That Real Blind Tech Show

Latest Episodes:

Episode 12 - Just Do It, apologies to Nike. Meet Trailblazers Holly Anderson and Darcy Burnard Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

Meet DHSHolly and DHSDarcy, no they are not agents of Homeland Security. For those of you not familiar with them, they have been using assistive technology their entire lives. From the early days of Apple 2e's to the current slate of Apple products. They met on a tech mailing list for the blind. Have been podcasting since the early days of podcasting with two cans and a string. They can now be heard regularly on the MACCESSIBILITY podcast. Join us for their journey from the early days of accessibility in main stream devices to the modern explosion of accessibility everywhere. And no that was not Brian being rude during the latter part of the interview, his phone and Siri decided to make a phone call. Follow Darcy at @DHSDarcy and Holly at @DHSHolly on Twitter, and you can subscribe to the MACCESSIBILITY podcast here https://maccessibility.net You can contact That Real Blind Tech Show at ThatRealBlindTechShow@gmail.com, join us on Facebook at That Real Blind Tech Show, follow us on Twitter at @BlindTechShow, or call us and leave us a message at 929-367-1005.

Episode 11 - Amazon Skynet is coming, oops we mean Sidewalk Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

And you thought Apple had the most expensive product announced this week. Not so fast, how about an app to help you sleep for the low low price of $899? Apple updates their website to place more of a focus on people with disabilities but what about fixing iCloud.com for VoiceOver users? Could Apple be moving to a hardware subscription model? A recent survey discovered it is not just VoiceOver users that want Touch ID back. Amazon Sidewalk is coming and we are not sure it is a good thing. The AirPod Max have been announced for the low low price of $549. No you did not read that price incorrectly. We are stunned at this. Apple released their apps of 2020, but what about Brian and Ed's favorite apps of 2020. Brian's HomePod Mini finally arrived, and we get his thoughts of it. No time like the present to go over those monthly and yearly subscription services, you may be surprised what they add up to. Procter and Gamble makes a plea for more Audio Description for the blind. Then of course it is more of What's Pissing Off Brian and Whatcha Streaming Whatcha Reading. To get in touch with the show you can email us at ThatRealBlindTechShow@gmail.com, you can join us on Facebook in our That Real Blind Tech Show group, Follow us on Twitter at @BlindTechShow, or leave us a message at 929-367-1005. Articles Discussed in this Episode. 1. Anti-insomnia app gets FDA approval https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/30/anti-insomnia-app/ 2. Apple redesigns its website for people with disabilities https://www.imore.com/apple-redesigns-its-accessibility-website-and-debuts-new-support-videos 3. Apple will likely offer a subscription service for their hardware https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2020/12/7/apple-will-likely-offer-a-monthly-subscription-service-for-macs-ipads-apple-watches 4. A recent survey found that 79% of iPhone users want Touch ID back. 5. Amazon Sidewalk is coming https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Sidewalk/b?ie=UTF8&node=21328123011 6. AirPod Max are here for the low price of $549 https://www.macworld.com/article/3600458/apples-airpods-max-are-ridiculously-overpriced-even-if-they-deliver-audiophile-quality-sound.html#tk.rss_all 7. Apple's best apps of 2020 https://macdailynews.com/2020/12/02/apples-best-apps-of-2020-zoom-disney-pokemon-go-and-more/ 8. A plea from Procter & Gamble for more audio description https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/12/lost-in-translation-why-audio-description-must-go-on-the-accessibility-agenda/?fbclid=IwAR2OxQM6t7qIU7qrzIB9zjiNVR1aHh4001JJspBWdHwA1i3KtOwwAaEgVP0 9. Warner Brothers will be releasing all of their 2021 films on HBOmax https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/3/22150605/hbo-max-warner-bros-movies-2021-simultaneous-release-matrix-godzilla-suicide-squad-space-jam

