[Nfb-seniors] AppleVis Update on apps, products, and information for August

Fri Sep 1 12:37:21 UTC 2017

Welcome to the August 2017 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly
newsletter which aims to highlight what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis
website. Below, you'll find a selection of the best content posted to
AppleVis - from new app entries, to app updates, to the latest news and
podcasts. For easier navigation, the major sections of this post are at
heading level 3, and each individual item is at heading level 4.

New and Noteworthy App Entries

Blindfold Deal Or Not (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)

Blindfold Deal or Not is a fully accessible trivia game inspired by the TV
Game Show "Deal or No Deal".

You start off by picking an envelope that contains cash, but you are not
told how much cash is in your envelope. The game board starts with 26
envelopes, and once you've picked your envelopes, there are 25 envelopes
remaining.

In the first round, you pick 7 envelopes to remove from the game board, and
as each is removed, you are told how much was in that envelope. At the end
of the first round, the banker will make you an offer to pay you for your
envelope. If you accept the offer, you receive the cash offered by the
banker. If you reject the offer, you continue to the next round.

The game continues in this manner for several more rounds, until you are at
the last envelope. You can either pick that envelope, or keep your envelope.
Once you pick one of the envelopes, you are told what you now have, and what
you gave up. You get to keep the cash in the envelope you pick.

There are about 10 rooms where the game is played with different amounts of
cash, and you can enter any of the rooms if you've won enough cash.

Blindfold Deal or Not comes with coins to play for free, and then you can
purchase unlimited play.

Current Version: 1.1.9 (August 29, 2017)

Read Blindfold Deal Or Not's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more
information <https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/games/blindfold-deal-or-not> 
Visit Blindfold Deal Or Not's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blindfold-deal-or-not/id1235874956?mt=8&ign
-mpt=uo=8&at=11l4LS> 

Blindfold Flappy (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)

Blindfold Flappy is a fully accessible audio game, inspired by the mobile
game Flappy Bird. The objective is to move your bird so it's flies through
the holes in the pipes.

Your bird is at the left side of the screen, and falls from the top of the
screen to the bottom; your bird pops up a little each time you tap the
screen.

Constantly moving towards your bird are pipes that run from the top of the
screen to the bottom of the screen; each pipe has a gap, or a hole, in it.
Your task is to move your bird so that when the pipe is about to hit your
bird, your bird is lined up with the hole, and passes through it.

This game can be played with or without headphones or earbuds, but when you
are starting out, earbuds will make it easier. Once you get the hang of it,
you can just listen to the sounds.

In your left ear, you hear a tone that indicates where your bird is. As the
bird drops, the tone drops in pitch. Each time you tap the screen, the tone
increases in pitch. In your right ear, you hear a tone that indicates where
the mid-point of the hole in the pipe is. As the pipe gets closer and closer
to you, the sound gets louder.

To ensure your bird will make it through the hole, you want the tones in
both your ears to be as close in pitch as possible.

The game comes with coins; you need one coin to play. More coins are
available as an in-app upgrade.

Current Version: 1.0.8 (August 19, 2017)

Read Blindfold Flappy's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more
information <https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/games/blindfold-flappy> 
Visit Blindfold Flappy's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blindfold-flappy/id1248903865?mt=8&ign-mpt=
uo=8&at=11l4LS> 

Eclipse Soundscapes (iOS, Free)

The Eclipse Soundscapes Project app is specially designed so that people who
are blind and visually impaired can share in the awe and wonder of
astronomical events in real time with their sighted peers.

The app is a joint effort between The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
(SAO), NASA's Heliophysics Education Consortium (HEC), the National Center
for Accessible Media (NCAM), and the National Park Service (NPS). Features
include an interactive "Rumble map"; audio descriptions of key features of
the eclipse; a play-by-play description of the total solar eclipse as it is
happening in the user's area; and a countdown clock to the next upcoming
eclipse.

The "Rumble Map" gives the user the sensation of "feeling" the Sun during an
eclipse. Our technology translates images of key eclipse features into a
series of unique frequency modulated tones that map out variations in light
and dark as the user explores the image with their fingertips. These tones
are specially designed to make the user's mobile device shake, or rumble, in
response to the changes.

