computer, connect it to AC power and turn it on.

- You may then remove the UPG file from the SD card.

- New dedicated bookshelf to save downloaded podcast audio files

- Audible books will now be announced on its own bookshelf instead of Other Books bookshelf

- Support of electronic Braille (BRF) files placed on the text bookshelf

- Support for Rich Text Format (RTF) files on the text bookshelf

- Support for unprotected Windows Media Audio (WMA version 9)

- Spell mode for text files

- Ability to disable key beeps and sleep messages

and much more. See the Release Notes document on the Stream page for a complete description of all new features and improvements. A copy of the version 2.0 User Guide as well as an updated FAQ document (frequently asked questions) can also be found on the web page. The FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about battery, important information on different book and media formats, voice recording, and SD cards.

With this announcement, version 2.0 is available in English only. As other version 2.0 languages become available they will be posted on the same download page.

We also are releasing a new version of Stream Companion which will be described in a second email.

HumanWare values your continued support of the Victor Reader Stream. We remain committed to existing and future customers to make the Stream the most powerful, flexible, and enjoyable product used for listening to digital talking books, computer files, and music.

Thank you,

The HumanWare Team

Stream NewsWire - Stream Companion 2.0 Released

2008-06-30T12:48:00.002-06:00

Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:

HumanWare has released a new Windows Stream Companion software version 2.0.4. This is a free Windows software that can be downloaded and installed on your Windows XP or Vista computer. To download the software visit:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_software

To install the software, download the zip file for the Stream Companion and unzip the embedded executable (EXE) install file. Then run this exe file. You do not need to uninstall the previous version of Stream Companion. The Windows Install Shield program will run and ask you to read and accept the license. It will ask if you want a complete or custom install. Select 'complete'.

The Stream Companion is optional software to support the Stream. There is no need to install this software unless you need its functionality. There are extensive new features and usability improvements in version 2.

New Features

- In addition to the Talking Books Tab version 2.0 offers five new TABS to transfer files to the Stream's Other Books, Audible, Music, Podcasts, and Text bookshelves. The Music and Podcast Tabs have a button to allow you to transfer by folder or individual file.
- The Music Tab has a button to allow you to create playlists in the root of the Music bookshelf. Simply move to the list of Music files on your SD card and select the files or folders that you want for your playlist and then activate the Create Playlist button. You will be asked to enter a name for the playlist. The playlist will then be created on your music bookshelf. When you browse the music bookshelf with your Stream each playlist will be announced as a separate music book. The actual music files will be announced as the "All Music" book.
- There is a new Tab to convert the recorded 3gp audio files of Audio Bookmarks to wav files on your computer.

Usability Improvements
- In the Talking Books TAB the user may activate a check box to allow books contained in zip files on the computer to display in the PC list. If this checkbox is checked you will be able to transfer zip books (e.g. NLS books in the USA) to the Stream without first having to unzip the book.
- The PC Path can now be edited in the textbox.
- Support for transferring a talking book contained on Multiple CD's.

The Companion User Guide can be read by activating the Help button in any of the program Tabs. The User Guide can also be downloaded from the Stream documentation page at:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_documentation

HumanWare hopes you enjoy the new Stream Companion 2.0

HumanWare Launches Version 2 of the Victor Reader Stream DAISY, MP3 and NISO Player

2008-06-30T12:34:00.002-06:00

VICTOR READER STREAM THE PROVEN SUCCESS STORY, IS NOW EVEN BETTER WITH A FREE VERSION 2.0 SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Longueuil, Canada, June 30, 2008 -- Victor Reader Stream, the pocket-sized portable MP3 player designed for blind and low-vision people has swept the world wide market place since its launch in September 2007. Heralded by its users as the most significant assistive technology in recent years, the Stream has already enhanced the life style of thousands of blind and low vision people world wide. In addition to the variety of audio formats (MP3, DAISY, and NISO books and music) supported by Victor Reader Stream, the new version 2 software will add even more media and text formats.

Victor Reader Stream version 2 will now play electronic Braille files with its built-in text-to-speech including multiple formats of English Braille encoded files, Unified English Braille, and non-English Braille formats. Version 2.0 also adds playback of Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Rich Text Format (RTF) files. , Further, the bookshelf feature has been extended to enhance the access and playback of all media types with special new features for Audible books, Podcast files, and music.

