all categories Deals, Sales, and News

Amazon cuts up to 70% off a wide selection of items during its Fall Outlet Event. Plus, Prime members receive free shipping. (Non-members can spend $35 or more to qualify for free shipping; otherwise, it starts at around $5.) Click the provided link to shop all items in this sale.

Musician's Friend offers the Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone in Silver for $106. Coupon code EXCLUSIVE cuts it to $86. With free shipping, that's $4 under our mention of a different color from six days ago and the lowest total price we could find by $19. It features three condenser capsules, four patterns, gain control, a mute button, and headphone output. It's compatible with PC and Mac.

Newegg offers a 2-Pack of ADATA Premier 32GB UHS-I Class 10 microSDHC Memory Cards, model no. AUSDH32GUICL10-RA1, for $24.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find for this quantity by $13. Each includes an SD adapter.

Satisfaction Assured via eBay offers the iRulu 7 Inch 8GB WiFi Android Tablet in nine colors for $42.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $4. (It's also a very low price for a new 7 inch 8GB Android tablet in general.) Features include a 7 inch 800x400 touchscreen LCD, Allwinner A23 Dual Core 1.5GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB flash storage, microSD card slot, micro USB, 802.11g wireless, 2,800mAh battery, and Android 4.2 OS (Jelly Bean).

Newegg offers the Sennheiser PMX95 Supra-Aural Behind-the-Neck Headphones in Black for $69.99. Coupon code EMCPAHA522 cuts the price to $29.99. With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find by $40. They feature rotating ear cups and a 3.5mm jack. Deal ends September 30.

Newegg offers the Seagate Backup 4TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive, model no. STDT4000100, for $129.99. (This price will appear at checkout.) Apply coupon code VISACHECKOUT and checkout with Visa Checkout to drop the price to $116.99. With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we've ever seen. (It's also a current low by $12.) It features mobile backup via an app for both iOS and Android devices. Deal ends September 30.

The Digital Pavilion via eBay offers the Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone in Black for $89.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find for this microphone in any color by $15. It features three condenser capsules, four patterns, gain control, mute button, and headphone output. It's compatible with PC and Mac. Deal ends September 29 at 11 am ET.

With the release of iOS 8 comes a new version of the included VoiceOver screen reader. The new VoiceOver includes many fixes for several long-standing bugs, but, sadly, also includes many new bugs.

Quickly after the release of iOS 8, Apple released iOS 8.0.2. This version included fixes for several issues that were discovered after the initial release of iOS 8, but few VoiceOver bugs were included in the update.

For users of the oldest devices capable of running iOS 8, including the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and iPad 3, frequent VoiceOver crashes have been reported. On these older devices, switching to the compact version of the VoiceOver voices eliminates most all of these crashes. However, if you have one of these older devices, and haven't yet upgraded, you will likely be better served by staying with the faster VoiceOver performance of iOS 7. Feature and bug lists courtesy AppleVis

The highly anticipated KNFB Reader app for iOS converts printed text into high quality speech to provide accurate, fast, and efficient access to both single and multiple page documents with the tap of a button on iPhone 5, 5C, and 5S.

The app includes many features that make it possible for blind users to obtain better reading results than other low-cost reading apps. A Field of View Report function helps to insure that you have positioned the phone's camera so that the entire document is visible. Vibration cues from the phone help you to be certain that the phone is completely level before scanning a document. Analysis functions automatically correct for many situations where documents are scanned at angles, such as signs.

Scanned documents can be read aloud with synthetic speech, including voices from Acapella, or read on your Braille display. Individuals with print disabilities will benefit from the synchronized speech and text highlighting capabilities.

As of this writing, owners of the app are reporting great recognition results, though some iPhone 6 Plus and iPad users are reporting sluggish behavior. The developers say that the problems are related to iOS 8, and will be fixed soon. The iPad, like the iPhone 4S, will run the app, but is not officially supported, and recognition results are inferior.

For a demonstration of the app, including video of it being used, look here.

Another demonstration (audio only) is here.

Another audio demonstration is available in two parts: part 1 and part 2.

Blind Bargains extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Fred Gissoni, who retired from the American Printing House for the Blind in 2011 after 23 years of service.

Fred L. Gissoni was 84 years old and lived in the Crescent Hill area of Louisville, Kentucky. Fred contributed 60 years of service to people who are blind and visually impaired. Fred was known across the United States and around the world for his brilliant intellect, inventiveness, and impish sense of humor. He was born in New Jersey. Blind since birth, he did not, as he told it, go to one of the five widely renowned schools for the blind in that area, but rather, to a resource room in a public school, first in Garfield, NJ, and later in Hackensack. He was interested in amateur radio at age six or seven, and that marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for all things technical. He passed away Sunday, September 21, 2014.

In 1956, Fred took a job with a subsection of Kentucky's Department of Education. His boss was the legendary Tim Cranmer. Gissoni and Cranmer learned the abacus together, and Gissoni wrote detailed instructions for its use. That book, Using the Cranmer Abacus, is still available from the American Printing House, as is the abacus itself. Fred also wrote and taught a course on use of the abacus for the Hadley School for the Blind.

In terms of the technology blind people are using today, what stands out most notably in the work of Fred Gissoni would probably be the development of the Pocketbraille and Portabraille, collaborations of Fred Gissoni and Wayne Thompson, while the two were colleagues at the Kentucky Department for the Blind.

