Blind & Low Vision News From Magnifiers.org

Dolphin Releases Version 11.5 of Screen Reader and Magnifier Software
A free major upgrade for all version 11 users of SuperNova Reader Magnifier, Hal Screen Reader, Lunar Screen Magnifier and LunarPlus Enhanced Screen Magnifier is available today. Version 11 users will receive their free upgrade quickly and conveniently via the Dolphin Internet updater found in the Help menu of their Dolphin software.
Oratio Screen Reader for BlackBerry® is now available
HumanWare and Code Factory announce that Oratio for BlackBerry(R) smartphones is now available for purchase. Formally known as Orator for BlackBerry smartphones, Oratio is the first screen reader software solution that enables visually impaired users to access and operate BlackBerry smartphones using state of the art Text-To-Speech technology to convert the visual information displayed on the BlackBerry smartphone screen into a intuitive speech output.
Mozilla Sponsors GNOME Accessibility Efforts
The GNOME foundation has announced that Mozilla has granted the project $10,000 for 2010 to work on accessibility.
Zoom In and Out Your Desktop with Windows 7 Magnifier
The new Windows Magnifier is a long missed tool that should have been included in the previous versions. With larger and larger monitors get more and more popular, a tool like this becomes a must-have for many savvy users. It also makes doing presentation much more enjoyable for both presenters and audients. For people with low vision it is an indispensable feature! Microsoft finally covered that piece and killed all other similar 3rd party apps to death, accept the professional screen magnifiers like ZoomText, Lunar or Magic..
Disabled users will be in Windows Seventh heaven
The release of Windows 7 has been widely welcomed as a big step forward from Vista. But the benefits extend beyond obvious improvements, as it greatly enhances accessibility for disabled users.
HumanWare Launches the BrailleNote Apex
HumanWare has launched the BrailleNote Apex, the thinnest and lightest notetaker especially for professionals and students who are blind.
Intel Launches Ereader for the Visually Impaired
Intel this week launched the Intel Reader, a device aimed at helping the blind and people with reading-based disabilities such as Dyslexia or low vision.
Dolphin Computer Access today announced the forthcoming availability of a free major upgrade for all version 11 users of SuperNova Screen Reader Magnifier, Hal Screen Reader, Lunar Screen Magnifier and LunarPlus Enhanced Screen Magnifier
Scheduled for late 2009, version 11.50 will deliver Dolphin magnification, speech and Braille users a host of performance, productivity and usability improvements, as well as building on version 11 its support for Microsoft newest operating system, Windows 7.
More Accessibility Features in Open Source Operating System for Mobile Phones Android 1.6
The most recent release of Android 1.6, a.k.a. Donut, introduces accessibility features designed to make Android apps more widely usable by blind and low-vision users. In brief, Android 1.6 includes a built-in screenreader and text-to-speech (TTS) engine which make it possible to use most Android applications, as well as all of Androids default UI, when not looking at the screen.
Freedom Scientific Releases JAWS® 11
Freedom Scientific announced the English release of JAWS version 11, the worlds leading screen reader for visually impaired computer users. This new release includes features that will expand educational and employment opportunities for users at all levels. These new features include Research It, Word Index, a free software DAISY player, and enhancements specifically for Windows 7, including UI Automation support and improved ARIA support.
How Accessible is the Apple iPhone 3GS Smartphone for Visually Impaired?
The Apple iPhone, seemed to be one of the most inaccessible smartphones, because of its TouchScreen. But the latest iPhone model 3GS, is the first smartphone with a screen reader called VoiceOver. In his blog Mark Taylor reviewed the Apple iPhone 3GS with regard to user accessibility for the blind and low vision.
Windows 7 Screen Magnifier on Youtube
Windows 7 is the first Windows edition that includes a full-screen screen magnifier that is of high value for visually impaired users.
Magnifying Glass Pro 1.8 Released!
Magnifying Glass Pro is one of the better screen magnifiers in the area of freeware and shareware. It has an unique mix of features for different groups of people and excellent support. With the release of Magnifying Glass Pro Worker Collection again improves this screen magnifier for Windows.
Accessible Interface Twitter
Accessible Twitter is an alternative to the Twitter.com web site. It is designed to be easier to use and is optimized for disabled users. You can use your regular Twitter username and password to login.
