This is a tool that every person who is blind or low vision should have.
For those with an IOS device KNFB Reader is on sale through November 29 for $64.99, that is 35% off its regular price of $99. No retail trickery here, that is the price it sells for when not on sale.
Thanks to Google, people using an Android device can purchase KNFB Reader for $19.99.
For more information go to:
https://nfb.org/knfbreader
There is one item that you might be interested in with today’s update to Firefox. There is now a keyboard shortcut to toggle reader view.
Have you ever gone to a web site to read an article but find so much junk before and in the middle of the article you are reading, sometimes you might just give up and find something else to read.
Firefox has had a reader view available in the view menu for awhile but you can now toggle it on or off with control alt r.
This option isn’t available with every site or article but when its available, it clears out all of the junk from the web site and gives you a nice reading experience.
Here is an example of the difference reader view makes.
For the article in its regular version go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/business/tech-distractions-blamed-for-rise-in-traffic-fatalities.html?ref=technology&_r=0
Here is a paste from the same article in reader view.
nytimes.com
Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps
Neal E. Boudette
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating an Oct. 26 crash near Tampa that killed five people. A passenger in one car, a teenager, recorded a Snapchat video showing her vehicle traveling at 115 m.p.h. just before the collision.
A lawsuit filed in a Georgia court claims a teenage driver who was in a September 2015 crash near Atlanta was using Snapchat while driving more than 100 m.p.h., according to court records. The car collided with the car of an Uber driver, who was seriously injured.
Alarmed by the statistics, the Department of Transportation in October outlined a plan to work with the National Safety Council and other advocacy groups to devise a “Road to Zero” strategy, with the ambitious goal of eliminating roadway fatalities within 30 years.
The Obama administration’s transportation secretary, Anthony Foxx, said that the near-term effort would involve identifying changes in regulations, laws and standards that could help reduce fatalities. That might include pushing for all states to tighten and enforce laws requiring use of seatbelts in cars and helmets on motorcycles, while cracking down on distracted or drunken driving. The effort might also include tougher regulation of heavy trucks, Mr. Foxx said.
After decades of steady declines, the number of deaths stemming from motor vehicle crashes has risen in the last two years to its highest level since 2009. 3.5
fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
’75
’85
’95
’05
’16
A second, related effort would focus on setting longer-term goals and speeding the introduction of autonomous-driving technologies that many safety experts say have the potential to prevent accidents by removing distracted humans from the driving equation.
One concern so far, though, is that current generations of automated driver-assistance systems, like the Autopilot feature offered by Tesla Motors, may be lulling some drivers into a false sense of security that can contribute to distracted driving.
Whether highway safety officials in the Trump administration will have the same priorities, though, is too soon to say. The names of candidates for transportation secretary have not yet been publicly
Here is some info on the things I talked about today.
$0.01 per minute Tmobile conference calls
As of October 6, 2016 Tmobile is charging their customers $0.01 per minute for calling a conference line. This affects Tmobile customers, not those who have other carriers such as Sprint, AT&T, or Verizon.
One possible way around this would be to use the Google Hangouts Dialer and place the call over WiFi, or some other way than making a phone call via Tmobile such as the OBi I mentioned or another VOIP solution such as Magic Jack.
update on OBi device
Ruthie and I have had our OBi device for a couple of months now and love it. No phone bill but there is a charge if you want to add 911 service. This is usually paid in your taxes if you have a land line and since this is just using an internet connection and Google Voice there is not a tax collected.
It does require a little bit of configuration to get things working with Google Voice but it didn’t take more than a few minutes to complete. OBi does work with other services, so if the Google Voice service was ever ended one day, there are other options available.
OBi makes the configuration pretty easy with shortcuts to add a service as part of the configuration web site.
There is a one time charge to purchase the OBi device, Amazon has it for $49 with free prime shipping. Its just a bit smaller than a hockey puck and it plugs directly into your router. If you have a cordless phone system at home like we do with four cordless phones and its base, you plug the base unit into the OBi device. Here is a link to Amazon, where we purchased ours.
OBi200 VoIP Phone Adapter,
https://goo.gl/0yCYHC
adding narration to kindle books
You can add a narrated copy of a book from Audible to a Kindle book from within the Kindle app for your phone or tablet. For many older books like Life On The Mississippi or The Time Machine, the Kindle book is free but you can add the narration for $0.49
Its a bit more for current and popular books but their recordings are very high quality. Some of the Audible books I’ve listened to are more of a production of the book instead of just one person with either a monotone or person trying to do voices for different people in the book.
Its very easy to add the narration and you can switch back and forth between your phone reading the text or listening to the narration.
There are tons of great books available via Kindle. Its very easy for an author to publish their book via Kindle instead of having to go through a publishing company, having books printed, and trying to get what few book stores are still around to offer their book and then after all of that, trying to get people to buy them.
lastpass free on mobile
LastPass is now free to use on a computer and your mobile devices such as a phone or tablet. Its a great way to keep track of your passwords and these days we all have many to keep track of. I’ve got the mobile LastPass app on my phone setup so that I use my fingerprint to unlock LastPass. As I showed in the meeting, I went to KCPL in the browser on my phone and had LastPass enter my username and password. I clicked on the Login button and I was interacting with the web site.
