I hope you enjoy this approximately 10 minute excerpt from KPFK Radio’s Access Unlimited talk show in which I discuss iPhone accessibility for the blind and low vision, published here as a Candle Shore Podcast.

Mark
Episode:  Mark On KPFK Radio’s Access Unlimited

Spiel is an open source screen reader for Google Android mobile phones and netbooks.  Spiel is currently under active development, providing a high level of access to most basic Android Functionality. On a continuum from no access at all to completely accessible, I’d place an Android phone further toward the accessible end of the spectrum than, say, the various LG phones with rigidly defined features. For a more detailed idea of what is possible, see a list of current features and accessible applications at the development website.
Click Here.

Need help with setting up or troubleshooting your network configuration?  Go to:
http://practicallynetworked.com for the answers to practically all of your questions.

Good Luck,

Mark

In this approximately 5 minute podcast, I tell you about a recent misfortune I suffered, remind you to backup any data that you do not wish to lose, and ask you for a little help.

Thank you for listening.

Mark
Episode:  Take It From Mark, Back It Up And A Call For Help

Believe it or not, there is a world out there beyond, and in some cases, albeit few, better than apple. 

Click Here to read a fabulous PC Magazine article that lists some very excellent Apple product alternative.

Mark

Yep!  It’s true!  You, including those using VoiceOver, can now get high on your Apple mobile device

Mark

APPLICATION DESCRIPTION :
Forty audio and visual trips and tricks to stimulate, calm, and bend your senses — even hallucinate! 

The multimedia companion to the book, Get High Now (Chronicle Books), this app includes fully immersive programs to cause a total physiological change in your mind and body. Really. Each entry is based on science — not subjective New Age hearsay — and is clinically proven to work. Includes eight different audio patterns to synchronize your brain into wakeful, sleepy, or hallucinatory states; animated effects to trick the eyes to flash imagined colors; ancient trance rhythms; peripheral vision illusions; and many more. All audio programs loop automatically and can be played for hours with your phone disconnected, allowing you to “get high” on a flight, bus, at work, on a date, at Thanksgiving dinner, in jail — anywhere at anytime.

Over forty pages of scrollable, well-researched content introduces the programs and explains why they work and how to do them, including historical context and entertaining first-hand commentary excerpted from the book.

Programs include Binaural Beats • Sound Meditations • Hermann’s Sparkling Grid • White Noise, Pink Noise, Brown Noise Loops • Risset Rhythm • Peripheral Drift • Ancient Trance Induction Beats • Benham’s Disk • Theta Brain Wave Entrainment • Holophonic Sound • Shepard Tones • Cafe Wall • Fraser Spiral • Troxler’s Fading • Tomatis-like Healing Sounds • Zollner Lines. . .and more.

With solo, tandem, and group highs, the Get High Now app opens new windows to experiencing the world. So, what are you waiting for?

Click Here to get high now on your iPhone 3GS.

The following is a must-have for all iPhone 4 owners regardless of whether you keep your iPhone 4 in a case:

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
THE INVISIBLE SHIELD for the Apple iPhone 4

Military grade patented material engineered for your specific device
Unique properties provide self-healing qualities
Helps reduce the appearance of fingerprint smudges and smears
Includes free lifetime replacement warranty for the life of your device
Trusted worldwide with over 7 million invisibleSHIELDs sold
45 day money back guarantee

Click Here to Buy

Mark

The following comes to us courtesy of Simple Help.com:

Mark

TIP:  How To Add PDF Files To Read In iBooks On Your iPad, iPod Touch, Or iPhone
  
This brief tutorial will show you how to add PDF files to iBooks so that you can read them on your iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone.

First up – we’re going to make the assumption that you have iBooks installed on your iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone.

1.
Open up iTunes. Select File -> Add to Library…. 

2.
Navigate to the PDF file(s) you want to add to iBooks. You can select more than one file, or select an entire folder. Once you’ve made your selection, click Choose.

3.
Now select Books from your iTunes Library. You should see the PDF file(s) that you just added, now listed.

4.
Right-click (ctrl+click for single-button Mac folks) on the newly added PDF and select Get Info.

5.
Select the Options tab. Make sure that the Media Kind: is set to Book.

6.
Now select the Info tab. From here you can add any missing info – the authors name, the published year etc. When you’re done, click OK.

7.
Making sure your mobile device is listed in iTunes, select your iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone from the Devices list in iTunes. Select the Books tab from the list at the top. Make sure that Sync Books is checked. If you want to sync all of the books you’ve added to iTunes, select All Books and then click the Sync button. If you want to only sync specific books, choose Selected Books and then place a check next to each of the books you want to sync (and then click the Sync button).

8.
On your device, open iBooks. You’ll see a PDFs button at the top. Tap it. You’ll be presented with a list of all the PDFs you added via iTunes. Tap one of them and it will open in iBooks. At any point in time you can tap the screen and a menu will appear at the top. From here you can change the displays brightness, search the PDF, bookmark a page etc.

That’s it – you’re done!