With the addition of the new media types of version 2.0 the Stream now provides a pocket size device that can play an impressive list of alternate format books and documents available to the print-disabled. IT will play the special navigable DAISY and NISO digital talking books produced by most libraries for the blind in the world. It can be authorized to play the AudioPlus digital books from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) in the United States. It can play Bookshare.org digital books. It can be authorized to play the popular commercial audio books, newspapers, and magazines from Audible.com. It is optimized to integrate with Serotek.com who provide an extensive repository of digital multi-media content for blind and low vision people. It also plays MP3,, OGG Vorbis, WMA, Wav, AMR-WB+, SPX, and FLAC audio files. The built-in text-to-speech can play electronic text formats including BRF (Braille), HTML, RTF, TXT, and XML. In addition to its extensive digital player capabilities, it has a voice recording functionality for recording of voice notes, meetings, and lectures.

What Stream customers are saying:
"I love my Victor Reader Stream and it travels with me wherever I go."
"This is one of the best products I have seen come along in a long time. It is well made, works right out of the box, and reads just about any kind of book you need read."
"It's one of the most impressive and well-planned and well-working pieces of equipment I have seen for a long time."

"We appreciate the overwhelming enthusiasm of our customers and are pleased that we have been able to incorporate many of their suggested new features and improvements in the enhanced version 2 of the Stream", says Gerry Chevalier, HumanWare Victor Reader Product Manager. "And the best news is that the latest version 2 software can be installed for free on all existing Victor Reader Streams."

The Stream has extensive navigation features for moving through audio books and text files, including functions that allow you to move to the next chapter, section or page, or to set bookmarks. For all audio book and media formats the Stream provides a variable speed control with digital pitch correction which allows the reader to accurately listen at higher than normal playback speed.

The player is completely accessible by blind and low-vision users. All keys and messages are provided through audio feedback. The player has a built-in User Guide and a Key Describer mode.

Besides playing electronic text, the integrated text-to-speech voice announces the track names of music files. It uses an SD memory card to store books and music transferred from a computer.

Victor Reader Stream can be purchased online at www.humanware.com (in USA). Current Victor Reader Stream users can upgrade their player to software version 2.0 online at www.humanware.com.

About HumanWare

HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for the print disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital audiobook players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier.

For more information:

HumanWare
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.: (450) 463-1717
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com

Guide Dogs for the Blind and HumanWare launch new education initiative with Victor Reader Stream

2008-06-25T11:54:00.002-06:00

Longueuil, Quebec (June 25, 2008) -- Guide Dogs for the Blind and HumanWare are pleased to announce the Victor Reader Stream will become an integral part of the curriculum at Guide Dogs for the Blind in the early fall of 2008. The Victor Reader Stream players will allow students attending Guide Dogs for the Blind to read and navigate through class materials, providing them with unprecedented access to materials on campus and beyond.

"All information will be in the DAISY format (digital accessible information system) which can be read by the Victor Reader Stream," says Michael Hingson, president of The Michael Hingson Group, technical consultant for the new program. "When played on the Victor Reader Stream, the recorded data can be navigated much like a print book, allowing the reader to move from chapter to chapter, section to section or jump directly to any page."

Over the past three years Guide Dogs for the Blind has been conducting a total make over of their training program, especially concerning how information is presented to their students. Now with the addition of the Victor Reader Stream students will have all needed documentation available at their finger tips at any time.

"The Victor Reader Stream offers blind people an enhanced reading experience and we are excited to see it used in a true educational way at Guide Dogs for the Blind," says Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Product Manager at HumanWare. "This is the first time we have seen the Stream be fully integrated into any educational environment."

The Victor Reader Stream which normally sells to blind users for approximately $330 will be available to Guide Dogs students for $150 to take home following class. All general take home materials from GDB, including all state access legislation concerning guide dogs, information about traveling internationally with guide dogs such as access rules and regulations from many countries will be contained on the Victor Reader Stream.

