SeroTalk

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 129: It’s Complicated

Welcome back to another episode of the SeroTalk Podcast. This week, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp once again discuss the top news stories of the week. Then, Jamie Pauls visits with laura Legendary of Elegant Insights Jewelry. Stories covered in this week’s podcast include:

Apple v Android: the winner is… the disabled community

Blind Community Raises Awareness with ‘Flash Mob’ Dance

Home Readers  | The gateway to shopping for the blind and visually impaired

Braille Plus 18 User Guide

Window-Eyes 8.0 Public Beta

OptiGuide

An Evaluation of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Using the Nexus 7

Newsweek turns to digital-only publication

Amazon launches Whispercast service to help schools, workplaces manage Kindle devices

Apple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundup

5 Ways to Increase Your iPhone 5 Battery Life

Elop: a Surface phone would stimulate the Windows Phone ecosystem

Microsoft Office 365: More new packages and prices coming in November

Only 6% of Fans Engage With a Brand’s Facebook Page [STUDY]

Facebook partners with Panda Security

Mailbag

Great podcast as usual. About that article where it talks about blind people not being connected to the net for me I have been pretty lucky. I have been on the net since I was 21 years old which was in 96 which really opened up the door and that is how my husband and I met been married for nine years and loving it. As far as Lee there has got to be some blindness organization where they do something at least twice a month so he can get out and do stuff. I know when I grew up in PA there were two camps I went to during the summer. Also if he got a PC with either NVDA or System access he could at least keep up with what is going on in the world. Not everyone needs or wants a smart phone. I know they are awesome, for me I am mainly here at home and on the PC. My cell phone is a basic one. One of these days am going to get an Ipod touch.

From Christine Diller In Maryland

Good Evening Folks,

I just finished listening to Podcast 128. As always, a most informative presentation, a great job done by all!

While it’s nice having Ricky back, lending her expertise on various points of conversation, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed Podcast 127, starring Buddy, Jamie, and Joe! I’ve never laughed so hard in all my life! You guys were awesome, even if my husband found me totally insane, sitting with my earphones in my ears, laughing hysterically over something of which he was totally unaware! Thanks for the hilarious show! Oh yes, much knowledge was gained as well.

Now if I may, a few comments from Podcast 128:

I’m a staunch advocate in educating the general public about blindness and low vision, leaving a positive impression. That’s not to say however, that I haven’t experienced situations where I wanted to scream, tearing my hair out! For example, I was once asked whether my dog cooked for me. Before replying, I had to take a deep breath, biting my tongue! It was so hard not to laugh! My dog and I, along with the individual in question, walked away, both feeling good about how I handled the situation, I think!

Now onto sounds that make one cry. The “fork against a plate” is one which causes me to cringe. Two others though, which drive me up the wall are “listening to someone crunching on an apple,” along with “hearing a person rubbing a page between their fingers, or rubbing pages together while they read.”

Wishing everyone a great week, and Joe, stay away from those emery boards!

From Pam Francis

Hi folks,

Thanks again for another informative podcast.

At the end you asked for sounds that made us cringe or react in any given way.

When I was young, I remember watching a test pattern on a black & white TV & hearing, “This is a test of the Emergency broadcast system.” The subsequent tone used to totally freek me out. To this day, I have schoolmates who have told me of my reaction. I had a very high pitched scream & ran in to a closet. By the grace of God, that menacing tone was replaced when the Emergency Alert system was activated. I still don’t like it; but do not run from the room or mute the channel be it TV or radio.

If I may, I would also like to ask another couple of questions & make another comment.

I have seen several articles posted by you & others regarding windows accessibility without a 3rd party screen reader. Per the surface tablet, if there is minimal accessibility to no accessibility, do you think Windows will have conceded to Apple with reference to tablet accessibility?

Also, if one is not familiar with Android as a platform, What is the learning curve with a Nexus 7 versus an Ipad other than accessibility gestures? I ask this because we are the launch city for Google fiber. Within our installation, we are given a Nexus 7, supposedly to be used as a remote. I also understand they have a conventional remote.

However I hope to use this opportunity to try to familiarize myself with some sort of Android, if for no other reason than to broaden my horizons.

You also made comments referencing wireless carriers having accessibility departments. Though I am a Verizon customer, I have yet to find a dependable link or contact number to get direct accessibility support. I know it exists with AT&T. I have been a Verizon customer for almost 15 years. Through the years, I have seen various phones attempt at accessibility be it gimmicky or intended. Their version of the Talks screen reader was a joke. I am forever disturbed by the customer service reps doubling as tech support reading data base answers from a computer screen rather than having raw knowledge.

I also made a futile attempt at contacting an accessibility team within google. They offer a feedback form with no means of communicating with anyone directly responsible for accessibility.

I am trying to make them aware of the needs of those of us who have such needs that are willing to subscribe to their service.

Apple does have a dedicated team with a dedicated number.

the number is, for your listeners benefit 866-204-3930 Keep up your tireless work for all of us. It does not go unnoticed.

Roundabout

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