#iACast 70: Not A Very Smart Speaker

On this episode of the iA cast, Aleeha, Jason, and Michael talk about the following news topics.

We also discuss some topics related to iAccessibility since this is episode 70.

Want to leave feedback about this episode? email us at feedback@iaccessibility.net, or use the hashtag #iACast on Twitter.

iA UnboxCast 16: MD-BT01 Bluetooth MIDI Adapter

MD-BT01 Bluetooth MIDI Adapter

On this episode of the iA UnboxCast, Jason and Aleeha unbox the MD-BT01 Bluetooth MIDI adapter that allows the iPad to work with a keyboard with a bluetooth midi adapter.

#iACast 69: HomePod and Importance of Braille

In this episode, Aleeha Jason, Matt, and Michael discuss the latest news concerning the Apple HomePod, and the importance of learning Braille to improve literacy skills and to support the use of technology.

The PawdCast 5: Owner Training Your Guide Dog and Delta’s new Policies

A Guide dog in Harness

Welcome back to another episode of the PawdCast. This episode contains a lot of very useful information, so let’s get started

First, we interview Julie Johnson, who has trained several guide dogs herself. She is the owner and operator of her website, Guide and Service Dogs,, as well as her Blind Mice Mega Mall store On The Go, which sells handmade equipment beneficial for any guide or service animal user, and some of which is beneficial for pet owners as well.  Julie is also the author of her own book, Courage to Dare: A Blind Woman’s Quest to Train Her Own Guide Dog. During our conversation, Julie does mention the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test as a well-known puppy test that she uses on her own perspective puppies.

During the second half of the show, we invite Marion Gwizdala, president of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, to talk about Delta’s new regulations regarding Service and Support Animals. As of the publication of this podcast, the meeting with Delta Airlines has already occurred, and more information will be forthcoming. Stay tuned to the Twitter feed for more details. Please enjoy the show, and feel free to leave feedback for us in the comments, on social media, or by sending an email to pawdcast@iaccessibility.net.

#iACast 68: CES 2018 and Combined Apple Apps

CES 2018

Welcome back to the latest episode of the iACast. We’ve been gone for a while, but here’s an episode sure to inform and entertain. This week, it’s all about the Consumer Electronics show, held in early January. We’re joined by hosts Michael, Aleeha, Jason, Matt, and, for her iAccessibility debut, Allison Hartley! Here’s some of the stuff we found among the many products from this year’s lineup.

Kohler’s $6,000 smart toilet

Kohler’s smart mirror

This $16,000 robot uses artificial intelligence to sort and fold laundry …

Somnox’s robotic pillow is designed to snuggle

Our second topic of the show deals with Apple reportedly merging iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps in 2018. Join us for a very lively discussion, and leave your feedback in the comments or on social media.

Managing Your Busy Life: Accessible Task Management Apps

Task management apps Reminders iOS icon

We get it. Managing all that you have to do in your busy life can be a difficult task. That’s why I have gathered four task management apps for analysis here on the iAccessibility Report. I’ll be analyzing Apple’s Reminders app, Things 3, WunderList, and Trello. All are very powerful apps, with very unique feature sets. Let’s dive right in.

Apple’s Reminders App

This one needs little introduction. It’s been a part of the iOS experience for many years and it’s the one that many users turn to for access to all their tasks in one spot. On the up side, this app allows the user to use Siri to add reminders to any list, set time sensitive reminders, and even set location based reminders, such as “remind me to call the doctor when I get home.” Time sensitive reminders appear on the screen when they are due, and managing the notifications on the Apple Watch is easy. The app is available on all Apple devices, but there is no availability for Windows or Android. Also, when checking off items, the app does not appear to work in a way that is helpful. The boxes are checked, but the items do not immediately disappear from the list. As someone who gets overwhelmed by large lists of things to do, I don’t want extra items hanging around once I’ve taken care of them. A workaround for this is to simply swipe up and delete the item, but it will not show up in the completed list.

Things 3

This next app happens to be one of my favorites. Things 3 offers a great deal of functionality, but the interface is quite simple. It has Siri integration, although the language you need to use is definitely a bit clunky. The user can create multiple projects, which are categories for different lists. Checking off items is very easy: simply double tap on the checkbox and the item moves to your logbook, where all completed tasks go once removed from their lists. The app also has the ability to import tasks from the reminders app to assist in easy transition. The app is $10 for the iPhone version, $20 for the iPad version, and $40 for the Mac version, making it a definite expensive solution. Also, the Mac app does not appear to be accessible at all, but I have been talking with the developers, who are working on a solution for this issue. The iOS apps also have some problems, but are not unusable.

Trello

Here’s a very interesting approach to task management. Trello is a free app for many different platforms, including Windows and Android, that allows you to create and share boards: groups of cards, which are like tasks, with whomever you want who has the app, making it ideal for cross-platform collaboration for work, school, or any other project. It does not rely on checkboxes, but rather uses drag and drop to organize cards, which I find a little clunky but which others may find handy. I’m a checklist kind of girl when it comes to these things, so Trello isn’t my favorite, but it’s here and it’s very accessible on all platforms.

WunderList

The final app in this throwdown is Wunderlist: To-Do List & Tasks. It appears to be very accessible on all platforms, has the ability to have multiple lists, has collaboration features like Trello, and makes things disappear with a satisfying little sound when you check them off. I have found free apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. I am very happy with this app, as it combines the simplicity of Things with the sharing features and low price of Trello. It appears to be the best of both worlds.

