In this episode, we kick things off with a travel tip that recently saved us $200—and it just might save you money too! Whether you’re booking flights, rental cars, or hotel stays (especially via Expedia), this simple trick is worth knowing. While we haven’t found an equivalent for train travel yet, we hope this helps with your summer plans!

Next, we’re thrilled to share our official plans for ACB Dallas in July! If you’re attending, come say hi—we’d love to meet you while wandering the exhibits.

With over 30 hours of train travel ahead, we decided it was time for some helpful new headphones. Enter the Tagry wireless headphones—featuring a 100-hour battery life, active noise cancellation, and great comfort. Kim unboxes them and demos pairing, voice prompts, and music playback. Chris shares his impressions after a few days of use. If you purchase from the above link, we will earn a small commission.

To wrap up, Kim talks about a recent earthquake near her hometown. We introduce and briefly overview two accessible apps—My Shake and My Earthquake Alerts—that help track seismic activity in real time and are friendly to screen reader users. Both these are available for iOS and android.

Thanks, as always, for listening and spreading the word. we appreciate you.

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Chris and Kim kick things off by sharing some listener feedback, including a mention of Hartgen Consultancy’s valuable products and services.

Next, with the deadline for obtaining a REAL ID quickly approaching, we dive into what you may need to know if you plan to fly and still need to get yours.

We also take a moment to remind listeners about our upcoming Mac event and where you can find more details. Activate this link to download a free introduction. Activate this link to purchase the full product.

As always, thank you so much for tuning in and being part of our community!

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From us to you, HAPPY 2025, hope it is a great one!

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We begin with a reminder about some upcoming events. On Thursday, September 30, Lisa Salinger joins us for a discussion of the new changes and updates in iOS 15. This is our monthly free event, and is open to everyone. Just make sure you’re on our Events mailing list to get the joining info.

Beginning October 4 learn about the various ways to listen to and enjoy podcasts. This four-week class includes a live Q&A session, as well as a mailing list for interacting with other participants.

Finally, learn to create your own podcast later in October in our detailed live event. We discuss everything from coming up with your podcast topic, to hosting, recording, interviewing guests, and so much more. We’d love to have you.

Kim’s parents and some friends were recently here to bring a trailer of her stuff from NC, and that led to us cleaning out a bunch of space. Between that and unpacking lots of Kim’s stuff, we unearthed a few treasures we wanted to share with you. These include the Bop It Action game with three classic moves and ten fun new ones, including cradle it, golf it and answer it. We also found a talking pedometer, an APH Color tester (what an amazing find), and a really cool Cobolt talking clock, all of which we demo here. We also found a Fingerlings giraffe, a neat little interactive toy, and a Bluetooth speaker from Music Angel, which sadly appears to be unavailable now. We hope you enjoy our explorations.

We also take a little detour part way through to talk about our trip to Niagara Falls, and share some nice audio Chris recorded of the water.

Thanks, as always, for listening.

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We’re so excited to share about two bran new events happening in October. If you’d like to learn various ways to discover, subscribe to, and listen to podcasts on a variety of platforms and through multiple methods, we’re offering a four-week event packed with demos and helpful info. Are you frustrated trying to manually put a podcast feed on your specialized player? Are you wondering what a feed even is? Do you want to know what exactly to say to your voice assistant to bring up a podcast? Curious about players for Android? We’ll cover these subjects and so much more, plus have a full week for questions at the end of the event. Read all the details and register here for only $34.

If your dream is to create your own podcast, we have a six-week event coming up on that topic beginning in mid October. From planning your podcast, to discovering how to host it, to marketing it and inviting guests to interview, you’ll learn all that and more. Plus there’s a full week at the end dedicated to your questions. Between us we have decades of experience hosting successful podcasts, and we’re thrilled to share with you. Activate this link to learn more and register your seat for $69.

Thinking you may wish to join both events? You’ll save $10 if you register for both at the same time, or if you buy the listening to podcasts event and then return to purchase the podcast creation event.

One cool thing about these events is that both have associated mailing lists, so we can begin getting to know each other prior to the event start date, and you can really customize the structure and topics covered. In other words, you can really make these events your own.

Our main topic this time is the importance of knowing your local surroundings. When Kim moved to Buffalo, she began exploring the area online, and found a delicious meal delivery service, Eat Rite Foods, that we discuss briefly. But primarily, we talk about why it’s so important to know your area, especially when traveling. This is even important when using a GPS app such as BlindSquare. We share some stories about helpful features found in GPS apps, and also when they aren’t really so helpful. We hope you enjoy this interesting discussion.

As always, thanks for listening!

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we have a special intro to open this week’s episode which we hope you’ll enjoy. We then jump into a reminder about this week’s upcoming event on entertainment and cleaning options for the smart home. If you’re ready to make your home smarter, more convenient, or more fun, you may enjoy attending the event at 8:30 PM ET on August 26, or downloading it afterwards when it’s available. All joining info will be mailed to our free Events list a couple days prior. Join the Events list from any page of the Mystic Access site, or when placing an order.

On our return to NY, we visited a person who is currently hospitalized. We share a bit about our experience, what we encountered on arrival, and some rules you may need to follow when visiting a loved one yourself.

We also had an interesting experience when going through security on our homeward journey. And no, it didn’t involve one of Chris’s cool electronics. Listen to find out more.

Finally, for those desiring to learn more about the new BlindShell cell phone, we have a demo, comparison with the original BlindShell Classic, and some info on the new phone’s upcoming release. We hope you find it helpful.

As always, thanks for listening.

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We have exciting news to begin this episode. We’re celebrating our upcoming wedding with the biggest discount on audio documentation we ever plan to offer. On Wednesday, August 11 only, we’re giving you a crazy forty percent discount on all digital documentation. If you’re new to us and want to try out a particular Mystic Access product for yourself, or you’ve been waiting to buy that one thing you can’t wait to learn, this is your chance! The discount will be applied automatically online, or give us a call at (716) 543, 3323, extension 1, and Lisa, who’s filling in for us on phones until our return, will take good care of you.

And speaking of our return, we begin business as usual again on Monday, August 23.

Today we share some fun changes to Alexa, including the new Ziggy wake word, the fantastic new male voice, and a few skills we’ve recently discovered, including Color Guide, Can I Stream, and others.

Kim also demos the Tastemade app, available for iOS, Android, Roku, and several other platforms. Free recipes and cooking shows were something Kim thought others may really enjoy, too!

Thanks as always for listening, and when we return for our next episode, we’ll be an old married couple. LOL

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We begin today’s episode by discussing our upcoming July event. Because there’s so much to say, and we haven’t talked about this topic in so long, this will be part one of a two-part event. Part two will occur in August. we’re discussing the smart home; namely security, comfort and cooking in your home, and the appliances that can improve those areas or make them more convenient. Topics will include how to use, configure and otherwise enjoy relevant apps and hardware. To receive joining details for this event on July 29, make sure you’re on our Events mailing list, which you can subscribe to on any page of MysticAccess.com.

