Press Release: BookSense Unveiling Today!

If you follow me on Twitter then you already know my stance on the Book Sense. But if you don't you may figure it out by following the link below to the official news about the Book Sense launch.

http://www.gwmicro.com/News_&_Events/Latest_News/?newsNo=125

Press Release: Window Eyes 7.1 Now Available

Out of beta and now right up to your door for Convention season.. say hello to Window Eyes 7.1.

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Greetings,

GW Micro is proud to announce the release of Window-Eyes 7.1. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the public beta cycle. Your feedback helps make Window-Eyes the best it can be.

Window-Eyes 7.1 is packed with features, including support for Windows 7, support for 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7, enhanced Braille functionality, new scripting features for end users and script authors, and more. Window-Eyes 7.1 also continues to build on the foundation of stability, performance, and reliability. The unrivaled Window-Eyes Error Reporting feature has again proved itself invaluable, allowing us to resolve a wide range of issues. We are committed to ensuring a stable computing environment so that you can get your job done, without worrying about crashes and unexpected reboots. You can rely on Window-Eyes.

Read more about the features that Window-Eyes 7.1 offers at http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/Latest_Features.

If you own a copy of Window-Eyes 7.0, or Window-Eyes 7.01, you may download an upgrade to Window-Eyes 7.1 for FREE. To get started, either select the Window-Eyes Update option from the Help menu in the Window-Eyes control panel, or open a web browser and navigate to http://www.gwmicro.com/upgrade.
If you prefer to obtain a CD version of Window-Eyes 7.1 for $20, you may do so by contacting our order department at 260-489-3671, or via email at orders@gwmicro.com.

If you have Window-Eyes 7.1 Beta 1 installed (either the 32-bit version or 64-bit version), you may download and install the final Window-Eyes 7.1 upgrade on top of the beta version. If you have a 64-bit operating system, but do not have Window-Eyes 7.1 Beta 1 installed, you will need to obtain a CD copy of Window-Eyes 7.1 for $20. Even if you do have Window-Eyes 7.1 Beta
1 installed on a 64-bit operating system, we strongly recommend purchasing a CD version of Window-Eyes 7.1 in case you need to re-install in the future.
Contact our order department at 260-489-3671, or via email at orders@gwmicro.com, for additional information.

All versions of Window-Eyes 7.0/7.01 (Retail, Dongle, Everlock, Payment Plan, Evaluation, and Demo) can be upgraded to Window-Eyes 7.1.

If you do not own a current version of Window-Eyes, and are interested in upgrading, refer to the pricing information available at http://www.gwmicro.com/Catalog/Upgrades/.

Enjoy!

No, I haven’t Given Up Blogging..

It takes one odd link bait news story on Google feeds and one odd person to read it to ask this question of me recently “I saw like on Google or Digg or something that blogging isn’t as popular as like Twitter and stuff. So is that why you stopped writing on your blog?”. Thank goodness that person didn’t read the article about 90% of Twitter users quit within the first month. That may have been awkward for this odd person if they haven’t seen my Twitter feed lately.

Sadly there have been three things that have kept me from doing some sort of post, or updating the polls even, here at TRS. I’ll try not to bore anyone with these pitiful little cries of “Woe is me.. all the technology I see .. Waaahh!”. But I can’t really explain myself and my lack of wordy banter if I don’t pull out the small violin for at least a 30 second solo piece.

First up.. I’ve been slammed in my day job with oodles and oodles of reports, research and meetings. I honestly couldn’t tell you what went on at these big meetings at the begining of the month. I was there, I said stuff and I’m glad that someone was taking the minutes for these meetings because it is like reading a book for the first time when I glance at the meeting minutes. Between E3, Apple’s WWDC, Microsoft hell bent on killing me with new product information and one metric ton of Assistive Technology patches and updates over the last month.. well lets just say that I’m hoping that one of my new made up swear words makes it to Webster’s Dictionary someday. I mean they accept just about every freaking, oh yeah fracking, other internet meem these days right?

Secondly, I’ve been under a lot of NDAs. So many new things are coming that I couldn’t talk about yet. Focus Blue? Got to chat with FS about that at the begining of the month. Serotek’s awesome Accessible Event? The stars allined in all the right places and I got to work with it in March. And I was able to drool on a real live working Book Sense. I’m not under NDA on that one but I don’t want to get the person who is into any hot water because of me blathering on and on about wanting to buy it on day one. Oops! So when faced with the possibility that I may slip here, or elsewhere, and end up having a hit put on me by some AT company, I choose to be quiet. Beats sleeping with the fishes you know? I’ll have a lot to say on some new AT product releases after they debut publicly at the Conventions. And that brings me to…

Lastly, and this is the part you may find interesting, I’m gearing up for a trip to Detroit next week. I’ll be blogging and tweeting and not sleeping on planes, because I hate to fly, a lot during the upcoming weeks. So I’ll make up for all this lost time and bad grammar very soon. And then by mid July I’ll be blogging more about Windows 7 and Office 2010. For the next year of my life will be filled with oh so many installs of programs. At least there is consistency in the constant barrage of technical innovation that is derived by vertical implementation of dynamic content driven by increased motivation of the growing user base. ??? What did I just write? Oh no, the double plus good Marketing people  have finally broken down the weak defenses of my feeble brain. Run before I start to tell you about the benefits of our replacement plan that we offer for your handset [with the purchase of a two year contract]. Arrggghh! 

But if the sound of this blog’s silence is too great, then check out the Twitter feed in the sidebar or search for @RangerStation. I did the Vanity thing at Facebook too but I honestly haven’t gotten into that one as much as I do Tweet. i kind of put the Anti Social into Social Media. I am getting better at it though. One day I’ll even move to this new fangeled Web 2.0 platform all the kids are talking about these days.

Here is the new Facebook address by the way..

www.facebook.com/ranger1138

Updates Everywhere You turn for JAWS, Zoom Text , Dolphin And Window Eyes

Patches usually come fast and furious right before CSUN, however, the same can be said in June as well. That is because we are two weeks away from the big U.S. national conventions for the Blind. So you can celebrate by downloading stuff while you grill your hot dogs and add ice cream to the apple pie while waiting for the fireworks to begin after the computer reboots!

Zoom Text: the new patch takes the new 9.version 9.18 to 9.18.2. You can find the release notes at the link below.

http://aisquared.com/support/more/release_notes/

Dolphin: The super new v11 has an even newer update that will take it to 11.02. You can find out more about this one at the link below.

http://yourdolphin.com/newsitem.asp?id=348

JAWS: FS has pushed out a new patch for v10 that helps with the new iTuens update that rolled out recently. Find out about it and more at this link.

http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/jaws/JAWS-whats-new.asp#Enhancements

Window Eyes: Not to be out done, but this isn’t a patch per say, GW Micro has release the public beta of Window Eyes 7.1. You can find out about what is new with the beta at the link below.

http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/Beta/

Voiceover Comes To iPhones

If you have been wanting to have the phone that everyone talks about but you don’t have the ability to hear it.. well now here is your chance as Apple now has Voiceover included on the brand new iPhone 3Gs announced this morning at WWDC. Take a look at the link below to know more about how it works.

http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision.html

Also, to see all the Apple announcements, including Snow Leopard for $29 bucks!, check out this link too.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/08/phil-schiller-keynote-live-from-wwdc-2009/