RE: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

[Rick Alfaro]

Yes, very odd indeed. In fact, if you look on skype.com, and try to find the 
desktop version you are not able to download it and you are advised that Skype 
is now part of Windows 10. 

 

 

From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2018 11:36 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! 
Subject: Re: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

 

Thanks for mentioning this and I’ll take another look but I cannot install 
Skype For Desktop on my machine.

Now don’t get me wrong because I believe I may have perhaps hit on an 
explanation, I’m subscribed to Office 365 so I wonder if that has any baring on 
what version of Skype I’m getting?

 





On 27 Jan 2018, at 3:26 am, Rick Alfaro mailto:rick.alf...@gmail.com> > wrote:

 

Interesting, I’m really scratching my head on this one. I’m running one of the 
latest fast ring Windows versions and Skype for Desktop which was just updated 
when I just opened it. I’m not seeing much difference in accessibility 
including the hot keys branch under tools>options. My hotkeys for answer and 
end calls are set to alt page down and alt page up respectively. 

 

 

From: Gordon Smith [ <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net> 
mailto:gor...@mac-access.net] 
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 2:19 PM
To:  <mailto:techno-chat@techno-chat.net> techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: Re: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

 

Interesting. When I try to execute it on the Mac, I get a totally blank window. 
Using the menu bar, all the functions are greyed out. Ah well, time for a 
little exercise for “TrashMe”. Great little app that is, if you remove an app 
from your /applications folder, it takes with it all the preferences for that 
app, unless you override it.

 

 



My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:
< <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net> gor...@mac-access.net>
Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

 

This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid 
printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree!

  Contact:

 

Twitter: @maciosaccess


• UK Free Phone:

0800 8620538

• UK Geographic / Global:

+44(0) 1642 688095
• UK Mobile/SMS:

+44 (0)7804 983849
• Vic. Australia:

+61 38 82059300
• US/Canada:

+1 646 9151493

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 25 Jan 2018, at 18:23, Dane Trethowan < <mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net> 
grtd...@internode.on.net> wrote:

 

Perhaps I'd best explain things a little better.

Skype for Mac and Windows is accessible it seems on the whole accept for 
critical and very basic fuctions such as the answering of calls and I've found 
no way to actually perform this function with a screen reader.

With the Mac it seems that one can still click on the Answer button from within 
Skype but with the Windows version there doesn't even seem to be an answer 
button anywhere within Skype.

With the older Skype Desktop client one could set up a global hotkey to answer 
calls, with the latest Skype for Windows 10 that function has been removed it 
seems.

 

 

On 26/01/2018 4:53 AM, The wolf wrote:

is the mac skype still accessible? or did they break that as well?

 

On 1/25/2018 3:08 AM, Dane Trethowan wrote:

Indeed but having said thaqt I never rule anything in or out so its very 
possible that Microsoft may add some accessibility to the product in the future.

The Mac version of Skype has also changed.

 

 

On 25/01/2018 9:02 PM, Gordon Smith wrote:

That is correct. The Windows 10 version, (as of the Fall Creator’s Update) is 
now a very different animal. 

 

I too have dumped it. I don’t see it as a viable option any longer.

 



My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:
< <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net> gor...@mac-access.net>
Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

 

This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid 
printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree!

  Contact:

 

Twitter: @maciosaccess


• UK Free Phone:

0800 8620538

• UK Geographic / Global:

+44(0) 1642 688095
• UK Mobile/SMS:

+44 (0)7804 983849
• Vic. Australia:

+61 38 82059300
• US/Canada:

+1 646 9151493

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 23 Jan 2018, at 17:56, Dane Trethowan < <mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net> 
grtd...@internode.on.net> wrote:

 

You cannot use Skype For Desktop under Windows 10 any longer as far as I know, 
I was using Skype For Desktop but the software was updated overnight to Skype 
For Windows 10.



On 24/01/2018 2:54 AM, Rick Alfaro wrote:




Which Skype are you using under Windows, the modern windows app or the desktop 
version? The desktop version has a ton of hotkeys and they are all redefinable 
under tools>op

RE: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

[Rick Alfaro]

Interesting, I’m really scratching my head on this one. I’m running one of the 
latest fast ring Windows versions and Skype for Desktop which was just updated 
when I just opened it. I’m not seeing much difference in accessibility 
including the hot keys branch under tools>options. My hotkeys for answer and 
end calls are set to alt page down and alt page up respectively. 