Next, we update you on the Apple Watch bug we discussed previously, where the watch doesn’t speak after powering on the watch. Fortunately there is an easy solution, though it may annoy you, as it does us.

Finally, Kim demos the Mr. Dj PXBAT8 8 Inch 500 Watt Max Power Speaker. We tell the story of why we got it, discuss the pros and cons, and put this powerhouse through its paces. Did we mention there’s a cool free app to control it, available for both iOS and Android? We hope you enjoy this super fun demo.

As always, thanks for listening!

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In this episode we announce July’s free event. We than discuss the Wyze Robot Vacuum with LIDAR Mapping Technology. Chris gives his impressions and Chris and kim compare it to other vacuums.

Next Chris describes the LC-dolida Sleep Headphones Bluetooth Sleep Mask and Kim gives her thoughts on Chris’s mask and the one Kim uses.

Here is the link to the podcast where Kim demonstrates her sleep mask. We hope you enjoy the podcast!

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Welcome to today’s episode from my front porch in the beautiful NC mountains. Yes, Chris and I are physically together for this one. There’s a lot of fun discussion in addition to some beautiful ambient sounds, so it’s all best enjoyed with good stereo headphones, if possible.

We primarily discuss our visit to the Historic Carson House,and our wonderful tour led by its executive director, Martha. We discuss some of the amazing artifacts we saw, and touched… yikes, and our impressions of the house and tour. May already go without saying that we highly recommend the experience if you’re in the area.

This is something a little different for us, but we hope you enjoy this more casual, and personal episode. thanks for your interest in what we do.

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In this episode Chris and Kim remind listeners about the upcoming class on the 24th of June. They then discuss an accident Kim had with her mechanical gaming keyboard.

They then discuss and demonstrate a sound bar for the computer that has Bluetooth 5.0.

Thank you so much for being a podcast listener.

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Welcome to another episode. We’re actually ahead of the eight ball this month, as we’re happy to announce June’s free class already. This one is about travel and leisure in the time of, hopefully, heading towards post Covid. What do you need to travel safely? How do you know when to wear a mask? We’ll discuss the accessibility of travel and transportation, as well. For all the information you’ll need to join us, please make sure you’re signed up for our free Events one-way mailing list. All events are held on Zoom. A recording will hopefully be available pretty quickly afterwards.

Also remember that you can use coupon code “spring” without the quotes to save ten percent on most Mystic Access products. This code ends promptly at the time of the Summer Solstice on June 20.

Have you experienced having no speech when restarting your Apple watch? We have, too, and we discuss this nasty bug and its fix in detail. We certainly hope this is resolved quickly.

Kim takes you on a tour of a cool snack / pantry site, Snackathon Foods. It has a huge variety of options, highly affordable prices, and free shipping options. Check out the demo and our thoughts.

Please be sure to listen through the end of this week’s episode, as we have a very important discussion about our products and their continued relevance.

Thanks so much for listening and spreading the word!

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Chris and Kim dedicate this episode to the SuperSense app for iOS and Android. They demonstrate how it works and then are joined in the castle by Shane Lowe the Community Operations manager. They had a blast hanging in the castle with Shane.

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It’s our Christmas Eve edition and we have some updates and tips to present. LOL Sorry, had to go there.

First, what do you think of our new mics? These are the Hollyland Lark M2 model and we love them so far. There are several versions you can purchase depending on whether you use Android, iOS, or both. Plus, their magnetic accessories are awesome!

Next, we have a very important announcement about ordering from us on NLS cartridges. If you like to order your documentation on cartridge, please listen carefully. We’ll update you all here as soon as we know more.

Chris has a clarification to share about using ChatGPT for weather.

Speaking of cool apps, we’ve begun using the paid version of Life360 after having used it for free in the past. This is a great way to keep track of your loved ones when you’re apart. Visit Life360.com to learn more about this great software. Or visit this link directly.

Next, Chris introduces you to Rocky, the cuddly weighted crocodile. He’s made by the same company that makes my bunny, Hazel.

Some gifts are a little unexpected, especially when you’re purchasing sight unseen. LOLChris tells the story of one Christmas gift I purchased him that was nearly a flop. It isn’t currently available from Amazon, but I’ll put in a link here if it returns.

Finally, we talk about some free and inexpensive ways to relax over the holiday break. However you spend yours, we wish you a wonderful, peaceful and delightful holiday season. We appreciate you! Happy merry everything! Talk to you next year!

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In this episode Chris and Kim first announce May’s free event. They then share their Covid19 vaccination experiences. Finally, they devote the remainder of the episode revealing the surprise they hinted about in the last couple of episodes. Enjoy!

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In this episode Chris and Kim have a discussion about Braille displays. They talk about the ones they are currently using and why they chose them.

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In this episode Chris and Kim speak with Andrew Flatters and Peter Tucic of Humanware. We discuss the Brailliant 20X and 40X braille displays. They briefly mention HW Buddy for iOS and Android.

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Welcome to another episode, including a very insightful Castle segment. First, though, we discuss two timely upcoming events, including a question and answer session on the Evo E10 media player, and our free monthly March event, which is covering all things browser extensions. You need to be part or our Events list to receive the joining information for monthly free events, and you may subscribe to that list from any page of our website.

Chris provides an update on the status of the 1Password documentation, including a very exciting collaboration with the company. We’re so excited about this, and think you may be, too.

Next, we return to our experience with Freshly to provide you some updates. Kim has now tried the food as well, and provides her impressions. Chris discusses his feelings a few weeks on using this meal delivery service.

Our Castle segment is with the talented Helen Kobek. You may remember her from our holiday interviews segments in late 2020, This time, she discusses her insightful book, Everyday Cruelty. You may read the book on Bookshare, BARD, Amazon, including Kindle, and a superb version available from Audible. We also highly recommend her moving essay on learning to read braille in her fifties. Whether you’re a braille reader or not, we think you’ll really enjoy the read. We hope you enjoy our time in the Castle with Helen as much as we did!

As always, thanks for being a listener and a part of our community!

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In this short episode of the Mystic Access podcast, Chris updates us on his Freshly experience.

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This week Chris returns to the Podcast. First Kim and Chris discuss the free event that will be held this coming Thursday evening. They update the listener on the Evo E10 audio tutorial as well as the new release dates for the 1Password and Fire TV tutorials.

Finally Chris discusses the Freshly service. This service delivers fresh meals weekly to your door. He gives his impressions on the site, app and how it was to place his first order.

Thanks for being a podcast listener.

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Kim is solo this time as Chris was under the weather.

Kim starts by announcing our free class for February. Next she demonstrates the Zoom Accessibility Enhancements NVDA add-on.

Next she demonstrates the Smart News app for iOS. There is also an Android version as well.

Finally Kim demonstrates Music Zen, an app for iOS.

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Chris and Kim start the episode by reminding us of the Evo E10 player class.

Next we talk about our reward points system. It is currently on hiatus. When it returns, it will be magic beans instead of points. Also the beans will expire.

Next we remind listeners about our newsletters and what you might do if you haven’t received any emails in a while from us.