About Guide Dogs for the Blind
Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility and quality of life to people who are blind through lifetime partnerships with Guide Dogs. This non-profit organization, headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., is the largest school of its kind and has produced more than 11,000 partnerships across the United States and Canada. Services are provided free-of-charge to those it serves, and relies entirely on private donations. Please visit www.guidedogs.com

or call toll free 800.295.4050 for additional information.

About HumanWare
HumanWare www.humanware.com is the global leader in assistive technologies for vision, including products for the blind and visually impaired. HumanWare's products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for blind people in education, in business and in their personal lives; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital talking book players; and myReader2, the new version of HumanWare's unique "auto-reader" for people with low vision.

# # #

Contacts:

HumanWare Canada
Nicolas Lagace
(450) 463-1717
nicolas.lagace@humanware.com

Guide Dogs for the Blind
Denise St. Jean
(415) 492-5544
dstjean@guidedogs.com

Using Blogger With Window-Eyes 7 Beta 1

2008-06-25T10:40:00.002-06:00

As I type this, I am using beta 1 of Window-Eyes 7.0. I found it impossible to navigate the text of entries I typed while using Window-Eyes 6.1 with Blogger and was forced to use another screen reader. As I type this, I am able to move around successfully with beta 1 of Window-Eyes 7 and hear what I have typed. The new navigation commands on the Internet make Window-Eyes 7 as pleasant to use on the Net as the competition. There are still a few pages where other screen readers work better on the Net, and GW Micro is well aware of the work that needs to be done in this area. It is a pleasure to use Winamp and Skype with this new version of the product, and I haven't even begun to play with the other sixty-some scripts on
Scripts Central. Stay tuned.

Update: Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 25 - Window-Eyes 7.0 Fully Disclosed

2008-06-24T13:58:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone,

Coming up on this week's Main Menu Live, we dedicate the two hour episode to
talk all about Window-Eyes 7.0. Doug and Aaron from GW Micro will be with
us as well as many beta testers from the Window-Eyes private beta team. We
will discuss the product and the many scripts that will be available on GW
Micro's Scripting Central web site found at:

http://www.gwmicro.com/Script_Central/

We had Doug and Aaron on Main Menu in the past and it is time to bring them
back to discuss the product and to get feedback from private beta users and
scripters on the new version. Jamal Mazrui has written a significant amount
of scripts for the 7.0 product and he will be here to talk about the many
things he has developed. I will discuss the newest refinements to the
Winamp scripts that will be available including features that could replace
the ACB Radio Tuner for Winamp users that use Window-Eyes as well as much
improved access to the Auto-Tagging capabilities of Winamp. Aaron and Doug
will talk all about the GW Toolkit scripting library, the AutoComplete
script, the progress indicator script, the VirtualView script, the Weather
or Not script, and much much more.

As of this writing, we are happy to report that Window-Eyes 7.0 Public Beta
1 is available at the following link:

http://www.gwmicro.com/beta

Here is how to participate in the show:

The number to call into the show is 866-400-5333.
You may email your questions to: mainmenu@acbradio.org You may also interact
with the show via MSN (Windows Live) Messenger. The MSN Messenger ID to add
is: mainmenu@acbradio.org

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the
topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the
Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is:
main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com

Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu
Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live - http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

For this next week, only the Main Menu Live podcast feed will be updated.

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific,
and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream
channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_p
age&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Main Menu Friends" group.
To post to this group, send email to main-menu@googlegroups.com To
unsubscribe from this group, send email to
main-menu-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/main-menu?hl=en
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Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 Is Now Available!

2008-06-24T12:42:00.002-06:00

From: aaron@gwmicro.com [mailto:aaron@gwmicro.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:33 PM
To: gw-info@gwmicro.com
Subject: Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 Is Now Available!

After much anticipation, Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 is now available. Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 offers the latest advancements in screen reading technology, including full Unicode support, new scripting functionality, web browsing enhancements, a new synthesizer, and much more.

Full Unicode support means the ability to work with more international languages. Web browsing enhancements mean easier navigation between controls, and the ability to add placemarkers that can remember places on a webpage even when the webpage changes. ECI Eloquence 6.1 is now available as yet another speech option. Other enhancements like speed increases for list views, the system tray, and error reporting, being able to increase and decrease the speech rate during read to end, new options for keyboard voice interruptability, and numerous bug fixes make Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 a welcome update.

