Hello there!  I'm Matt Chadwick at the business desk and today I'd like to shine the light on the growing popularity of a trend that is being used to do such things as:

Spread the word about one's business.

Increase revenues.

Increase one's customer base.

Yes, it's the good old newsletter that more and more businesses are using to do all of this plus more.  There was a time when many people thought that the use of the newsletter was absolutely boring, mundane, and old fashioned.  However, this opinion has swiftly been changing for the past three years and it seems to be steamrolling across America these days. 

Believe it or not, the newsletter trend is turning out to be quite a little gem, a bomb of a treasure, plus much more for many.  Now, before you go scrambling to your computers to start churning out those fancy and smashing newsletters, I'd like to pass on some tips that I've taken the time to gather.

First, you need to ensure that your newsletter is concise, easy to read, and easy to understand.

Second, make it brief.  Not too long and not too short.

Third, it's always a good idea not to bombard your readers with too many newsletters.  At most monthly, at least quarterly.

Fourth, don't try to cram too much info into your newsletter.

Fifth, you can start by offering a free subscription to your readers on your website.  Not a good idea to make it a paid subscription.

Sixth, if you send your newsletter to a select group of readers, then use the BCC facility to do so.  Never, Never, disclose the list of recipients when sending out your newsletter.

Seventh, it may not be a bad idea for you to use your newsletter to advertise some special offers on your products or services.

Eith, Not a good idea to send your newsletter as an attachment if you feel that it's too lengthy.  Let me clarify.  If your newsletter is being sent to unknown recipients then best to send it as the body of your email so that it will be read more easily.  Sending your newsletter as an attachment to unknown recipients will more than likely end up being deleted or the spam checker will toss it before it gets to its destination.  However, if you know your recipients then you can get away with sending it as an attachment.

 

I'm going to leave you with an idea for thought.  Why not think of having your newsletter translated into other languages and then send it to appropriate websites or organizations?  I'll leave you some info that you can check out if you feel that translating your newsletter would help.

 

Are you looking for skilled and experienced translators/writers/researchers to help you craft your articles, blogs, business letters, emails, faxes, newsletters, and proposals in multi languages? 
Are you seeking skilled and experienced language coaches to help you learn the English language more quickly and efficiently?
Then you need to visit the folks at www.translationpeople.com.  Here you'll find a team that guarantees quick turn around, professional work, and total confidentiality.  Prices are extremely affordable and services are offered in English, Spanish, French, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
Check out the free useful information page while you're there and for absolutely free you can also tap into the latest trends and headlines.

 

At the business desk, I'm Matt Chadwick wishing you a pleasant evening.
 

Good morning!  I'm Kerry J Harrison at the business desk and this morning I'd like to do something very special for a very special group of persons.

To mark the anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and due to heavy demand from our special needs readers, I'd like to share an article with you that befits this anniversary.  I'll let you be the judge of it all.

 

US mobile phone industry turns a deaf ear to blind mobile phone customers.
 
by Andrew Beutmueller
TelecomTV - London,UK
27/07/2007.
 
 
Today is the 17th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a
piece of historic legislation dealing with the civil rights of disabled US
citizens. But, amongst those that will not be joining in with the the
congratulations and cork-popping are US mobile handset makers and carriers
who, according to the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) have so far
failed to "meet the needs of blind or visually impaired customers" in many
ways.
 
The AFB says that in the US mobile industry in general, handset
manufacturers in particular do not take the ADA law or handset
"accessibility" seriously as is evidenced by the fact that the overwhelming
majority of phones are not fully usable for low-vision or no-vision users.
 
According to the AFB some of the chief obstacles posed by cell phone for the
visually impaired run the gamut from 1) having no audio output of
information displayed on the screen, 2) having hard to read displays, 3)
having keys that are not easy to distinguish by touch, and 4) having product
manuals and phone bills that are not available in Braille, large print or
other easier-to-read formats.
 
The aging US baby-boomer population is now in its sixties and many
individuals are suffering natural attrition of their vision. This
inevitability is driving massive demand for so-called "vision loss-friendly
phones" with large font screens or voice output of menus or text messages.
 
Paul Schroeder, the vp of Programs and Policy Group at AFB says there is no
excuse for not meeting the needs of a major section of the population. He
says, "Given today's technological advancements, advertised constantly by
cell phone carriers, it is particularly shameful that access features are
not being made available."
 
Blind callers are indeed becoming increasingly frustrated with the mobile
industry's apparent indifference to the issue. Complaints to the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), which enforces Section 255, a part of the
Federal Communications Act requiring all phones to be made usable for people
with disabilities, are reportedly flooding in from across the United States.
 
Earlier this month, the AFB began a campaign to help the vision-impaired to
 understand access requirements and help them file complaints with the FCC if
necessary.
 
 
 
The action also includes a letter writing campaign asking what leading cell
phone makers and carriers "are doing to meet the needs of people with vision
loss."
 
The AFB does however admit that not all carriers are insensitive to the
needs of the visually-impaired; in fact AT&T for one has taken steps to
ensure the provision of accessible phones.
 
And last year Samsung unveiled one of the first Braille mobile phones for
the visually impaired. Called the "Touch Messenger," the phone enables
visually impaired users to send and receive Braille text messages. The 3?4
button on the cell phone is used as two Braille keypads and text messages
can be checked through the Braille display screen in the lower part.
 
Nokia does not yet offer a device specifically for the visually-impaired,
but the Finnish company's handsets do come with a number of features for
low-vision and blind users.
 
Keith Nowak, a Nokia spokesperson says, "All of our devices include a raised
nib on the 5 key to help facilitate dialing, voice dialing and voice
commands and some new devices include user-selectable font sizes to help
make text more legible."
 
Mr. Nowak adds, "Nokia also offers a so-called "voice aid" application, that
allows frequently-used functions such as messages, phonebooks, battery and
signal strength, call logs and more to be read aloud on some smartphones, as
well as a dialing application that reads numbers aloud as the user scrolls
through them. We have also included audio features like talking clocks and
audible status indicators on some of our lower end cell phones as well."
 
? 2007 Decisive Media.

 

http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?newsid=41602&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10&view=news

 

At the business desk, I'm Kerry J harrison wishing you a pleasant day.
 

Greetings everyone!  I'm Jayna Sheffield at the business desk and I'd like to end the week on a short note.

For the past few days our markets here in North America have been on a rocky ride and it all has to do with what the experts are calling a market correction.  What this means is that from time to time we are going to experience drops in the market and these drops are meant to compensate for very high peaks in the market.  In short, what we have been seeing in the past few months whereby the markets have been rising, investors have been smiling, and stocks are doing very well, is from time to time tempered with a fall in the markets, with investors running for the door, and stocks falling.

The European markets have done very well and it is believed that now they're ready for a bit of a fall.  However, here in the United States, the markets have not yet reached their full potential and many business gurus are focusing on stocks of Microsoft and Oracle to be the ones for investors to choose.  They are putting most of their money on these two stocks to lead the pack of good stocks to invest in.

So, how can you as an individual or small business benefit from this picture?  The way we see it, the majority of non-investors are practically clueless when it comes to understanding how markets behave.  How they behave in different ways, what needs to be done in order to deal with peaks and troughs, and why all of these events take place.  Let's face it:  Over 95% of the non-investing population or should I say, over 95% of the regular population, those who are far removed from the activities of Wall Street, or the other major stock markets around the world, are literally ignorant, naive, and scared of these things. 

True it is most of us are constantly seeking ways to grow our savings and investments but at the same time we don't know how and here's where you can fill the gap if you take the time to acquire the right type of knowledge and market yourself to the right type of consumer.

What type of knowledge do you need in order to benefit?  You need to become a certified financial planner and investor.  Get the right type of certification and look for the experience necessary to make you credible with financial institutions and investment houses.

Which types of consumers should you be targeting?  In particular, pre retirees, aging baby boomers, young professionals, and families with aging parents.

Get the picture as yet?  Hurry now!  This niche will not remain open for too much longer. 

 

Now for our Amazon picks of the week.

 

business startup kit

by Steven D Strauss

A great book for you if you're getting ready to start your own business venture.  Before you take the next step towards owning your own business, you should read this book.

 

What no one ever tells you about starting your own business

By Jan Norman

It's really hard to know what to ask about how to go about starting up as a small business owner and too many people make the fatal mistake of believing that they know what they're doing.  This book answers many unanswered questions and it's good reading material for budding and potential business owners.

 

Untapped Wealth Discovered

By Jeff N Marquis and Kerry J Harrison

If you're tired of working for someone else, tired of having to spend too much time away from home at the office, and wanting to become your own boss, then you need to read this book. 

 

I'm going to leave you with some info that can get you going on your research chores re the setting up of small business ventures.