Dolphin Releases Version 11.03
Dolphin has released a free 11.03 update of there screen reader and screen magnifier software Supernova, Hal, Lunarplus and Lunar.The update include some new minor features and bug fixes.
Software Express Becomes Dolphin Computer Access
Software Express Limited, a part of the Dolphin Computer Access Group of companies today officially announced their new company name, Dolphin Computer Access (North) Limited. Trading as Dolphin Computer Access, their Guide software will also be renamed as Dolphin Guide, with the handsfree version becoming Dolphin Guide HandsFree.
TALKS and ZOOMS 4.0 for Series 60 Now Available from Nuance Mobile
With Nuance TALKS and ZOOMS, blind and visually impaired users are able to take advantage of the many features found on todays popular mobile phones, including contact directories, caller ID, text messaging, help files, access to Web browsers, and other screen content. And TALKS and ZOOMS 4.0 enables consumers to choose the TTS software they want to use to power all updated features, including Nuance trusted Vocalizer Mobile and ETI-Eloquence.
Apple® introduced the new iPhone? 3G S with VoiceOver Screen Reader and Full Screen Magnifie
iPhone 3G S provides new accessibility features including VoiceOver, a screen reader that speaks what appears on the iPhone 3G S display, enabling visually impaired users to make calls, read email, browse web pages, play music and run applications. The new universal Zoom function magnifies the entire screen, and the White on Black feature reverses the colors on screen to provide higher contrast for people with low vision. iPhone 3G S also supports Mono Audio which combines left and right audio channels so that they can be heard in both earbuds for those with hearing loss in one ear.
Dolphin Released Version 11 of Supernova, Hal, Lunarplus and Lunar, but does not support new technology
Dolphin has released version 11 of their screen reader and screen magnifier software. In this release support for Windows 7 public beta has been added and the control panel is redesigned. What we miss in this new release, is support for new technology!
Vibrating touchscreens allow Braille reading
Touchscreen handsets may be the talk of the town, but they are useless to the visually impaired. Software developed by Jussi Rantala and his colleagues at the University of Tampere in Finland attempts to address that by bringing Braille to touch-enabled mobile devices.
Google shows off eyes-free touchscreen dialing
virtually impossible for somebody who is vision-impaired to use the phone. Other touchscreen smart phones suffer from the same problem, so a few smartypants engineers at Google have come up with a clever way of dealing with the problem.
Reading Rights Coalition Urges Authors to Allow Everyone Access to E-books
The Reading Rights Coalition, which represents people who cannot read print, will protest the threatened removal of the text-to-speech function from e-books for the Amazon Kindle 2 outside the Authors Guild headquarters in New York City at 31 East 32nd Street on April 7, 2009, from noon to 2:00 p.m. The coalition includes the blind, people with dyslexia, people with learning or processing issues, seniors losing vision, people with spinal cord injuries, people recovering from strokes, and many others for whom the addition of text-to-speech on the Kindle 2 promised for the first time easy, mainstream access to over 245,000 books.
Issist Releases Beta version of iZoom 3.1
Issist Assistive Technologies, manufacturer of the worlds most portable professional screen magnifier and reader is pleased to announce the availability of iZoom 3.1 Beta. After a tremendous response to iZoom 3.0 in January at ATIA 2009, iZoom now includes high quality IVONA male and female voices.
Serotek Announces an End to Software Maintenance Agreements Industry Standard SMAs No Longer Standard
Serotek Corporation, the leading provider of internet and digital information accessibility software and services, today announced that it will no longer require a fee to upgrade or maintain any software in its product line. Software companies traditional have charged fees under a contract, commonly known as a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA), to upgrade to newer versions of their software packages. Serotek will continue to provide regular upgrades and software improvements but will offer them free of charge to all Serotek customers.
Windows 7 Will Include Full-Screen Magnifier
Michael Bernstein, is a Microsoft development lead on the User Interface Platform team where he focuses on accessibility. In a Blog on MSDN he announced, that Windows 7 includes a screen magnifier supporting full-screen and lens mode.
DesktopZoom 3.2 Free Screen Magnifier Released
LittleGems.Admin has released version DesktopZoom 3.2. DesktopZoom is the most popular free screen magnifier for Windows XP and Windows 200. It also seems to work on Windows Vista with Aero disabled.