 

 

From: Gordon Smith [mailto:gor...@mac-access.net] 
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2018 2:19 PM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: Re: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

 

Interesting. When I try to execute it on the Mac, I get a totally blank window. 
Using the menu bar, all the functions are greyed out. Ah well, time for a 
little exercise for “TrashMe”. Great little app that is, if you remove an app 
from your /applications folder, it takes with it all the preferences for that 
app, unless you override it.

 

 



My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:
mailto:gor...@mac-access.net> >
Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

 

This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid 
printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree!

  Contact:

 

Twitter: @maciosaccess


• UK Free Phone:

0800 8620538

• UK Geographic / Global:

+44(0) 1642 688095
• UK Mobile/SMS:

+44 (0)7804 983849
• Vic. Australia:

+61 38 82059300
• US/Canada:

+1 646 9151493

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 25 Jan 2018, at 18:23, Dane Trethowan mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net> > wrote:

 

Perhaps I'd best explain things a little better.

Skype for Mac and Windows is accessible it seems on the whole accept for 
critical and very basic fuctions such as the answering of calls and I've found 
no way to actually perform this function with a screen reader.

With the Mac it seems that one can still click on the Answer button from within 
Skype but with the Windows version there doesn't even seem to be an answer 
button anywhere within Skype.

With the older Skype Desktop client one could set up a global hotkey to answer 
calls, with the latest Skype for Windows 10 that function has been removed it 
seems.

 

 

On 26/01/2018 4:53 AM, The wolf wrote:

is the mac skype still accessible? or did they break that as well?

 

On 1/25/2018 3:08 AM, Dane Trethowan wrote:

Indeed but having said thaqt I never rule anything in or out so its very 
possible that Microsoft may add some accessibility to the product in the future.

The Mac version of Skype has also changed.

 

 

On 25/01/2018 9:02 PM, Gordon Smith wrote:

That is correct. The Windows 10 version, (as of the Fall Creator’s Update) is 
now a very different animal. 

 

I too have dumped it. I don’t see it as a viable option any longer.

 



My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:
mailto:gor...@mac-access.net> >
Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

 

This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid 
printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree!

  Contact:

 

Twitter: @maciosaccess


• UK Free Phone:

0800 8620538

• UK Geographic / Global:

+44(0) 1642 688095
• UK Mobile/SMS:

+44 (0)7804 983849
• Vic. Australia:

+61 38 82059300
• US/Canada:

+1 646 9151493

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 23 Jan 2018, at 17:56, Dane Trethowan mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net> > wrote:

 

You cannot use Skype For Desktop under Windows 10 any longer as far as I know, 
I was using Skype For Desktop but the software was updated overnight to Skype 
For Windows 10.



On 24/01/2018 2:54 AM, Rick Alfaro wrote:



Which Skype are you using under Windows, the modern windows app or the desktop 
version? The desktop version has a ton of hotkeys and they are all redefinable 
under tools>options. It sounds like you are using the modern app which is a 
nightmare to use.



-Original Message-
From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net]
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018 10:46 PM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net <mailto:techno-chat@techno-chat.net> 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

After 10 years of continuous use I've been forced to abandon Skype as the 
operation of the Windows 10 and Mac versions have become incredibly complex in 
my view to the point that the very basics seem to have been forgotten by 
Microsoft, this point is driven home when you discover that there seems to be 
no keyboard shortcut or global hotkey anywhere to answer incoming calls.

I've looked at the keyboard shorcut/hotkey chart on the Microsoft Skype Support 
site but no joy there.

Now the decision I made is only from a personal point of view and I would like 
to be proven wrong on my assessment so if anyone knows what I don't then please 
spea

RE: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

[Rick Alfaro]

Which Skype are you using under Windows, the modern windows app or the desktop 
version? The desktop version has a ton of hotkeys and they are all redefinable 
under tools>options. It sounds like you are using the modern app which is a 
nightmare to use.



