New SAPPHIRE™ Portable Video Magnifier

Freedom Scientific today announced the new SAPPHIRE™ portable video magnifier. This new product offers features for on-the-go low vision users and is an companion to the companys current line of desktop video magnifiers, distance viewing solutions, and screen magnification software. The SAPPHIRE contains a small camera and displays images on a brightly lit seven-inch screen. The magnification level can be varied from 3.4x to 16x with a sliding fingertip control. The unit weighs less than 2 pounds and can be carried in a purse or its own case, ready for use at any time. Use the SAPPHIRE to read the menu at a restaurant, read item labels at the grocery store, verify receipts, study a map, read the newspaper, and much more.

Designed for flexibility and comfort, the hinged LCD display can be set to the most convenient viewing and swings shut to protect both the camera and viewing surface when not in use. A writing stand is built right in to hold the SAPPHIRE at a convenient angle as you sign a check, fill in a form, complete a puzzle, or write on a notepad.

The SAPPHIRE features simple, intuitive controls. Simply turn it on with a push of a button, place it over an object or document, and use the zoom slider to adjust the magnification for the best reading comfort. One button switches between different viewing modes – full color and up to 22 configurable high contrast color combinations to make text more readable for various eye conditions. Press another button to freeze the image, for instance a product label on a high shelf, or a map section when navigating in a moving vehicle.

"The SAPPHIRE’s seven-inch screen provides great readability in a portable product. While at home or in a hotel room, you can connect it to a TV for even greater magnification – up to 48 times on a 21-inch TV,” said Brad Davis, Vice President of Freedom Scientific. “The SAPPHIRE is a great addition to our TOPAZ™ desktop video magnifier line and our other low vision solutions, MAGic ® screen magnification software, ONYX ™ distance cameras, the OPAL™ ultra-portable magnifier, and the SARA™ scanning and reading appliance. It reaffirms Freedom Scientific’s commitment to providing the most fully featured line of technology solutions for the visually impaired."

The SAPPHIRE is priced at $1,895 and will be available for purchase in October.

For more information including specifications, visit the Freedom Scientific Web site

New iPod nano praised for aiding visually impaired

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has applauded Apples move to make iTunes and iPods accessible to blind and visually impaired people, saying, The iPod nano, which was virtually unusable for people with vision loss, is now equipped with talking menus and large font options. Apple has also made improvements to the accessibility of iTunes. In addition to adding talking menus to the new iPod nano, Apple has expanded the accessibility section of its website: According to Apple, screen reader users will also be able to access many more iTunes features, such as creating and managing an account and shopping for albums and songs in the iTunes store.

"This news is music to the ears of the 20 million Americans with significant vision loss," said Carl R. Augusto, president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. "I can't tell you how great it will be to find my Timbaland and Madonna songs without having to shuffle through every song in my music collection."

See also: 4G iPod nano review

IPod Nano 4th Generation, Now Supports Spoken Menus

The Ipod Nano 4th generation from Apple, is now accessible for the visually impaired. It now supports spoken menus and the ability to enlarge the font size. One of the most read articles on magnifiers.org, is Rockbox Open Source Replacement For MP3 Firmware Give Visually Impaired Access to Ipods.

In this article you can read how I access an IPod Nano 1th generation, by replacing the Apple's firmware by the open source Rockbox firmware. Rockbox turned the for visually impaired inaccessible IPod Nano 1st generation in an accessible MP3 player by adding spoken menus.

This week Apple released the IPod Nano 4th generation. Most remarkable new features in this release are support of spoken menus and large font sizes. Visually impaired now can browse and select audio files on IPod Nano without viewing the screen. A synthesized voice speaks the names of menus, songs and artists.

• Visit Apple's accessibility page on IPod Nano 4th generation.
• Read iPod Nano accessible and more usable by Peter Abrahamss.
• Video Ipod 4th gen spoken menu on YouTube