We announce that the audio documentation for the Brailliant BI 20X and 40X are available for download from our Free Downloads Page.

Chris demonstrates the eGeeTouch 4th GEN outdoor Smart Padlock and reasons why he uses it.

Kim demonstrates the new interface for the Fire tablets.

Finally Kim demonstrates TV Listings Plus, an app to see what is on TV. It is very accessible.

Thanks for being a podcast listener.

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In this episode Chris and Kim start by talking about the upcoming 1password audio tutorial that is currently on pre-order. Next we update listeners on the progress of the Evo E10 DAISY player audio tutorial.

Finally We go through a quick demo of Discovery+ on both iOS and Android. Thanks so much for being a listener.

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We can’t believe we’ve reached the final podcast of the year. We begin this last annual edition by announcing our January 2021 free event. This one is all about the Evo E10 DAISY media player. We’ve already created a basic demo for this innovative little device, available from the above-linked product page, but this event will go further in depth about its benefits and features, and give you an opportunity to ask questions. The Evo offers a few cool features rarely seen on other DAISY players, and also has great sound-quality for its size. While it has some drawbacks, which are discussed in the basic demo, Chris actually likes it so much that it’s replaced his Book Port Plus as his player of choice. We’d love to have you join us on January 28 for the event. All relevant info will be sent to our Events mailing list.

For those of you who have used the QCast podcast client in the past, we’re pleased to announce that our podcast once again plays perfectly on it. For those who haven’t used QCast, Chris provides a demo of this versatile software for PC and Mac. While this is a paid product, a free trial is available.

Have you ever been in need of an accessible solution to find TV listings? We found one for you at TVTV.us. As long as you know the name of the channel you’re seeking listings for, this website should be able to help you find it. And, of course, since it’s a website, it’s completely cross-platform.

Kim provides a look at the Alexa skill for the RadioTunes.com music service. This site contains 90 channels of curated music in many genres. A free version is available to listen to via the app, but to get the highest music quality and to be able to use the skill, you’ll need a premium subscription. Kim explains other benefits of upgrading to premium, as well.

One thing that has always impressed us about RadioTunes is its accessibility across platforms. It’s available for iOS, Fire OS, and Android, and Kim gives a quick look at the Android app.

We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support during this insane year. You can’t imagine how much we appreciate it. Let’s say good-bye to 2020, and welcome in a hopefully far brighter 2021. Talk to you all in the new year!

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This is our last full episode of 2024. We do have one more coming out on Christmas Eve, but it will just be short and sweet. So we’ve packed a few fun discussions and some heart-felt thanks into this one.

First, a friendly reminder that the mail is pretty slow this time of year, so be sure to order those presents as soon as possible at this stage. We still have some hardware available if you’re looking for gifts, and of course, lots of digital audio, too. Visit mysticaccess.com/shop for all the available goodies. Activate this link to shop with us.

I also want to remind you of a cool APH event I’ll be participating in soon after this podcast airs. I’ll be interviewed for the APH ConnectCenter’s career Conversations series on Thursday, December 12 at 6:00PM ET. I highly recommend checking out this series if you’re a high school or college student, work in Voc Rehab, or want to gain employment skills. Find the series archives on YouTube. That link takes you to a full playlist. Check out my bio for my appearance on this page, and register your seat for free using the provided link. I’ll link to my archived appearance in a future episode.

Next, we discuss our experiments with AI, specifically ChatGPT and Gemini. Learn what we like, what we feel needs improvement, and how these two AIs differ. If you want to learn more about this topic, we’ll be announcing a free class sometime early in the new year.

Speaking of AI, well, sort of, Chris found a new use for his Meta glasses that he shares.

Want a great gift for a safety-conscious friend or family member? We share about our new book for National Braille Press. Chris discusses a scam attempt he just experienced, and we share a tip for keeping our parents and those of a certain age safer.

Speaking of tips, we have a few good ones for saving some cash this winter.

Finally, we end with those heart-felt thanks I mentioned earlier. we couldn’t do this without you, and as always we appreciate your support, encouragement, kind comments, helpful feedback, and being part of our community. Happy merry everything, and wishing you joy from our hearts and home to yours.

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Chris and Kim discuss the situation of holiday shipping. They are pleased to announce the Windows 10 tutorial is currently available for purchase. Chris and Kim sahre what they got each other for Christmas.

Lisa joins us for the anual food edition podcast where she and Kim each share a recipe you may wish to try.

Lisa’s crab cakes:

1 pound crab meat 1 cup breadcrumbs, half for the mix, and half to coat 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 tbsp. lemon juice 1 egg 1 and 1 half tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 fourth teaspoon Phillips or other seafood seasoning. Shape into cakes, and coat with the remaining breadcrumbs. Bake at 400 for 6 minutes per side. If you do not want to use butter or oil, lightly spray the crab cakes with nonstick cooking spray

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In this episode we start by thanking everyone that was able to join us last Friday for our virtual open house. A good time was had by all. Next we talk about three new products that are either available such as our Fire Tablet tutorial. We also announce our Windows 10 tutorial that is currently up for pre-order, to be released soon.

Next we take two trips into the Mystic Access Magic Castle. We talk with Brittany Stovall, she tells us all about the fun products that she offers. Next we talk to Kesel Wilson from the National Braille Press. She announces new books, including the book we wrote for NBP: Getting Started with Windows 10. There are other great products from NBP that Kesel shares with us. We exit the castle and are joined by Barry Scheur of GuideLights And Gadgets to announce our latest collaboration.

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It’s almost time for Black Friday madness here in Mystic Access Land, and we’re excited to share about everything we’re doing to make your holidays a little brighter. Plus, there are two segments in the castle this time around, so stay tuned for all the fun!

We have multiple specials which will begin on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26, and end at 11:59 on Giving Tuesday (December 1). Purchase either of our phone sanitizers and get $5 off our reversible micro USB cables. Save ten percent off most hardware. Most audio documentation products are buy one, get one half off. The one you’ll get for half price will be the product of equal or lesser value. Buy a BlindShell phone, get a case for $20. Buy one each of our sets of high-quality cables (reversible micro, lightning, and USBC), get half off one set. This is nearly $10 off. $10 off Mifa bluetooth speakers.

We had some lonesome Echo Dots sitting around that we wanted to put back in inventory so they can find new homes for the holidays. Each Dot comes with our comprehensive Alexa tutorial, which includes eight hours of content. Purchase a second generation Dot with tutorial here, or third generation Dot with tutorial here. There are only a few in stock, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Don’t forget that we’re holding an open house on Friday, November 27 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM eastern time. This is a great opportunity to meet others in the community, let your hair down and share some conversation and virtual leftovers with us. Here’s all the info you’ll need to join us:

Topic: Holiday Open House Time: Nov 27, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://mysticaccess.zoom.us/j/85168458184?pwd=cVhRSWd4dUpyTWVQNU91Z3g0eXZwUT09

Meeting ID: 851 6845 8184 Passcode: magicill One tap mobile +16465588656,,85168458184# US (New York) +13017158592,,85168458184# US (Washington D.C)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 851 6845 8184 Find your local number: https://mysticaccess.zoom.us/u/kesKcTsEqV

We announce three new products in today’s episode — well, one is our Windows 10 documentation, which we shared about earlier, but the pre-order for the Windows 10 documentation is now available. Listen to the episode to learn about the other two products. They’ll be available very soon, and Kim will put out a newsletter and a public news article letting you know when.