 

Are you tired of looking over your shoulder because you're so scared of being scammed out of your hard earned savings, your house, and your other assets?
Are you looking for ways to avoid those scams with their broken promises and get rich quick schemes?  Are you worried that one day soon someone is going to try and scam you out of your worldly possessions?  Do you know what you should be doing in order to combat those seedy scammers, identity thieves, and shady investors?
Now you can take advantage of some very potent info and daily updates plus more in order to help you stay healthy and sleep well at night.  All of this info is free for the taking and it will save you thousands of research hours, protect your savings and worldly possessions, and help you to make decisions that are safe, logical, and sound.  The experts at www.untappedwealth.com are offering you all of this at absolutely no cost because their philosophy is that if they help you then you will help others and we will become a safer and better country.  Check them out!  You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Hello there!  I'm Matt Chadwick at the business desk and today I'd like to rais the alert for your credit card!  We're doing this as part of our commitment to ensure that you remain one step ahead of scammers and defrauders. 

What's the latest trick being tried by scammers and defrauders?  It seems as if they've come up with something new for us to be on the watch for.  Here it is.

Defrauders and scammers have started to use a new way to get ahold of your credit card number plus your other confidential banking details.  They are using the last three digits of your credit card number to do this.  Allow me to explain.

Normally, your credit card is made up of at least 16 numbers.  However, there are three additional numbers that most banking institutions and financial companies use in order to verify your banking details, and to verify that you are indeed the holder of the card.  These three numbers or digits are located on the back of your card and for the last little while whenever you make a transaction over the phone most purchasers ask you for this three digit number in order to verify your information and to verify that you are the cardholder of the credit card in question. 

If you give out this three digit number to someone you don't know, then you can prepare yourself to be invaded by potential defrauders and scammers.  For they will take this little gem and use it to snatch all of your personal banking details and credit card info from right under your very nose and before you know it all of your info will be at the mercy of unscrupulous persons.

DON'T EVER GIVE THIS THREE DIGIT NUMBER TO ANYONE YOU DON'T KNOW!  Only give it to authorized persons, and to an authorized merchant from whom you are making purchases.  In fact, you should never be giving out your credit card number to anyone you don't know.  Before you make either a phone or online purchase, do yourself a huge favor and check out who you're buying from. 

Think of it in this way:  Your credit card and your social security numbers are two of the most important keys to your private kingdom or domain.  Your driver's license number is the third most important key to your kingdom and domain.  Guard them with your life!  Keep them always very well hidden but not too hidden that you can't find them when needed.  Don't ever reveal them to anyone you don't know or to anyone except to those you trust with your life.

 

Now for some info for those of you who are seeking to make your websites more user friendly.  This info can help you to make your websites more attractive to visitors and will also help you to increase your revenues, decrease your costs, and expand your customer base. 

 

They call themselves a "One Stop Writing Shop" and well they should.  There are not too many companies around at present that are able to do this and do it so well.  The experts call them unique!  They offer complete services that can help you do research, write, translate and transcribe your info into multi languages.  For absolutely free they can help you to keep abreast of important trends and news items if you're either too busy to search for them or you don't know where to find them.  They can help you to increase your revenues, reduce your costs, and expand your customer bases.  They can offer you a free online monthly magazine filled with info designed to help you keep abreast of market trends and consumer habits and articles that will point you in the right direction when it comes to finding opportunities that are explosive, lucrative, but above all safe.
To learn more visit them at www.sterlingcreations.ca.

 

At the business desk, I'm Matt Chadwick bidding you a great weekend.

Good evening!  I'm Kerry J Harrison at the business desk and on this very mellow summer's evening, I'd like to talk a bit about why most small businesses fail even before they get off the ground.

According to the experts, and in one word, research.  In short, too many persons who decide to get into their own businesses fail miserably when it comes to doing their research.  Even before they get going, they've already decided on what they're going to do and they go blindly into a business venture without even taking the time to do the proper research.

Many business magazines have given some of the following reasons as to why over 90% of small businesses across America fail to come out of the starting blocks let alone make it to the finish line. 

Let's take a look:

Many persons choose to go into a particular type of business venture because either a family member or friend has told them that this type of venture would make lots of money because it's the cool thing to do. 

Others go into a specific type of business because they honestly feel that they have the skills and experience necessary to launch and take the business to great heights.

Still others choose a particular type of business venture to pursue because they believe that it's what the market needs.

We even have a large group of business seekers going into business for themselves because they want to prove to their peers that they can run their own business and do their own thing.

The list can go on and on but for the most part too many persons do not take the time to do their research.  They don't take the time to listen to what the markets want, are demanding, and why.  They fail to listen to the voices of consumers choosing instead to force their own desires on the markets and on consumers.

For many years now this trend has been responsible for over 90% of business failures but happy to say this trend seems to be taking a welcomed back seat to another that seems to be making its way briskly and confidently through the small business economy here in America.

I'm referring to the business start-up idea trend and this trend has quietly been making moves among businesses for at least the past four years.  When it started it was very slow, but I can tell you that as of a month ago, this trend has grown ten fold within the last four years and more and more businesses and individuals are using it to great advantage.  In a nutshell, the business start-up idea tend involves the following:

Spending many more hours to research business ideas.

Spending more time to listen to the hearts and pulses of markets and consumers.

Clearly determining and deciphering the reasons for wanting to go into business.

Checking out the competition in the desired arena.

In short, spending oodles of hours to lay a sound and solid groundwork before even approaching the launch pad.

 

If you're looking for some more info on this new trend presently rocketing through our nation, then visit our top business strategies page and go to the business start-up idea link.  There you'll learn why this trend is reaping such success and you'll be able to use it to help yourself.  I'll leave you now with some additional info that you can use to help you get started.

 

How would you like to keep abreast of breaking headlines, latest trends, and up to the minute news and do it all for free?  How would you like to save yourself some precious time and energy by going to a website that offers you daily updates by some very hardworking experts and all of this at no cost to you?  Would you like to learn how to keep your assets safe and protected from the fast fingers of those unscrupulous scammers, identity thieves, and cyber pirates?
The experts at www.untappedwealth.com can show you how to obtain all of this plus much more and they are offering all of this for free because they are bound and determined to help you stay away from those get rich quick schemes, those scams with broken promises and smoking mirrors, and those pitfalls that could land you in endless trouble.  Their fingers are strategically placed on what's going on minute by minute around the world and they bring it to you as it happens.  Take advantage of their knowledge and experience and do it at no cost. 

 

At the business desk, I'm Kerry J Harrison wishing you a pleasant evening.

Hey there!  I'm Alix Shadonnay at the business desk and it's time for our weekly news round-up.

Thanks again to the many emails filled with oodles of positive feedback.

 

Table of contents

 

July 25 2007

 

1  Are Speech Engines Enough to Implement Today's Mobile Voice Technology?
2  What's new in os x 10.5
3  EPB offers New Service For Visually Impaired Customers
4  Jobs needed for blind
5  White cane media
6  Hotels will lose out if their websites don't comply with the DDA

 

 

 

TechLINKS, GA, USA
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
 
Are Speech Engines Enough to Implement Today's Mobile Voice Technology?
 
By Daniel Ciarcia Jr.
 
Just as mobile devices are beginning to flex their silicon muscles by becoming as powerful as necessary to help us organize our workforces, the demand for an "eyes free, hands free" user experience is taking the next generation of voice recognition (VR) and text-to-speech (TTS) mainstream. The timing couldn't be better. Effective July 1, 2008, the state of California joins Connecticut, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York in the prohibition of the use of handheld mobile phones while driving. This new legislation, as it slowly advances, places pressure on mobile device manufacturers to provide highly dependable voice technology now.
 
Successfully implementing a VR system isn't always as straightforward as bolting an off-the-shelf speech engine to a graphical user interface - especially in mobiles. Even though the technology has been around for years, its lackluster performance has mobile users still using their keypads. However, systems employing highly accurate mobile voice technology are now layering additional algorithms atop the VR engine to add features like noise immunity, and voice-band conversational filtering, depending upon the use model of the system. Software that adds value to speech engines and dramatically reduces development time by multiplexing various speech engines is a complete voice solution. These solutions are gradually being implemented in mobiles making voice technology dependable in virtually any environment. So, what are the key differences between speech engines and voice solutions?
 
A speech engine is a set of library, synthesizer, binary and context files that are the building blocks of a complete solution. Engines either convert text into voiced audio output, or microphone input into text. Those tasks are generally not performed by the engines alone. Additional development is required to build a robust VR system, TTS system and to integrate these engines into mobile software interfaces.
 
A voice solution is a set of tools that layer atop the speech engines. Typically an application programming interface (API), exposing the functionality of the speech engines, allows application developers to include all that voice has to offer using relatively few method calls. For example, instead of the application cycling through the numerous speech engine events required to properly capture data from the audio input channel and convert the captured data to text, just a few multithreaded calls to the API performs the recognition functionality. Solutions also employ algorithms to manage VR and TTS engines, signal variability, microphone gain, variable audio input or audio output characteristics of target mobile devices, network delay and other filters that make voice interfaces an attractive alternative to the keyboard and screen.
 