Issist Assistive Technologies Announced the Availability of iZoom 3.0 Screen Magnifier and Reader
iZoom 3.0 represents a leap in screen magnification technology with support for 64 bit operating systems, crystal clear font smoothing at all zoom levels, SmartAlign and much more! iZoom 3.0 raises the bar in screen magnification technology, offering complete portability, ease of use and revolutionary new features not found in any other magnifier.
Evaluation of VoiceOver, the Macintosh Screen Reader by AccessWorld
In early 2005, Apple introduced VoiceOver, a screen reader that is built into the Macintosh operating system. The latest release of this accessibility tool, included with Apples Mac OS X 10.5, nicknamed Leopard, features refreshable braille support, vastly improved navigation commands, and an extensive help system.
Dolphin Computer Access Release Hindi Supernova, the Worlds First and Only Combined Hindi Screen Reader and Screen Magnifier
Dolphin Computer Access today announced the release of the Worlds first and only combined Hindi screen reader and screen magnifier, with integrated Braille display support. The Hindi edition of Supernova has been developed by Dolphin Computer Access in partnership with Mumbai based disability experts BarrierBreak International. It is immediately available on portable USB pen edition, on CD, or to download as a 30-day trial.
W3C Web Standard Defines Accessibility for Next Generation Web
Web designers and developers create sites that better meet the needs of users with disabilities and older users. Drawing on extensive experience and community feedback, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 improve upon W3Cs groundbreaking initial standard for accessible Web content.
Optelec Announces Innovated Near and Distance Low Vision Solution with the FarView
Optelec announced the release of FarView, a portable and powerful magnification solution that redefines how low vision users are able to access, store, review and share information.
Serotek releases System Access 3.0
Serotek released the first full-featured screen access product with support for 64-bit operating systems. This support is not only an essential breakthrough for IT professionals working in 64-bit environments in the course of their employment, but for the average consumer as well. Blind individuals can now walk in to any of the increasing number of retail stores who stock their shelves exclusively with machines running 64-bit operating systems, and purchase a new computer without wondering whether or not the machine will be accessible when they take it out of the box. From the smallest Netbook to the most powerful server, System Access delivers fast, reliable, and easy to use accessibility.
Dolphin Computer Access Announce Their Acquisition of Software Express Distribution
Dolphin Computer Access Limited, the UK software company responsible for delivering independence to vision and print impaired people, announced its acquisition of Software Express Distribution Limited.
Dolphin Computer Access Launch the Dolphin Scripting Zone www.YourDolphin.com/Scripts
Dolphin Computer Access announced the official launch of the Dolphin Scripting Zone at www.YourDolphin.com/Scripts. This dedicated mini-site is now available and open to all Supernova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus users, 30-day demo customers and budding script writers. Visitors can download and rate a free script, find a script writer, contribute to the scripting forum or learn more about Dolphin Scripting.
Google Starts Accessible View Experiment
Google has started an experiment to improve access to Google search by visually impaired. By only using the keyboard you can navigate through search results. Google also added a magnification lens that highlights the users selected search result.
Freedom Scientific Releases JAWS® 10
Freedom Scientific today announced the English release of JAWS version 10, the worlds leading screen reader for visually impaired computer users. This new release includes new features that will expand employment, training, and educational opportunities for users at all levels. These new features include AutoForms Mode, JAWS Tandem, and RealSpeak? Direct Solo.
Presentation of Dolphin Screen Reader and Screen Magnifier Software Version 10 on Internet
During the Accessible Worlds Tek Talk online event this week, attention was focused upon how the latest update of Dolphins screen reading, screen magnification and reading and writing tools opens the world of information to those with vision loss.
Dolphin Releases Version 10 of Lunar, Lunarplus, Hal and Supernova
Dolphin has released version 10 of Lunar (screen magnifier), Lunarplus (screen magnifier with speech support), Hal (Screen reader with speech and braille support) and Supernova (Screen reader with screen magnifier, braille and speech).
GPS software supports visually impaired
Code Factory has announced Windows Mobile GPS software intended for visually impaired users. Mobile Geo supports blind or low-vision users by using a combination of voice synthesis and vibratory alerts, and runs on Windows Mobile 5.x, 6.x, or 6.1 devices, the company says.
New SAPPHIRE? Portable Video Magnifier
Freedom Scientific today announced the new SAPPHIRE? portable video magnifier. This new product offers features for on-the-go low vision users and is an companion to the companys current line of desktop video magnifiers, distance viewing solutions, and screen magnification software.

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