After the eclipse, the Eclipse Soundscapes app will provide access to a
database of soundscape recordings from U.S. National Parks and other urban
and rural locations so that users can experience how eclipses change the
behavior of different species, including humans. During the next five years,
the app will expand to include other eclipses and astronomical objects of
interest giving people who are blind and visually impaired - and everyone
else - a new way to engage with the universe around them.

Current Version: 1.2.3 (August 16, 2017)

Read Eclipse Soundscapes' AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more
information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/education/eclipse-soundscapes> 
Visit Eclipse Soundscapes' App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eclipse-soundscapes/id1262152991?mt=8&at=11
l4LS> 

iAccessibility (iOS, Free)

iAccessibility believes that everyone can use technology, and our goal is to
make technology accessible to everyone. With the iAccessibility app, you can
read about new technologies, listen to our podcasts, and learn more from an
amazing community of technology enthusiasts.

Current Version: 1.0.1 (August 9, 2017)

Read iAccessibility's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/education/iaccessibility> 
Visit iAccessibility's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iaccessibility/id1183474215?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo
=8&at=11l4LS> 

IFTTT (iOS, Free)

Applets bring your favorite services together to create new experiences.

Over 500 apps work with IFTTT including Twitter, Telegram, Google Drive,
Twitch, Weather Underground, Instagram, Gmail, and devices like Google Home,
Amazon Alexa, Nest, Philips Hue, and your iPhone. The IFTTT app also
integrates with the Health app, so you can easily track and maintain your
habits.

Turn on Applets and:

*	Control everything around you with your voice and Amazon Alexa or
Google Assistant
*	Stay informed about what's happening from publications like The New
York Times and ProPublica
*	Always stay prepared for the weather with custom daily forecast
notifications
*	Message roommates when you're near the local grocery
*	Get an alert as soon as there's a new Craigslist listing that
matches you search
*	Stay safe with automated and intelligent home security alerts
*	Streamline your social media
*	Back up and share your iOS photos automatically
*	Back up important files, photos, and contacts to cloud-storage
solutions, such as Dropbox or Google Drive
*	Set your home thermostat to an optimal temperature when you arrive
home
*	Post all your Instagrams as Twitter photos or Pinterest pins
*	Trigger events based on your current location

There are thousands of other use cases! New services are added every week.
Some popular ones include: Twitch, Telegram, Spotify, YouTube, Google
Calendar, Tumblr, Medium, Pocket, Square, eBay, Giphy, Automatic, LIFX,
Fitbit, Withings, littleBits, Google WiFi, Evernote, Reddit, Digg, Skype,
Slack, LINE, MailChimp, Salesforce, Todoist, and hundreds more.

Current Version: 3.3.10 (August 18, 2017)

Read IFTTT's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/productivity/ifttt> 
Visit IFTTT's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ifttt/id660944635?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=8&at=11l4
LS> 

Paladins: Choices Game (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)

A text adventure RPG where YOU play the characters in a medieval fantasy
novel! The story is set in the rich world of Dezrel created by author David
Dalglish. You play several different characters including a Paladin of
Ashhur, a wolf-man pack leader, a scrappy farmer, and more!

Put yourself into the shoes of the characters and watch the story unfold,
but be careful what choices you make. Death is always near.

64 chapters of adventure, over 100 achievements, and TONS of interesting
choices. And it's all free. Sweet, sweet, freedom.

This interactive novel is based on David Dalglish's Paladins Series of
fantasy novels. Mr. Dalglish has partnered with Delight Games to "gamify"
his novel. As far as we know, this is the first time a traditional novel has
been gamified like this. Download it and be among the first to experience a
novel in this novel way. ;)

Current Version: 1.13 (August 4, 2017)

Read Paladins: Choices Game's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more
information <https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/games/paladins-choices-game> 
Visit Paladins: Choices Game's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paladins-choices-game/id1220293213?mt=8&ign
-mpt=uo=8&at=11l4LS> 

Word Search War: Puzzle Guru (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)

Word War! is a word search with a spin. Play a a single player word search
or challenge an opponent to a timed or a live word battle and search for
word simultaneously. Launch attacks against your opponents to slow them down
and win the battle.