The first public display of Digit-Eyes is at the National Federation of the Blind convention in Dallas, Texas, July 4 – 7, booth B113. The exhibit then moves to the American Council of the Blind convention July 10 – 15 in Phoenix, Arizona, booth #41. Attendees can experience the use and capability of the system with hands-on demonstrations. Details, explanations, and examples will be available at both conventions, or immediately on-line at http://www.digit-eyes.com/.
 
Digital Miracles, LLC, the parent company of Digit-Eyes, is a Texas-based corporation that develops customized software solutions. The Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System was created by a team of engineers, software designers and members of the visually impaired community.
 
Product Reviewers can get a review copy at: reviewcopy@digitalmiracles.com or by calling:  (817) 571-3083.

I hope you enjoy this approximately 18 minute episode of the CANDLESHORE PODCAST in which I discuss my recent visit to the House of Usher courtesy of Apple Inc.

A very special thanks to Apple Inc. for making this most enjoyable journey possible.

Mark
Episode:  Mark Visits The House Of Usher With An Apple In His Hand

In the next episode of Code Factory Live, I will be taking live phone calls from you about the most awesome Smartphone software GPS solution for the blind and low vision ever conceived, Mobile Geo 2.5, as a follow-up to the previous Code Factory Live episode in which technical problems prevented live interaction. 

It is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM US Pacific time (9.00 PM Central European time).

The show is being hosted on the TalkShoe.com service.  To go to the show’s episode page, Click Here.

Anyone can join TalkShoe for free and, after doing so, may log into the live show in one of several different ways that are described during the sign-up process.

Here are the dialing instructions for non-TalkShoe.com listeners:

A.
From any telephone, no sooner than 15 minutes before the scheduled start-time of the show, dial +1-724-444-7444.

B.
A voice prompt will ask for the show’s ID number followed by the # (Pound sign).  Enter 83353#

C.
A voice prompt will ask for the caller’s TalkShoe member number/ID.  Members will enter their number followed by the # (Pound Sign).  Non-TalkShoe members are instructed to enter the number 1 followed by the # (Pound Sign).

I’ll see you there.

Mark

Well, the title of this post pretty much says it all. 

As you know, the new iPhone 4 uses a Micro SIM card as opposed to the standard size SIM card. 

This will present a problem for those of us who may wish to occasionally remove the Micro SIM card from iPhone 4 and insert it in to a device with a standard SIM card slot, such as a Samsung Epix Smartphone.

No worries for now you can quickly and easily purchase a Micro SIM adapter from the following trusted online store for approximately 10 USD.  In effect, this adapter lets you insert your Micro SIM card into a standard size SIM card slot.

Click Here To Buy.

Enjoy,

Mark

I am delighted to recommend this comfortably VoiceOver accessible (for iOS users) application, Tvider (T Vider).

Tvider is a Twitter application that allows users to instantly Tweet videos, pictures, and audio from mobile devices or webcams.

Tvider is available as a mobile app on all major mobile platforms including iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Symbian, Java and BREW.

If you are looking for a super easy way to tweet those crazy pictures or video that you capture with your phone, this is an app worth trying out. 
      
FROM THE WEBSITE:

What’s Tvider?
Share your pictures, videos and audio on Twitter !

How do I use Tvider?

Instantly click a picture or record a video/audio using handy Tvider mobile application and we will update your status on twitter.

Just record your Video, Picture or Voice using your computer mounted Webcam and Mic with our online widget and Tweet it with a standard twitter message.

You can also upload a pre-recorded video/audio/picture file provided it complies with our terms.

Go to: either http://tvider.com/ or http://tvider.com/mobile

In this approximately 65 minute episode of the Candle Shore Podcast, I introduce and demonstrate a new feature of Code Factory’s Mobile Geo 2.5, a software GPS solution for the blind and low vision.

Mark
Episode:  Get Going With Mobile Geo 2.5

The following is from PC Magazine:

This is it, the story you’ve been waiting for; the one that will tell you if your mobile network is delivering high-quality fast data speeds you’ve been craving. PCMag sent a team across the U.S. to test mobile broadband (3G and 4G) speeds in 18 cities. The results of this exhaustive report may surprise you.
Click Here to read more.

Mark

I just spoke to a trusted AT&T Wireless contact of mine who requested to remain anonymous. 

According to my source:

1.
Any current iPhone customer with the $30 per month unlimited data plan may continue to use the unlimited plan (at $30 per month) even if they choose to purchase a new iPhone be it subsidized (an upgrade in contract) or unsubsidized (customer pays full market value).

2.
Current iPhone customers who wish to downgrade their actual handset will lose the $30 per month unlimited plan. 

3.
According to my source (however this one is not set in stone) any current iPhone customer with the $30 per month unlimited data plan who wishes to add the $20 per month tethering option loses the $30 per month unlimited data plan.  My source confirmed that AT&T Wireless has the ability to distinguish data traveling over the network that is used  on the phone from that which is used as a result of tethering; thus, AT&T Wireless may resend this particular policy. 

