On this week's special episode, Steven Scott, Tim Schwartz and Robin Christopherson are joined by Shaun Preece to discuss the Apple Event held on the 18th of October. This event was aimed purely at Mac enthusiasts and in particular those who are power users of the MacBook Pro lineup. The team discuss how these machines will benefit those customers and chat about the other products announced including new AirPods and three new colourful HomePod Minis. As always send in your thoughts and comments to techtalk@rnib.org.uk and follow the team on Twitter. Steven Scott @BlindGuyTech, Robin Christopherson @USA2Day and Tim Schwartz @timschwartz5

RNIB Tech Talk

400: Apple's MacBook Event Special

This week the guys got together to discuss the latest accessibility news around Windows 11... except there was none! So... instead they talk about how nice they think it looks - from a blind perspective! Should be fun! Thankfully we have a wonderful guest with this week. Gleb Zevkov is the founder of Voxmate, an app that aims to provide a simpler experience using a touchscreen smartphone. Although while the app may be simple to operate it does offer a number of features with the entire experience built to be enjoyed by the blind and partially sighted community. In our extensive interview, Gleb talks about the app's inception as well as how it compares to other products on the market. Find out about the app at www.voxmate.com. We also get your thoughts on the topics discussed in your emails, with comments from Greg about technology elitism and Negative Julian (self-titled) comments on the Amazon Always Home Cam drone. As always send in your thoughts and comments to techtalk@rnib.org.uk and follow the team on Twitter. Steven Scott @BlindGuyTech, Robin Christopherson @USA2Day and Tim Schwartz @timschwartz5

399: Windows 11, Voxmate app and Technology Elitism?

This week the team discuss the big announcements from Amazon's event including the Astro robot assistant, the new Echo Show 15 and Halo View, the new smart watch fitness band. But what about accessibility on all these new devices? Will they meet our expectations? There's also a review of the Miele smart washing machine courtesy of Madleen Bluhm from RNIB's Technology for Life team. Find out why Madleen is once again enjoying doing the washing as a blind person. For more information about the washing machines Madleen discusses visit this link: https://w1.miele.com/en-int/?_ga=2.136284468.464683654.1633377685-701815581.1633377685&_gac=1.184240724.1633378490.CjwKCAjwzOqKBhAWEiwArQGwaKXHWU7drB_hBiNE3TVFLJCUVkyIomJBP9RMrfYVFL9xuynMYZ2VvBoC4PQQAvD_BwE There's also more of your emails including a comment from Billy that we shouldn't shy away from talking up the benefits of smartphones to the blind, and Kelly suggests a new topic for us all to contribute to over the next few weeks. As always send in your thoughts and comments to techtalk@rnib.org.uk and follow the team on Twitter. Steven Scott @BlindGuyTech, Robin Christopherson @USA2Day and Tim Schwartz @timschwartz5

398: Amazon's Event, Smart Washing Machines and The Wrong Coffee Maker

In this week's episode Steven Scott is once again joined by Robin Christopherson from AbilityNet and Tim Schwartz from the Life After Blindness podcast to discuss all of the big announcements from Microsoft at their Surface event. The focus this week is on the accessibility of the new products and also to discuss the big accessibility news itself at the event with the launch of the new Surface Adaptive Kit that gives blind people Microsoft's own version of bump ons! Plus there's a look ahead to Amazon's event happening Tuesday 28th September and Steven talks about his lovely new iPad mini and iPhone 13 - but why not the 13 Pro? As always send in your thoughts and comments to techtalk@rnib.org.uk and follow the team on Twitter. Steven Scott @BlindGuyTech, Robin Christopherson @USA2Day and Tim Schwartz @timschwartz5

397: Microsoft Event, New iPads and iPhones and an Amazon Robot?

This week it's all about the Apple Event that was held in California on the 14th of September. Steven, Robin and Tim are joined by Ru Bhikha, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com to talk through the event and discuss what's new from the big fruit company. Also we get an update on the latest tech news from Sophie Ashford including news on roaming charges coming back for UK customers when in Europe and how motorbikes can be harmful to your iPhone! There's also news on Facebook launching a new smart glasses product in partnership with glasses maker Ray-Ban but will the addition of a camera in the glasses as well as speakers and a microphone cause some to be concerned about privacy, and what is the capability of such a device? And of course there's more of your emails. Lots of comments about the new robot voice Graham we've started using to read the emails out, plus a thought-provoking discussion starter from Greg on whether or not we are all technology elitists here at Tech Talk. As always send in your thoughts and comments to techtalk@rnib.org.uk and follow the team on Twitter. Steven Scott @BlindGuyTech, Robin Christopherson @USA2Day and Tim Schwartz @timschwartz5

396: Apple Event, Facebook Glasses and a new rock band?

