EvangeList Digest Wednesday, March 25 1998 Volume 01 : Number 1135
In this issue:
PR - GPSy 3.0 Released Followup - Text Scanning/Reading Software for Vision-Impaired Person Tidbit - Mac+WebSiphon+Demented Hacker = SelfPromotion.com PR - Apple Announces QuckTime for Java Job - Webmaster (Fremont, CA) PR - Software & Hardware Tracker 2.6.5 Released - Announcing SOFTracker 3.0. Tidbit - Apple Core Web Site Opens
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:12:39 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - GPSy 3.0 Released
This announcement is from: Karen Nakamura, <karen@gpsy.com>
Global Mapping Systems is pleased to release GPSy 3.0 -- its premiere Macintosh Global Positioning Systems (GPS) communications software suite. GPSy 3.0 adds real-time scanned map support including automatic calibration of USGS topographic maps on CD-ROM; Internet Map Server links; and support for more GPS units and protocols than any other product on the market.
A free demonstration/trial version of GPSy 3.0 can can be downloaded:
<http://www.gpsy.com/download.html>
GPSy is priced at US$50 for individual use; $100 for institutional use; and there is a $30 competitive upgrade/academic price available. Details and secure online purchasing are available at: <http://www.gpsy.com/purchase.html>
For more information: GPSy Technical Support <support@gpsy.com> Global Mapping Systems Website:
<http://www.gpsy.com>
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:13:27 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Followup - Text Scanning/Reading Software for Vision-Impaired Person
Keyword: Market by market, Disability
This follow-up message is from:
Phillip Garrison, <pgarrison@pobox.com>
I received many helpful responses to my request for software that supported reading text while scrolling and highlighting the current text.
The scanning packages recommended were TextBridge Pro ($39) and OmniPage Pro 8 ($129 comp. upgrade). Reviews I looked at indicated that Omnipage had slightly better recognition, while TextBridge was slightly easier to use (opinions may vary) and was better at preserving layout. We're going to go with TextBridge mostly for price.
The most applicable solutions suggested for reading/scrolling software were:
This is an inexpensive editor that can read text using MacinTalk/Speech Manager, while scrolling and highlighting by word or line. Speed and voice pitch are adjustable.
This is a read-only editor whose sole purpose is to read text out loud using MacinTalk. Speed and font size are very easy to modify, and it includes features to save bookmarks, and to do global substitutions before reading so you don't go crazy listening to "********" being read as "asterisk asterisk ...".
3. Write a script to iterate over the lines of a document in your favorite scriptable word processor, and read them using the AppleScript "speak" command. I didn't investigate this option, as 1 and 2 above seemed better.
One person also suggested using the IRIS Pen - a handheld pen scanner, combined with Macintalk to read the text. Around $300. I didn't investigate further, as full-page scanning seemed better for the intended application.
Finally, in the true spirit of the Evangelist and Mac users, I had several offers to write scripts and/or applications to do what I needed, if I couldn't find existing software. What a great world!
I'm going to use MacUser Reading Mouse, since it's so easy to use for the intended application - just reading text while highlighting and scrolling. You might want to consider TexEdit Plus if you also wanted to be able to edit without switching applications.
I intend to write a script to tie TextBridge and MacUser Reading Mouse together so creating a new document and scanning text into it is a one-step operation, as much as possible. If anyone wants a copy of it once I'm done, send me mail. But, it will be very basic - I'm pretty much a novice at AppleScript writing.
Thanks for all of your help. I think this will be a real boon to my landlady - she simply hasn't been able to read as much as she used to since her macular degeneration set in, and this will make it possible for her to read much more. And, the total cost will be $39, instead of $3000 and switching to Windows!
You may remember me for writing Wizardry and Virex. For my latest not-so-stupid mac trick, I've built the most sophisticated autosubmission and net-awards site ever done, and to annoy the bozos charging $$$ for website promotion, it's available free and unrestricted, supported by voluntary contributions (a "shareservice"). Currently submits to 100 major indexes, and 160 awards with pre-vetting for appropriateness. Totally automatic, and absolutely as good as hand-submitting.
Designed, Written, Developed and Served on a Mac, of course - using WebSiphon, the best fast-webapp-deployment system around.
<http://www.selfpromotion.com>
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Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 02:13:34 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: PR - Apple Announces QuckTime for Java
This announcement is from:
Apple PR
Apple Computer, Inc. today announced QuickTime for Java, bringing QuickTime's industry leading digital media and digital video capabilities to the Java platform. A developer framework for easily adding multimedia playback, authoring and publishing capabilities to Java software, QuickTime for Java will significantly increase Java's acceptance in new media markets and enable delivery of compelling interactive content to Java customers.