Word War! was created for the visually impaired, but fun for all to play.
Available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, and
Japanese to allow you to test your skill against opponents all over the
world!

Play against:

*	Computer
*	Friends
*	Contacts
*	Facebook friends
*	Twitter followers
*	Random opponents

Key Features include:

*	Over 150+ word categories!
*	Single player or multiplayer games!
*	Multiplayer timed and live games!
*	Smoke bombs to slow down opponents!
*	Letter bombs to remove letters!
*	Chat with your friends
*	Multiple lingual support for chat text!
*	Level progressions with promotion criteria!
*	Advanced stats and leaderboards!
*	Lightning fast game play!
*	100% Voiceover accessible!

If you like word searches, you need to try Word War! Download for free and
start a Word War today!

Current Version: 1.0.2 (August 25, 2017)

Read Word Search War's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/games/word-search-war-puzzle-guru> 
Visit Word Search War's App Store Page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/word-search-war-puzzle-guru/id1176290913?mt
=8&ign-mpt=uo=8&at=11l4LS> 

All recent app entries posted to AppleVis can be found at:

iOS <http://www.applevis.com/apps/latest?type=ios_app_directory> 
Mac <http://www.applevis.com/apps/latest?type=mac_app_directory> 
Apple Watch
<http://www.applevis.com/apps/latest?type=apple_watch_app_directory> 
Apple TV <http://www.applevis.com/apps/latest?type=apple_tv_app_directory> 

Notable App Updates

Seeing Assistant Home Lite (iOS, Free)

Seeing Assistant Home LITE is an application developed by Transition
Technologies S.A. in order to support blind and visually impaired people in
everyday life. Seeing Assistant Home LITE allows the users to color
recognition, detection of the light source and partially visually impaired
people to use electronic loupe. Allows the users to scan and generate
barcodes and QR codes. SeeingAssistant-Home has been developed in close
co-operation visually impaired people in order to address their needs as
well as possible.

Features:

*	scan a barcode format EAN-13/UPC-A, Code 128, Code 39 and QR code
*	store scanned barcodes with dedicated description (label) in private
database
*	generate both QR codes and ordinary barcodes (EAN-13)
*	recognition of colors
*	detection the light source
*	electronic loupe

LITE version provides limited functionality in number of stored barcodes,
the length of the text generated QR code, daily time of use a magnifying
glass and a light source detection, lack of Dropbox integration.

Current Version: 2.1.0 (August 25, 2017)

Changes in Version 2.0-2.1.0

*	Added new sheet format to generated barcode pdf file ( 5 x 13)
*	Magnifying glass - added new functionality
*	Codes scanner - decreased scanning time required to read codes
*	Improved scanner image quality
*	Added ability to scan multiple codes at once
*	Added new accessibility settings and gesture
*	minor bug fixes and UI changes
*	Minor text updates
*	Added alert for public barcodes when connection error occurs
*	Update for tutorials
*	Fixed occasional crash in "More"
*	Fix for iPad and torch button
*	Light detection sound settings will not be saved anymore as
requested

Read Seeing Assistant Home Lite's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more
information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/utilities/seeing-assistant-home-lite> 
Visit Seeing Assistant Home Lite's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seeingassistant-home-lite/id625110066?mt=8&
ign-mpt=uo=8&at=11l4LS> 

Seeing Eye GPS (iOS, Free to Download But Requires Subscription)

The Seeing Eye, the pioneer in guide dogs, and Sendero Group, the pioneers
of accessible GPS, have teamed up to create The Seeing Eye GPST. Almost 20
years of user feedback and feature requests are behind the design of all
Sendero GPS products. The accessible features in The Seeing Eye GPST are
only the beginning of what is yet to come as users help in evolving this
first fully accessible GPS product for the iPhone. The Seeing Eye GPST is a
fully accessible turn-by-turn GPS iPhone app with all the normal navigation
features plus features unique to blind users.