Before we reach Black Friday, we have our final free virtual event of 2020. For November, we’re discussing the pint-sized kitchen. If you need to conserve space in your cupboards or

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In this episode Chris and Kim make some announcements. They talk about November’s free class andremind us about the virtual open house on November 27th. It will be a good time for all. For those that weren’t abale to take advantage of the ghost coupon in October, they managed to sneak in another coupon. Listen for details.

Next they discuss some of their favorite products they have received in the past. These items may be good ideas for gifts as most of them are under $100.

Chris really likes his new Keurig and talks about why he had to get a new one.

Thanks so much for being a podcast listener.

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Today’s episode features a very interesting castle interview, but we begin with several important announcements.

Our October free event will deal with making sure those many and varied household tasks are accessible to you. There are tons of ways to conduct tasks, and many modifications or tricks one can use to make a task easier. If you’ve been curious about how to make that appliance easier to use, how to perform a task with less stress, or how to save time while doing housework, this class could be very interesting. And if you participate live, bring your own tips to share at the afterparty, if you wish. The event will be held on Thursday, October 29 at 8:30 PM ET. If you’re on our Events mailing list, information will be sent to you early in the week of the event.

Speaking of events, we clarify are policy about recording Q and A sessions for free versus paid events, and also share the important news that we’ll now be using passwords on all future events, in addition to the waiting room feature of Zoom. Please listen carefully for all the details.

We’re happy to announce that our event on the Orbit family of products was a great success. If you couldn’t attend the event, you can now purchase the audio in both DAISY and MP3 by visiting this page. A written transcript will be coming soon, and will be available to all those who have purchased the new product.

Chris may have bought yet another Alexa device on Prime Day. He compares the Echo Show 8 to his original Echo Show device, and shares some reasons you may wish to upgrade yours.

Finally, we enter the Mystic Access magic castle to speak with Jose Gaztambide, CEO, and Mike May, Chief Evangelist at Good Maps. Learn about the innovative work they’re doing, especially in regards to indoor navigation.

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We start out this episode with some timely announcements.

First is a final reminder that our Orbit Reader live event starts on Thursday. We are taking registrations for the event until 5:00 PM ET on October 8, the day of the event.

Thanks to a listener, Chris gives a workaround for those that are downloading audio from our Free Downloads page using iOS devices.

Next we discuss how future free events will work moving forward and how we will be able to get the recordings out in a timely manor.

There is a surprise in this episode that could save you a little money on Mystic Access products, so definitely continue to listen.

Next, Chris demonstrates Linkstash, a powerful stand alone bookmark manager for Windows computers. You can use this manager with one browser or if you make use of multiple web browsers. You can learn more about Linkstash and download a 30 day trial by activating this link.

If you want to get a head start on your holiday shopping, or just want a super gift for yourself, we insert the audio sample of the latest and greatest Bluetooth speaker we’re now carrying. If you own our Sharkk that is sadly no more, this speaker sounds about three times better. It’s truly amazing. Listen to the sample, and check out all the specs / make your purchase here.

Finally, Chris takes us through Steve’s Talking Clock, a talking clock for Windows computers. It brings back memories with some of the add-on clocks Chris has installed. One of the clocks is the voice of Chris’s first talking watch.

Thanks so much for being a podcast listener.

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This episode features two extensive demos, but first we share some important announcements.

Our two-week event on Orbit products remains open for registration. All pre-orders went through on September 15, but you still have time to join us and to tell others who may be interested. This event covers both the older and new Orbit braille displays as well as the Orbit Writer. The first part of the event is October 8 2020, and everything will be recorded in case you can’t attend live.

We apologize for not having the pre-orders available for Windows 10 or QBraille. Those will be put up ASAP. Kim wants to make sure she has a thorough syllabus in each of those product descriptions for your convenience. Kim will put a news article up when the pre-orders are available. Thanks a lot for your patience.

Finally, we announce our free September class, which will be held on September 24. This one’s all about iOS 14 and Watch OS 7 and their new features and bugs. We’d love to have you join us if interested. For more information, please make sure you’re subscribed to our Events mailing list, as we send the joining information there.

The majority of today’s episode focuses on two extensive demos. We discuss SAM Smart alert for mail, which, as the name suggests, is a mailbox alert system. We demo Sam’s sounds, discuss it’s many benefits, and share why it may be a good solution for you.

Next, Chris shares about his new Panasonic KX-TGD564M Link2Cell Bluetooth Cordless Phone with Voice Assist and Answering Machine. We discuss its many benefits in terms of accessibility, show its talking caller ID, and more. We also remind you that if you’re looking for a really affordable landline option, and already have good internet access, we offer audio tutorials on both ViaTalk and VOIPo. These are both VOIP companies that use your existing internet connection to deliver great quality phone calls.

Thanks, as always, for listening!

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In this episode we announce that we will be moving forward with the Reading Easily and Affordably with Orbit Products class in October.

We remind listeners about the Fire TV and Fire Stick and Fire Tablet tutorials that are currently up for pre-order.

Next we announce two new tutorials that will be on pre-order soon. One is a tutorial on Windows 10 and the other is a tutorial on the QBraille XL braille display created by HIMS. Chris discusses how he usedAira to help him with a contractor. Chris then uses an Aira agent to assist in setting up the MySpool Mailbox Alert system with Text Message and Email Notifications.

Thank you once again for joining us for this episode.

The post Check The Batteries appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Lots of timely news to share in today’s episode, including dates for the potential Orbit Reader two-session event. The first session will be October 8 and the second will fall on October 15. Both these are Thursday evenings at 8:30 PM Eastern Time. We haven’t yet gotten the requisite 50 registrants to hold the event, but are getting closer. If you know anyone who’s interested, please send them to the above page. The events will be recorded and available to all participants, so if you have a time conflict, no worries.

Sorry for the very short notice in announcing our August free event, but due to so much happening here in Mystic access Land we were late in deciding. Fortunately, a very timely topic is waiting in the wings. Do to Microsoft ending support for Internet Explorer on its own products, we feel it’s time to revisit a hugely important topic we discussed once before, but to also expand it to cover even more info. Why should you choose not to use Internet Explorer, what other browsers are out there, and how is each unique in terms of how it assists your productivity and security online? This event isn’t just for IE users, either. We’ll talk about benefits to many different browsers, and also squash that nagging fear that changing to a new browser will be super hard — it won’t, we promise! We’d love to have you join us. This is a public event, so please feel free to invite anyone whom you feel would be interested.