One of the more challenging issues facing implementers of voice technology is background noise. Seek out solutions that limit the range of acceptable vocabulary for each voice-capture. The range of acceptable vocabulary at any given time need not be as open as an unabridged dictionary. In the case of voice capture, less is certainly more. Forcing the system to capture only the specific words or phrases for a given task helps eliminate issues where noise such as the sound of a car horn is converted into unwanted responses: "call 9-1-1"!
 
Vendors of speech engines recommend the use of a push-to-talk button for ultimate recognition accuracy. Yet, with proper fine-tuning, I have found that an open microphone design can deliver the same VR accuracy. Try including a wake-up phrase such as "Voice System Wake Up" and a voice parking-phrase such as "Voice System Go To Sleep" in the vocabulary to allow for periods when the user doesn't want the mobile device to enter recognition mode. These are a just few ways to increase noise immunity.
 
Other features available with voice solutions that are not always available through the engines include device independence, speaker independence and dynamic voice-thresholding. Device independence is the ability for the voice solution to operate on virtually any mobile unit regardless of device speed, operating system or memory limitations. Speaker independence means that workers need not 'train' or 'enroll' their voices to a particular device. Rather, speaker independent voice solutions can automatically adapt to the sounds of male voices, female voices, the voices of children and even individuals with heavy accents allowing people to share mobiles when necessary. Dynamic voice-thresholding refers to a method by which the voice software automatically compensates for the variability in audio systems from one mobile device to another. Similar to an automatic gain control, dynamic voice-thresholding keeps manual settings for audio input to a minimum.

 

Implementing a VR system is not a plug-and-play effort. As many IT professionals have discovered, speech engines alone are not enough for delivering mobile voice technology. Those tasked with adding voice to their offerings have two development paths available. If your team has the time, talent and expertise to multiplex and integrate speech engines, carefully follow the application notes and coding examples that are typically provided with the software development kit (SDK) tools. They provide a tremendous boost to learning and applying voice technology as implemented by a particular vendor. On the other hand, if a quick-to-market solution is better suited for your group, be sure to view a demonstration of the solution to guarantee that the performance and accuracy required for your project can be met.

 

Either way, get ready. Voice recognition is no longer a nicety, it's a necessity. Consumer demand on IT for a truly robust voice technology has arrived!
 
Daniel Ciarcia Jr.
CTG, Inc.
dan.ciarcia@ctg.com
  http://www.techlinks.net/CommunityPublishing/tabid/92/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3807/Are-Speech-Engines-Enough-to-Implement-Todays-Mobile-Voice-Technology.aspx

 

Techworld.nl, Netherlands
 Thursday, June 21, 2007
 
Leopard preview: What's new in OS X 10.5
 
By Macworld staff
 
Extract: "Apple's tools for users with physical impairments get a major upgrade in Leopard. A new text-to-speech engine features a voice, Alex, that sounds far more natural than what Apple has offered previously. The VoiceOver screen-reading tool is also upgraded, and also supports Grade 2 contracted Braille devices."
 
More details have emerged about Mac OS X 10.5, the next major update to the Mac operating system that Apple has dubbed "Leopard." While Leopard won't be let out of its cage until October, two Steve Jobs keynote addresses and Apple's Leopard web site have given us some idea of how this latest cat will behave.
 
In the following pages, we'll describe what's publicly known about Leopard's new features--and the lingering questions that we're still trying to answer. We'll also take a look at the OS X 10.5 features Apple first unveiled in August 2006, paying special attention to what's changed since then. We'll continue to update this collection of Leopard features as more information becomes publicly available.
 
Desktop
 
What it is: What Steve Jobs called a new "Desktop" during his Worldwide Developers Conference keynote in June is really a group of changes to OS X's general interface, as well as improvements to the Dock.
 
What's new: Interface changes in OS X 10.5 include a now-translucent menu bar, a consistent dark-gray window appearance throughout the Mac interface, and a refined Dock appearance. Dock icons now sit on a glossy surface (which reflects any windows that happen to be near the Dock). Active applications get a new signal--a bright, glowing dot replaces the black triangle that signals active apps in Tiger.
>Perhaps the most significant addition to the Desktop in Leopard is Stacks--a new feature that lets you place folders in the Dock for quick access to their contents. A default stack in the Dock will be a new unified Downloads folder--downloads from the Web or from e-mail attachments automatically wind up here. The idea behind a Downloads stack is that it will help you keep your Desktop clean while still allowing easy access for downloads with just a single click.

 

he enhancements to the Desktop are covered in much greater detail in our Desktop and Finder changes preview.--JASON SNELL
 
Finder
 
What it is: As with the Desktop, calling the Finder "new" is another way to say "a new look and a few new features." Nevertheless, Leopard's Finder undergoes some significant changes from OS X 10.4.
 
What's new: First and foremost, Leopard includes a remodeled Finder sidebar that looks a lot more like what you already see in the iTunes 7 Source list. The sidebar now groups items together by Devices (hard drives, CDs, DVDs), Shared (network volumes and computers), Places (folders and files on your hard drive), and Search For. As suggested by the Shared header, Leopard places an emphasis on improved connectivity features for Macs on your network as well as other Macs you own. The Shared header in the sidebar shows any computer on your network--including Windows-based PCs--that are sharing files as well as any Mac with screen-sharing enabled. Another feature, Back to My Mac, lets .Mac subscribers connect more easily with remote Macs to share files or even control screens.
 
Probably the most eye-catching change to the Finder is another iTunes 7-inspired addition: a new Cover Flow view to go alongside the existing List, Icon, and Column views. The Cover Flow view shows a live preview of each file's contents; click on the preview for a PDF, for example, and you'll be able to flip through its pages right there in the Finder.
 
Leopard will also see changes to the built-in Spotlight search technology. While those enhancements appear to be little changed from what Apple first previewed in August 2006, it's worth reviewing those changes here. Namely, Spotlight now supports boolean logic, letting you refine searches with terms like "and," "or," and "not"--you can also search for exact phrases, date ranges, absolute dates, and simple calculations. Applications are the first matches returned in a Spotlight search, giving the feature more launcher-like capabilities.
 
The Search For header in the Finder sidebar comes pre-populated with several default searches as well as recently saved Spotlight searches. Also, Leopard's Spotlight will be able to search other local Macs and remote servers, although we're not sure whether these other computers will need to run Spotlight as well.
 
As with the Desktop enhancements, we list the changes to the Finder in greater detail in our Desktop and Finder preview.--JASON SNELL AND PHILIP MICHAELS
 
Time Machine
 
What it is: With more types of files--photos, music, and such--going digital, backing up data becomes ever more important. And yet, most users don't do regular backups. Apple attempts to address this paradox with by building into OS X 10.5 an easy backup tool that will save regular users from mistakenly deleting files or suffering from a catastrophic hard-drive crash.
 
What's changed: From what Apple's demonstrated publicly since first previewing Time Machine in August 2006, not much. But there are some details about the built-in backup technology that are new.
 
When you first attach a new external hard drive to your Mac, Time Machine will offer to use that as your back-up drive. If you click on Enable Time Machine, that's it--Time Machine will back up to that drive on a regular basis, without you having to configure a thing.
 
 Apple's new AirPort Extreme base station includes a feature that lets you attach a USB hard drive to it and share that drive's contents with anyone on your local network. As it turns out, Apple says that Time Machine is perfectly suited to back up all the Macs in your house to that one centralized, networked hard drive. (And for the time it'll take to back up your hard drive via a Wi-Fi connection, you'll want the high speeds of 802.11n offered by the latest version of AirPort Extreme.)
 
Apple's Time Machine page also indicates that you can encrypt your backups if you want, and manually set specific files not to be backed up (presumably large ones).--JASON SNELL
 
Quick Look
 
What it is: Last year, we were all impressed by a feature embedded within Time Machine that let you quickly preview the contents of most documents, without launching the programs that created them. That feature--dubbed Quick Look--is now pervasive in Leopard, especially in the Finder.
 
What's new: Basically an enhanced preview, Quick Look lets you instantly access a live preview of a file without having to open an application. For example, you can view a large, readable preview of a PDF file, and flip through that file's pages, right in the Finder. In the case of a movie or audio file, you can watch the video or listen to the audio with one click. And if the default preview is still too small, another click lets you preview the file at full-screen size.
 
Quick Look supports many common file types--including text, images, movies, PDFs, and Word and Excel documents--out of the box; developers can supply plugins that add Quick Look support for their own documents.
 
This feature should be especially useful for previewing photos and movie files, but it will also come in handy whenever you want to take--well--a quick look at a file without launching another app.--DAN FRAKES
 
Spaces
 
What it is: With today's Macs, which can run so many applications at once, multi-taskers often find their windows cascading endlessly into one another. Apple tackled this problem last August by introducing Spaces, its take on the decades-old technology of virtual desktops.
 