Unique to The Seeing Eye GPST

*	Instead of multiple layers of menus, the three important navigation
elements are on the lower portion of every screen: Route, POIs and Location.
*	At intersections, the cross street and its orientation are announced
*	Intersections are described (e.g. four-way) with the clock face
orientation of the streets.
*	There are two choices for POI data (Google Places and Foursquare).
*	Directions are configured appropriately for Pedestrian and Vehicle
routes, including heads-up announcements for approaching turns, turn now,
continue straight and upcoming turns.
*	If one wanders off the route, it's automatically recalculated and
updated turn information is announced.
*	Point your phone in a given direction to hear what is nearby with
the LookAround Wand.
*	Nearby Points of interest and intersections are automatically
announced.
*	Ability to run in the background or with the screen locked for iOS
7. If you are running an older version of iOS 6 only the sound effects will
play and the phone will vibrate at turns and at your destination but no
speech output. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can
dramatically decrease battery life.

Supported Maps: U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, New Zealand,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands, Lithuania. Not all countries have full intersection
descriptions.

Current Version: 3.1 (August 18, 2017)

Changes in Version 3.1

1.	Implemented a new code to assist data matching between the server
maps and the intersection database. If you experienced inconsistent
intersection announcements because of the database inconsistencies, you will
find this feature greatly improved.
2.	Improved the GPS sensitivity announcements, instead of updating
every time you change locations, the app will wait 10 seconds while it has a
poor GPS fix before reporting updated on GPS.
3.	Upgraded account with Foursquare to increase the Foursquare POI
search limitation.
4.	Many under the hood improvements to increase app stability.

Read Seeing Eye GPS' AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/navigation/seeing-eye-gps> 
Visit Seeing Eye GPS' App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seeing-eye-gps/id668624446?ign-mpt=uo=8&at=
11l4LS> 

Speech Central: Web Text to Speech (iOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Fully featured text to speech app. The first app ever to feature the
interactive web on the go. Users can interact with web sites and RSS feeds
and pick articles to be read aloud by using headphone or Bluetooth
hands-free buttons.

Functions of those audio buttons can be customized which results in high
productivity and accessibility. The app is tested to be accessible with
VoiceOver by legally blind users. It can be used as an assistive technology
and helper for people with visual impairments and disabilities like dyslexia
(dyslexia friendly font is included in the app). Bookshare, an accessible
online library is integrated into the app.

The app is not just a voice reader of the internet content, you can import
various text file formats to be read aloud - supported document types are:
Microsoft Word (.docx), Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx), OpenOffice/LibreOffice
(.odt, .odp), .html, .txt, supported ebook formats are .epub, DAISY and .fb2
and emails in .eml format. All those formats will work only if a document
has no DRM.

Current Version: 2.17.0 (August 29, 2017)

Changes in August 2017 Updates

*	Bookshare service integration
*	Popular and Latest lists of books on Bookshare
*	Paste button appears in the footer of Articles tab when there is a
fresh copied link
*	Setting to pick which speeds to shuffle
*	Setting to assign speed shuffle command to the remote button
*	speed 3.0x
*	tweaks for opening file on iOS 11
*	option to activate one day without restrictions

Read Speech Central's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/productivity/speech-central-web-text-spee
ch> 
Visit Speech Central's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speech-central-web-text-to-speech/id1127349
155?mt=8&at=11l4LS> 

Threema (iOS, US$2.99)

Threema is the world's favorite secure messenger and keeps your data out of
the hands of hackers, corporations and governments. Threema can be used
completely anonymously, and offers a rich set of features.

*	write text and send voice messages
*	share videos, pictures and locations
*	send any type of file (pdf, animated gif, mp3, doc, zip, etc.)
*	create groups
*	conduct polls with the unique poll feature
*	choose between a dark and a light theme
*	quickly and silently reply with the unique agree/disagree feature
*	verify the identity of a contact by scanning their personal QR code
*	use Threema as anonymous instant messaging tool
*	synchronize your contacts (optional)

Current Version: 2.10.2 (August 21, 2017)

Changes in Version 2.10.2

*	Various VoiceOver improvements
*	Quick-selection dialog for images/videos
*	Send up to 10 images at once
*	New gallery
*	Mark chats as unread by swiping right in the chat overview
*	Mark unread messages as read in the chat overview by swiping right
*	Clone groups
*	No status icon is displayed in the chat overview for drafts
*	Fixed a bug that prevented the first group message from being
received after joining a group
*	General improvements and miscellaneous bug fixes

Read Threema's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
<https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/social-networking/threema> 
Visit Threema's App Store page
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/threema/id578665578?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo=8&at=11
l4LS> 

Recent News and Views

Apple Officially Announces September 12 Event; Expect to see New iPhones,
Apple Watch and Apple TV

By AppleVis | August 31, 2017

Apple has today sent out invitations to the press for an event to be held on
12 September at the Steve Jobs Theater on its new Apple Park Campus in
Cupertino.