Title: Browsing Securely On Your Terms When: Thursday, August 27, 2020 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM Eastern Time Join Zoom Meeting https://mysticaccess.zoom.us/j/87048374251

Meeting ID: 870 4837 4251 One tap mobile +16465588656,,87048374251# US (New York) +13126266799,,87048374251# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 870 4837 4251 Find your local number: https://mysticaccess.zoom.us/u/kcTjFol7W

Speaking of cool browser features, Kim has one to share on the new Microsoft Edge, which she now has set as her default. It’s an awesome productivity hack, especially when reading lots of information.

We’ve enabled a neat new address feature on Mystic Access, and want to show you how it works. Want to auto-complete your billing or shipping address in very little time? We have you covered. This feature will primarily be of help to new customers, but we really want to make your visit to our site super convenient, so want you to know it’s available.

Want some additional entertainment while conducting everyday tasks with JaWS? Chris demos how to change sound schemes so that you can customize your user experience. If that sounds good to you, give it a try.

One of the perks of working at Mystic Access is that we sometimes get to buy really convenient and cool toys for ourselves. We’re now both excited to own the Powlaken 3 in 1 Qi-Certified Wireless Charging Station. We describe and demo this practical device and share our experiences using it. Click here to purchase your own wireless charging station.

Finally, Kim shares an interesting product that you may use for different reasons than might your sighted friends. check out this two-pack of phone or tablet pillows, available from QVC and learn why Kim recommends them.

Thanks, as always, for listening!

The post Soundify Your Computer appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Thanks for joining us for this episode. We start by reminding listeners of our tentative Orbit class. It is currently on pre-order until September 15, 2020. Check out the above link for more details.

Next we announce the winners of the contest we had in the last episode. We show listeners the feature we were looking for and discuss why we thought it was a good idea. We also demonstrate the country and state fields in our checkout process.

Chris demonstrates AVG Secure VPN under android to show it’s accessibility. He also discusses but doesn’t demonstrate Avast secureLine VPN as well as purchase Ten device licenses of both [amazon text=Avast&asin=B07WMT9P3P] and [amazon text=AVG&asin=B07WFQSHC9] from Amazon.

Finally Kim demonstrates her new [amazon text=3 in 1 EverPlus bluetooth Sleep Headphones&asin=B088LR8C8P]. She enjoys the sound and the fact they are bluetooth. No wires! [reviewDisclaimer]

Here is a link to the podcast where Kim discusses her now discontinued Hibermate Sleep Headphones & Sleeping Mask. Thanks so much for listening we appreciate you.

The post Another Ulterior Motive appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

This episode is jam-packed with goodies, so we hope you enjoy the fun.

First, you’re all warmly invited to our post-Thanksgiving open house. It’s free, fun, and festive, and takes place on Friday, November 29 between 1-5 PM eastern time. To register your seat. please visit this link.

We also mention some of our hardware that’ll be on sale for Black Friday. Check out the episode for all the details, and shop with us between Friday the 29th and Monday December 2nd to save twenty-five percent on nearly everything on MysticAccess.com.

We know the holidays are a super stressful time for many, and we provide some tips we hope may prove helpful. We also discuss some tools we recently purchased to help with our own stress, including these cuddly pizzas, some pretty fidget rings, and this adorable weighted bunny. Note that these are affiliate links; purchasing from these links gives Mystic Access a small commission. We only recommend products and services we use and love ourselves.

Finally, it’s the food edition this time around, and Lisa Salinger joins Kim in the castle kitchen to share some yummy recipes.

Kim shares: Mashed Potato Sou; Taken from:

Mashed Potato Soup

Total Time: 25 minutesYield: 4-6 servingsDiet: Vegetarian INGREDIENTS • 2 tablespoons butter • ½ small onion, diced • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning • 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated • salt and pepper (to taste) • cheddar cheese, shredded (optional, for topping) INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large stockpot melt butter over medium-high heat, until it starts to bubble, about 1 minute. Add onion and sauté until soft and tender and starting to brown, about 3-4 minutes. 2. Add flour and mix well until evenly combined with the onion mixture and continue to cook for another minute. Pour in stock and Italian seasoning and mix well. Bring the mixture to a simmer, about 3-4 minutes, 3. Add in mashed potatoes and Parmesan cheese. Mixing until all the potatoes have broken up and the cheese has melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until thickened to a desired consistency, stirring occasionally. 4. Ladle into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese. NOTES How to store: Keep leftover mashed potato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. How to freeze: Although you can safely freeze mashed potato soup, I don’t recommend it. Potatoes break down when frozen and the soup will lose some of its creamy texture, can become grainy, and lose some flavor. If you do want to freeze it, store it in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. How to reheat. Reheat mashed potato soup on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes. If the soup has thickened up too much in the fridge, add in some water or stock until desired consistency is reached. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed.

Lisa shares: Jiffy Corn Mix Taken from: https://www.backtomysouthernroots.com/jiffy-corn-pudding/#recipe Ingredients • 1 egg • 14 oz. creamed corn • 14 oz. whole kernel corn drained • 1 cup sour cream • 1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix • 1/2 cup butter melted INSTRUCTIONS 1. Start by adding an egg to a medium-sized bowl and beat it a little. 2. Next, add the creamed corn. 3. Drain the liquid (and get rid of the liquid) off of the can of whole kernel corn and add the corn to the bowl. 4. Add the sour cream and mix well. 5. Finally, add the box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and mix well. 6. Pour the melted butter into a greased 8″ x 8″ baking dish. 7. Add the Jiffy mixture to the baking dish and bake for one hour.

Thanks, as always, for listening.

The post Calorie Free Pizza appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

We begin this episode with a reminder about our July free event, which will be held on Thursday, July 30. If you want to make sure you keep safe this summer while still having some fun during this difficult time, you may find this discussion useful. We’ll share a little about our experiences being out and about during Covid, some things to possibly expect, and a check list of items you may want to keep handy while you’re out. We’ll also be making product recommendations, and sharing a few ways to reduce your stress while staying home. Here’s all the info you’ll need to join us:

Topic: Accessible Safety While Having Fun In The Summer Of Covid-19 Time: Jul 30, 2020 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://mysticaccess.zoom.us/j/85266711976

Meeting ID: 852 6671 1976 One tap mobile +16465588656,,85266711976# US (New York) +13017158592,,85266711976# US (Germantown)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 852 6671 1976 Find your local number: https://mysticaccess.zoom.us/u/kb70VaEPnU

Feel free to share this event with others whom you feel would be interested. Everyone is welcome.

We’re also interested in holding another event, this one on the various Readers from Orbit Research. If you have an Orbit already and are considering an upgrade, but want to know more, or if you never bought an Orbit but are curious whether you should get a new model, these situations will be addressed in this class. Learn about the Orbit and how it works, what the new models offer that the original Orbit does not, and much more. This event will run for two sessions of between 75-90 minutes each, and will be recorded for your reference.

Lisa Salinger will be the instructor, as she taught the original Orbit tutorial, which is now retired. If you’d like to learn more and pre-order this two-week event, please click here. You will not be charged until we get at least fifty registrants signed up. If this hasn’t happened by September 15, the event will be canceled and you will not be charged at all.