PERSONAL NOTE: 
I consider myself to be an above average iPhone 3GS data user.  In the past 12 months, I was forced to use my iPhone 3GS as my one and only means to connect to the world.  During this time, I surfed the web daily.  During that particular month, I used only 140MB of data.  My average data use is about 25MB. 

AS for tethering, I use a Verizon Wireless Air Card at $60 per month.  As a longtime customer of Verizon Wireless, I am grandfathered in on a completely unlimited data plan. 

Below you will find a link to an article that pretty much nails my general opinion on AT&T Wireless’ new data plan announcement. 

Unlike the author of the article, however, my Verizon Wireless Air Card is a USB device.  As such, I can connect any of my computers, albeit one at a time, to the net in less than 60 seconds. 

I am not a fan of the MyFi card for a host of reasons not the least of which is that the MyFi requires a separate power source or is limited by the device’s battery.  My old-style USB Air Card gets its power from the device to which it is attached.  Besides, I can only use one computer at a time, right? 

Click Here for the article mentioned above (note that the article contains some profanity).

Good Luck and Happy AT&T Wireless Browsing.

Mark

As a low vision Windows 7 and Mac Snow Leopard user, I access computers via a screen reader (JAWS) for Windows 7 and (VoiceOver) for Mac Snow Leopard.

I also happen to be a very satisfied user of iPhone 3GS. 

Included with the iPhone 3GS, at the time of purchase, is a very nice set of Apple branded stereo earphones with inline 3-button remote control and microphone.  This included headset can be used to remotely control iPhone 3GS volume level, dialing feature, and iPod App. 

Since the release of iPhone 3GS, I have damaged the microphone on at least three sets of these headsets by various sundry accidents including getting the microphone wet. 

The other day, while opening yet another pair of Apple iPhone 3GS earphones, I decided to attach the older pair to my MacBook Pro. 

What do you think I discovered?  You’re right!  The inline remote control acts just like it does on my iPhone 3GS; that is, the volume buttons work to change the volume level of the MacBook Pro and the middle button will open iTunes. When iTunes is playing media, the headset inline remote control functions to navigate the playback just as it does on the iPhone 3GS. 

As a bonus, even when running Windows 7 in VM Ware’s Fusion, the inline remote volume buttons continue to function normally. 

So, go ahead and shove  that iPhone 3GS 3-button inline remote control headset with Microphone, attached to your MacBook Pro, in your ear.

Enjoy,

Mark

I am delighted to help spread the news about an exciting technology event hosted by Apple, that clearly demonstrates Apple’s commitment to making its world renowned products accessible to the physically challenged.

I urge you to attend this seminar either in person or online if for no other reason but that someday you or someone you love may be in need of such technology.

Mark

PRESS RELEASE:
The Lighthouse of San Francisco is hosting a technology seminar entitled “Apple Products and Accessibility” on June 11, 2010 from 1:00PM – 3:00PM PDT. 

Join us to hear Apple discuss the latest universal access features on its iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and OS X VoiceOver!

Apple’s inclusion of assistive technology as an out-of-the-box feature in its latest products has made using the iPhone and other Apple products a truly viable option for blind and visually impaired users who wish to make calls, text, send emails and use various other Apple applications.

Brailled OS X VoiceOver manuals can be pre-ordered from the LightHouse store at http://www.adaptationsonline.com/.
To RSVP, Email rsvp@lighthouse-sf.org or call (888) 400-8933

Attend in-person or by calling in! (Conference call instructions will be provided with RSVP).

The LightHouse is wheelchair accessible. Accommodations are available upon request.

The LIghthouse San Francisco is located at:

The Lighthouse
214 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102

Click here to read the original press release with live links to related news.

At the time of this post, there are only two privacy settings from which you may choose when making a telephone call on the iPhone 3GS, to either show your outgoing Caller ID or to BLOCK/hide your outgoing Caller ID.  Which ever you choose, there is no officially supported method to override the selected setting for individual Contacts. 

For the record, I, like thousands of others, strongly urge Apple to address this particular white elephant that has taken up residence in the proverbial orchard.

To override iPhone 3GS Caller ID setting, do the following:  

NOTE 1
The following assumes that iPhone 3GS is set to BLOC/hide outgoing Caller ID.

NOTE 2
The following has been verified for the officially supported iPhone 3GS operating system, only.

NOTE 3
The following has been verified on the AT&T Wireless Network, only. 

1.
From the Contact List, select a Contact whom you wish to see your Caller ID.

2.
In the telephone number Edit Field, insert the prefix *31# before the telephone number.  For example, *31# (888) 555-1212

3.
Save the changes. 

NOTE 4
You may direct dial a telephone number using this prefix, as well.

NOTE 5
After adding the above listed prefix to a Contact telephone number, you will no longer be able to send a text message to that telephone number. 

NOTE 6
Since using a prefix in a Contact telephone number will prevent the Contact from being displayed during an incoming call, I suggest that you add an additional telephone number to the Contact mirroring the original telephone number but without the prefix.  For example:

Contact Name:  Mark
Mobile:  *31# (888) 555-1212
Other:  (888) 555-1212

This will allow the Contact to be displayed during an incoming call and provide a valid number to which you may send text messages. 

Mark