Windows 7 Screen Magnifier on Youtube

Windows 7 is the first Windows edition that includes a full-screen screen magnifier that is of high value for visually impaired users. Thanks to Charlie Danger from Better Living Through Technology who creates a video, we now can see the Windows 7 screen magnifier in action.

Magnifying Glass Pro 1.8 Released!

Magnifying Glass Pro is one of the better screen magnifiers in the area of freeware and shareware. It has an unique mix of features for different groups of people and excellent support. With the release of Magnifying Glass Pro Worker Collection again improves this screen magnifier for Windows. Magnifying Glass Pro is one of those few screen magnifiers in the area of freeware and shareware that continues to improve by updates.
From all freeware and shareware screen magnifier utilities I reviewed, Magnifying Glass Pro has the far most features and that for only $24.95.

Interesting is that Magnifying Glass Pro has not only nice features for the visually impaired like full screen magnification and caret tracking, but also features for those in the business holding a presentation and for graphic designers.

Compared with other freeware and shareware screen magnifier utilities Magnifying Glass Pro is superior in terms of performance. Most freeware and shareware utilities are very sluggish while moving the magnification, but this is not the case with Magnifying Glass Pro.

An important feature I'm still missing in Magnifying Glass Pro is a portable version of Magnifying Glass Pro, that I can run from a USB stick.

Magnifying Glass Pro 1.8 from Workers Collection has the following improvements:

• Added mouse wheel to HotKeys.
• Added option for three Glass shapes.
• Added options to change the size and color of the magnified cursor.
• The size of the cursor is no longer dependent on the current zoom value.
• Performance improvement on all visual effects.
• A new visual effect has been added: "Web Designer".
• Contrast options have been moved to visual effects.
• New option for Windows Vista was added to allow for correct switching to/from the Aero style.
• Added a feature called "Float Zone" to the "Under Cursor" position mode. The Glass is not moving while the cursor stays in "Float Zone" area.
• Added the option "Display transparent windows and effects" for fixed position modes.
• The visual appearance has been enhanced.
• Bug fixes have been integrated.

If your are a registered user of Magnifying Glass Pro, you can upgrade to version 1.8 for free. Others can try a full featured free 30 days trial of Magnifying Glass Pro.
Download Magnifying Glass Pro 1.8.

Accessible Interface Twitter

Accessible Twitter is an alternative to the Twitter.com web site. It is designed to be easier to use and is optimized for disabled users. You can use your regular Twitter username and password to login. Twitter is a very popular free social messaging utility for staying connected in real-time. In 140 characters you can send messages into the world and you are able to follow other twittering people.

Apart from the registration process on Twitter, in my opinion the Twitte website is reasonable accessible to users of screen readers and screen magnifiers.

Inaccessible are the most Twitter clients that can run from your desktop. Only Jaws users can try Jawter a Twitter client written in Jaws scripting, that let you access Twitter by using hotkeys anywhere in Windows. So if you know of an accessible Twitter client for all screen readers and screen magnifiers, please let me know!

Those having problems with the accessibility of the Twitter website, can now try accessibletwitter.com.
Accessible Twitter is an alternative to the Twitter.com web site. It is designed to be easier to use and is optimized for disabled users.

And if you are interested to follow me on Twitter, you can find me at http://www.twitter.com/pverhoe.

Dolphin Releases Version 11.03

Dolphin has released a free 11.03 update of there screen reader and screen magnifier software Supernova, Hal, Lunarplus and Lunar. The update include some new minor features and bug fixes. Supernova is the only screen reader in the world with support for Speech, braille and magnification. Hal is Supernova minus screen magnification. Lunarplus is a professional screen magnifier with speech support and Lunar is a professional screen magnifer.

Version 11 runs on Windows XP and higher and is also compatible with Windows 7 public beta.

For more details visit the version 11.03 release page

Software Express Becomes Dolphin Computer Access

Software Express Limited, a part of the Dolphin Computer Access Group of companies today officially announced their new company name, Dolphin Computer Access (North) Limited. Trading as Dolphin Computer Access, their Guide software will also be renamed as Dolphin Guide, with the handsfree version becoming Dolphin Guide HandsFree. As a part of a corporate wide re-branding initiative, these changes are designed to establish Dolphin Guide and Dolphin Guide HandsFree as a fundamental part of the wider Dolphin Computer Access range of computer access solutions for people with low vision and blindness.

Already established as the preferred screen access solution for computer novices, Dolphin Guide perfectly compliments Dolphin’s SuperNova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus screen reading, screen magnifying and Braille display solutions for employment and education.

The new company name and re-branding follow the acquisition of Software Express by the Dolphin Computer Access group in November 2008, and is expected to further strengthen the position of the Dolphin group internationally.

Noel Duffy, Managing Director of Dolphin Computer Access commented;

“In order to expand the Guide brand internationally, we have decided to bring it under the Dolphin umbrella. This will enable us to reach a larger global market, and ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy and experience this award-winning software.”

In 2005, the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) awarded Software Express a Simply the Best Award for the contribution Guide software made to product innovation for blind and visually-impaired users. This multi-award winning software has since enabled thousands of people across the UK to use computers and gain their independence.

Mary McMahon, Managing Director of Software Express added

“Our team is very excited to be integrating more closely with Dolphin Computer Access, and we believe that our continued partnership will enable the newly-named Dolphin Guide to build on our customer base in the UK and become a worldwide success. The team at Software Express will stay the same, offering our customers the same great support.”

Following the move, Software Express will continue to operate from their Durham office and will support and distribute Dolphin Guide software products in the UK. All international sales will be managed at the Dolphin Computer Access Headquarters in Worcester, at the Swedish office in Falköping and from the US office in New Jersey.

For more information about Dolphin Guide products, please visit the newly launched website dolphinguide.com.