EnjoyTech

Today, Apple released iOS 8 the latest software update for iPhone , iPad, and iPod Touch. The new software, which is available for free, includes many new features and enhancements, including new accessibility features and tools that will allow developers to make the next generation of apps. Apple has not stood still in terms accessibility and as a result, iOS 8 is truly the most accessible and inclusive iOS version to date. Some of the most exciting new accessibility features are included in iOS are ready to use right after updating. These features are developed by Apple, and most are found under Settings > General > Accessibility. Speak Screen is one of the new accessibility features that allows users to quickly and easily have content on the screen read with text-to-speech with a simple two finger swipe down gesture. Unlike older versions of iOS which required users to highlight sections that they wished to be spoken, Speak Screen does not require any highlighting. User...

Today Amazon updated their Kindle iOS app with VoiceOver support. VoiceOver   is a gesture controlled screen reader for the iPhone , iPad , and iPod Touch designed to help the blind and visually impaired. The text-to-speech feature can benefit people with dyslexia as well. Amazon describes the new features as follows, "Accessibility features make it easier for blind and visually impaired customers to navigate their Kindle libraries, read & interact with books, and more. Enable VoiceOver in your device settings to begin." VoiceOver support for the Kindle app comes shortly after the Nook app was updated with VoiceOver support. Despite VoiceOver support it is possible that certain books may have accessibility issues that make them inaccessible. Irronically, the Kindle iOS app is now more accessible for the blind and vissually impaired than physical Kindles. Kindle for iOS is avalible as a free update in the App Store . Click read more to view screenshots of the...

Proloquo2Go 3.0 is coming soon according the maker AssistiveWare. If you are unfamiliar with Proloquo2Go click here for background information. Proloquo2Go is the most well known alternative and augmentative comunication ( AAC ) apps for iOS devices . AssistiveWare does not seem be resting on its laurels and has some exciting new features planned for upcoming version 3.0. One of the new features is something AssistiveWare calls ExpressivePower. This new features will allow users to create buttons with certain intonation and emotion. This is great news for people who uses Proloquo2Go for everyday communication. Users will also be able to switch between voices more quickly in version 3.0. Version 3.0 will also include greatly improve switch access and more options to manage switches. Proloquo2Go 3.0 will be a free update for all current users in the next month or so. Proloquo2Go is avalible in the App Store for $189.99. Click read more below to view videos about Proloquo2Go.

Has someone ever asked to borrow your iPhone to call home, but then went through your personal information? Hopefully not, but it has happened to many kind-hearted phone lenders. Luckily using the built in Guided Access feature you can hand over your phone with less worry. Guided Access is designed as an accessibility feature but can be used by everyone. To learn more about Guided Access click here . Even with this feature use caution and common sense when lending your phone to people. To get started, go to "settings" then "general" and then "accessibility". Guided Access is only avalible in iOS 6 . In the accessibility menu go to Guided Access and turn it on. Then you will have to set a passcode. Make sure you remember your passcode. Now when you want to lend your phone to someone go to the app you want them to use and triple click the home button to start Guided Access . After turning on Guided Access no one will be able to access any other app wi...

The eyes free typing app for iPhone , iPad , and iPod Touch called Fleksy is now free on the App Store . The app is able to predict what word you are trying to type even if you did not hit any of the right virtual keys. As long as you are close to the right keys Flesky is able to predict the word. Fleksy is so accurate you do not even have to look at your phone to type. Just like other keyboard apps on iOS Fleksy does not replace the default keyboard. Click here to read the full review. Click read more below to learn more.

Learning Ally has started to add text  to a handfull of audiobooks in its collection. Learning Ally is an audio book library for people with print disabilities. The audio books with intergrated text download and opparate just like any other Learning Ally audiobook. If you prefer to just listen to the book and not read along you can do so. The book is read aloud with human narration and each paragraph is highlighted as it is being read. The text and highlighting help users follow the words as the text is being read which can help with comprehension. Some people might find it easier to follow the text if it highlighted word by-word or line- by-line instead of  paragraph-by-paragraph, but including text is a great new feature. The app on the iPhone , iPad , and iPod Touch still does not allow for background download or reading which means that when you close the app the audiobook will stop. Even with these shortcomings it is exciting to see ...