In Leopard, you'll be able to create multiple, distinct desktops--at least nine--each with the applications and windows needed for a particular set of tasks. Instead of having scads of windows competing for screen space, or having to quit and launch groups of apps in order to have some semblance of onscreen order, Spaces offers the best of both worlds: all the applications you need at your fingertips without the clutter. For example, you could allocate one space to Web site work, populating it with iPhoto and iWeb; a "work" space hosting your Excel spreadsheets, a report in Word, and your e-mail client; another hosting your browser and iChat; and a fourth for fun stuff like games and DVD Player. (If you use a virtualization solution such as Parallels or VMWare to run Windows on your Intel-based Mac, you could even set up a space just for--gasp--Windows.)
 
As we outlined in our initial preview of Spaces, you'll be able to get a bird's eye view of your different workspaces by hitting a hotkey a la Exposé. You can toggle back and forth between workspaces via mouse clicks, keyboard commands, or just clicking the Dock icon of any application in a particular workspace.
 
What's Changed: Apple hasn't (publicly) changed Spaces much since that August 2006 preview. Spaces' onscreen display is still an Exposé-like grid that allows you to easily switch between spaces; you also use this display to drag windows between spaces and rearrange the relative positions of the spaces themselves.
 
Many of the questions we had about Spaces last August remain unanswered. We still want to know whether particular windows can appear in multiple spaces, how Spaces will deal with minor issues such as applications minimized to the Dock, and how Spaces will work on older Macs. Hopefully, those answers will come by October.--BRIAN CHEN & DAN FRAKES
 
Safari
 
What it is: When Tiger was unleashed in 2005, Apple updated its in-house browser to Version 2. Leopard will get the same treatment with a brand new version of Safari. The difference? This time, the update is available in beta form from Apple's Web site.
 
What's changed: A dramatically improved Find command finds text on a page via a method that'll be familiar to anyone who's watched game highlights on SportsCenter: the Spot Shadow. When you search for text in Safari, the entire Web page darkens, except for the text that you're searching for. The current selection pops up when you find it, all in orange--you can't miss it.
 
The last major version of Safari added support for multiple tabs in a window; with this version you can drag those tabs around to rearrange them. (It's also easier to save those tabs to a bookmark and re-open your tabbed window if you accidentally close it.) Text boxes on forms are now resizable, which will make people who post in online forums very happy. A semi-transparent inline PDF control in the browser lets you zoom in and out, save a PDF file, or open a file in Preview from within Safari.
 
And if you're a Windows user, well, the whole thing will be new to you--Safari 3 joins the ranks of Apple's cross-platform applications by running on Windows.
 
We've got much more on Safari 3's new features in a first look at the beta, as well as thisvideo tour of the updated browser.--JASON SNELL
 
iChat
 
What it is: Apple's instant messaging client gets its usual overhaul to accompany a major OS X update. In the past, that's meant features like video and audio conferencing, compatibility with other chat protocols and Bonjour support. This time around, Apple's added a number of features, which we outlined when Steve Jobs first previewed the Leopard version of iChat last August.
 
Under Leopard, iChat adds tabbed browsing, a new "invisible" status to hide your online presence from your many admirers, the ability to record audio and video conferences, Photo Booth-like video effects, and the ability to show slideshows, movies or presentations during iChat conferences--Apple dubs this last feature iChat Theater.
 
What's changed: That August 2006 preview of iChat included a Screen Sharing feature, in which you can control the Mac of another conference participant. That feature appears to be incorporated in the Finder in the latest iteration of OS X 10.5.
 
Judging by Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote, Apple has added a number of new effects to iChat--or at least shown effects that it didn't show off last August. These include a Princess Leia-style hologram and the ability to overlay your lips over someone else's portrait. iChat Theater continues to allow you to show off presentations and files during a chat session--the new detail is that any file type compatible with Leopard's Quick Look feature will work in iChat Theater.

 

Another, more practical addition to iChat is the use of the AAC-LD ("LD" for "Low Delay") audio codec. Apple says this widebrand codec samples a full range of vocal frequencies for better-sounding audio chats.--DAN MOREN AND PHILIP MICHAELS
 
Automator
 
What it is: First introduced in Tiger, Automator is a tool to help automate common tasks. It includes a number of actions for various applications that make creating simple workflows as easy as drag-and-drop.
 
What's changed: Apple hasn't talked up the changes to the Leopard version of Automator, but don't expect a program that mirrors its OS X 10.4 predecessor.
 
A new record function in Leopard will let you automate nearly any application, and you can edit the recorded action to further customize it. Automator will offer starting points, which guide you through the first steps of your workflow--for example, "working with photos" and "working with files and folders." The addition of variables means you can store values that might be used in several steps of a workflow, helping you build more complex workflows.
 
Finally, the interface for Automator appears to have received a facelift, including the presence of a Media button on the toolbar, which should give you direct access to your music and photos.--ROB GRIFFITHS
 
Mail
 
What it is: As initially demonstrated last year, Version 3 of Apple Mail features improved integration with information from throughout your Mac. There's a new feature that lets you leave notes for yourself, as well as improved integration with iCal's To-Do items. The new version will also offer Stationery, templates for creating graphics-rich e-mail messages. And ther's new support for RSS, letting you read Web site feeds right within mail.
 
What's changed: Mail 3 seems substantially the same to what we saw a year ago. The program appears to have added more support for intelligently detecting certain types of data, such as addresses, and offering to do useful things with them, such as adding those addresses to appropriate contacts in Address Book. Apple says that Mail 3 will also offer improved support for Spotlight, letting your mail float right to the top when you do a Spotlight search.--JASON SNELL
 
iCal
 
What it is: The new version of Apple's built-in calendaring program provides support for shared calendars that can be edited by multiple users. One of the keys to iCal's newfound social skills: iCal Server, built into the Leopard version of Mac OS X server.
 
What's Changed: The iCal interface has gotten a Leopard-style makeover, which means it looks more like iTunes 7 now, complete with sidebar. You can now double-click on an event in iCal and edit all its details, not just the name of the event, via what Apple calls "the new Inline Inspector window." And you can attach documents to any event's "drop box," attachments that are automatically sent when you send out invitations to that event. It's unclear just how many of iCal's new features will really only work if it's attached to a CalDAV server like the one found in the Leopard version of Mac OS X Server.--JASON SNELL
 
Dashboard
 
What it is: Steve Jobs calls Dashboard "a huge hit" for Apple since its introduction with OS X 10.4, and he's got the numbers to prove it--there are more than 3,000 widgets floating around out there that you can install on OS X 's hidden layer, accessible with just the push of the F12 key.

 

The major changes to Leopard's version of Dashboard were previewed last August. They include Web Clip, actually a button in Safari that lets you turn Web pages into widgets, and Dashcode, a development tool aimed at would-be widget makers. Dashboard will also include .Mac syncing, making it easier to transfer widgets from one Mac to another.
What's changed: Very little since las August. Jobs spent most of his WWDC 2007 keynote recapping the Web Clip and Dashcode features. However, one new detail did come out of that presentation: Apple is adding a movie widget that generates a listing of movies playing in local theaters and their show times; it also allows you to play trailers for current releases and coming attractions.--BRIAN CHEN AND PHILIP MICHAELS
 
The "Complete Package"
 
What it is: Last August, Apple slapped this all inclusive name on a trio of applications--Photo Booth, Front Row, and Boot Camp--that it planned on including with the finished version of OS X 10.5. Those applications aren't available to all current Mac users--Front Row and Photo Booth only came bundled with newer hardware while Boot Camp is a beta that Intel-based Mac users had to download the software themselves. Starting with Leopard, however, they will be.
 
What's changed: See below for details on the three parts of the package.--PHILIP MICHAELS
 
Boot Camp
 
What it is: Introduced in April 2006, Boot Camp lets Macs reboot and run Windows XP or Vista natively, complete with drivers. The Version 1.3 beta was recently released, updating drivers.
 
What's Changed: Jobs covered the Boot Camp highlights in his keynote--namely, that Windows drivers will be included with Leopard's installation discs, saving users the hassle of having to burn a CD of those drivers or install them separately.
 
But Apple may have inadvertently released another new Boot Camp feature on its Web site, before hastily taking it down. For a while, Apple's Boot Camp Web site touted a new item in the Apple menu, "Restart in Windows," which puts your Mac into a "safe sleep" mode rather than shutting it down entirely before rebooting into Windows, along with a corresponding "Restart in Mac OS X" menu item in Windows. The end result of such a capability: You still won't be able to run Windows and Mac OS X simultaneously without Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion, but you'll be able to switch back and forth between the two Windows more easily--and without having to sit through a full shutdown and restart. We'll see if that now-removed promise of a new feature appears in the final version of Leopard, but it certainly sounds compelling.--JASON SNELL
 
Front Row
 
What it is: Introduced in October 2005, Front Row provides a remote-control-driven interface to media on your Mac, including music, videos, and photos.
 
What's changed: Since Front Row's release, it's been superseded by the software on the Apple TV.
 
And it looks as if that same Apple TV software has been rolled back into Front Row. The images on Apple's marketing page for Front Row make it appear that the Leopard version of Front Row will essentially be a Mac-based version of the same functionality found on the Apple TV.--JASON SNELL
 
Photo Booth
 
What it is: Introduced in October 2005 at the same time as Front Row, Photo Booth is a small application that uses an iSight camera to take quick photos, including ones tricked out with lots of fun special effects.
 