Next, Chris discusses the VPN he’s using on both his computers and phone. What’s a VPN and why might you want one? Listen to our discussion to find out. The one Chris uses is by AVG — yes, the same AVG that has been bringing us antivirus software for decades. Chris also demonstrates how accessible the antivirus protection is now from AVG. to learn more about the VPN and antivirus protection offered by AVG, you may visit the AVG site here.

Our phone sanitizers have been so wildly popular that we’re currently offering two. One sanitizes your phone in five minutes and offers aroma therapy, along with a larger compartment that will fit your Trek or Stream without a case. The other disinfects in fifteen minutes, has a slightly smaller compartment that won’t fit a Stream or Trek, and it also features wireless charging for supported phones. Note that the BlindShell Classic does not offer wireless charging capabilities. Chris provides a quick demo of the new fifteen minute model. You can learn about both sanitizers on this page. Just select the radio button for the sanitizer of interest and then read below for its full description.

We’re excited to be offering a fun little contest. We’ve enabled a fun new website feature, and the first three people who correctly identify this feature and email or call us with the answer will receiv

The post Fun New Feature appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Happy July. Today’s episode is all about comfort, tranquility and having more balance in your life. To support you in that, we have a couple timely announcements. On Thursday, July 16, we’re holding an open house between 1-5 PM Eastern Time. This is a fun way to meet us in an informal setting, get your questions answered, chat with other Mystic Access community members, and have some laughs in a relaxed environment. Joining is free, and you’re welcome to come for just a few minutes or stay for the entire party. Please note that this will not be recorded. Please view this page for all the joining details. You’ll also find all of our crazy convention sales there, too, which last through the end of Saturday, July 18.

On Thursday, July 30, we’ll be holding our free monthly event. If you want to make sure you keep safe this summer while still having some fun during this difficult time, you may find this discussion useful. We’ll share a little about our experiences being out and about during Covid, some things to possibly expect, and a check list of items you may want to keep handy while you’re out. We’ll also be making product recommendations, and sharing a few ways to reduce your stress while staying home. Here’s all the info you’ll need to join us:

Feel free to share this event with others whom you feel would be interested. Everyone is welcome.

Chris is feeling particularly comfortable during this episode. [amazon text=He discusses and demos his fancy new AeroBed,&asin=b07smbk55x] which comes with a wealth of options and features. Chris demos some of the functions.

Now that you’re all cozy and tucked in bed, how about something to help you get a good night’s sleep? Kim demos the Slumber app for iOS. The above link is to the Slumber site where you also get on the waiting list for the Android version. She discusses what she loves about this app, demos a few audio tracks, and shares what she feels makes this sleep app special as compared to some others out there. Note that while you can upgrade to premium, there are tracks that can be enjoyed for free.

Finally, what if you want to monitor the quality and length of your sleep? Chris shows the NapBot app, available for iOS. There is a watch app available, and Chris demos the info found in both the watch and phone apps.

We hope you enjoyed this episode, and we’ll look forward to bringing you another one towards the end of July. Until then, happy convention-going, and sweet dreams afterwards.

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Today’s episode invites you to get social with us, learn about some new products, and participate in our craziest convention season sales ever. We begin by sharing about our upcoming open house on Thursday, July 16 between 1-5 PM Eastern Time. If you haven’t attended one of these soirees with us before, they’re a great opportunity to chat with us informally, learn more about Mystic Access, meet a lot of very nice people, and have some fun. If you’re subscribed to either of our mailing lists, you’ll receive the joining info when it’s available closer to the 16th. We’ll also be posting an article on our News page with the info included. We’d love to have you drop in to the party.

Remember that we have two new products available for pre-order. One is our audio documentation on the Amazon Fire tablets. If you love ordering from amazon, read a lot of Kindle books, or use Alexa extensively, you may have reason to love owning a Fire tablet. Our other audio documentation up for pre-order is on the Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick. These provide the ability to stream your favorite TV shows or movies accessibly using your favorite services such as Prime, Netflix, Hulu, and so many others. They also include Alexa for even more fun. Neither of these products will be available until at least the end of August, but we’re allowing you to get your order in right now so that you can be the first to enjoy these upon release. You won’t be charged anything until the products are available.

After selling like hotcakes for the past couple weeks, our little phone sanitizer box appears to have been discontinued. Fortunately, though, we found a new phone sanitizer that has even more benefits. Of course, this one has voice prompts, too. We’ve updated the product audio documentation to reflect the new phone sanitizer. We hope you enjoy it.

The remainder of this episode is devoted to our many convention sales and specials. I’ll attempt to put a complete list here in the show notes within a day or two. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks, as always, for listening!

The post Crazy Convention sales appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

We begin this episode by sharing a couple announcements. We’ll be on Tek Talk on Monday, June 22nd, at 8:00 PM ET to discuss the InsideOne Windows 10 braille computer. If you were unable to attend our previous event on the InsideOne, which was so popular that we held it twice, this gives you another chance to ask your questions live. We’d love to have you join us.

Also, while we haven’t announced it yet just due to how busy we’ve been, we will be having a free event in June. Pleased stay tuned to our Events mailing list for all info as soon as we announce it, or if you aren’t on it already, you may subscribe to either of our lists from any page of our site.

We’re happy to share that for those of you with BlindShell Classic phones who have been having no success getting your weather, it appears that problem has been resolved. Chris and Kim can both receive their weather again, both by entering the weather app via the menus, or by voice. If you haven’t heard of the BlindShell, you may learn all about it using the above link.

Did we mention that the UV phone sanitizer we now carry can also fit the BlindShell? It can, but it’s also so much more than a phone sanitizer. We created an eighteen minute demo on the above page where you can listen to it in action, and learn about all its many uses.

Next, Chris explains and demos the Gin Foxi iPhone battery case. This has 5000 mAh of power, and this particular model works with the iPhone 7, 8 and SE 2020 phones. We recommend purchasing it from our friend and colleague, Barry Scheur, from GuideLights and Gadgets, and we thank him for recommending it to us.

Summer is almost officially here, so you may want to be able to make ice cold drinks with ease. Chris demos his new Ninja Professional Plus blender and shares why he’s so happy with this purchase.

Finally, for those who have been repeatedly asking, we’ve heard you, and know that you’re impatiently waiting for a couple tutorials we’ve been promising for a while. We haven’t forgotten you, and have now put of pre-order links for audio documentation on the Amazon Fire TV / Stick, and for the Amazon Fire tablets. Please listen carefully to learn details about how this is going to work. You may pre-order the Fire TV / Stick tutorial here. You may pre-order the Fire tablet tutorial here. Neither tutorial will be released until at least the end of August, and if you pre-order, you won’t be charged for either tutorial until it is released. Thanks for your interest, and thanks for listening!

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If you’re interested in cleaning your house, being good to the environment, sterilizing your phone, or learning about a super cool new braille tablet, there’s something in today’s episode for you.