-Original Message-
From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2018 10:46 PM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: I've Abandoned Skype

After 10 years of continuous use I've been forced to abandon Skype as the 
operation of the Windows 10 and Mac versions have become incredibly complex in 
my view to the point that the very basics seem to have been forgotten by 
Microsoft, this point is driven home when you discover that there seems to be 
no keyboard shortcut or global hotkey anywhere to answer incoming calls.

I've looked at the keyboard shorcut/hotkey chart on the Microsoft Skype Support 
site but no joy there.

Now the decision I made is only from a personal point of view and I would like 
to be proven wrong on my assessment so if anyone knows what I don't then please 
speak up.

I'm looking at alternatives to Skype to suit my audio and video needs, one of 
those alternatives is Facetime which a whole swag of people probably have but 
don't realise it.

If you're on a Mac computer then you'll find Facetime as part of Mac OSX.

If you're on an iPhone or iPad then you've probably seen Facetime on the first 
page of Apps.

The Facetime App on the Mac is very easy to use with only a few options 
appearing on the screen, likewise with Facetime For IOS.

I also have two other utilities which are going to help enormously in handling 
my communication needs.

The excellent Handsfree 2 App for the Mac will allow access to my mobile phone 
using Bluetooth paring.

Handsfree 2 will allow me to dial out and receive incoming calls via my mobile 
directly and settings can be configured in such a way that the audio of a call 
is transmitted to the Mac to be output through the Sound Device of your choice 
- say a headset or similar -.

Unfortunately I don't know of an alternative to Handsfree 2 for Windows.

I have the very nice Express Talk App from NCH Software for both Mac and 
Windows which allows the management of multiple VOIP lines from your computer 
and the feature set is extensive to say the least, everything from 
making/receiving calls to recording and transferring of calls with on-hold 
music should you want it, all fully customisable.

And finally my Sony xPeria X-Performance phone offers VOIP management 
facilities so not only do I have a mobile number but I can define VOIP numbers 
so that when they're called the call goes straight to the mobile which I think 
is truly amazing.

This is all food for thought so I'd be interested in any comments or 
suggestions.


-- 

**
"A dog is a good thing to have around a house and so is a fence"

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as a substitution for your own security strategy. We assume no culpability 
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RE: [Techno-Chat]: Jabra 510 Speaker Conference: I've struck gold

[Rick Alfaro]

Can you please post the address for subscribing to this list? I have a good 
friend that would like to subscribe.

 

Re: the Jabra 510, I noticed there are a few models with this model number.  
The 510MS, 510Uc, and the 510 plus (plus sign). Any idea what the differences 
are? Their prices are quite a bit higher.

 

 

 

From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2018 10:58 AM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: Re: [Techno-Chat]: Jabra 510 Speaker Conference: I've struck gold

 

Also note that there's a bigger Brother, the Jabra Speak 810 which might be 
worth looking at, its a huge step up from the 510 though its 4 times the price, 
I'm not regretting my decision to purchase the 510 but now I know about the 810 
I've added it to my savings goals for later this year, audio quality means 
everything to me.

 

 

On 20/01/2018 2:49 AM, Rick Alfaro wrote:

Amazon currently has this on sale for $79.99 which sounds like a good deal to 
me. Thanks for the review.

Can you please post the subscription info for this list?

 

 

 

From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 9:59 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm!  
<mailto:techno-chat@techno-chat.net> 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: Jabra 510 Speaker Conference: I've struck gold

 

Hi!

I’ve always been interested in hands free speaker devices for computers and 
mobile phones particularly in this day and age when noise and echo cancelling 
has developed to the point that you can hear someone across a room from the 
device and not know that the echo existed in a room, that’s how good hands free 
devices can be and this effect is clearly demonstrated if you have something as 
simple as a Logitech HD Webcam and you’re using it to communicate with someone 
else on Skype, the other party can clearly hear you talking in your armchair on 
the other side of the room from the camera.

Portable hands free devices are my main interest though I’ve found few that 
have really performed well in a room, the only good one I knew of up until 
today was one of the Pollycom portable speaker phones developed for Laptop and 
Notebook computers.

Polycom are known for their excellent range of business conference phone 
packages so I was delighted to read about the portable Notebook Polycom 
speakerphone around a year ago, I purchased one and was very happy with the way 
it performed, all the attributes I expected from a conference desktop phone 
were at my fingertips including echo/noise cancelation.