Episode 10 - Happy Thanksgiving, If You're Feeling Like Today Is Blursday, You're Not Alone, and a Very Special Interview with the New CEO of the Lighthouse Guild, Dr. Cal Roberts Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to feeling like it is Blursday. Hulu Live TV is the latest streaming service to jack up their prices. Does cutting the cord still make economical sense? HBOMax makes its debut on Amazon Fire TV. Navilens is being tested out by the NYC MTA in a limited fashion. A Black Friday spectacular review of Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy from an accessibility viewpoint. We then welcome in the new CEO of the Lighthouse Guild, NYC, Dr. Cal Roberts to discuss his first few months on the job, his wide ranging background, his new podcast On Tech and Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts, and much more. Why in the world would anyone purchase Apple's new MagSafe Charger? It was not a great start for those early downloaders of Mac OS Big Sur. Why in the world does the full Mac keyboard have 19 function keys? M1 Macs is there any reason for a VoiceOver user to be using iOs apps on their Mac? iMazing and CrossOver 20 are two applications to allow you to run iOS and Windows programs on your Mac, but are they accessible? And of course its the return of What's Pissing Off Brian Now and more of Whatcha Streaming Whatcha Reading? To contact That Real Blind Tech Show, you can email us at ThatRealBlindTechShow@gmail.com, join our Facebook Group at That Real Blind Tech show, follow us on Twitter @BlindTechShow or call us and leave a message at 929-367-1005. Articles Discussed In This Episode 1.Hulu with Live TV is Jacking up its prices https://gizmodo.com/welp-hulu-with-live-tv-is-jacking-up-its-prices-too-1845692304 2. HBOMax has arrived on Amazon Fire TVs https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/16/21569441/hbo-max-amazon-fire-tv-tablets-roku-prime-video-channel-membership 3. Navilens is being tested out for NYC blind bus riders https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/10/27/mta-unveils-smartphone-app-for-visually-impaired-bus-riders 4. Link to On Tech and Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts on Apple Podcasts https://www.lighthouseguild.org/healthcare-professionals/research/on-tech-and-vision/ 5. Why you should not buy Apple's new MagSafe Charger https://mashable.com/article/apple-magsafe-duo-too-expensive/ 6. Mac OS Big Sur did not get off to a great start https://gizmodo.com/its-been-a-rough-launch-for-big-sur-1845686868 7. iMazing will allow you to install almost any iOS app on your Mac https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/18/how-to-install-iphone-ipad-app-m1-mac/ 8. CrossOver 20 will allow you to run Windows apps and games on your Mac https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/18/m1-macs-can-now-run-windows-apps-and-games-through-crossover-20/

Episode 9 - Apple, Silicon Not Just For Boobs Anymore!! Nov 12, 2020

Show notes

Join Ed and Brian for a recap of Apple's 365th special event of 2020. We start off on a somber note as Brian pays tribute to his first guide dog Nash who recently passed. Disclaimer, if you drop your Air Pods on to a train track, do not go down on the tracks to get them. Really, Apple Lidar already can help blind people know how far other people are away from them? Talk about information I could have used yesterday. iOS 14.2 will now give you a completely useless daily briefing. HomePod Mini orders have been placed, but will they ever arrive? Then a little promo for Brian who made an appearance on the Yahoo Fantasy Football Podcast and you can read the article about the All Blind Fantasy Football League further down in the show notes. We then dive in to Apple's One More Thing monthly presentation, starting off with our thoughts about the new M1 chip. RIP boot Camp. The new Mac Air keyboards will be making some interesting changes adding dedicated dictation, do not disturb, and spotlight keys. For a full VoiceOver user, is there any reason to get a MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar? iOS apps will they or won't they be coming to your Arm Macs, but more importantly will they be accessible? Will you be installing Mac OS Big Sur on launch day? And of course it is more of Whatcha Streaming, Watcha Reading. To contact us email us in at ThatBlindTechShow@gmail.com, Join us on Facebook at That Real Blind Tech Show, Tweet us at @BlindTechShow, or call us and leave a message at 929-367-1005. Articles Discussed In This episode. 1. There is now a Vacuum specifically designed to pick up Air Pods https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/06/theres-now-a-vacuum-specifically-designed-to-pick-up-airpods-dropped-onto-train-tracks/ 2. iPhone 12 Pro can use Lidar to help blind people detect other people https://mashable.com/article/apple-iphone-people-detection/ 3. With the iOS 14.2 update you can now ask Siri for a daily update. 4. Brian Fischler Discusses The All Blind Football League with Yahoo Fantasy https://sports.yahoo.com/standup-comic-creates-allblind-fantasy-football-league-after-losing-his-sight-084149770.html 5. The 5 Biggest Announcements from Apple's One More Thing https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/10/21550892/apple-arm-silicon-event-macbook-air-pro-mini-mac-big-sur-biggest-announcements 6. Major Developers opting out of Mac App Store before Apple Silicon Release https://www.imore.com/major-developers-opt-out-mac-app-store-ahead-apple-silicon-launch 7. Mac OS Big Sur Dropping on November 12th https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2020/11/10/macos-big-sur-to-be-released-into-the-wild-on-thursday