In addition to unveiling 3 new models of the iPhone, there are strong rumors
that Apple will also be introducing the next generations of the Apple Watch
and Apple TV.

If these rumors are correct, the main new feature for the Apple Watch will
be standalone LTE cellular functionality
<https://9to5mac.com/2017/08/14/kgi-apple-watch-3-lte-form-factor/> ; whilst
the Apple TV is expected gain support for 4K content
<https://9to5mac.com/2017/08/24/apple-debut-4k-apple-tv-september/> .

However, the main attention is certain to be on the new iPhones, with
particular focus and interest on a rumoured and much anticipated OLED model
which in the absence of anything official from Apple is being touted as the
"iPhone 8".

Read More:
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-apple-tv-apple-watch-news-rumors/apple-
officially-announces-september-12-event-expect-see> "Apple Officially
Announces September 12 Event; Expect to see New iPhones, Apple Watch and
Apple TV"

Seeking Experienced Writers with a Passion for Apple Products to Join our
Blog Team

By AppleVis | August 30, 2017

Do you have a passion for Apple products and strong writing skills? If so,
we may be able to offer you an exciting and rewarding volunteer opportunity
to write original, high-quality content for AppleVis as a member of our
small team of regular bloggers.

This is a wonderful opportunity to inform and engage with thousands of
readers on the leading website for blind and low vision users of Apple
products. Your articles will be read by other end users, app developers,
accessibility advocates, Assistive Technology experts, and people working
for blind and low vision agencies across the world.

Broadly speaking, the main focus for blog posts is likely to be from one of
the following areas:

*	News about new or updated products or services that will be of
specific interest to the AppleVis community.
*	Commentary on the experience of being a blind or low vision user of
Apple products, third-party applications or related accessories.
*	Raising awareness and promoting good practice in accessible
development on the macOS, iOS, watchOS and tvOS platforms.

Read More:
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/applevis/seeking-experienced-writers-passion-
apple-products-join-our-blog-team> "Seeking Experienced Writers with a
Passion for Apple Products to Join our Blog Team"

Yo, Human! Tweaking My Mac: Accessing Life with Adaptive Technology

By Nicholas | August 21, 2017

I love customizing and tweaking my Mac operating System. From finding those
little speed boosts to reducing keypresses for navigation, there is
something exciting about finding settings that actually help and make things
easier and more comfy. If it were a car it would be a low-rider and have
pin-stripes. A stereo would be blasting Led Zeppelin or Santana with a
thumpin' subwoofer in the trunk. Some fuzzy dice would be hanging from the
mirror. Oops, showing my age again.

Since my Mac has nothing from which to hang my dice, I tend to focus my
tweaks on functionality and ease of use. Economy of movement is usually my
main theme. I hear comments about how difficult VO is on the Mac, alluding
to the use of Control and Option as the VO keys. Yet I find many ways around
this by looking for those little details and settings that help me augment
or bypass their use entirely.

Read More:
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/assistive-technology-macos-opinion/yo-human-t
weaking-my-mac-accessing-life-adaptive-technology> "Yo, Human! Tweaking My
Mac: Accessing Life with Adaptive Technology"

Helping to Support AppleVis

AppleVis is managed by a small team of unpaid volunteers and receives no
external funding or sponsorship. So, if you enjoy and benefit from what we
do at AppleVis, please consider helping to make this possible by making a
single or regular micro donation at www.applevis.com/donate
<http://www.applevis.com/donate>  All donations are truly appreciated and
help to cover the financial costs of maintaining and developing AppleVis for
the community.

The AppleVis Editorial Team
www.applevis.com <http://www.applevis.com> 

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