What's changed: Leopard brings more effects to the built-in snapshot editor. Users can take photos and videos from their iPhoto and iMovie libraries as well as the stock photography that comes with Leopard and use those images as backdrops for Photo Booth pictures; the Leopard version of iChat includes a similar feature. Photo Booth files will automatically appear in iPhoto on Mac OS X 10.5; currently, those images are housed in the Photo Booth folder within your Pictures folder A new burst effect lets users take four successive shots, presented in a four-up, interactive layout that can be animated with a click. And once Leopard arrives, Photo Booth will also be able to capture video in addition to still shots.--PHILIP MICHAELS
 
Accessibility
 
What it is: Apple's tools for users with physical impairments get a major upgrade in Leopard. A new text-to-speech engine features a voice, Alex, that sounds far more natural than what Apple has offered previously. The VoiceOver screen-reading tool is also upgraded, and also supports Grade 2 contracted Braille devices.
 
What's changed: The new NumPad Commander lets you transform your keypad into quick access to commonly used VoiceOver commands. VoiceOver also lets you set hot spots over accessible windows and notifies you of any changes in those areas. QuickTime features improved closed-captioning support. And all your accessibility preferences can sync to your other Macs via .Mac.--JASON SNELL
 
DVD Player
 
What it is: DVD Player is the OS X application that handles DVD movie playback. It didn't really get much press last year when Leopard's features were initially previewed, but Apple has sure made up for that this time.
 
What's new: DVD Player has received a major feature upgrade from its Tiger predecessor. A new full-screen interface gives you easy access to playback controls, subtitles, and alternative audio tracks, as well as image, color, and audio settings.
 
An Auto Zoom button scales the movie to remove the black bars (letterbox) from the image (it does so, of course, by trimming width from the picture). A playback position bar--similar to what you see in QuickTime Player--lets you quickly drag-scroll forward or backward to any point in the movie. Use the new image bar to save bookmark locations, images you'd like to see again, and even full video clips. Once saved, you'll be able to see the bookmarks, images, and video clips any time you play that DVD again.--ROB GRIFFITHS
 
Parental Controls
 
What it is: Mac OS X's feature that allows parents to limit the capabilities of specific accounts. For example, Parental Controls can be used to restrict Mail and iChat to particular contacts; limit Safari browsing to parent-provided bookmarks; and limit the user's ability to change settings, burn discs, and hide "mature" words in the system-wide Dictionary.
 
What's Changed: Apple hasn't released many details about Leopard's version of Parental Controls, but from what we can glean from publicly-available information, Parental Controls in Leopard gets its own pane in System Preferences (rather than just a set of options in Accounts). Whereas Tiger's version lets you limit an account' Web browsing to those sites manually entered by an administrator in Safari, Leopard adds a new content filter that actually intercepts Web pages and determines, on the fly, if each is "suitable for kids," blocking those that aren't. (You can also use the Tiger approach to manually add sites that you want blocked or allowed, bypassing the content filter for those URLs.)
 
Leopard also adds time limits to Parental Controls: you can set up specific times during which a child is allowed to log in and use the Mac--with different times on weekdays than on weekends--as well as how long a Controlled account can be used at any one time. Leopard can also log a Controlled account's activities to keep track of people with whom your child has e-mailed or chatted; which applications have been used; and which Web sites have been visited. You can even monitor a Controlled account from another Mac on your home network.--DAN FRAKES
 
http://www.techworld.nl/idgns/3471/leopard-preview-whats-new-in-os-x-10punt5.html

 

The Chattanoogan, Tennessee USA
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
 
EPB Offers New Service For Visually Impaired Customers
 
Realizing that the population of those who are visually impaired is growing both nationally and locally, EPB decided to offer a new service giving customers with less-than-perfect vision the option to have their bills printed in a larger type.
 
An estimated 14 million Americans - slightly more than six percent of the population - over the age of 12 are visually impaired, according to a new study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
 
"We realized that a small percentage of our customers were unable to read the standard print text on their bills," said Kathy Burns, EPB's Vice President of Customer Relations. "Offering the large-print bill option is just another way we can provide a much needed service to our customers."
 
Over the past several years, EPB has provided many new billing and payment options for customers such as extended drive-thru business hours, additional pay stations, two branch offices that provide Saturday hours, and much more. Officials stated that EPB continually strives to offer customers more choices, flexibility and opportune ways to conduct business.
 
To learn more about the large print bill option as well as other services, please call 648-1EPB (1372) or visit www.epb.net.

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_109117.asp

 

News & Star (Cumbria, UK)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
 
Jobs needed for blind
 
By STEWART BLAIR
 
Caption: 'Vital': MP Eric Martlew is calling on businesses to consider employing blind people
 
A CUMBRIAN MP is urging county businesses to halt "unacceptable" levels of unemployment among the blind.
 
Despite advances in technology allowing blind and partially sighted people to join the workforce, two thirds are still out of work.
 
Carlisle MP Eric Martlew will address a business summit organised by charity Action for Blind People next Friday where he will urge local firms to open their eyes to the potential of the visually impaired.
 
He said: "I believe it is vital that blind and partially sighted people are given every opportunity to develop their talents. It is only through government and employers working with organisations such as Action for Blind People, that we shall start to tackle the unacceptable level of unemployment among visually impaired people."
 
Business people attending next week's event will be told about developments such as talking computers, known as 'screen readers', that make it easier for the visually impaired to work.
 
They will also be advised of technical assistance and support available to visually impaired members of staff, as well as the financial assistance through the Access to Work programme.
 
Action for Blind People employment coordinator Angela McLaughlin said: "We want to engage with local enthusiastic employers, who want to diversify their workforce, to provide better employment opportunities for visually impaired people."
 
The event, called the Employers Business Breakfast, runs from 9-11.30am at Carlisle Racecourse, Durdar Road, Carlisle, next Friday. Anyone interested in attending should call Angela McLaughlin on 01228 595121.
 
MLegg@cngroup.co.uk
 
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/unknown/viewarticle.aspx?id=512238

 

White Cane Media
info@whitecane.co.uk
 
20 June 2007: For Immediate Release
 
White Cane Media is proud to announce the launch of its web site design and hosting service catering specifically for the blind and visually impaired.
 
The new service will be the first of its kind, and is intended to increase the number of blind and visually impaired Internet users who have their own web sites.
 
The founder of White Cane Media, David Goodwin, is himself blind. David has been involved in web site design and management since 1995, and has a sound understanding of the needs and concerns of blind and visually impaired webmasters.
 
Commenting on the launch of the new service, David said "the Internet has changed forever the lives of blind people. Our service is just another way through which the blind and visually impaired can explore and harness the opportunities that the Internet can offer."
 
"Whether people want to promote their business, share news and information, express their thoughts through a personal blog, create an online discussion forum on their favourite topic, or share pictures through an online photo album, our new service will provide the perfect opportunity."
 
The new service offers a range of hosting and web site design options that will cater for all levels of knowledge and experience. A basic hosting account is available for those who already have a good level of expertise, or are keen to learn for themselves, whilst there are a number of other options and features for fledgling webmasters who require a little more help in getting a web site up and running quickly and smoothly.
 
For more information visit www.whitecane.co.uk

 

ends-

 

About White Cane Media
 
White Cane Media was established in 2007 to provide web site solutions to blind and visually impaired webmasters. The founder, David Goodwin, has been involved in web site design and management since 1995. David is blind himself, and has a sound understanding of the specific needs and concerns  of blind and visually impaired webmasters. White Cane Media is based in the South West of England, but has clients from around the world. The company offers a broad range of web services that are intended to meet the needs of both individuals and small businesses.
 
For more information please visit www.whitecane.co.uk
 
 
(Via email)

 

CatererSearch.com (UK)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
 
Hotels will lose out if their websites don't comply with the DDA
 
By Christopher Walton
 
(21 June 2007 13:00)
 
Hotels are still flouting the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and losing business because their websites do not comply with the regulations, a new survey has revealed.
 
The DDA 2002 requires that the visually and hearing impaired are provided with "accessible websites".
 
But online bookings operator iknow-UK has warned that a substantial proportion of hotel websites are still "in breach of the law".
 
Marcus Simmons, managing director of iknow-UK, said while the vast majority of hotels, bed and breakfasts and holiday cottage owners now had their own websites, a considerable number of them did not take into account disabled access when they designed their sites.
 
"The deadline for businesses to make sure their sites had the minimum requirement for disabled users was more than five years ago but many are still in breach of the law," he added.
 
Bringing sites up to date would mean improving the clarity of text and increasing the number of audio and video files for partially sighted users.
 
Alyson Rose, a Disability Rights Commission spokeswoman, said: "Websites will only be changed if individuals challenge them, but disabled people are voting with their feet and going to the sites that are tailored for them. Businesses are losing out."
 
Michael McGrath, disability champion for Hilton Hotels, UK and Ireland, said he hoped the issue of website accessibility would be resolved in two to three years' time.
 