We begin by sharing about the incredible new braille tablet we’re proud to distribute, the InsideOne. created by Insidevision, this is a Windows 10 tablet with both JAWS and NVDA preinstalled, an imbeded tactile braille keyboard, and a gorgeous 32-cell braille display on the front. We include a 10+ minute insert here to share more about it and demo a few features.

Our recent virtual event exploring the InsideOne was so popular that we’re holding it again on Thursday, June 4, at 8:30 PM eastern. Please listen for all the details you’ll need to join, or visit this link.

If you’re interested in getting all your essentials in one convenient place, and keeping your house, body and beauty routine clean while being conscious of the environment, you may enjoy Kim’s site tour of Grove.co. Discover how you can find products with ease, learn about their ingredients and usage instructions, and sign up for free shipping on all your favorites with the VIP program. Kim is excited to try this site herself, and was happy to share about it with all of you.

Finally, Chris demos our new talking ultraviolet phone sanitizer, now available for purchase. The voice prompts allow you to use this neat little device safely and easily. And it will sanitize so much more than your phone — keys, cash, credit cards, jewelry, and more can be cleaned in its compartment. we hope you enjoy the demo.

Thanks, as always, for listening!

The post Aroma Therapy For Your Phone appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

This episode is packed with exciting announcements and demos. We begin by discussing a bit about our very exciting free virtual event for May. To learn more and get the joining info, please click here to read this news post. We’re thrilled to be sharing about an innovative product with you, and would love for you to join us live.

Chris has discovered a couple really cool utilities that he demonstrates for you. If you’re a JAWS user in particular, and use a lot of tabs, windows and / or files in your daily computing, you may really enjoying learning about these. Please click here to learn about JumpToWindow,and click here to learn about QuickJump.

Barry Scheur from GuideLights and Gadgets drops in to chat about the new products from Orbit Research, especially the Orbit Writer. His contact info is at the end of his discussion, and he is a distributor for Orbit products.

We conclude this episode by discussing two companies that may make you smile for different reasons. Kim gives a tour of Boxed.com, where you can buy lots of different food and household products in bulk for reasonable prices. There are apps, as well, but you may want to use the site itself, which Kim discusses as part of her demo.

If you have kids in your life, and / or are a kid at heart, you may enjoy Chris’s quick demo of HappyKids.tv, which works beautifully on the Fire TV / Stick products. It includes a ton of free kid-friendly content, thoughtfully categorized for easy browsing. Kim enjoyed stumbling across this site, and we hope you’ll find it a fun and free way to cut the cord.

Thanks, as always, for listening!

The post A Little Glimmer appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

We have a jam-packed episode for you this time around. Chris begins by providing a tour of an incredibly useful Outlook extension called Bells and Whistles. If you’re an Outlook user, or have considered making the switch to Outlook, you’ll enjoy learning about this diverse tool. We especially recommend this one for busy professionals who send lots of group email.

Next, we talk about Chris’s new iPhone SE 2020. How does it differ from his old iPhone 8? What does he like best about it so far? If you’re considering a new phone, we hope our conversation about this one proves helpful.

In a recent podcast episode, we reviewed the Sirius XM app. If you just don’t like it for whatever reason, we received a recommendation for an alternative from a recent event participant. The app is called StarPlayrX, and costs $0.99 on iTunes. It provides a clean, intuitive interface for browsing stations and listening to streams. We show the layout and discuss a couple possible drawbacks.

Finally, Chris is excited to talk about and demo his new Amazon smart oven. He discusses his setup experience, air fries some steak fries, and we end with a few safety tips.

We hope you enjoy today’s episode. Thanks for listening!

The post A Braille Label On My Phone appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Surprise, you get a bonus episode. We were recently delighted to spend a very entertaining hour with the guys from Accessibility Moving Forward. If you aren’t familiar with their informative and hilarious podcast, we highly recommend it for a very fun take on tech, and plenty of other goodies to fascinate listeners. We talked about a lot of technology-related topics, as well as sharing a bit of our behind the scenes creative process.

Our very big thanks to Randy and Bill for having us on the podcast! We had a blast!

The post Extra – Hanging With The Accessibility Moving Forward Crew appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

We begin today’s episode by thanking a loyal listener for a tip on using the Monkey Taps apps, discussed in our last episode, more successfully via iOS. We highly recommend these wonderful apps to uplift your mood at anytime.

Speaking of thanking people, we’re also grateful to all of those who took advantage of our recent Birthday sale. If you missed out, don’t worry. Subscribe to our News list to be informed about upcoming sales, new products, and much more. This is a one-way mailing list, and we only send updates a couple times a month. You may subscribe from any page of the Mystic Access site.

We wanted to remind you of a cool app which allows you to read in multiple formats via your PC. Chris demos the QRead software, and shows how you can use it to import, search and browse Bookshare books. If you’re seeking a new way to read your favorite books easily, this could be it. QRead is paid software, but a free trial version is available.

Want a free way to watch hundreds of streaming channels and movies? Kim demos two free apps, Tubi and Pluto TV. Both options are highly accessible via Android and iOS, and each offers a wealth of programing for your watching pleasure. To learn more about accessible methods for watching your favorite TV shows and movies, check out our newly designed, 12-hour cord cutting course, available now. We’re so excited to share this content with you.

Thanks so much for listening!

The post I Read With Keynote Gold appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

First and foremost, we want to thank everyone on the front lines right now… you’re amazing.

This episode has a similar theme to our last one — staying connected, making sure we’re safe, supplied, and entertained during this difficult time. In that regard, we’ll be devoting our April free event to this very topic, as well. We’ll be sharing some practical tips and suggestions for reaching out during isolation, getting what you need, dealing with stress, staying relaxed, and much more. Some info will be material we’ve previously shared via the podcast, but some will be new. We’d love for you to come, and, of course, bring your questions. This is a public event, so feel free to invite your friends or colleagues. Here’s the info you’ll need to join us:

Topic: Practical Ways to Stay Connected During Corona Virus Time: Apr 16, 2020 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/587554623

Meeting ID: 587 554 623

One tap mobile +16465588656,,587554623# US (New York) +13126266799,,587554623# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 301 715 8592 US +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US Meeting ID: 587 554 623 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aeuZq8kRZl

Please copy and paste the above links into your browser of choice to activate them.

In the course of this episode, we discuss a number of currently free and paid resources available to assist you, including JAWS for Windows, Dolphin Computer Access, Bookshare, CBS all Access, and others. Kim provides a demo of Sirius XM via the iOS app, which can be listened to for free through May 15. You’ll need to set up a free account via the above link, then listen using the iOS, Fire OS or Android apps. Hundreds of stations are available in a variety of genres. Kim highly recommends Stay At Home Radio for some uplifting, positive music to keep us all going.

We next visit a couple of the fabulous apps created by Monkey Taps for Android and iOS. We briefly demo the I Am app, which provides daily affirmations, and Laugh My App Off, which is definitely funny. We discussed their Motivation app in this episode. Check out the site above to see all their projects. We highly recommend the premium app upgrades.