Unfortunately the Polycom portable speakerphone is no longer being developed 
and thus I began the hunt for a replacement, I unexpectedly stumbled upon that 
replacement late last week at a computer accessories store in the form of the 
Jabra 510 Speaker Conference.

Jabra are well known of course for their mobile hands free car solutions so I 
hadn’t given the company a thought when it came to desktop solutions but I can 
tell you their desktop speaker is the best portable solution I’ve tried, not 
only for its clear sound and acoustic adjustments but also for its flexibility.

The Jabra 510 can be used with either a computer or a mobile as a speakerphone 
and this is flexible in itself, the first time I’ve seen a device offering 
either USB or Bluetooth connectivity.

The speaker is a nice 4 inch type so Jabra obviously do really care about the 
audio quality of this speaker, sounds even better than the old Polycom which 
only has a 2 inch speaker.

The Jabra 510 is around 5 inches round and comes in a smart round zip case, 
perfectly portable.

The USB cable is built-in to the 510 and winds up around a space between 
speaker and stand when you’re not using it.

As well as a connection to a computer the USB cable is used to charge the 
internal rechargeable battery.

There are 4 buttons placed around the circular rim surrounding the speaker on 
the 510, volume up and down at top and bottom of rim respectively and answer 
end buttons to left and right.

Unfortunately these buttons are touch sensitive but it didn’t take me long to 
find where the buttons where if I placed the speaker on a desk in a particular 
position - USB cable coming out to the right -.

The 510 has a voice guidance system so connecting to a Bluetooth device is a 
snap.

The buttons make a “Click” sound through the speaker when touched and volume up 
sounds a “Double Click” when the maximum loud position is reached but you’ll 
know how loud the speaker is by that stage .

When held down the answer and end buttons perform various functions such as 
giving you a spoken battery indication, turning Voice Guidance on/off though I 
haven’t worked out what button performs what function as yet.

The 510 also has a headphones socket so you may conduct private hands free 
conversations if required say in a crowded office environment and here we see a 
feature added that sets the Jabra 510 Sp

RE: [Techno-Chat]: Jabra 510 Speaker Conference: I've struck gold

[Rick Alfaro]

Amazon currently has this on sale for $79.99 which sounds like a good deal to 
me. Thanks for the review.

Can you please post the subscription info for this list?

 

 

 

From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 9:59 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: Jabra 510 Speaker Conference: I've struck gold

 

Hi!

I’ve always been interested in hands free speaker devices for computers and 
mobile phones particularly in this day and age when noise and echo cancelling 
has developed to the point that you can hear someone across a room from the 
device and not know that the echo existed in a room, that’s how good hands free 
devices can be and this effect is clearly demonstrated if you have something as 
simple as a Logitech HD Webcam and you’re using it to communicate with someone 
else on Skype, the other party can clearly hear you talking in your armchair on 
the other side of the room from the camera.

Portable hands free devices are my main interest though I’ve found few that 
have really performed well in a room, the only good one I knew of up until 
today was one of the Pollycom portable speaker phones developed for Laptop and 
Notebook computers.

Polycom are known for their excellent range of business conference phone 
packages so I was delighted to read about the portable Notebook Polycom 
speakerphone around a year ago, I purchased one and was very happy with the way 
it performed, all the attributes I expected from a conference desktop phone 
were at my fingertips including echo/noise cancelation.

Unfortunately the Polycom portable speakerphone is no longer being developed 
and thus I began the hunt for a replacement, I unexpectedly stumbled upon that 
replacement late last week at a computer accessories store in the form of the 
Jabra 510 Speaker Conference.

Jabra are well known of course for their mobile hands free car solutions so I 
hadn’t given the company a thought when it came to desktop solutions but I can 
tell you their desktop speaker is the best portable solution I’ve tried, not 
only for its clear sound and acoustic adjustments but also for its flexibility.

The Jabra 510 can be used with either a computer or a mobile as a speakerphone 
and this is flexible in itself, the first time I’ve seen a device offering 
either USB or Bluetooth connectivity.

The speaker is a nice 4 inch type so Jabra obviously do really care about the 
audio quality of this speaker, sounds even better than the old Polycom which 
only has a 2 inch speaker.