As the Apple Event draws near the Tech Talk team are in full rumour-mode with suggestions on what might be coming and what everyone is looking forward to. There's also a discussion around the news that McDonalds has teamed up with Vispero - the company behind the popular JAWS screenreader - to make it's touchscreen server screens in store more accessible. Plus there's a brief look at what's coming up in terms of accessibility within the new Windows 11 software from Microsoft which is due to roll out from October 5th. Davinder from RNIB's Technology for Life team also drops by to tell us all about the new Breville Hot Cup Water Dispener to help make a safer cup of tea - link here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breville-HotCup-Dispenser-Variable-Dispense/dp/B002NGNRHC/ref=asc_df_B002NGNRHC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=231909287202&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3769138484814830017&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007363&hvtargid=pla-451618390517&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 And of course there's more of your emails. Lots of interesting discussion in the threads as always including a fantastic new feature of Sky Q found by listener Gordon, and a problem with the Amazon app found by listeners Dave and Maria. Email in with your contributions to techtalk@rnib.org.uk or find Steven Scott on Twitter @BlindGuyTech, Robin Christopherson @USA2Day and Tim Schwartz @timschwartz5

395: Apple Event Preview, Jaws Nuggets and Accessible Tea

Steven Scott is joined by AbilityNet’s Robin Christopherson and co-host of The Echo Show and Double Tap Canada Shaun Preece. No Tim this week as he’s on holiday. We discuss the upcoming Microsoft and Apple Events, the latter was not announced at the time of recording this episode. There’s some interesting news for fans of desktop apps for Twitter, WhatsApp and Telegram, and we get an inside scoop on some bug fixes coming soon for Sky Q Voice Guidance users. We also read out your tweets and emails you’ve been sending in including a question from Norma about what to do to keep your data safe when buying a new phone. Catherine asks why we don’t discuss Synapptic phones on the show and Greg suggests the RIVO keyboard is a great way to input text and navigate a smartphone rather than a bluetooth keyboard or even the touchscreen itself. And finally we bid farewell to Emails Andy who is off to pastures new. We meet his replacement who we think we’ll call Emails A I - the robots are taking over! Keep your comments coming about the show to techtalk@rnib.org.uk or reach out to us directly on Twitter. Steven Scott is @BlindGuyTech, Shaun Preece is @TheBlurredNerd and Robin Christopherson is @USA2Day.

394: Microsoft and Apple Events, Apps for Social Media and Identifying Chocolate By Touch

Hello Tech Talkers! Last week we started the mammoth task of tackling the emails that you, lovely listener, have been sending us! Do Steven Scott, Tim Schwartz, Shaun Preece, and Emails Andy finally get through them all? Spoiler alert, yes, we do... with time to spare! Our topics on today's podcast include Smart TVs, new features on JAWS, more thoughts on the RNIB Radio, monitors which have on-board audio, as well as other talking points, such as Steven's new old iPhone (in red), Cookie Monster, moving to America (and back again in time for Coronation Street), Tim wanting theme music, Shaun having trouble spelling, and Queen. To email us, it's TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk More mail next week!

393: We've Got More Emails!

Hello Tech Talk fans! This week we have Steven Scott, Tim Schwartz, Shaun Preece, and Emails Andy guiding you through the show. Over the next two shows, we're focussing on our email inbox - yes, all the mail from yourselves on a variety of topics, and this week, we're getting a little philosophical with our talking points!  Our topics include gripes with the behemoth companies we buy our tech from, recommendations on smartphones with bluetooth keyboards, how to encourage the VI community into using tech more, especially if price is an issue, Windows 365 thoughts,  and requests for demos! To email us, it's TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk More mail next week! 

392: Emails, We Get Emails, We Get Your Emails Everyday!