The iPhone , iPad , and iPod Touch home button does more than just take you do the home screen. With a quick double tap it can bring up the multitasking pane or music controls. With a quick tripple click it can be used to start an accessibility feature such as VoiceOver , Zoom , Assistive Touch , or Guided Access . If you find it difficult or impossible to double or tripple click the home button quickly you can slow down the speed in settings. To slow down the home-click speed go to settings > general > accessibility > home-click speed.  This setting is only available in iOS 6 . To learn how to upgrade to iOS 6 click here . This setting will allow you to press the home button much slower in order to activate the double or tripple click actions. Watch the above video to learn more.

PDF Expert is an elegant PDF manager, viewer and annotator. The app is available for iPhone , iPad and iPod Touch but the iPhone version and iPad version must be purchased separately. You can easily add PDF to the app by using the "open in" feature. Once you have PDFs in the app you can organize them into folders and sub-folders. The highlight of PDF Expert is its annotation features. PDF Expert allows you to quickly and easily add note, text, signatures, watermark stamps, images from the camera roll or audio notes to any PDF. You can search for a PDF by title or by the contents. PDF Expert also includes a passkey lock feature that allows you to protect your sensitive PDFs.  Unfortunately, PDF Expert does not include text-to-speech for PDFs. Even PDFs created on the computer cannot be read allowed. Also there is no optical character recognition feature for scanned PDFs. If these features are not important to you than PDF Expert is a great choi...

A new feature in iOS 6 called Do Not Disturb is great for people with ADD or people who just do not want to be disturbed by calls, texts, emails or anything else that pops up on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Do Not Disturb blocks all notifications and calls. To enable Do Not Disturb go to settings and then turn on Do Not Disturb. To scheduled Do No Disturb mode to turn on at a certain time, go to notifications and then Do Not Disturb. It is a great feature for teachers and students so they can use there devices as educational tools without being distracted by notifications or calls. When Do Not Disturb Mode is on, a moon appears next to the time. Do Not Disturb allows users to allow calls from certain contacts or allows repeated calls to come through. Watch the above video to learn more or click read more to view screenshots.

Apple released a new version of the iPod Touch . The fifth generation device includes the same large screen as the iPhone 5 . In addition to large screen the new iPod Touch has a faster A5 processor, much improved 5 mega-pixel camera, iOS 6 , Siri and Loop. Read on to learn what these features mean for people with special needs. Camera- The new improved camera is good enough to use optical character recognition ( OCR ) apps. OCR apps allow you to take a picture of text and have it read back to you using text-to-speech . One great OCR app is Prizmo . iOS 6-   iOS 6 will improve the already great accessibility features of the previous versions. The new operating system will include features such as Guided Access and Speak Selection with synchronized highlighting. To learn more about iOS 6 click here . Siri-  Apple's voice activated personal assistant will make its way to the iPod Touch. Siri can answer questions, spell words, read messages, set reminders,...

Apple announced today that it will be holding a special event on September 12. Apple is rumored to announce a new iPhone , iOS 6 release data and possibly more. iOS 6 will include many accessibility enhancements including Guided Access . The new iPhone may include a better camera, faster processor and larger screen. Come back on September 12 to hear all the new from Apple and how it effects the world of assistive technology.

Apple is widely rumored to be preparing to release a new iPhone , an all new smaller iPad Mini and iOS 6 with numerous accessibility improvements. iOS 6: iOS 6 has been previewed by Apple at WWDC and will be released this fall. iOS 6 includes over 200 new features including new accessibility features such as Guided Access and word highlights with speak selection. iOS is the operating system that runs on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Guided Access will allow teachers and parents to lock the child into a single app and control what features of the app the child could use. iPhone 5:  Unlike iOS 6 the iPhone 5 has not been confirmed by Apple. But according to leaks and past history it is likely that the iPhone  will be coming out it mid September. The iPhone 5 is likely to have a larger screen, a better camera and a faster processor.   iPad Mini:  Like the iPhone 5 the iPad Mini has not be confirmed by Apple. The iPad Mini is rumored to have small...

Learning Ally , the audio book service for people with disabilities, has reduced the cost of their iOS app to free. The app previously cost $19.99. In order to use the app you must be a Learning Ally member. Click here to download the app which is compatible with both the iPad and iPhone. The app is the easiest way to listen to Learning Ally books on your iOS device. Now that the app is free it is a no brainer for members. Unfortunately the app is still missing key features such as background audio play back, background downloads and the ability to browse the Learning Ally catalog directly from your iOS device. When listening to an audio book you cannot follow along with an ebook because the audio book will automatically pause. Also in order to download an audio book you first must add the book to your bookshelf via a web browser. These short comings weaken the user experience, but it is still great to listen to Learning Ally books on your iOS device.  Hopefully i...