The Jabra 510 is around 5 inches round and comes in a smart round zip case, 
perfectly portable.

The USB cable is built-in to the 510 and winds up around a space between 
speaker and stand when you’re not using it.

As well as a connection to a computer the USB cable is used to charge the 
internal rechargeable battery.

There are 4 buttons placed around the circular rim surrounding the speaker on 
the 510, volume up and down at top and bottom of rim respectively and answer 
end buttons to left and right.

Unfortunately these buttons are touch sensitive but it didn’t take me long to 
find where the buttons where if I placed the speaker on a desk in a particular 
position - USB cable coming out to the right -.

The 510 has a voice guidance system so connecting to a Bluetooth device is a 
snap.

The buttons make a “Click” sound through the speaker when touched and volume up 
sounds a “Double Click” when the maximum loud position is reached but you’ll 
know how loud the speaker is by that stage .

When held down the answer and end buttons perform various functions such as 
giving you a spoken battery indication, turning Voice Guidance on/off though I 
haven’t worked out what button performs what function as yet.

The 510 also has a headphones socket so you may conduct private hands free 
conversations if required say in a crowded office environment and here we see a 
feature added that sets the Jabra 510 Speaker conference apart from any other 
speaker I’ve tried thus far.

If you’re using the 510 with your computer then you can use the speaker to 
transmit the audio via Bluetooth to a Bluetooth headset which offers a 
staggering array of possibilities, total private listening with your Hearing 
Instruments for instance, absolutely brilliant!

That’s all on the Jabra 510 Speaker Conference device for now and I’ll write up 
notes on additional features and functionality as I explore.

 

**

Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.

 

 

 

[Techno-Chat]: RE: [Techno-Chat]: RE: [Techno-Chat]: Amazon Echo Show / Fire TV + Fire TV Stick – 2017 Model

[Rick Alfaro]

Sorry, correction on my Echo show description of the buttons. The camera/mic 
button is the first button on the left, not the right like I mistakenly said in 
my message. The buttons from left to right are Camera/Mic, Volume down, and 
Volume up.



-Original Message-
From: Rick Alfaro [mailto:rick.alf...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2017 12:40 PM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: RE: [Techno-Chat]: Amazon Echo Show / Fire TV + Fire TV 
Stick – 2017 Model

Hi Gordon.

Regarding the Echo show, you can enable VoiceView to configure everything 
yourself as a blind user. There are 3 buttons going across the top of the Show. 
The first one on the right is the button to toggle the camera and mic on /off. 
The other 2 buttons are volume down and volume up respectively. To enable 
VoiceView you press and hold the camera/mic button until you hear a beep at 
which point you have to place 2 fingers slightly apart on the screen and you 
will hear VoiceView be enabled. From there on, it's just like using VoiceView 
on one of the amazon tablets. The Echo Show is really quite accessible once you 
enable the screen reader. If you Google "VoiceView on Echo Show" you will get a 
result link pointing you to all of the gestures that are useable on the Show. 
HTH



-Original Message-
From: Gordon Smith [mailto:gor...@mac-access.net] 
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2017 7:34 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: Amazon Echo Show / Fire TV + Fire TV Stick – 2017 Model

Good afternoon everybody

Today I’ve had the opportunity to play with both the new Fire TV Pendant, and 
also an Echo Show. The Fire TV belongs to yours truly, and the Echo Show to a 
neighbour who asked me to set it up for her.

In the event, it was a bit of an anticlimax. For reasons best known only unto 
themselves, Amazon’s latest devices which are capable of playing video content 
cannot be set up via the Alexa app, as can previous devices. Instead, you have 
to use an on-screen menu system, (touch screen, in the case of the Show). There 
is no other way to configure your WiFi settings.

The Echo Show, once set up, works very similarly to the previous Echo and the 
current Echo and Echo Plus series. For example, Have not yet discovered how, or 
even if, you can turn on two-way Alexa responses, as you can with the previous 
version of the Fire TV stick. I set up the Echo Show, played around with it for 
a few minutes, then left her to learn how to drive it via video. You can speak 
to it, but it doesn’t always respond in kind. Instead, it seems to pop up video 
messages which, for a blind person, is pretty damned hopeless. I am very glad 
that I reverted my previous decision to buy one.