The most notable enhancement in Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1, however, is scripting. Window-Eyes scripting is unparalleled in its design and implementation. Rather than require a scripter to learn a proprietary language, Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 allows a scripter to choose from a number of standard computer languages for writing scripts. This means that more people will be able to take advantage of Window-Eyes scripting, and ultimately more accessibility to more software applications. Access all Window-Eyes features and settings, all operating system windows and properties, create custom accessible dialogs for user interaction with power and ease, and more.

To make scripts easily accessible and encourage script development, GW Micro has created a centralized script repository called Script Central (www.gwmicro.com/sc). Script Central provides script developers with the tools to distribute their scripts, and provides scripts users the tools to download, comment, rate and track favorite scripts. The GW Micro forums (www.gwmicro.com/forum) have also been enhanced for general script discussions, script requests, script announcements, and much more. While we encourage everyone to take advantage of Script Central, Window-Eyes scripts can be hosted anywhere and distributed by anyone.

Read more about all of the features Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 has to offer, and download your copy, at www.gwmicro.com/beta.

__________

Stream Newswire - Tech Talk Online Presentation of Version 2.0

2008-06-20T09:03:00.002-06:00

Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:

HumanWare will soon release software version 2.0 for the Stream. We are pleased to introduce version 2.0 on the Accessible World Tech Talk online webinar June 23. Our thanks to Accessible World for hosting this event. Details follow.

HumanWare Unveils What's New In Victor Reader Stream 2.0 on Tek Talk Monday, June 23, 2008

The Accessible World News Wire, Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Attention Victor Reader Stream users.

Tech Talk is pleased to welcome back Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Product Manager from HumanWare to update us on the latest news for the Stream. Gerry will focus on the exciting new features and improvements in software version 2.0 the most comprehensive software upgrade yet released for the Stream. Past Tech Talk presentations on the Stream have been very popular and an excellent way to learn first hand from HumanWare about the advances to this versatile DAISY, NISO, and MP3 player and voice recorder. If you are a Stream user you won't want to miss this Tech Talk session. There will be time for open discussion and questions after Gerry's presentation.

For More Info on the Stream visit HumanWare at:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/products/dtb_players/compact_models/_details/id_81/victorreader_stream.html

Date: Monday, June 23, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 0:00 GMT.

Where: TekTalk Conference Room at: http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

http://www.accessibleworld.org. Select the TekTalk room, enter your first and last names on the sign-in screen.

All Tech Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the presentation or podcast from the Tech Talk archives on our website at http://www.accessibleworld.org.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are also available at our website: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

Media Contacts:

Robert Acosta, Chair, Planning Committee
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net
Web:

http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com

Pat Price, Founder and Events Coordinator
The Accessible World Symposiums
Vision Worldwide, Inc.
317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.org
Web:

http://www.accessibleworld.org

HumanWare Contact Info:

Australia: au.sales@humanware.com
Tel: +61 2 9686 2600

Canada: ca.info@humanware.com
Tel: 1-888-723-7273

UK and Europe: eu.info@humanware.com
Tel:+44 1933 415 800

USA: us.info@humanware.com
Tel: 1-800-722-3393

Review For VIP MUD Version 1.0

2008-06-17T10:17:00.002-06:00

Reviews For VIP MUD version 1.0
Average Rating: 5 Based On 1 Reviews

Date: June 16, 2008, 12:21:02pm

user: JamiePauls
computer: 2.66GHz Pentium 4 512MB RAM
operating system: Windows XP Home
screen reader: Jaws 9.0, Window-Eyes 6.1
rating: 5
comments: I have recently been playing with VIP Mud from GMA Games. MUD stands for multiuser dungeon. MUDs are similar to text adventure games except that they are played on the Internet and often involve game play with other people. Although many muds involve magic and other Dungeons and Dragons elements, not all do and the VIP MUD documentation gives some resources for finding muds. It goes without saying that VIP mud is designed for visually impaired users as are all GMA games. Visit magames.com for a 30-day demo of this $30 game. Incidentally, the game can be played indefinitely for free albeit with some options missing. A screen reader is not required, but you can use your screen reader of choice while working in VIP Mud.