Welcome back everyone, the Tech Talk team returns for another jam-packed show! No Robin this week, I'm afraid, he's away on holiday, but we have a returning Tim, and Shaun is also amongst us once again! They join Steven and Emails Andy to cover everything in the world of tech, accessible tech and more! We kick off with a discussion about screen time - according to a report from regulator Ofcom, UK adults spent nearly a third of their waking hours watching TV and online video content in 2020. This provokes a discussion about if this is a healthiest way to live life, and more importantly, for those of us who have children, how vital it is that we monitor and regulate this for them. Yes, the internet is full of wonderful learning resources and advice, but there's plenty of Minecraft videos they'd rather be watching into the early hours! The report also stresses that streaming is now far more popular than regular TV - Steven thinks he'll see the end of one major channel in his lifetime, so how long before our media consumption is 100% on demand? If all this stresses you out a little bit, fear not! Holly Tuke from RNIB Connect Radio's Happy Hour show talks us through the meditation app called Oak, which is free! So sit cross legged, breathe deeply, and relax... or else! In emails this week - fixing your telephone microfilter may be the cause of bad internet and crackly lines, a lovely review of the RNIB Talking Books skill on Lady A, and some recommendations from a listener for Steven to try in the crime thriller book category All that, plus nodding dogs, new phones from Samsung, Apple rumours, the Fonz, forgetting your Ubereats password, a little more on Euro Truck Simulator, as Andy has now fallen into that pit, as have a handful of our audience base! To share your thoughts and feelings, or just to tell us you too are now driving virtual trucks around in a computer game, email TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk! Chat to you all soon!

391: Screen time usage in Lockdown, Oak meditation app, and emails

Hello there boys and girls, welcome back to another Tech Talk - whoever you are and whatever you're doing, we're happy to have you along for the ride! On this week's show, Steven, Robin, Emails Andy and special guest Shaun Preece are here, with Tim being unwell. Coming up, the team tackle the top tech news story of the week, namely that Apple are making plans to scan iPhone images for sexual abuse content of minors; putting the subject matter to one side, is this a huge invasion of everyone's privacy, or does the 'slippery slope' argument not have any legs here? Robin and Shaun break down the tech behind scanning these 'hashes', Andy admits he's had his opinion on privacy swayed by it, and Steven has even more questions. Also this week, another look at the WeWalk Smart Cane - from a small social impact project to Amazons Best Start up of the Year award, WeWalk has come far in it's short history, RNIB Connect Radio's Ellie Marsh has been catching up with the makers to see how things are going. Hang on, we have a name thief! Somebody else has a show called Tech Talk - we can't have this! Well, actually we can, because we're big fans - we're talking about Ricky's Tech Talk on YouTube, and it covers unboxing videos with a big focus on accessibility, and the host of the show is RNIB's Community Connection Coordinator for London & South East England Ricky West. RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew sat down with him to find out more. We love getting your emails! This week, we have a handful regarding Amazon Echo devices - can you connect Zoom to the earlier models? Can the Show 10 be set up with VoiceOver? What do the team suggest you could use them for outside of alarms and routines, of course with more than a few plugs for Robin and Shaun's other podcast! TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk - get your emails in quickly, we have a few email specific shows lined up over the next few weeks - send them in now to get your thoughts on air. All that, plus thunderstorms, SwitchBot, Steven's obsession with Euro Truck Simulator 2, and how often he crashes, Shaun being both loud and quiet at the same time, and news on Google's latest Pixel phone. Chat to you all soon! x

390: WeWalk, Apple & Privacy, and Euro Truck Simulator 2

Welcome back to Tech Talk! This week we've got a bit of a special treat for you! Steven Scott is joined, as ever, by Robin Christopherson, as well as RNIB's Paul Porter, and Read On's Red Szell, to talk about a brand new skill available on Lady A! Yes, that's right - RNIB Talking Books are now available through Alexa-enabled devices, such as Amazon smart speakers using an Alexa skill. Talking Books service was first launched in 1935 and is now home to more than 30,000 audiobooks, which today are sent out to customers in CD or USB format or as digital downloads... and now on your Lady A device! Once you start accessing Talking Books through an Alexa skill, you'll be able to get reading straight away as your books will be with you instantly. As you'll be able to open any of the books on our Online Library through simple voice commands, you can make immediate changes to your reading lists when you want to, without having to wait. How do you get started with it then? Well, the library can now be accessed by asking “Alexa, open RNIB Talking Books”. Bear in mind you'll need to be a registered RNIB Library member and have access to an Amazon account. You'll also need to have the Alexa app downloaded to your phone or tablet or have an Alexa-enabled device, such as a smart speaker. Download the RNIB factsheet for more information on how to get started.

