Tech Talk Features

We told you we had two treats for you this week... So, here we are, weirdly, on a Thursday! Steven and Robin return, and they've brought back Andy after his day off on Tuesday to go through the overflowing email inbox. So coming up on this show: Tackling Microsoft Teams, BlindSquare and accurate mapping via GPS, iPads, Audio Description levels, and of course we give another mention to the Turbo Scrub... it's getting so many mentions I think we should start getting advertising money! Also, for all you geeky audio fans out there that always ask about how we record the podcast, especially during lockdown, Andy, Steven and Robin detail what equipment they use to make the show sound so silky smooth, from microphones, mixing desks, audio interfaces, conference call software and audio recording software.  As we covered a few more emails this week, now would be a good time to get your questions and comments in! techtalk@rnib.org.uk is the email address. Chat to you all next Tuesday!

Hello all! We have a couple of treats for you this week, TT fans! Firstly, today - Steven is joined by Robin Christopherson (from AbilityNet), and Shaun Preece (from... his shed) to discuss, dissect and disassemble Monday's WWDC from Apple... what was announced, what was not announced, and what about the new accessibility features that don't often get covered on the day? The trio talk about what they're most looking forward to. And the second treat? Well, you'll have to wait until Thursday for that...!

On Tech Talk this week, the team tackle the overflowing email inbox! This includes all the correspondence received on the screen reader chat from last week; which do you prefer? Narrator, NVDA or JAWS? Also on the show, we talk about Apple moving away from Intel's x86 chips to new processors of Apple's own design, recommendations for wireless headsets, and Steven gets to the bottom of the news that RNIB Book Library are (possibly) offering SD Cards containing 700 braille ready books. To email us, drop your message to techtalk@rnib.org.uk and it'll be read out on a future show!

Steven's here, Robin's there, and Andy is... somewhere! Yes, it's Tech Talk o'clock! On today's show, we hear from RNIB Library and Newsagent Manager James Bartlett, who chats to Rowland Myers about the RNIB's online accessible book library, Steven gives a demo of how to set up and access the service using the Dolphin EasyReader app, and Robin tells us all about the updates to Narrator, and gives a rather eye-opening horse/donkey analogy! Also on this weeks episode: Andy McNab vs Hamish Macbeth, details about the impending Windows update, chocolate in the fridge, Linux, ElBraille, NVDA vs Narrator, Apple Watch recommendations, Andy's confusion regarding the how Amazon name each new Fire HD, and who remembers Clippy? We do jest about the email inbox overflowing, but in all honesty the show would be a shell of its former self without your correspondence! So come natter with us at TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk and we'll read them out - and whisper it quietly... rumours around that the next show will be more focused

Welcome back to Tech Talk, everyone! We're still at home! On the show this week, Steven waxes lyrical over his massive new TV, and all the accessibility features it has, including audio description and voice guidance... he's very impressed! He can even see who is at his front door on it! This is thanks to the Ring doorbell app, which also has had a few updates. We natter about the Microsoft Ability Summit, and we hear a snippet from the keynote opening of the event by Chief Accessibility Officer at Microsoft Jenny Lay-Flurrie. Also, Robin explains his brilliant Bose frames, and the issues that occur when you smack your face into a cupboard... ouch! But they do now support Soundscape, which he's loving. Also in this week's episode: The Optacon swap gathers pace! Echo dot recommendations, more on Fraggle Rock, Dolphin EasyReader App, Lou Rawls, and alarms for when your mother-in-law is coming round. What to talk to us? techtalk@RNIB.org.uk is the place to send your emails to the guys.  Until next we

[Hello TT fans; wondering why you've got this week's episode in your podcast feed again? Well, the original upload only lasted 48 minutes - whoops! Here's the full show. Soz x] Hi There! Ready for another Tech Talk? Of course you are! On this week's episode, the gang discuss Robin's busy week last week, what with the 9th Global Accessibility Awareness Day occurring - Steven on the other hand has just been turbo scrubbing various items around his house... Poor Dougal! We talk about the rumours regarding the Apple Glass, Apple's supposed new wearable, which could be announced at the iPhone 12 event - is this an actual leak, or have Apple sneaked this information out, in order to gauge a reaction from the public after the Google Glass fiasco? Robin also has a three-on-one iOS demo for us! How to connect your phone to your echo, how to use the keyboard to operate iOS, and finally a guide on the text-adventure game Frotz, which is his current obsession! Also this week:  NHS track-and-trace, Synapptic

