ZoomText Update Now Available
A free update for ZoomText 10.1, version 10.11.9, is now available. This update provides the following enhancements and fixes:
- Support for activating ZoomText 10.1 with ZoomText 11 serial numbers
- Fix for typing extended ANSI characters using ALT + Number pad keys
- Fix for proper display and reading of special Czech/Slovak characters in AppReader and DocReader
- Faster downloads for future updates that are provided via the ZoomText 10.1 Update Wizard
Note: Since this is a focused update for key customer needs, it is only being released as an update via a full installer for "Single-User" licenses. Additional build types will be considered and produced if warranted.
To get the 10.11.9 single-user update, go to the product updates page on the ZoomText website.
Amazon Announces Availability of Audio Described Content through Amazon Video
Amazon has been on a real tear lately improving the accessibility of its various products and services. In the May issue of AccessWorld , we described how now you can read Kindle books on your PC using the free NVDA screen reader. We also outlined several new enhancements the company has incorporated into the VoiceView screen reader for its accessible Fire TV devices. We noted at the time that we were still waiting for the big daddy of streaming video accessibility—audio description. Well, it's finally here, and at the time of this writing, audio description was available on more than 100 movies from studios such as Disney, Lionsgate, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Brothers.
Many of these titles are available only for rental or purchase from Amazon, but their initial library of described titles includes 10 popular Amazon Original TV shows available free with a subscription to Amazon Prime—see more news about Amazon Prime below. You can view and search an updated list of video titles which include audio descriptions by going to Amazon's website.
Audio description is available on Fire TV and tablets, and using the Prime Video app for iPhone and Android.
To enable audio description, access the "Subtitles and Audio" menu on your device during playback. Select the "English- audio description." option from the "Subtitles and Audio" menu. Press Close and audio description will begin immediately. You should only have to do this once; subsequent videos should begin with audio description enabled by default.
If you need further assistance with audio description, contact Amazon at 866-216-1072 and ask for a digital representative.
Prime Video is an add-on service available to subscribers of Amazon Prime. The service costs $99 per year, but if you are on government assistance, you may be eligible for a discounted no-contract rate of $5.99 per month. Learn more at Amazon's website.
Yahoo Announces a More Accessible Yahoo Mail
Recently, Yahoo unveiled its most accessible Yahoo Mail to date, in a new desktop experience that includes better inbox customization, streamlined organization, rich compose, improved search, and rich preview. Yahoo Mail has been completely redesigned from the ground up, to better ensure all users, including those with disabilities, can enjoy its e-mail service. As part of the upgrade, users can take advantage of threaded message viewing, stationery, animated gifs, emoji, and more, via:
- Full-featured access for NVDA and VoiceOver screen reader users
- Options for light-sensitive and low-vision users
- Improved layouts for use with high magnification
- Full keyboard navigation for alternative input devices