Episode 8 - Join the Audio Description Revolution and a In Depth Conversation with Aira's Jeanine Stanley Oct 31, 2020

Show notes

Join Ed and Brian for a discussion about the fantastic news about HBOMax on the verge of getting accessibility improvements and Audio Described Content, YouTube Audio Described tracks, and no Audio Description for This is Us first two episodes. The rumor mill be abuzz that Apple is working on its own search engine. And no more Internet Explorer for you real soon! Then we are joined by Jeanine Stanley from Aira for a very open and honest discussion about the current issues some Aira Explorer's have had with the service, the changes to Aira in 2020, and what Aira Explorers can expect from the future of Aira. We also discuss a new promo Aira has going with Starbucks in select cities. An upcoming exciting Aira Webinar with the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame on November 6, 2020. Brian don't take things so literally, hey, do you know what Aira stands for? After our interview with Jeanine its a discussion about the pros and cons of the new iPhone 12. Then of course more of What's Pissing Off Brian Now and Watcha Streaming Whatcha Reading. To contact us even though Brian got the Twitter handle wrong twice during the show you can follow us on Twitter @BlindTechShow, email us in ThatBlindTechShow@gmail.com, Join us on the Facebook at That Real Blind Tech Show or call us in with your comments at 929-367-1005. Articles Discussed In This episode. 1. Accessibility Enhancements Are On The Way to HBOMax Along With Audio Description https://dralegal.org/press/accessibility-enhancements-on-the-horizon-for-hbo-max-customers-who-are-blind/ 2. Evidence Is Mounting That Apple Is Designing Its Own Search Engine https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/10/28/evidence-mounting-that-apple-is-preparing-alternative-to-google-search 3.Internet Explorer Users May Be Surprised When They Are Directed To Microsoft Edge Next Month https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/27/21537274/microsoft-internet-explorer-force-open-edge-website 4. To Learn More About Aira Visit Them on The Web https://aira.io

Episode 7 - It's Not All About Them Apples Oct 14, 2020

Show notes

Join Brian and Ed as they discuss whether or not Amazon Prime Day has Jumped the Shark. The recent updates to Blind Square GPS and NFB Newsline. Will HBOMax and Peacock ever fix their accessibility of their iOS apps? A brief conversation on the recently released Microsoft Surface Books or Pads or whatever they are calling them these days. Then it is on to the Apple newly announced products with our thoughts about the new Apple HomePod Mini and the trillions of new iPhone 12's announced. Is there any reason for a totally blind VoiceOver user to get the iPhone 12 Pro Max? Can you guess how many different iPhones and price plans Apple is now offering? Listen to find out the answer! Please do yourself a favor and do not get a 64 gig iPhone. Trust us, you will thank us in the long run. Ed also exposes Brian for the true Germaphobe he is, and we get an interruption from a friend of Brian's. Actually the podcast was called Smokey College Football Picks with the Bandit, but we have taken this season off. Wait, my iPhone tells me I have been on 5G for two years, am I special and more advanced then everyone else? And it's the return of What's Pissing Off Brian and Whatcha reading Whatcha Streaming. If you want to contact us you can email us at ThatBlindTechShow@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter @BlindTechShow, and join us on Facebook at That Real Blind Tech Show. You can call us and leave a message at 929-367-1005. Articles Discussed In This episode 1. New Microsoft Surface Books https://www.microsoft.com/en-us?OCID=ema_7193670_FY21FallMoment&WT.mc_id=PromoEmail_7193670_17426_en_US_US_FallSurface_GA_10-13-20_Header_Home_Generic_B 2. Introducing the Apple HomePod Mini https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/13/21432979/apple-homepod-mini-features-specs-price 3. Apple Introduces Intercom Mode https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/10/13/apple-unveils-intercom-feature-for-iphone-ipad-homepod-and-airpods 4. The iPhone 12's Are Here https://gizmodo.com/this-is-the-iphone-12-iphone-12-pro-and-iphone-12-max-1845350712 5. The truth About 5G https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/09/08/5g-speed/ 6. Apple Brings Back MagSafe Charging For the New iPhones https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/13/21509659/apple-iphone-12-magsafe-charging-magnetic-charger-return