The Fire TV is something which, again, cannot be configured via the Alexa app. 
Nor is there any other way of accomplishing this than with the Voice Remote. 
You need to be able to see the thing in order to scroll down to the required 
network, and enter the password. Once that is done, you have a few minutes to 
wait while the device downloads and installs country-specific firmware.

I still need to play around with it further to establish how useable it will 
be. If all else fails, I still have my old Fire TV stick. So I can soon swap 
them back.

More as I discover it.



My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:

Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid 
printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree!

  Contact:

• UK Free Phone:
0800 8620538
• UK Geographic / Global:
+44(0) 1642 688095
• UK Mobile/SMS:
+44 (0)7804 983849
• Vic. Australia:
+61 38 82059300
• US/Canada:
+1 646 9151493











--

This post, like all posts to the Techno Chat E-Mail group has been scanned by 
our server-side antivirus/malware solution. This should not, however, be viewed 
as a substitution for your own security strategy. We assume no culpability 
whatever, implicit or otherwise, for any compromise to your systems as a result 
of opening any post to this group. Suffice it to say that we remain vigilant 
within the boundaries of reason. We strongly urge you to do likewise! You have 
been warned!!!

You can find an RSS listing of all posts to this group at:
<https://mail.mac-access.net:7025/list/techno-chat@techno-chat.net>
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To contact the support address for this group, pleas

[Techno-Chat]: RE: [Techno-Chat]: Amazon Echo Show / Fire TV + Fire TV Stick – 2017 Model

[Rick Alfaro]

Hi Gordon.

Regarding the Echo show, you can enable VoiceView to configure everything 
yourself as a blind user. There are 3 buttons going across the top of the Show. 
The first one on the right is the button to toggle the camera and mic on /off. 
The other 2 buttons are volume down and volume up respectively. To enable 
VoiceView you press and hold the camera/mic button until you hear a beep at 
which point you have to place 2 fingers slightly apart on the screen and you 
will hear VoiceView be enabled. From there on, it's just like using VoiceView 
on one of the amazon tablets. The Echo Show is really quite accessible once you 
enable the screen reader. If you Google "VoiceView on Echo Show" you will get a 
result link pointing you to all of the gestures that are useable on the Show. 
HTH



-Original Message-
From: Gordon Smith [mailto:gor...@mac-access.net] 
Sent: Monday, December 4, 2017 7:34 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: Amazon Echo Show / Fire TV + Fire TV Stick – 2017 Model

Good afternoon everybody

Today I’ve had the opportunity to play with both the new Fire TV Pendant, and 
also an Echo Show. The Fire TV belongs to yours truly, and the Echo Show to a 
neighbour who asked me to set it up for her.

In the event, it was a bit of an anticlimax. For reasons best known only unto 
themselves, Amazon’s latest devices which are capable of playing video content 
cannot be set up via the Alexa app, as can previous devices. Instead, you have 
to use an on-screen menu system, (touch screen, in the case of the Show). There 
is no other way to configure your WiFi settings.

The Echo Show, once set up, works very similarly to the previous Echo and the 
current Echo and Echo Plus series. For example, Have not yet discovered how, or 
even if, you can turn on two-way Alexa responses, as you can with the previous 
version of the Fire TV stick. I set up the Echo Show, played around with it for 
a few minutes, then left her to learn how to drive it via video. You can speak 
to it, but it doesn’t always respond in kind. Instead, it seems to pop up video 
messages which, for a blind person, is pretty damned hopeless. I am very glad 
that I reverted my previous decision to buy one.

The Fire TV is something which, again, cannot be configured via the Alexa app. 
Nor is there any other way of accomplishing this than with the Voice Remote. 
You need to be able to see the thing in order to scroll down to the required 
network, and enter the password. Once that is done, you have a few minutes to 
wait while the device downloads and installs country-specific firmware.

I still need to play around with it further to establish how useable it will 
be. If all else fails, I still have my old Fire TV stick. So I can soon swap 
them back.

More as I discover it.



My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:

Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

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  Contact:

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• UK Geographic / Global:
+44(0) 1642 688095
• UK Mobile/SMS:
+44 (0)7804 983849
• Vic. Australia:
+61 38 82059300
• US/Canada:
+1 646 9151493











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RE: [Techno-Chat]: Any JAWS & Outlook 2016 Experts Out There?