The Pocketbraille was built to be housed in a videocassette box (one for a VHS cassette, which was state-of-the-art in the mid 1980s.) One could enter data from a Perkins-style keyboard and hear it spoken through speech. When Fred learned of a braille display manufacturer in Italy, the project grew into a refreshable braille device called Portabraille. The Kentucky Department made only 12 Portabraille units -- two of which enabled blind people to retain their jobs. Rather than making a profit from the machines themselves, Gissoni and Thompson sold the detailed instructions for building the device for $5. Deane Blazie's interest in those plans, led to the birth of the Braille 'n Speak.

Fred was particularly proud of the Janus Slate, the double-sided interline braille slate that holds a three-by-five index card for brailling on both sides. When asked about the name of this product, he said, Well, Janus was the Roman God of portals. But I like to tell people that he was the Roman God of braille, and since we didn't actually have braille for several hundred more years, he didn't have much to do. That is vintage Fred Gissoni banter.

Other inventions he developed for APH were also small items including a pocket braille calendar and a gadget he called FoldRite, which simplified folding an 8-1/2 by 11 sheet of paper into thirds. When asked about his accomplishments, one of the things he mentioned his introducing Larry Skutchan to APH.

Fred always used an abacus and was never without a slate and stylus. Batteries die and chips fail, he said simply. On the Fred's Head web site, APH refers to him as a legend. He shared his tips, techniques, knowledge, genius, and generous spirit with blind people everywhere for more than 80 years. Fred's world of knowledge eventually became what is now the Fred's Head from APH blog.

Chec out a 2009 interview with Fred from Deborah Kendrick in AFB's AccessWorld.

A memorial service is being planned for the near future. In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested to American Printing House for the Blind, UCHM for food, or the Crescent Hill United Methodist Church. See more and sign his guest book at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=fred-l-gissoni&pid=172536773&fhid=10680#sthash.DC1xF6rC.dpuf.

Amazon offers the Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones, model no. 370509-0010, for $249.96 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $19. They feature a tri-port acoustic headphone structure, detachable audio cable, in-line remote and microphone, and fold-flat ear cups for storage.

Qualitycellz via eBay offers the Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Android Smartphone in Gray, model no. I537, for $299.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we've seen for a new model. (It's also a current low by $65. In addition to being able to survive in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, it features a 5 inch 1920x1080 Gorilla Glass touchscreen, Snapdragon 1.9GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, 8-megapixel rear camera (with an "Aqua Mode" for underwater pictures), 2-megapixel front camera, 1080p video capture, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11n wireless, and Google Android 4.2.2 OS (Jelly Bean).

If you're feeling a bit adventurous, the Amazon Appstore has cut
80 Android apps
to free. The selection includes games, office software, and photography apps. We have not tested any of these apps for accessibility, there will be some that are not accessible. You might find a hidden gem in this free offer! Sale ends September 27.

Vera Bradley via eBay cuts up to 77% off select handbags, totes, wallets, and more, with prices from $3.99. Shipping adds $8, or spend $65 or more to bag free shipping. (Select items may also be eligible for free shipping.) Deal ends September 27 at 9 pm ET.

Toshiba via eBay continues to offer its factory-refurbished 4.85-lb. Toshiba Satellite C55T-B5109 Intel Haswell Core i3 15.6 Inch Laptop, model no. PSCLYU-008002B, for $357.75 with free shipping. That's $178 off list, and the lowest total price we could find. Features include an Intel Haswell i3-4005U dual-core processor, 15.6 inch 1366x768 LED-backlit touchscreen display, 4GB RAM, 750GB 5400 rpm hard drive, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0, 4-cell battery, and Windows 8.1. A 90-day Toshiba warranty applies.

Newegg offers the Kingston 64GB DataTraveler microDuo USB 3.0 On-The-Go Flash Drive, model no. DTDUO3, for $35.99. Coupon code EMCPAHG229 cuts it to $29.99. With 99 cents shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find by $2. It features up to 70MB/s read speeds and up to 15MB/s write speeds.

Newegg takes 20% off select laptop cases and bags via coupon code EMCPAHG97. Plus, most of these items bag free shipping. Click the provided link to start shopping this sale.

Newegg offers the refurbished Dell Latitude D620 Intel Core 2 Duo 1.66GHz 14.1 Inch Laptop for $149.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find. Features include an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.66GHz dual-core processor, 14 inch LCD display, 2GB RAM, 120GB hard drive, DVD/CD-RW combo drive, 802.11n wireless, USB, and Windows 7 Home Premium.

As one of its daily deals, Best Buy offers the Samsung Galaxy Prevail 2 No-Contract Android Smartphone for Boost Mobile in White, model no. M840, for $69.99 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $10. It features a 4 inch 480x800 touchscreen, Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon S2 1.46GHz processor, 4GB memory, 5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front camera, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11n wireless, and Android 4.1 OS (Jelly Bean). Deal ends today.

Several third-party sellers via eBay are cutting up to 60% off a selection of Apple iPhone 6 accessories, with deals starting from 90 cents. Plus, coupon code CELLSAVE5 takes an extra $5 off orders of $20 or more when you checkout via Paypal. Plus, all items bag free shipping.Deal ends September 25 at 3 am ET.