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day! GAAD is an awareness day focusing on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people with disabilities and impairments. In this special episode of Tech Talk, Steven Scott sits down with two Robins! Robin Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion at AbilityNet and regular TT co-host, and Robin Spinks, the Principal Manager of Digital Accessibility at the RNIB. The trio discuss GAAD, and all the good being done by charities, manufacturers and organisations to make their products accessible. #GAAD #RNIBConnect #RNIBTechTalk

Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends, we're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside! Steven, Robin and Andy return for another marvellous episode of Tech Talk - on this week's show we are joined by Stuart Beveridge, Assistive Technology Trainer at SeeScape. Stuart joins us to answer your questions on the 40-cell Braille display 'ElBraille', including if there are plans for a smaller model, and if it's compatible with personalised macros. Also on the show, we talk about the Miele GuideLine, a unique washing machine designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people... more on that in a future episode! Also: Be My Eyes and RNIB, Alexa vs Siri, and the battle for supremacy among smart assistants, MacBook Pro desires, and the pain behind a lack of function keys on newer models, and after the unbridled success of his Turbo Scrubber... thing, Steven explains what else he's been spending his hard earned* money on this week... and keep your ears peeled for a brief appearance f

Hello, Tech Talk fans! Episode 325 is ready for your ears! We cover a handful of news items in today’s episode, chiefly the Microsoft Surface Go 2’s arrival; how does it compare with the rest of the ‘not-quite-a-tablet-not-completely-a-laptop’ market? Can anyone make a convincing case to buying it? Elsewhere Steven’s been glued to shopping channels during lock-down: he will soon be the proud owner of something called a ‘Turbo Scrub’! Will he get bored enough to give us a full review next week? Also WWDC is online-only this year, but we do have a date: June 22. More on that in later episodes... And then to emails, and not only are Robin and Steven apparently ready to open some kind of Swap Shop for tech, but we also cover drone parcel deliveries when deaf/blind, Facebook notifications, Optacon’s under the stairs, keyboards for El Braille, and the increasing problem with modern films which have a strong combination of mumbly dialogues, overly loud soundtracks as well as audio description... sensory overload

It's absolutely chockablock in Tech Talk Towers today; there's no room to move! That's because we have Steven, Robin, Shaun and Andy all in attendance. Yes, Steven returns from his illness! You can tell, because there's extra waffle in this week's episode. Alongside the waffle, the gang talk about the iPhone SE, and Steven's first impressions, Intel to buy Moovit, Robin chats about a recent purchase - the Echo Show 8, there's talk about the Covid-19 tracking software being implemented, and we also hear about a new Microsoft AI for Accessibility funded project from City University London, called The ORBIT (Object Recognition for Blind Image Training) (https://orbit.city.ac.uk/) For all your email questions, fire them over to TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk, and we'll answer them in a future episode (depending on the waffle levels).

Tech Talk is here to blow your isolation blues away! Robin and Andy welcome Shaun Preece back for another week as Steven recovers from his illness. The trio deal have a jam-packed show for you, including: The return of Fraggle Rock, now on Apple TV+, The arrival of Galloways and RNIB remote support via Be My Eyes, mental health with Headspace, an anniversary for Microsoft Disability Answer Desk, email topics including microwaves, and someone not liking the chat about Harry Potter! All that, plus news on the recent Zoom update, Apple Accessibility and thoughts on the upcoming WWDC, Shaun's new haircut, Andy moaning about the Dark Sky weather app disappearing from Android phones, and a very (very) brief chat about the iPhone SE... I predict more on this topic next week! As ever, drop your questions, queries, compliments, complaints and general musings to TechTalk@RNIB.org.uk, and we'll get to them on a future show!

Well well well, what's this? A strange-yet-somewhat familiar voice is introducing you all to the podcast this week... could it be? Why yes! Yes it is! It's the return of the delectable, delightful, and at times deplorable... Shaun Preece! Last heard way back on episode 266... best blow the cobwebs off him first... Why is he back, you may ask? Well, Steven's poorly this week, so of course Shaun was more than happy to help out with presenting duties. He joins Robin and Andy this week to talk about all sorts of stuff, including: The arrival of the iPhone SE 2nd gen! Who among the Tech Talk team will end up buying one first? Also, March saw the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's 42nd anniversary: fans will remember the Babel Fish, so how close are the Echo buds to that translating technology?  All that, plus haircuts, BBC and TuneIn, Spotify, the Body Coach, clapping, Magic Jinn and loads more! We love your emails! You can write your own to TechTalk@rnib.org.uk, we're also on Twitter (@RNIBRadio) under #AskTe