Episode 6 - Amazon, Apple, and Are You Ready For Some Yahoo Fantasy Football With Verizon Media's Kisiah Timmons. Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

Man Caves are popping up everywhere these days, even in NYC's Grand Central Station. Stop the presses, Amazon Prime Day has been announced in the U.S. for October 13th, but hang on won't that clash with something else rumored to be taking place the same day. If you are a Google Meet user you better get used to keeping those calls under an hour or it will cost you. Amazon held their yearly keynote and announced a slew of new products. We discuss them all and if any of them will be in our homes soon. Join us for a very special interview with Kisiah Timmons, a Principal Product Designer at Verizon Media. We discuss Kisiah's career journey along with the road blocks she has faced along the way being blind in the tech world. We discuss how Kisiah ended up working on the fantastic Yahoo Fantasy app at Verizon Media, learn about the case study that Yahoo Fantasy is conducting with The All Blind Football league, and much more. After our interview tune in for our discussion about the new Apple Watch Series 6, sleep tracking, and hand washing. Really, this is not a joke, we are talking about hand washing on the podcast. And of course it is then on to our experiences with iOS 14 and Atari Tennis. Back Tap for you, Back Tap for me, Back Tap for almost everyone. Why does every app on your iPhone want to talk to other devices on your network in iOS 14? Articles Discussed in this Episode. 1. The MTA discovers a Mancave hidden beneath Grand Central Station. https://gizmodo.com/secret-man-cave-discovered-in-room-in-beneath-grand-cen-1845165983 2. Google Meet being completely free for as long as you want will soon be coming to an end. https://mashable.com/article/google-meet-time-limit-free/ 3. Coalition For App Fairness unites App Developers against Apple. https://www.cultofmac.com/723748/coalition-for-app-fairness/ 4. Amazon announces all newly redesigned Echo devices and ones targeted at kids. https://mashable.com/article/amazon-announces-new-echo-devices/ 5. An all new chip makes Alexa even faster s 6. Alexa will supposedly be getting smarter! https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21452313/alexa-voice-assistant-ai-upgrade-amazon-echo-smart-speaker-multiple-people-tone-questions 7. All new updated Fire Stick and Fire Stick Light https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/09/24/amazon-unveils-upgraded-fire-tv-stick-lower-cost-fire-tv-stick-lite 8. Amazon Show Smart Devices will soon be able to stream Netflix https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21454420/amazon-echo-show-10-netflix-smart-speaker 9. Amazon launches new Guard Plus service for home security. https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/24/21454582/amazon-alexa-guard-plus-subscription-service-security-price-release-date

Episode 5 - Those Aren't Pillows. Well, at least we are going the right way! Sep 16, 2020

Show notes

Join Ed and Brian for a discussion about all the latest announcements from Apple, social distance style. Bose Frames gives us the all new Sopranos. Yes, your weather app is spying on you. AT&T will now let its customers make phone calls through their Alexa devices, is this really needed? Then it is on to the Apple keynote for October, er, we mean September. Hey who knows what month or day it is anymore. Ugh, no iPhones mentioned at this event. Two new Apple Watches including the launch of the Apple Watch SE. Then one of us learns that the volume button and the power button do two completely different things. iOS 14 has most likely already dropped, will you be updating to get off of the awful iOS 13 sooner rather then later? Apple joins the bundled services game. New low and mid range iPads. Will one be in Ed's future? And it would not be That Real Blind Tech Show without talk of the first week of The All Blind Football League, what's pissing off Brian, and Whatcha streaming, whatcha reading. Make sure to follow That Real Blind Tech Show on Twitter at @RealBlindTechShow, join us on Facebook at That Real Blind Tech Show, email us in with any questions or comments at ThatBlindTechShow@gmail.com, or call us at 929-367-1005. Show Links Articles Discussed in this episode 1. Bose releases the Bose Frames 2.0 https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/frames/bose-frames-soprano.html?mc=25_PE_FR_GMC200912&ad_rid=327933139&ad_blid=1240486924&mi_u=327933139&cid=DM360379&bid=1240486924&sc=LE%20Journey%20LE%20Frames%20O#v=bose_frames_soprano_black 2. Is Your Weather App Selling You Out? https://gizmodo.com/your-weather-app-is-selling-you-out-1845052421 3. AT&T subscribers can now make and receive calls through Alexa https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/09/att-customers-can-now-make-and-receive-calls-via-alexa/?guccounter=1 4. iOS 14 is here will you be updating? https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/09/15/apple-releasing-ios-14-ipados-14-watchos-7-tvos-14-september-16 5. Apple introduces Service Bundles https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2020/9/15/apple-one-the-one-apple-service-to-rule-them-all 6. Two new Apple Watches are coming https://www.imore.com/apple-watch-se 7. And what would a new product launch be without a few new iPad sizes? https://www.cultofmac.com/722081/apple-ipad-air-4-price-release-date/