Conclusion

There’s an app out there for everyone, and I hope this article helps you if you’re looking for something to make your life just a little easier. Did I miss your favorite? Let me know in the comments or mention us on Twitter with your thoughts.

 

#iACast 67 – 2018 Tech Predictions

2018 Tech Predictions

On this episode of the iA Cast, Michael, Jason, Matt, and Aleeha discuss the latest news in technology, and what we think will happen in the tech world this year. Here are some of the items covered.

Featured image from New year, new gear – 6 new tech trends and predictions for 2018 …

What is a Computer? iPad Pro Hardware

Logitech Slim Combo Case for iPad Pro

During its latest iPad Pro ad, Apple asked the question, “What is a computer?” This is the second article written by iAccessibility that aims to answer this question. Our goal is to understand if the iPad Pro can replace the modern PC, and what kinds of accessories or apps one would need to accomplish this. Today, we will be looking at the iPad Pro’s hardware.

Form Factor

At the time of this writing, The iPad Pro comes in two variants: a 10.5 inch and a 12.9 inch. The 10.9 inch model is best suited for portability, whereas the 12.9 inch is best used in a sit-down environment, like at a desk. Both devices have a retina display, as well as 4 speakers that provide an  amazing sound experience. The 12.9 inch iPad Pro does have a better sound profile, but the 10.5 inch is still an amazing device for listening to audio. The 12.9 inch also contains more battery, but it does take longer to charge than its smaller counterpart.

The Processor

The 2017 iPad Pro models have an A10X hexa-core processor which has the power to out-perform some MacBook Pro models doing similar activities. This processor is not limited, as iPhone models are, by size or cooling, and can run for extended amounts of time at high speed.

Storage

The iPad Pro can be configured to have up to 512 Gigabytes of storage built in, which is the same as many MacBook Pro models. My MacBook Pro has a built-in 512 Gigabyte drive, but I went with the 256 Gigabyte iPad Pro.

Ports

The iPad Pro only has a lightning port and a headphone jack, which makes it very limited with regard to what devices can be used with it. It is worth noting, though, that the iPad Pro can support a USB 3 connection dongle so that you can plug in hard drives, microphones and other PC based equipment. You will need access to external power for this to work.

Wireless

The iPad Pro comes with your standard WI-FI and Bluetooth connectivity to connect to all modern routers and bluetooth devices. It also lets you connect to the Apple Pencil for on-screen writing.

iPad Pro Accessories

The iPad Pro allows you to connect a keyboard to the tablet through the smart connector, adding keyboard support without the need for Bluetooth. We will discuss keyboard cases in a future article, but it is worth noting that the Pro is more like a PC with this accessory. The Apple Pencil, while expensive, lets users have better control over drawing and graphics design on their tablets than most other devices like it. I personally think that the Apple Pencil is more accurate than the Surface Pen, or any similar stylus.

Conclusion

While the iPad Pro doesn’t come standard with a keyboard and mouse, it does have the necessary hardware and accessories to make it into a PC replacement with the addition of a smart keyboard and Apple Pencil. The speakers deliver beyond stellar sound, and the retina display is enough for any user to get the best viewing experience any laptop or pc could offer.

Going off hardware alone, the iPad Pro is a computer replacement.

#iACast UnboxCast 15 – Amazon Fire 8 HD Tablet

Amazon Fire 8 HD

On this episode of the iA UnboxCast, Michael and Aleeha unbox the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet which runs Fire OS and the VoiceView Screen Reader. We go from having the device in the box to having the device completely set up. We also explore the VoiceView tutorial and all of the gestures that Amazon Fire tablet users will use on a daily basis.

Amazon.com – Amazon Fire HD 8 – now only $79.99‎

What’s a Computer? An Introduction

iPad Pro 10.5 with smart keyboard

Apple made a bold statement in an ad recently, during which a young girl asks her family: “What is a computer?” This question is really Apple making a statement about the iPad Pro, saying that it can be a computer replacement, and that the modern PC or computer form factor is irrelevant. After talking amongst ourselves and thinking about this ad, iAccessibility is here to try and answer this question: can the iPad, specifically the Pro models, make the modern computer irrelevant? Can it really take the place of our much-loved PC’s and Mac’s, either in the personal or workplace setting? We will reveal our answer over a series of upcoming articles, in which we will discuss varied areas of personal and professional productivity, from word processing to audio editing and everything in between. Can the iPad Pro live up to Apple’s powerful claims?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQB2NjhJHvY

#iACast 66: Holiday Entertainment

Image of a gift wrapped with red bow.

The holidays are finally here, and Michael, Aleeha, Jason and Meaghan discuss methods they use at their homes or at their family’s homes to entertain guests and how they enjoy the holidays using technology. During the episode, we discuss what everyone uses for audio based entertainment through television based entertainment mediums. Here are a few of the things recommended.

Audio

Video

#iACast 65: Blindness VS Mainstream Devices

BrailleNote Touch with Google on the screen.

In this episode of the iA Cast, Michael, Aleeha, Matt, and Jason discuss what accessibility or mainstream devices are right for different situations.

We also discuss what each person on the panel uses to complete certain day to day tasks whether it is mainstream or an accessibility related device.

This episode contains a tribute to an amazing tech enthusiast who left us in November. Jason Earls plays keyboard and created a tribute to Rich called the iPhone Man which is a parody of the song Piano Man. Please listen to the end as we pay tribute to such an amazing person.

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