With the number of disabled people in the country standing at more than 10 million, "there is an economic imperative to get this sorted," McGrath added.
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/06/21/314427/hotels-will-lose-out-if-their-websites-dont-comply-with-the.html
At the business desk, I'm Alix Shadonnay wishing you a pleasant day.

Hi everyone!  I'm Heather DeMarco at the business desk and this morning I'd like to spread the word to all interpreters. 

We received a request to spread the word from one of our associates who received it from one of their readers.  The message was submitted by Nataly Kelly.

Hope you find it exciting and interesting.

 

***CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS***
July 18, 2007

 

Dear Interpreter,

 

What an important job you do each day, and what fascinating tales you must have to tell about the people you’ve encountered, the conversations you’ve interpreted, and most importantly, the lives you’ve touched.

 

Now, you have the perfect opportunity to share these stories in an enduring publication, so that others may read them for years to come. The only question is this: which of the many stories you’ve saved up over the years will you decide to share with the world?

 

The FAQ and Guidelines at the official website, www.fromourlips.com, will help you choose, and will also show you how to ensure the best chance of publication in an exciting new book that is all about you and your important work:

 

From Our Lips to Your Ears: How Interpreters are Changing the World

 

The project website will provide you with all of the information you need. Here are some of the basics:

 

• Interpreters working in all settings are encouraged to submit stories.
• Stories should aim to provide readers with a greater understanding of the importance of interpreters’ work
• Submissions are accepted online, via email and via postal mail, starting on July 18, 2007.
• The final deadline for submissions is December 3, 2007.

 

If you have questions after reviewing the information on the website, feel free to contact me, and I will be happy to attend to your concerns. As additional questions from potential contributors are received, the FAQ, Guidelines and related materials will also be updated accordingly.

 

It is both an honor and a pleasure to be working on this exciting project, in the hopes that it will help bring greater recognition to interpreters everywhere.

 

Respectfully,

 

Nataly Kelly, Editor
From Our Lips to Your Ears
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Language Interpreters to be Featured in New Book

 

July 18, 2007 — Nashua, N.H. — The publication of a new book that will showcase interpreters and their contributions to society was announced today.  From Our Lips to Your Ears: How Interpreters are Changing the World marks the first published compendium of stories about this unique and complex profession from the perspective of interpreters themselves.

 

“Millions of people throughout the world communicate each day without sharing a common language,” explained Nataly Kelly, editor of the publication, “This book shines a light on the unsung heroes that enable much of this communication to take place.”

 

The book will include personal anecdotes from interpreters working in an array of settings, Kelly said. “Interpreters are out there each day, helping deliver babies, interpreting witness testimony, rendering the words of foreign diplomats, and assisting consumers who wish to purchase goods and services.”

 

The stories in the collection will cover a range of topics of interest to the general public, Kelly pointed out. “This book shows how interpreters are helping meet a basic human need— the need to communicate with others.”

 

More information about the book is available at http://www.fromourlips.com.

 

The web site also provides detailed information for interpreters who would like to share their stories for possible publication in the book.

 

Contact:

 

Nataly Kelly, 603/891-1101
Fax: 877/572-0779
Email: editor@fromourlips.com
http://www.fromourlips.com
 

 

Now for some important info for those who are looking for professional help in the translation arena.

 

Are you looking for skilled and experienced translators/writers/researchers to help you craft your articles, blogs, business letters, emails, faxes, newsletters, and proposals in multi languages? 
Are you seeking skilled and experienced language coaches to help you learn the English language more quickly and efficiently?
Then you need to visit the folks at www.translationpeople.com.  Here you'll find a team that guarantees quick turn around, professional work, and total confidentiality.  Prices are extremely affordable and services are offered in English, Spanish, French, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
Check out the free useful information page while you're there and for absolutely free you can also tap into the latest trends and headlines.
 

At the business desk, I'm Hather Demarco withing you a pleasant day.

Good day everyone!  I'm Jeff N Marquis at the business desk and I'd like to start the week by sharing an article with you.  I found this one recently and thought enlightening enough for me to want to let you have a read.

Hope you enjoy it and find it of some interest.

 

AFB Accessworld, American Foundation for the Blind, USA
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
 
The Large Challenge of Small Devices: A First Look at the Mobile Device Landscape
 
By Bradley Hodges
 
According to many technology annalists, the era of the PC is over. Consider, if you will, the media frenzy that surrounded the announcement of the Apple iPhone, an unreleased product. The unavoidable coverage of the event provides a glimpse at the importance of handheld technology. Recall the images and descriptions of Steve Jobs waving his finger in front of a five-inch screen, whipping iPod devotees into a frenzy of iPhone lust. Try to watch a TV program without a cell phone company tempting you with miniaturized technology to organize your life; download and listen to music; watch TV; text message your friends; and, oh yes, even place a telephone call. All these things and many more are possible with currently available handheld technology. When you consider the functions that are packed into smartphones and Pocket PC devices, prices can be surprisingly low.
 
If this revolution that is happening in the palms of people's hands is so important, how do people who use nonvisual techniques stand to benefit? Or do we? In this article, I address the three basic types of handheld technology that are in common use. I describe how they are similar and the important ways in which they differ. Strategies and programs that provide accessibility to these products are described, and I conclude with some thoughts on which devices may be best suited to your situation.
 
Pocket PCs
Pocket PCs are a specific class of a broad category of devices that are often referred to as PDAs or personal digital assistants. To be sold as a Pocket PC, a device must include some specific characteristics, which are important to understand. In addition to complying with hardware standards, Pocket PCs are intended to be companion devices that you regularly connect to a personal computer that is running the Windows operating system.
 
All new Pocket PCs run on an operating system from Microsoft called Windows Mobile. Windows Mobile bundles some applications that have been tailored to operate on a handheld device with a basic operating system. These applications include Pocket Word and Pocket Excel.
 
Pocket PCs also share some physical characteristics. The most obvious is a touch screen. The touch screen allows you to tap, with a stylus or fingertip, on regions of the screen or icons to perform specific tasks, such as opening e-mail or the calendar. The appearance of the touch screen resembles the Windows desktop that is common to PCs that run Windows. In addition to the touch screen, several buttons and controls are included on all Pocket PCs. One such control is a five-way directional navigation key to perform many navigation tasks, as the arrow keys do on a conventional PC. The Enter button is located in the center of this control. In addition, four function keys, sometimes called soft keys, two on each side of the Navigation key, are found on all Pocket PCs. The action of these keys is dependent on the application that is running.
 
Beyond the touch screen and basic controls, Pocket PCs may include additional keys. The most common addition to the basics is a miniature keyboard. Sometimes called thumb keys, the rows and columns of these miniature keys are laid out in the traditional style of a QWERTY computer keyboard. Some designs place the QWERTY keys on the face of the Pocket PC, below the screen and navigation keys, whereas others use a slide-out keyboard that is oriented along the long axis of the device.
 
Regardless of the specific design, the primary functions of a Pocket PC are centered on the Windows Mobile package. "Pocket" versions of familiar Microsoft programs, including Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Internet Explorer, and Pocket PowerPoint, are intended to give on-the-go access to files that are shared with a desktop computer. Third-party programs can also be installed on the Pocket PC. Many popular Windows applications offer "Pocket" versions.
 
Because Pocket PCs fit easily in the hand, it is not surprising that cell phone technology has been built into some of them. Dubbed "Pocket PC phones," these models often fill out the high end of a manufacturer's line. On Pocket PC phones, selected keys on the QWERTY keyboard perform double duty as a keypad for the phones. While telephone functions are included, the look and feel of the screens and navigation remain similar to Pocket PC models that do not include a cell phone.
 
Several fundamental characteristics of the Pocket PC have important implications for nonvisual use. The most important is the manner in which the Pocket PC handles turning on and off. Unlike a desktop computer, the Pocket PC is never truly off. A sleep state can be invoked. This is the closest comparison to the "off" state on computers and PDAs that are designed for people who are blind, such as the PAC Mate or BrailleNote. While the Pocket PC is in the sleep mode, controls can be activated, requiring that care be taken when using the device. Many Pocket PCs have a key-lock control to prevent accidental activation while in the sleep mode.
 
Some Pocket PCs encounter difficulty if the battery is allowed to discharge completely. Losing all power can cause a catastrophic loss of data in some models. Other models require that a visual screen calibration be completed before they are rebooted from a discharged condition.
 
Smartphones
 Reading descriptions of the seemingly endless parade of mobile devices, it is no wonder that people are confused by the terms Pocket PC and smartphone. A Pocket PC phone is a conventional Pocket PC that includes cell phone technology. A smartphone is primarily a cell phone that includes some additional functions that are found on Pocket PCs. Differentiating between the two types of devices is not always easy. Smartphones most often use a conventional cell phone-style keypad, although some models now offer full QWERTY keyboards. Smartphones are designed for one-handed operation like traditional cell phones. The interface of a smartphone is similar to that of a cell phone and does not include the touch-screen desktop that is found on Pocket PCs. The interface is comprised of two soft keys, a joystick, and Home and Back buttons. Navigation on the smartphone differs from that on the Pocket PC. Icons for functions are displayed on the screen in a grid arrangement. Selections are made from the grid by entering the number for the desired function or navigating to it with the joystick.
 