Finally, we share our experience using Top Chef Meals, a meal delivery service located just outside New York City. We hope you enjoy our thoughts. Thanks for listening!

The post Mystery Treats appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

In this informative episode we begin by discuss the importance of backing up your information. We recently switched our password manager to one we simply like more, and starting from scratch would have been annoying and lengthy. Backing up is important no matter what your software or files consist of, though, and we hope this reminder is helpful.

Next, we share an upcoming event in which Mystic Access is featured. We’ll be presenting on Tek Talk during their Stocking Stuffers series on Monday, November 18 at 5:00 PM Pt, 8:00 PM ET. Join the fun, and the meeting, by visiting this link.

And speaking of hanging out with us, we’ll be having our post-Thanksgiving Day open house on Friday, November 29 between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM eastern time. Bring your tech finds and questions and get ready for lots of fun! Register to join the call by visiting this page. It’s free. You’ll receive an email with your personal joining info.

Finally, we explain how you can experience more affordable rates on your Internet, TV, and phone services. Two cell phone providers we focus on are Visible and US Mobile.

Thanks, as always, for listening! We appreciate you.

The post Virtual Leftovers appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

Hi, Everyone,

We’re living in surreal times, so while we always try to have some fun on the podcast, and today’s episode is no exception, we wanted to share some ideas for remaining calm and connected during this strange and frightening period. First, however, we remind you about our upcoming free event on the Leasey application. After further reflection post recording, we’ve decided to share the info publicly. This is a time where coming together is so important, and this is one way we can help to facilitate that. Here is the info to join us on Thursday, March 26:

Topic: Life with leasey Time: Mar 26, 2020 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/251393358

Meeting ID: 251 393 358

One tap mobile +13126266799,,251393358# US (Chicago) +16465588656,,251393358# US (New York)

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US +1 301 715 8592 US Meeting ID: 251 393 358 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adk26jcNg1

Just copy and paste any relevant links into your browser of choice. Brian pre-recorded an excellent presentation that we know you’ll enjoy, and we’ll also be providing demos and answering your questions. Join us, and invite your interested friends.

Another way we’re helping folks to stay connected is via our upcoming free open house on Friday, March 27 from 2-5 PM ET. It will provide us an opportunity to chat with one another informally and support each other. Let’s relax a bit and have a little fun in a friendly, open-hearted environment. Here’s the info to join us:

Topic: Staying connected Time: Mar 27, 2020 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/456946191

Meeting ID: 456 946 191

One tap mobile +16465588656,,456946191# US (New York) +13126266799,,456946191# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 301 715 8592 US +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US Meeting ID: 456 946 191 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adk26jcNg1

Again, just copy and paste the link into your browser of choice at the time of the event.

Just a reminder — we use Zoom for all of our events. If you’re unfamiliar with this highly accessible and diverse platform, you can check out our comprehensive audio demo for Zoom participants. If you’re also interested in the hosting aspects of Zoom, this now free audio book by Jonathan Mosen may prove helpful.

And speaking of free books, our comprehensive book on delivery services, Dinner Delivered, is now free for download from National Braille Press through April 30. Two other fine books are also available to download for free until that date, so check out NBP’s full catalog for your reading / learning needs.

Other awesome resources discussed and demoed in today’s episode include the Rain Rain app, Insight Timer, Calm Radio, and several fabulous skills / apps for Alexa and Google Home. And speaking of Alexa and Google Home, here’s an event recording to help you recharge and relax with your voice assistants.

Be well, e

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We begin this episode by sharing about our March 2020 free event. this time, we’ll be discussing and demonstrating the Leasey scripts available for JAWS. Brian Hartgen is kindly providing a recorded presentation to be shared in class, and we’ll also be demonstrating Leasey and answering questions. If you’re unfamiliar with Leasey, or would like to learn more about how it can bring more convenience, fun and ease to using your PC, we’d love for you to join us. All info will be shared on our Events mailing list, which you may subscribe to from any page of our site.

We’re also proud to announce that Mystic Access is now a distributor for the BlindShell Classic phone. If you’re looking for an intuitive cell phone with full speech, tactile buttons and a rich set of features, or would just like to make calls and send texts with greater ease, this phone could be for you. We not only distribute the BlindShell, but also created a free six-hour comprehensive audio tutorial to walk you through orientation, configuration and features. So essentially, you can try before you buy. If you appreciate the tutorial and it convinces you that the BlindShell would meet your needs, we’d be delighted to send one to you. We also provide a cool addon service that we describe in the podcast which you may find very helpful in getting started with your new phone.

Next, we venture into the magic castle for an inspiring interview with Elizabeth Lam. We don’t feature interviews about a person’s journey through sight loss as a rule, but Liz’s story and can-do attitude have truly inspired us, and we thought what she has to share may serve as a powerful and helpful message to many who have lost physical sight, or who struggle with blindness. We’re so proud that she’s our client, and are excited to introduce her to all of you. Liz shares about herself, her dramatic sight loss, the re-building of her life through support from the Society for the Blind, and advice to support others on similar journeys. She also shares about an upcoming PBS documentary in which she and her Society instructor, Randy Owen, are prominently featured, airing on April 15, 2020.

Another resource mentioned in this interview is the book Crashing Through, about the life and sight journey of Mike May. While the above is the BARD link, it’s also available through Bookshare.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Liz, and, as always, thanks for listening!

The post That’s The Best About Living appeared first on Mystic Access Podcast.

We begin this episode by reminding you about our three-week cord cutting course which begins on the day this podcast is released, February 25. we’l be leaving registrations open until end of day on Friday, February 28, so if you wish to participate, and need to join us a little late, you may do so.

We also remind you of our free February virtual event on the BlindShell classic phone, coming up on February 27. This is a public event, and here’s all the info you’ll need to join us live:

Topic: Answering The call with Ease Using The Blind Shell Phone Time: February 27, 2020 08:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Click here to join the event.

Meeting ID: 810 087 269

One tap mobile +16465588656,,810087269# US (New York) +16699006833,,810087269# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 810 087 269 Find your local number.

If the above links don’t work for you, please copy and paste them into your browser of choice.

We use the Zoom conferencing platform for all of our virtual events. It allows you to join events via phone, iOS, Fire OS, Android, and the Zoom software for PC or Mac. Zoom is free, intuitive to use and beautifully accessible. Please click here to stream or download our comprehensive demo of Zoom.

This class will be recorded and available via our Free downloads page within a couple of weeks. You’ll find most of our previous monthly event recordings available there, too.

We look forward to having you in class!

We’ve been getting a lot of requests lately regarding tutorials you wish Mystic Access to create, and while we read and appreciate all of them, we want to remind you that for reasons explained in this episode, many of these are more suited to our personalized tutorial service. We’d love to create something perfect for you and your needs.

Chris demos an interesting little program called soundSwitch and describes ways it may be useful for you. check it out for free at the above link.

Chris was inspired to check out the Revive Superfoods smoothies. He shares his thoughts and gives a tour of the site. Note that in addition to smoothies, they also carry oat bowls and dishes they call “supermeals.”

Thanks so much for listening!

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