QuickTime for Java allows developers to write Java programs that incorporate QuickTime content and functionality. Java developers will now have unlimited access to QuickTime's rich support for digital media, including graphics, sound, video, text, music, VR and 3D. Additionally, they will be able to deliver high-quality video and audio using QuickTime 3's compression technologies, which ensure outstanding fidelity even at low bit-rates.
A developer release of QuickTime for Java is now available. For information on how to get the software, visit the QuickTime website at <http://www.apple.com/quicktime>.
QuickTime: The Standard for Digital Video and New Media Publishing First released by Apple Computer, Inc. in 1991, QuickTime is the de facto standard for digital media authoring and delivery. Its latest release, QuickTime 3, combines advanced digital video streaming technologies with major breakthroughs in ease-of-use.
QuickTime is the only digital media technology platform capable of integrating 3D animation, real-time special effects, virtual reality, and streaming video and audio across all major personal computer platforms. QuickTime currently supports over 35 popular media file formats, including most major video, still image, audio, animation, and MIDI formats. QuickTime is the winner of numerous industry awards and QuickTime's file format has been chosen as the starting point for the International Standard Organization's (ISO) MPEG-4 Intermedia Format.
Basic duties; Maintain and coordinate content areas of company external/internal web sites. Lead content development projects. Work closely with various departments to structure and update their content. Translate technical information to HTML, including converting and modifying graphics.
Education/Experience: BA/BS preferred. 2-3 years experience with www authoring required. Working knowledge of HTML standards, CGI, and graphics standards needed. Technical writing, marketing writing, and/or programming experience a plus.
Software & Hardware Tracker, a CNET/Download.com "Premiere" and "Top Pick" and a BizProWeb "Pick of the day", is a collection of FileMaker Pro 3.0/4.0 relational databases designed to let you easily manage information about all your computer products. Relying on the Internet Config system under both FileMaker Pro 3 and 4, Software & Hardware Tracker is perfectly integrated with your other Internet software and can help you make sure your software library is always up-to-date: you favorite version tracking web site is just a mouse-click away. Last, it also keeps track of all your contact information for software and hardware developers, distributors and places of purchase, turning it into a powerful contact and Internet bookmark manager.
- -- Software & Hardware Tracker 2.6.5 released --
Software & Hardware Tracker 2.6.5 is now available, introducing a few bug fixes and making some operations easier to perform. Upgrades for registered users of previous versions are free.
Requirements: any Macintosh computer capable of running Filemaker 3.0 or 4.0 and a copy of the FileMaker Pro 3.0 or 4.0 application (while the program may work with FileMaker Pro for Windows, it hasn't been tested and is not supported under such configurations).
- -- Announcing SOFTracker 3.0 --
The development of next major upgrade to Software & Hardware Tracker is currently under way. To be called SOFTracker 3.0, this new version is a complete rewrite of the program, offering a better and simpler interface while improving on its already impressive and powerful set of features.
Registered users of Software & Hardware Tracker will be able to upgrade for free to SOFTracker LITE 3.0, a special version of the program aimed at individual users who need to keep track of their software and hardware for one personal computer.
The full-featured SOFTracker 3.0, which will let you keep track of an unlimited number of workstations along with all the software and hardware products installed on them will be a $10 upgrade. However, people who have registered Software & Hardware Tracker on or after January 1st 1998 will be able to upgrade for free.
Last, registered users of Software & Hardware Tracker PRO are entitled to a free upgrade to SOFTracker PRO.
For future reference, a copy of this press release is kept online at <http://www.dxoft.com/PR.html>.
Thanks for supporting the shareware system.
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Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 15:47:13 -0000 From: EvangeList <evangelist@apple.com> Subject: Tidbit - Apple Core Web Site Opens
This tidbit is from:
steve, <sjencks@voyager.net>
We've just launched a new Web site "AppleCore" devoted to the Macintosh users and their community. It has news and forums, Microsoft humor, Apple resources, and much more. We are looking to form communities of publishers, designers, musicians, and other Mac users together in the forums to chat and exchange ideas. There also online classifieds for that old MacII of you've been thinking of selling. Stop by and join the AppleCore giving you access to updating news daily as a member.
We look foward to hearing from you.
<http://www.thecreation.com/applecore>
Mac to the Core - -Steve Jencks <jencksba@thecreation.com>
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End of EvangeList Digest V1 #1135 *********************************