You enter text on a smartphone using one of two methods: a QWERTY keyboard, if available, or the multipress and predictive text (also known as T9) if the phone has the traditional mobile keyboard layout.
 
Smartphones focus on phone tasks and functions. The information that is presented on the primary screen of a smartphone includes messages, missed calls, profiles, and recently used applications. Screens on smartphones are generally smaller and have a lower resolution than their Pocket PC counterparts. Smartphones are generally less expensive than Pocket PCs, especially those that include cell phone technology.
 
Symbian Phones
In addition to the two members of the Microsoft clan, Pocket PCs and smartphones, there is another family of devices that provide mobile functionality: cell phones that are based on the Symbian operating system. Like smartphones, Symbian phones are phones that also include some basic PDA functionality, such as a calendar, address book contact manager, file viewer, and music player. In addition, third-party applications are becoming increasingly available for Symbian phones. In the United States, the lion's share of Symbian sales are models that are manufactured by Nokia.
 
Staying Connected
Pocket PCs include the ability to browse the web, handle e-mail in real time, and run messaging software--as long as they are connected to the Internet. Several methods of connecting to the web are available to Pocket PC designers. The first is WiFi connectivity, the same wireless technology that is used in most laptops and some desktop computers. If the Pocket PC has WiFi built in and if a network is available, the device can perform tasks that require access to the Internet or a corporate network. Many public WiFi hot spots provide access, either as a complimentary service or on a fee-for-use basis. Home WiFi routers are also a popular way to connect wirelessly for Internet access.
 
Built-in broadband access is another technology that links the Pocket PC to the Internet through a cellular network. This technology is most commonly found on Pocket PC phones that access a cellular network. Unlike WiFi hot spots, a network connection should be available wherever a cellular signal is found. A monthly fee, in addition to normal cell charges, is charged for the service, which typically ranges from $20 to $60 or more.
 
Smartphones and Symbian phones always include the technology that allows them to connect to the Internet through their cellular carriers. A monthly fee, typically $20 to $60, is charged for the service. Some cell phone providers also bill for data on a pay-as-you-go schedule. WiFi is being introduced on some new smartphones, further blurring the line between the categories of devices.
 
Bluetooth and infrared are technologies that allow Pocket PCs, smartphones, and Symbian phones to connect to other devices. Bluetooth is the more commonly used of these technologies. Intended to connect devices within 30 feet or less, Bluetooth is a wireless method for connecting keyboards, headphones, two-way phone earpieces, and a variety of other peripheral devices. The process of establishing a Bluetooth connection between a device and a Pocket PC or cell phone, referred to as "partnering" or "pairing," can be complex and inconvenient. The number of Bluetooth peripherals that can communicate with your Pocket PC or cell phone at any time may be limited to just one.
 
Managing software and files on the Pocket PC is facilitated through Microsoft Active synch for Windows XP and earlier versions. Windows Vista includes an integrated synchronization utility that is launched automatically when a compatible device running Microsoft Mobile is connected. Functionally, once your Pocket PC is connected to a Windows computer, several important tasks can be completed. The first task that many Pocket PC owners perform is e-mail and contact synchronizing, or synching. Synching means that if you have added or deleted contact information on your Pocket PC since the last time you connected to your Windows machine, your contacts will be updated on the host computer. Conversely, changes to contact information on the desktop system will be reflected in the Pocket PC address book after synching has concluded. E-mail messages that you create on your Pocket PC can be transferred to the desktop system and sent, and new messages that have been received since your last synch will be downloaded to your Pocket PC.
 
Other programs that provide information that is regularly updated can also communicate with the Pocket PC application to make changes in the information that is available to you. The Zagat restaurant review program is a popular Pocket PC application that provides ratings and addresses for restaurants. As the information about the ratings changes and restaurants are added and dropped, the Zagat program on your PC will collect updated data from the Internet and share the changes with your Pocket PC each time you run Active synch. Finally, Active synch is used to install and remove third-party programs from your Pocket PC. This management also extends to managing files and allows you to make some changes to and to update the Mobile Windows operating system.
 
Smartphones and Symbian phones can also be connected to your computer. Unlike the Pocket PC, which is a companion technology, smartphones and Symbian phones do not expect or require that you will connect them regularly to a Windows computer. Because smartphones run a Microsoft operating system, Windows Active synch is used just as it is for Pocket PCs. Symbian phones use a separate desktop application to link the phone to the personal computer. The functions that this program performs are the same as those that Windows Active synch includes.
 
Peripherals
Since Pocket PCs are small, many computer users cannot manage the five-way navigation button or Lilliputian keys. For these individuals, and the rest of us, a thriving market of devices has emerged. The goal of most of these devices is to provide an alternative to the Pocket PC interface.
 
Because the touch screen may pose access issues for those who use the Pocket PC nonvisually, many of the peripherals that are optional for most users are important alternatives for nonvisual users. Two popular Bluetooth keyboards are commonly used with Pocket PCs: the Think Outside Bluetooth Keyboard and the HP Folding Keyboard. Each is a Bluetooth add-on. Each folds up into a pocket-sized self-contained package; when it is unfolded, the keyboard resembles the keyboard on a laptop computer. The Think Outside unit has no number row; to enter a number, you hold down a function key in combination with the top row of letter keys. The HP Folding Keyboard is a bit larger and includes a full number row. Several larger keyboards, with a footprint about the size of a notebook computer, are attractive to those who need a full complement of keys and have the space to transport them.
 
Listening in to a Pocket PC, smartphone or Symbian phone is possible with the built-in speaker that is included on all these devices. The volume of these speakers is relatively low, and voice and musical fidelity is seriously limited. This is of particular concern to those who use synthetic speech as part of a package that provides access. To solve this problem, an array of Bluetooth headsets are available. A variety of manufacturers, including HP, Motorola, and Nokia, sell compatible headsets. An alternative to a headset that covers both ears is an earpiece, which is available from manufacturers of cell phones and Pocket PCs. The advantage of an earpiece is that you can use it to talk on the phone without affecting the hearing in both ears. Listening to a Pocket PC speak and attending to other sounds in the environment may be easier with an earpiece that covers just one ear.
 
Choosing a Technology
Pocket PCs, smartphones, and Symbian phones each offer advantages and have limitations. Careful consideration and some research will help ensure that the technology and device that you select will provide the results that you are looking for. Stable functional screen-reading software is available for all three categories of devices. Code Factory offers the widest array of products with screen reading and magnification for all three kinds of devices. If you are not comfortable managing downloadable software and connecting a device to your computer for installation, you need to find a dealer who can assist you. Dealers can also provide packages that are ready to go. TALKS is a screen-reading and magnification program that operates only on Symbian devices. The same process of downloading and installing it on a device is necessary. Dealers of TALKS can provide out-of-the-box solutions.
 
Pricing among the three categories of devices differs substantially. Smartphones and Symbian phones are offered at deep discounts by cellular providers. Pocket PCs, which must be purchased on their own, are the most expensive of these devices, but they do not come with a string to a cellular company attached. Smartphones are available from $99 with a cellular contract. Pocket PCs with no phone connectivity are typically available from $200. Including a cellular function adds approximately $125.
 
Training for these devices contributes to a successful and positive experience. It is fair to say that these devices are not as intuitive or consistent in their behavior as are special-purpose devices, such as the PAC Mate or BrailleNote. In addition to downloadable manuals from Code Factory and Nuance Technology's TALKS, a variety of recorded demonstrations can be found online. Two web sites that feature many articles on mobile computing are <www.blindcooltech.com> and <www.acbradio.org>.
 
Generally, Pocket PC technology has a high geek factor and is popular mainly among the technically adventuresome. The "build-it-yourself" nature of installing and configuring software to provide access and the requirements for learning to navigate and operate the device create a steeper learning curve than the phone-centered devices. At the same time, Pocket PCs can open a world of highly productive and extremely mobile features and programs.
 
Phone-based devices offer a more focused experience in which the operation of the phone is the primary activity. Those who desire a handheld organizer, telephone, e-mail system, and web browser may want to give the smartphone or Symbian-based models first consideration. Extras that allow you to create and edit documents, listen to music, and so forth are also available. These extra functions and third-party programs may not be as advanced as those for Pocket PCs. Regardless of the device that you choose and the access strategy that you use, advanced planning to learn how to use your new toy is the most important step you can take.
 
A Preliminary Look at Access
Mobile Speak Pocket and Pocket Hal are the two screen readers that are intended to provide access to Windows Mobile devices. Both products are software applications that are installed on off-the-shelf Pocket PCs. To get a feel for the Pocket PC experience with speech, we at AFB TECH obtained Mobile Speak Pocket, which is marketed in the United States by HumanWare. We also received a similar system featuring Pocket Hal, which will be reviewed in a future issue of AccessWorld. In addition, we will conduct and report on a more comprehensive review of the HumanWare Mobile Speak Pocket system.
 