[Rick Alfaro]

Hi Gordon. I used to have a complete list of Outlook hotkeys but can’t seem to 
locate it now. Just do a google search for outlook hotkeys 2013 or 2016 and you 
are sure to find a good list. Be prepared as there are a ton of them. HTH.

 

 

 

 

Best,

 

Rick Alfaro

 

From: Gordon Smith [mailto:gor...@mac-access.net] 
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2017 4:12 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: Any JAWS & Outlook 2016 Experts Out There?

 

Hello everybody

 

OK, this is going to sound like quite a dum question, but here goes.

 

It’s been so long, as I am routinely a MacOS user, since I tried using Outlook 
2013 or 2016 and I have never before done so with JAWS as my screen-reader. So, 
here goes. What are the hot keys for sending, replying to and other message 
manipulation actions? The ribbon menus are now totally alien to me, as it’s 
been so long, as I said, since I tackled them.

 

Any tips, on or off list, very much appreciated.

 

=

My compliments and kindest regards
Gordon Smith:
mailto:gor...@mac-access.net> >
Accessibility & Information Technology Support Specialist..

 

This Message Was Created Using 100% Recycled Electrons. If you can avoid 
printing it, please do so. Think of the environment, save a tree!

  Contact:


• UK Free Phone: 0800 8620538
• UK Mobile/SMS: +44 (0) 7907 823971
• Vic. Australia: +61 38 82059300
• US/Canada: +1 646 9151493
• UK Geographic / Global: +44(0) 1642 688095

 



——

 

 

 

 

RE: [Techno-Chat]: USB C, why all the fuss?

[Rick Alfaro]

It’s kind of like the Lightning is for Apple. It’s reversible and can handle 
audio and video.

 

 

 

 

 

Best,

 

Rick Alfaro

 

From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2017 8:06 AM
To: Techno-Chat ... Technology Enthusiasm! 
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: USB C, why all the fuss?

 

Hi!

Just in case some didn’t know, the samsung S8 now has a USB C port for 
charging, data connection and so on.

Two adapters come with the phone, one enables connection of a micro USB cable 
whilst the other enables connection of devices such as memory sticks etc.

So why all the fuss around USB C? What advantages does it have over say Micro 
USB.

 

**

Those of a positive and enquiring frame of mind will leave the rest of the 
halfwits in this world behind.

 

 

 

[Techno-Chat]: RE: [Techno-Chat]: Review: The Accessible Kitchen: Using the Instant Pot Smart Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional Pressure Cooker - AccessWorld® - August 2016

[Rick Alfaro]

I have one of these and can tell you it is by far the most accessible off the 
shelf appliance I've ever purchased. I have full control over every aspect of 
this pressure cooker via bluetooth and their Smart cooker app. Truly a 
wonderful kitchen appliance. I'm really hoping that we see more and more of 
these Bluetooth controlled appliances on the market.



Best regards,

Rick Alfaro

-Original Message-
From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Friday, September 9, 2016 8:11 PM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: [Techno-Chat]: Review: The Accessible Kitchen: Using the Instant Pot 
Smart Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional Pressure Cooker - AccessWorld® - August 
2016

Seems I can't get one of these in my part of the world but I'd certainly 
love one in my kitchen to aid me in my cooking.
https://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw170805

RE: [Techno-Chat]; Synology DiskStation Manager, now significantly more accessible | Mosen Consulting

[Rick Alfaro]

Very impressive. I'll definitely be looking into the price for this model. I'm 
betting it's pretty expensive but sounds like it just might be worth it.



Best regards,

Rick Alfaro


-Original Message-
From: Dane Trethowan [mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net] 
Sent: Sunday, June 5, 2016 7:15 PM
To: techno-chat@techno-chat.net
Subject: [Techno-Chat]; Synology DiskStation Manager, now significantly more 
accessible | Mosen Consulting

Time to get rid of the old WD My Cloud drive I have here me thinks after 
reading this.
http://mosen.org/synology-diskstation-manager-now-significantly-more-accessible/

-- 

**
Those who don't need help are prepared to help themselves