You can get LastPass for your computer from http://www.lastpass.com and you can find the app in your app store.
folder in root drive Windows 10
When you reinstall Windows 10 using the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft you have the option of keeping your files and programs or keeping nothing.
If you choose keep nothing, it actually just gets rid of the Windows and other associated folders and files. It does not remove everything on the drive.
So I have a folder that I keep my install files in along with portable copies of Firefox, ThunderBird, Chicken Nugget etc.. that have all of the settings from the full version of those programs.
By doing this, after Windows 10 is reinstalled using the Media Creation Tool, I can get back up and going quickly since all of the files I need to install are right there in one folder on the drive. Since I have portable copies of Thunderbird, Firefox, Chicken Nugget etc.. I can just take care of things right away before I have the time to install the full versions of programs. This also allows me to use my portable programs on a USB drive on any computer and don’t have to install anything.
Please tell your friends, people you are in a share-a-fare vehicle with and people from other groups about our monthly NUT meetings.
While we have people from various blind groups, NUT is not affiliated with any of them. Its just people getting together to talk about technology.
If you have something you want to talk about, learn about, or get help with, bring it up on the email list or mention it at a meeting. You can join the NUT KC list by sending a new email to
nutkc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
When you get the verification message from Yahoo Groups, just reply and send, you don’t have to do anything else. To post a message send it to
nutkc@yahoogroups.com
Please feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested. Steve
I saw this via a tweet from @BlindBargains
Amazon offers Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi Kindle eBook for free. That’s $23 off and the best deal we could find. Note that you can add Audible narration for 49 cents. Source:
http://www.blindbargains.com/redirect.php?r=16110
I added narration via Audible for $0.49. This works slightly different than just a book from Audible, here’s some info from the email I got. BTW: I’m using the Kindle app on my phone and tablet.
Now that you’ve purchased the narration – provided by Audible.com – for Life on the Mississippi, you can simultaneously read and listen with real-time highlighting.
Get Started with Immersion Reading
1
Open the Kindle edition of Life on the Mississippi
(from either the carousel or the Books tab).
2
Tap the screen, and press the Play icon at the bottom of the page.
3
Watch your book come alive!
Can’t wait to get back to your book?
You can also switch between reading and listening to keep the story going… in the gym, on your commute, in the kitchen, or wherever your day takes you. Thanks to Whispersync for Voice, you’ll never lose your place in the book. Get Started with Whispersync for Voice
1
Get the Kindle App for your phone or tablet from the App Store or Play Store.
*In addition to the Kindle App, you can listen on Fire tablets, Amazon Echo, and the Audible App.
Next Sunday, November 6, 2016 will be the end of Daylight Saving Time and that means its time to set the time back an hour, for those clocks that don’t automatically make the change.
Twice a year we are often reminded to change the battery in the smoke detector. I’d like to ask you to also change the batteries in your weather radio.
I consider a weather radio to be a device that can provide you with life saving information, just like the alarm from your smoke or carbon monoxide detector.
The National Weather Service tests the weather radio every Wednesday in Kansas City at 11 AM and 7 PM. This is a good way to verify that your weather radio is working and ready to alert you to weather events.
We noticed one Wednesday evening that our radio did not receive the weekly test. I pressed the bar on the radio to play the weather information and heard nothing. It was time to get a new weather radio but if we had not been paying attention to the weekly tests, we might not have discovered the radio was no longer working.
Weather alerting apps on your smart phone are a great idea to use too, but nothing beats a weather alert radio at home. If you need a weather radio, here is the one we have from Amazon.
Midland WR120/WR120EZ NOAA Weather Alert All Hazard Public Alert Certified Radio with SAME, Trilingual Display and Alarm Clock – Box Packaging by Midland
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,556 customer reviews | 140 answered questions $22.99
https://goo.gl/dIJRts
The next meeting of Northland Users Of Technology (NUT) is:
Saturday November 12, 2016
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Hy-Vee Club Room
5330 NW 64th Street
Kansas City, MO 64151
Store: 816-505-1311
Join us in a friendly conversation about technology as it relates to people who are blind or low vision. This is not a formal group with officers, by-laws or any of that stuff that prevents people from just talking with people.
Several people do arrive early to get a start on breakfast, however eating breakfast is not required to attend our meeting.
So bring yourself, bring a friend and bring your questions.
If you need help getting to the Club Room, just stop at Customer Service and they will assist you.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by email: “steve@blindbites.com”
or by Twitter
“@BlindBites”
Steve
We decided at the September meeting that there will not be an October 2016 meeting of Northland Users of Technology.
Many of the regular attendees will be out of town or unable to attend due to other commitments. Our next monthly meeting will be in November.
The next NUT (Northland Users of Technology) meeting will be on Saturday September 10, 2016 from 10:00 to 11:30 AM.