What You Get
For now, let us take a quick look at what $600 buys. Our system arrived from HumanWare in a sturdy box. The packaging for all components was provided by the manufacturer of each piece of equipment. Opening the box revealed a Dell Axium 50 Pocket PC, a USB charging stand, a Bluetooth keyboard, and a shrink-wrapped print manual and Pocket PC CD. No braille, large-print, or recorded documentation was included with the package.
 
Getting Started
The On/Off button on most Pocket PCs is located on the face of the unit, above the touch screen. Because I am somewhat familiar with this class of technology, I knew where to look. Pressing the On button results in no audible response from the Pocket PC. After experimenting several times, I learned that it is necessary to hold the On button for at least a full second. The difficulty of managing on and off reveals one of the more unsavory features of Pocket PC devices. They are really never off. The screen turns off, indicating that the device is in a sleep mode. Pressing buttons can wake it up, however, so care must be taken when using and managing the device.
 
Pressing the Navigation key caused the system to speak. "List, no items" was announced after I pressed the Up arrow, and "edit" was announced after I pressed the Down arrow. If you are not familiar with the Pocket PC interface, you will be hard pressed to make any further use of your new technology right out of the box.
 
Next Steps
Because I had encountered the Mobile Speak Pocket interface in the past, I was aware that the software makes use of the touch screen. Mobile Speak divides the touch screen into 4 quadrants. Each quadrant can be tapped once, tapped twice quickly, or touched and held for a longer time. This results in 3 control functions for each of the 4 quadrants, providing a total of 12 functions that can be performed from the touch screen alone.
 
In addition to the touch screen controls, the nine hardware controls that are situated below the screen are used. The Alt key, second from the left on the Dell Pocket PC, if pressed four times in succession, will place the system into Command Help Mode, a key-identification mode. From this describer function, it is possible to tap, double tap, press, and hold the screen controls and generally to explore the hardware controls. The functions for the keys are announced clearly and concisely.
 
The documentation for Mobile Speak Pocket is available in PDF (portable document format) on Code Factory's web site. It is readable with screen readers, but should be available in a more accessible format. It should also be included in the product's package.
 
First Attempt
According to Command Help, tapping the upper left quadrant twice takes you to the Start menu. I was successful in activating the menu as described. Using the Up/Down arrow keys moved among the 11 items. Mobile Speak announced the menu item, its number on the list, and the total number of items on the menu. Moving to calendar, a popular Pocket PC application, I found that pressing the Enter button opened the application. The Up and Down arrows read "no items." Relying on the information while in Command Help, I pressed and held Quadrant 2 for help. No help was provided; the unit was silent.
 
Experimentation again was my only recourse. Tabbing revealed three items: "date edit, press Enter to display the month calendar, followed by "list, no items" and "cap s, 1 of 10." Further exploration disclosed that the date was set for Wednesday, August 3, 2005. I was not able to determine how to change the date and time within the time that was available to me.
 
I did not use the Bluetooth keyboard for this first look. Mobile Speak Pocket features an innovative approach to leveraging expanded control functionality from the device itself. The system of tap and hold worked well most of the time. The speech is not as easily interrupted as on a desktop using a conventional screen reader. Given the limited resources and architectural limitations of the Windows Mobile environment, this is not unexpected, and Code Factory manages these limitations well.
 
Shutting Down
The process of turning off the Pocket PC is similar to that of turning it on. Pressing the Power button for a second turns off the screen. No audible tone signals turn off. A key-lock slide control allows you to deactivate the keyboard and touch screen.
 
First Impressions
Mobile Speak Pocket is a technically sophisticated application that provides clear speech and 100% stability. At the same time, significant lapses in consistency and an immature interface make the experience frustrating, and the product was difficult to use. Without prompts to alert the novice Windows Mobile user in matters of navigation, the promise of a quick easy-to-use set of on-the-go applications is empty. Help messages that should be available, according to the command Help, are missing.
 
For its part, HumanWare delivered the hardware and preinstalled software packed nicely in a sturdy box. The absence of accessible documentation fails to meet the usual standards of other ready-to-use packages from this company. We found out that systems that were shipped after our unit was received included a one-page braille and print Getting Started document.
 
Is the Pocket PC for You?
If you plan to order a system, open the box, turn it on, and be up and running, then Windows Mobile systems are not for you. This technology generally appeals to the technically adventuresome user who has the time and knowledge to manage the required learning and setup that are associated with applications that are downloaded and installed by the user.
 
If portability; integration of your technology with cell phone functionality; exploring applications, such as Audible Manager; and reading books in WMA (Windows Media) format appeal, then investing the time and effort to configure and learn the Windows Mobile interface can be fruitful. Mobile Speak Pocket is stable, has good support tools available, and felt and sounded responsive and solid.
 
This first look approached the use of the HumanWare Mobile Speak Pocket package, comparing it to taking the first steps with a PDA that is designed for people who are blind. We expected a ready-to-go, convenience-oriented experience. That is not what we found. For our full review, we will roll up our sleeves and approach the task at hand from the vantage point of complexity and the requirement to do it yourself. The point is simple: The Windows Mobile environment is not the easy-to-use digital playground that some have described. In fact, the use of the Pocket PC interface is at least as complex as its desktop kin. We will explore this environment further in our full review.

 

Related articles
Talk Me Through It: A Review of Two Cell Phone-based Screen Readers by Darren Burton
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw080103

 

An Accessible Phone Comes Calling: A Review of the Jitterbug Cell Phone by Lee Huffman
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw080203
 
Read AFB accessworld online.   At
http://www.afb.org/aw
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw080306

In the spirit of accessibility I'd like to leav you with some vital info for your websites.

 

Looking for ideas and opportunities to crack the over 50s market?  The baby boomer market?  The seniors market?  Other niche markets?
Are you seeking opportunities in markets that are explosive, lucrative, but above all safe?
Are you having difficulty keeping abreast of important trends and news items because you're either too busy or don't know where to look?
Then you need to visit www.sterlingcreations.ca and there you'll find a suite of services that can help you to get where you want to go.
From writing to research, and translation to transcription.  There is even a free monthly online magazine that is crammed with very vital and valuable information.  You can even keep abreast of breaking trends and headlines for absolutely free.
Check it out at your convenience.

 

At the business desk, I'm Jeff N Marquis wishing you a pleasant evening.

Hello there!  I'm Matt Chadwick at the business desk and this aft I'd like to shine the light on a very growing and prosperous industry.

I'm referring to the translation industry and whereas many take this industry for  granted, it's time to start changing our tumes. 

With the ballooning growth of global trade, the demand for translators and interpreters is literally skyrocketing and these days many countries are literally falling over each other to do trade with each other.  The entire thing resembles a massive traffic jam with everyone desperately attempting to forge ahead but in order to do this they need to put a very strong and durable infrastructure in place. 

This infrastructure includes the capability to have translators and interpreters at the beck and call to translate and interpret information of all kinds.  Many countries whose first language is English are seeking translators and interpreters to translate and interpret to and from English.  Likewise for those countries whose first language is not English.

Here in the United States, Uncle Sam, large corporations, as well as medium sized companies and small businesses, international organizations, and even entrepreneurs, are all thrashing around looking for translators and interpreters to help out.  What many don't fully realize is that without the skills and services of translators and interpreters, global trade would literally grind to a complete halt.  We need translators and interpreters to keep things going.  We depend on translators and interpreters to spread the word on what's going on everywhere.  We need translators and interpreters to keep us abreast of what's going on elsewhere outside our country and beyond our borders.

I'll even tell you that there's a shortage of translators and interpreters and Americans are becoming more and more aware of this.  So much so that the going rate for translators services has jumped by over 40% in the last year and has jumped by over 50% for interpreters.  The beauty about the translation industry is that one can choose to either work from home or do it through agencies, or through employment at companies.

Hey!  Think of this!  You can do written translations from home either through the Internet or for others.  You can do it on-site.  You can interpret through the Internet or via phone.  Heck!  You can do it from anywhere you choose and pretty soon you will have the chance to start naming your own rates!

The business experts are saying that within the next five years a home based translation business may even expect to be making well into the six figures annual income.

So there you have it.  Food for thought. 

 

Now for our Amazon book picks of the week.

 

Wake up to wealth

By Robert Steven Mandel

This is a book for anyone who has an interest in seeking out new business horizons.  The author is taking the time to present some very insightful thoughts and ideas, and it makes for very good reading.

 

The 100 best businesses to start when you don't want to work hard anymore

By Lisa Rogak

So many of us don't really want to work hard anymore and age does not really matter.  For those about to retire it's a great book.  For those who are just plain old tired of working, then read it. 

 

Untapped Wealth Discovered

By Jeff N marquis, and Kerry J Harrison

This book definitely speaks to those who don't really know how to start looking for business opportunities.  it devotes a section to the translation market and if you're serious about finding riches in niches, then please buy this book. 

 

Now for some a