We may be nearing the end of another year, but that doesn't seem to be stopping big events from happening. J.J. has returned from his big trip to the West Coast, Joe has returned from the Apple Store where he saw a big iPad and we open this week's round of news with a story that might end up being one of the biggest things to happen to A.T. all year. Joe also demonstrates an MFI controller for his new Apple TV... on a big screen. Then we have "Sound Off", a tip and the "Last Word". So get yourself a big hot or cold beverage of your choice. This one is going to be, sensing a theme here?, big.
In the news:
Breaking: Vector Capital Combines Freedom Scientific and Optelec to create Assistive Technology Juggernaut
A Screen Access Marriage: ZoomText Fusion Released with Magnification and Full Screen Reader
Audio Feedback, A New Accessibility Option, Will Let Your Android Wear Watch Talk Back To You
Except don't look for the watch we mention on the show. This story came in the day after we recorded. LG cancels smartwatch after just six days on the market
Introducing MLWordTips by MaLynWorks
Blind Arduino Blog Aims to Become Repository for Blind Makers and Tinkerers
Art Karshmer, champion of math accessibillity and one of the founding members of the CSUN access confrences, has passed.
Tim Nugent, father of accessibility dies at 92
Popular NLS Narrator Roy Avers has Passed
Roy's passing, and those who remembered him on social media, prompted Lulu Hartgen to post this article about popular Narrators on RNIB who also would be missed.
The Fall 2015 Xbox One update, sporting Microsoft narrator, has been released. here are two takes on how it works. One from Carlos Vasquez and another from Brandon Cole
The Xbox One Elite Controller has also been released. This controller is ideal for those who wish to customize the button layout of the device, however, it is being touted by many with physical disabilities as a game changer for allowing them to operate the controller with greater ease.
AFB's Access World Holiday Gift Guide featured in the November 2015 issue, is here to assist you with your gift giving this holiday season
Santa and the NFB Partner to Send Braille Letters to Blind Children
Demonstration: Steel Series nimbus Controller
Made For iPhone, or MFI, are three words Joe adores when it comes to iOS. It lets him play SNES classics like Final Fantasy VI and the enduring SEGA Cd/Sony PSOne "Lunar The Silver Star" the way they were meant to be played... with a controller rather than some silly grafted on touch system that might induce joe to rage quit and toss a very expensive iPad across the room. A much cheaper device for joe to destroy, although it would be hard as this little guy is built tough, is the new Steel Series Nimbus controller. The Nimbus costs around $50 and is being marketed as the MFI controller for the new Apple TV. The unit has a 40 hour internal battery and connects to a Lightning cable for charging after those late night potato chip-powered gaming sessions. in this demo, joe describes the layout of the controller, shows off the Voiceover friendly iOS companion app and then thrills to the ability to use the device to fly through all those annoying Apple TV log on menus. To learn more about the nimbus, visit the product page
or head over to Amazon to purchase one for yourself.
Sound Off;
Jan Brown writes in with a thought about, and yes this is an actual term used in social media, Inspirational Porn.
< "I have never liked those stories about blind people doing something the sighted believe is amazing.
There is so much truly amazing stuff going on in the world of AT or mainstream tech that time spent on stories which make sighted people feel good seems a total waste.
You asked so I replied.
Keep up the great work."
Twitter was a blaze with comments about our big lead story.

@jadedangel143: wrote:
watch optelec's actually good magnification products go down
@featherbear1