We meet in the Club Room inside Hy-Vee on NW 64th street in Kansas City. Kansas City #3 Hy-Vee
Located on NW 64th Street (Highway 45), west of I-29/Highway 71. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Address:
5330 NW 64th Street
Kansas City, MO 64151
Store: 816-505-1311
Many people arrive around 9:30 to get a start on breakfast. We are an informal group of people who are blind or low vision getting together to discuss technology. No formal structure with us, no officers, membership dues or by-laws.
Bring yourself and bring a friend. There is no requirement of a visual disability to attend our meetings. We all have something to learn from each other.
If you need assistance in finding the Club Room just stop at Customer Service.
Here is a copy of the breakfast menu from the Hy-Vee web site. They can also do per item orders. We have wonderful people helping in the Club Room that will go to the kitchen and get food for you.
Breakfast Menu
SUNRISE FAVORITES:
1. 2 eggs, hashbrowns and toast $5.49
2. 2 eggs, 2 bacon or 2 sausages, and toast $5.49
3. 2 eggs, 2 bacon or 2 sausages, hashbrowns and toast $6.49 4. hot oatmeal and toast $3.99
5. biscuits and sausage gravy $5.49, half $3.99
6. breakfast muffin sandwich $3.99
THE WORKS:
7. 3 eggs, 3 bacon or 3 sausages, hashbrowns and toast $7.49 8. 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon or 2 sausages $7.49
9. 2 French toast, 2 eggs, 2 bacon or 2 sausage s $7.49
10. breakfast burrito with hashbrowns $6.99
11. smothered hashbrowns and toast (with cheese, ham, onions and green peppers) $6.99 SIGNATURE SKILLETS:
All skillets come wih hashbrowns, 2 eggs, toast and smothered with cheese 12. ham and cheese skillet $7.99
13. country harvest skillet (with onions, green peppers, mushrooms and sausage) $7.99 14. chicken-fried steak skillet $7.99
HEARTY BREAKFAST FAVORITES:
Hy-Five: 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, hashbrowns and 1 pancake $7.99
Country Sampler: 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, and a buttermilk buscuit with sausage gravy $7.99 Double Play: 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, 2 pancakes $7.99
You are invited to the next meeting of Northland Users of Technology (NUT).
Saturday August 13, 2016 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM
We meet in the club room at the Hy-Vee located near I-29 and NW 64th street in Kansas City, Missouri.
Hy-Vee Club Room
5330 NW 64th Street
Kansas City, MO 64151
Store: 816-505-1311
Please join us in our monthly gathering of people discussing technology as it relates to those who are blind or low vision.
Its an opportunity to share information, get help from other people, and discuss things in person.
Its also a chance to enjoy some yummy food. We do have wonderful people who will go to the kitchen area and get food.
The NUT meetings have no formal structure, there are no officers, by-laws, or membership dues involved in what we do. Its just people getting together with people. There are no requirements that you have breakfast, your participation is what is important.
This month we don’t have a demonstration scheduled. It is a great time to discuss any issues you are having with technology, share something you’ve heard or learned about, and enjoy each others company.
We all have something to learn from each other. Asking questions is part of how we all learn.
So bring yourself and feel free to bring a friend. There are no requirements that people attending the meeting have a visual disability.
If you need assistance in finding the club room at Hy-Vee, stop at customer service.
If you have any questions, please contact me at steve@blindbites.com
Also, please feel free to share this with anyone you think might be interested.
Many people arrive around 9:30 to get their day started with good food and conversation, so don’t be afraid to be an early bird.
You can join the NUT email list by sending a new email to:
nutkc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Once you get a reply from Yahoo Groups, simply reply, (usually control r in most programs) and send the message. That will verify your address is correct and that you do want to join the list.
You can send a new message to the NUT list with this address:
nutkc@yahoogroups.com
Steve
Please join us for the next meeting of Northland Users of Technology (NUT).
Saturday July 9, 2016 10:00 – 11:30 AM.
Hy-Vee Club Room
5330 NW 64th Street
Kansas City, MO 64151
Store: 816-505-1311
If you need assistance in getting to the Club Room, just stop at Customer Service.
Many people do arrive around 9:30 AM for conversation and to get started on Breakfast. We do have wonderful people from Hy-Vee who will go to the Kitchen area to get food.
We ask that everyone set their phones to silent or vibrate so they do not become a distraction while someone is demonstrating or during the process of asking & answering questions.
A few of the things I plan to talk about & demonstrate are Google’s new option for two factor verification, streaming audio including News, TV shows, Cartoons, and Movies, and maybe a call from a previous episode of The Tech Guy Radio show.
Please bring yourself and a friend. There is no requirement for a level of knowledge, experience, or disability.
We all learn from each other by asking questions. None of us just woke up one day knowing everything we know. There is always something to learn for each of us.
Please feel free to bring or talk about anything you want to share with the group.
If you have any questions feel free to email me at:
steve@blindbites.com
Northland Users Of Technology Kansas City 