Episode 4 - Sweep the Cane Johnny! And now for some Cobra Kai with Audio Description. Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

We start off with is it a bird? Is it a plane? Was it Ed flying around in a JetPack in Los Angeles this past weekend, or maybe the real Iron Man? That screaming you heard was Ed and Brian during a tension breaker when they heard that all newly redesigned apps are coming to amazon and Facebook. We hear Netflix watch parties are all the rage these days, can they ever be made fully accessible? Mask Selfie's being required by Uber, anyone else plan to use a photo of the Lone Ranger? After our interview with Karen Kramer, a retired O and M trainer, its on to an important conversation about advocacy. Are you doing more harm then good with your advocacy? Is Apple actually listening to That Real Blind Tech show as after Brian complained on the last episode about his new iMac delivery, it actually came on time. Then it is on to a discussion of an article published by David Rosenblatt about web accessibility annoyances. And it would not be That Real Blind Tech show without What's Pissing Off Brian and er, maybe Ed! Join us for a special interview with Karen Kramer, a recently retired O and M trainer in New York City for a discussion about what challenges mobility trainers and their clients are facing during the Corona Virus. Articles Discussed in This Episode. 1. Iron Man Spotted in Los Angeles https://gizmodo.com/did-you-fly-a-jetpack-over-los-angeles-this-weekend-be-1844923772. All new design coming to the amazon app https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/01/amazons-big-redesign-on-ios-to-reach-all-u-s-users-by-month-end/ 2. 3. Uber to require some riders to take Mask Selfies! https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/1/21410134/uber-mask-selfie-riders-drivers-covid-pandemic 4. David Rosenblatt's article on the Five Most Annoying Accessibility Issues He Faces When Browsing A Website https://bighack.org/5-most-annoying-website-features-i-face-as-a-blind-screen-reader-user-accessibility/?fbclid=IwAR2WLAYDL_zYkFTg1WaoR2Z-PgdYUkpgELj9I4NTN2L6poT-2MskJ5zGwas

Episode 3 - Is that an Uber or a Taxi? Why not use Aira? Aug 22, 2020

Show notes

Join Brian and Ed as they discuss all the latest greatest headlines mostly in the assistive technology world.

Discussed in this show. CSUN may have waited way to long to cancel their 2020 conference, but they are ahead of the virtual ball for 2021. What in the wide world of California is going on with Uber and Lift? Then it is on to fond memories of Brian taking an uber, or was it an uber? No Apple Watch Beta for you! Is Apple now copying Microsoft Soundscape? Great news for VM Ware Fusion virtual machine users as VM Ware will continue to work with Mac Big Sur. The question of the show, is Aira still worth the cost? Does having to use an ATM piss you off? Well it pisses Brian off. Amazon makes improvements for its low vision Fire TV customers. And back by popular demand, it is more of what ya streaming what ya reading.

Brian and Ed also welcome to That Real Blind Tech Show, special guest, David Kingsbury for a conversation about David's new book, When One Web Browser Is Not Enough. We also learn about David(s background and the work he does at the Carroll Center.

Articles Discussed in this Episode.

Uber and Lift Shut Down Averted in California until October 1, 2020 https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/20/21377841/uber-lyft-california-judge-block-emergency-stay-employees

Now the Janitors are even suing Apple. https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2020/8/20/apple-must-face-lawsuit-involving-a-janitorial-services-canceled-contract

Apple is Looking to get in to the Spatial Audio Navigation Game https://www.appleworld.today/blog/2020/8/20/apple-investigating-ways-to-provide-spatial-audio-navigation-to-various-device

VM Ware Fusion 12 to Work with Mac OS Big Sur https://www.imore.com/vmware-fusion-12-will-support-macos-big-sur-and-more

New Low Vision Feature Comes to Amazon Fire TV https://www.aftvnews.com/new-vision-accessibility-feature-adds-large-text-banner-to-fire-tv-interface/