389: Introducing the new RNIB Talking Books Alexa skill

Hello there Tech Talk fans, welcome to episode 388! On today's show, we've got Robin, Tim, and Emails Andy joining Steven with the show chock-a-block with content and talking points. We chat to Douglas Walker, to find out about an online resource called Hadley that can advise on a wide range of areas, technology being a major one. Jo Fullerton from the RNIB Technology for Life team has an app for the green-fingered among you. We also have some quick fire news stories - Sight Tech Global going virtual, non-invasive blood sugar measuring confirmed by Apple supplier Rockley, Microsoft investing in voice technology and bringing new features to Outlook on iOS and soon on Android... and loads more! Also, a quick dip into emails, namely an email aimed at Steven regarding accessible smart televisions - what is out there that he could recommend, and how troublesome is the set up process? TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk for all your emails! Chat soon :)

388: Sight Tech Global, Smart Televisions, and Hadley Vision Resources

Out of the sweltering heatwave come sweltering Steven, roasting Robin, Tanned Tim and Emails Andy, ice lollies in hand, and fans blaring, to bring you another sun-kissed Tech Talk! We tackle the topic of Windows 365, what is that, you ask? Well, fresh off of the Windows 11 announcement, and the new Surface hardware, Microsoft announced a new service that allows business customers to access Cloud PCs from anywhere. It's like remote access, only... better? For now we only have details on the business product, as WFH becomes more and more frequent. Speaking of the office, with the easing of restrictions making it possible for us to once again go back into the workplace, how safe are our office environments and can technology help stop the spread of further disease? We hear a report on UV lighting detailing such worries. Steven's decided to ditch Facebook, because it was ruining his productivity. How many hours can you lose to Facebook Watch? Well, quite a few it seems. Andy warns not to even consider trying TikTok, as you'll fall down a similar rabbit hole! Also, Yvonne Brookes from RNIB's Technology for Life team returns, seemingly recording from Spain! She talks us through the free app Google Lookout. What's that, you want more?! Fine! Local sight loss charities are often the first port of call for those who have been just been told they are losing their vision. They offer hope and advice as well as peer support that can make a real difference. One area of support most often requested is technology support. Steven spoke to Debbie and Mel from the local organisation Suffolk Sight to find out what they offer. All that, plus vortexes, Hitchhikers Guide, a very brief hands-on review of Steven's new USB headset, carbon footprints... and well done if you spotted Andy reading out an email we had featured last week - he didn't realise until after we had finished the show. Whoops! If you want your emails to be read out once, and maybe even twice, contact TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk - it'll be featured in an upcoming show.

387: Windows 365, Ditching Facebook, and Returning to Safe Offices

Hello to you, and to you... and especially you! Tech Talk is here once again with another deep dive into the world of accessible gadgets and gismos. This week, Steven, Robin, Tim and Emails Andy tackle more from the emails inbox, including emails meant for other departments! Aside from that, we dish out tips and tech must-haves when entering the workplace for the first time - what headphones work best with JAWS, that wont cut out the sound of the phone ringing? What is best for reading documents, that wont cut text off? Also, Robin (and Faith) give us an audio demo of the Amazon Echo Show 10 device - the screen can follow you round the room, always keeping you in frame, but does that make them any less accessible to blind people, and also... is it worth the steep price tag? Remember the good old days of using your FM, AM or Long Wave radio to tune into your favourite far flung stations? Did you know that you can use the latest apps on your smartphone or computer to achieve the same result? Dinos from RNIB's Technology For Life team returns to talk to us about listening to radio stations through the VLC media app. All that, plus complaints about the temperature, hoodles, a whole load of Rachels, firmware installation issues, accessible nightmares, and a big woofer. Stick around until the end to hear a plug from Tim! For your emails, contact TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk - it'll be featured in an upcoming show. Until we speak again!

386: Echo Show 10 Review, Radio on VLC, and Plenty of Emails

Tech Talk is a podcast and radio show for blind and partially sighted people who are interested in accessible technology. Find out about the latest products from specialist equipment to off the shelf solutions. Get involved or join the conversation by emailing techtalk@rnib.org.uk

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RNIB Tech Talk

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