Hello to you all! It's Tech Talk time, and this week's show is jam-packed! We've Andrew Coleman on to tell us about Galloway's, a sight loss charity based in the North West of England launching an Alexa skill, which will allow people to find out about their latest services, as well as listen to a range of talking newspapers, Randy Rusnack returns to talk us through talking ovens, Robin and Steven chat about their Bose Frames and the newest update, and we also discuss some news items, including delivery drones, Google’s AI phone assistant Duplex, and Robin tries desperately to convince Steven to listen to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - especially as JK Rowling has make the ebook and audiobook free! Want to email us? techtalk@rnib.org.uk. Tweet? @RNIBRadio with the hashtag #AskTechTalk. Keep safe, everyone. #StayatHome

Greetings! On this week's rip roaring, trailblazing Tech Talk, Steven and Robin discuss the imminent arrival of the iPhone SE, and also all the accessibility changes in the new iOS update, we discuss Audible making books free for younger readers, more tips and tricks for getting the absolute best out of your Amazon echo device, especially to keep you in a routine during this odd times, and speaking of odd, Andy's here with emails! More from you guys this week on the new RNIB Reading Service, Overdrive, and radio apps. You never know, Dougal and Shanelle might even make an appearance! Want to email us? techtalk@rnib.org.uk. Tweet? @RNIBRadio with the hashtag #AskTechTalk. Keep safe, everyone. #StayatHome

Welcome to Tuesday, and welcome to Tech Talk! Steven, Robin and Andy join you from their own homes again this week. On today's show, Robin guides us through making calls and checking your calendar via Lady A (with a little help from Randy Rusnack), we hear about a Vital Tech support service funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, which provides advice on accessible technology, we hear about the multi-line digital Braille e-reader Canute with David Woodbridge , and there's also time for some emails. techtalk@rnib.org.uk is the email for all your questions, queries and compliments!

Oh, hello! Didn't expect us today, did you? Well, surprise! We wish we could be releasing a special episode in cheerier circumstances, because let's be honest, the last few weeks have been a bit strange; what started with social distancing is now a full lock-down in place across the UK, and beyond. Not only are we now trying to familiarise ourselves with less time with friends and loved ones, but we're even seeing less of our work colleagues. In this episode, Steven and Robin sit down to have an extended chat about home-based working, isolation, and keeping up communication with others. This episode also includes an extended version of the piece we heard from episode 318, in which Robin's son Sam details some hints and tips on how to make working from home work for you. Here's the website Sam reads out in that piece: https://cleartalents.com/contents/simple/working-from-home  Stay safe, and we'll chat to you again next Tuesday.

Time for Tech Talk!  Many of us now are embracing a slightly different world, which may or may not include working from our homes for the time being. We hear some hints and tips on how to make this work, from Robin Christopherson's son Sam. Also, Robin demos' using a keyboard with iOS, we hear the best accessible way to keep up to date with the latest COVID19 statistics (http://cvstats.net/), and we get to your emails, including a few more regarding the new RNIB reading services For more help with working from home, visit:  https://cleartalents.com/contents/simple/working-from-home  You can always keep in contact with us by emailing techtalk@rnib.org.uk or tweet us @RNIBRadio using the hashtag Ask Tech Talk.

On this week's Tech Talk, Steven and Robin are joined by Shelly Brisbin from Blind Bargains and Paul Porter from RNIB to discuss the best bits from the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2020. Also on the show, Robin explains the benefits of LinkedIn, including navigating the iOS app, and we even squeeze in a few emails, too! Remember, if you would like your questions answered by our helpful team here at RNIB please get in touch. Ask Tech Talk by emailing techtalk@rnib.org.uk or tweet us @RNIBRadio using the hashtag Ask Tech Talk. And don't forget to call RNIB's Helpline for even more assistance over the phone during the week. Call 0303 123 9999 or search for "technology" on rnib.org.uk.

It's a technical Tech Talk this week! Steven and Robin are joined by David Woodbridge to discuss the release of Code Jumper in the UK, and why it's so important. Also on the show, Steven talks how to use a keyboard with iOS, the Ask Tech Talk this week covers solid state drives, and we also have news on CSUN, a Whirlpool recall, and Android security. Those important details if you would like a question answered, either by us here at Tech Talk, or by the RNIB's Technology for Life team: Email: techtalk@rnib.org.uk  Tweet: @RNIBRadio using the #AskTechTalk. Call: 0303 123 9999

On this week's Tech Talk...  The team receives comments from listeners on about the new RNIB Reading Services website, we also chat to listener (and Tech Talk super-fan) Karina Gregory about the new service, Steven tries out using Spotify's app on iOS and Android, and we have an Ask Tech Talk question on talking scientific calculators. All that, plus listener emails, news from the internet and more!