[Nfbwv-talk] Follow NFB-NEWSLINE on Twitter to get the freshest scoop!
West, Renee
RWest at nfb.org
Tue Dec 8 12:36:01 UTC 2009
In order to better communicate with our subscribers, NFB-NEWSLINE is
now on Twitter. Our posts, or "Tweets," which come out on a weekly
basis generally, advise subscribers of new publications added and new
features or system enhancements, such as the ability with
NFB-NEWSLINE Online to view publications on our Web site or download
them to your digital talking-book player. Occasionally we also post
Tweets that bring attention to interesting articles that we feel
subscribers might enjoy. If you would like to follow us, please
visit
<http://twitter.com/NFB_NEWSLINE>http://twitter.com/NFB_NEWSLINE.
For those of you unfamiliar with Twitter, it is a social networking
site that consists of "microblogs," time- or topic-sensitive posts
that are 140 characters or less. You may read our tweets on the Web
or use one of many available Twitter clients, most of which are free to use.
A podcast, called "Twitter from a Blindness Perspective," is
available at <http://www.blindcooltech.com/>www.blindcooltech.com and
may be of help in learning more about the service.
Below is a sampling of clients available:
McTwit is a free, open-source desktop client for Twitter.com. The
program is designed with productivity of keyboard users in
mind. Additionally, if the JAWS, System Access, or Window-Eyes
screen reader is active, some information is conveyed efficiently
through direct speech messages. This client is available at
<http://www.mctwit.com/>www.mctwit.com. A more complete introduction
to this client may be found at
<http://www.fredshead.info/2009/08/mctwit-accessible-interface-for-twitter.html>http://www.fredshead.info/2009/08/mctwit-accessible-interface-for-twitter.html.
TwInbox: Formerly known as outTwit, this add-in to Microsoft Outlook
2003 or 2007 provides a method of integrating Twitter into your
e-mail system. Tweets can be displayed in your Inbox or a designated
folder. Outlook commands for Reply and Reply to All can be used to
reply to messages as private, direct, messages or replies can be sent
to the "timeline." Tweets can be manipulated and stored just like
any other Outlook item. The advantage of this client, for those
users who routinely have their e-mail open all day, is that it brings
the Twitter experience into an application with which you are already
familiar. TwInbox is available from Techhit at
<http://www.techhit.com/>http://www.techhit.com. Further information
on this client is available at
<http://www.fredshead.info/2009/12/tweet-from-outlook.html>http://www.fredshead.info/2009/12/tweet-from-outlook.html.
Twittelator PRO is a low-cost application for the iPhone that allows
you to utilize most Twitter functions, including the managing of
multiple accounts. Twittelator Pro also offers a search feature, the
ability to post shortened URLs, and the ability to differentiate
direct messages from ordinary tweets. Visit
<http://www.stone.com/Twittelator/>http://www.stone.com/Twittelator
for more information and downloading instructions.
Qwitter: This client, mainly designed for use by the blind, provides
a number of interesting features that make it appealing to power
users. The program runs in the background and checks for new tweets
at specified intervals, and keyboard commands are then used to review
the new messages. Qwitter provides access to its interface from
anywhere in the operating system, making it unnecessary to leave your
current task to access new tweets. Qwitter presents different tweets
in "buffers," which provide a way for you to access your timeline
(showing all the messages from people you follow), replies (showing
all messages with your @username in them), direct messages (messages
sent privately to you), and sent (displaying messages you have
sent). Additionally, Qwitter provides the ability to define search
buffers, which will search the Twitter public timeline for a
designated string and present them to you. The Qwitter client
supports speech output directly to your screen access program, or
uses a SAPI voice if no speech software is running. This program is
available from
<http://www.qwitter-client.net/>http://www.qwitter-client.net. You
can become more familiar with this client by accessing a podcast on
the subject at
<http://www.lalrecordings.com/node/31>http://www.lalrecordings.com/node/31.
Tweets60 is a free Twitter client for Nokia S60 smartphones, and is
compatible with the Talks screen reader. Tweets60 is the first free
native Twitter application for Nokia S60, providing a simple and
accessible way to manage your Twitter account on the go, providing
access to most standard Twitter functionality on the move. Once
installed Tweets60 is accessed through the application tab on your
menu and will automatically connect to your Twitter account, showing
you new tweets, direct messages, and your latest updates. You can
then change your status, read the tweets of people you follow,
re-tweet, and manage who you follow. You can even leave Tweets60
running in the background and it will automatically update. You may
download this client from <http://www.tweets60.com/>http://www.tweets60.com.
Jawter is a tool that essentially turns your screen reader into a
Twitter client and allows you to use Twitter with a minimum of
fuss. You simply install it, set it up, and read your Twitter
updates with hot keys that work anywhere in windows, wherever you
are, and whatever you're doing. Your tweets can be navigated from
within the screen reader, then there's no need to go launching
separate programs just to see what your friends are saying. This
client may be downloaded from:
<http://randylaptop.com/software/jawter-2/>http://randylaptop.com/software/jawter-2.
Blind Cool Tech has a podcast you can listen to in order to learn
more about Jawter, available at
<http://media.libsyn.com/media/bct/bct1319Jawter.mp3>http://media.libsyn.com/media/bct/bct1319Jawter.mp3.
Twitterrific is a free application created for Mac users that lets
you both read and publish posts or "tweets" to the Twitter community
Web site. The application's user interface is clean, concise, and
designed to take up a minimum of real estate on your Mac's
desktop. You may access the download by visiting
<http://iconfactory.com/software/twitterrific>http://iconfactory.com/software/twitterrific.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at
<mailto:nfbnewsline at nfb.org>nfbnewsline at nfb.org.
From the NFB-NEWSLINE Team
Renee West
Manager, Marketing and Outreach
Sponsored Technology Programs
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />200 East Wells Street
Baltimore MD 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314 ext. 2411
Fax: (410) 659-5129
Websites: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org; www.nfbnewsline.org;
<http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org/>www.nfbnewslineonline.org
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