Mastodawn

Johann Jan 26, 2025

Amir has moved Jan 25, 2025

So, after JAWS, NVDA is also kissing goodbye to SAPI 4 TTS engines, in 2026.
The support for Microsoft Speech API version 4 synthesizers is planned for removal in NVDA 2026.1. Any remaining users of SAPI4 speech synthesizers are encouraged to choose a more modern speech synthesizer.
https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/pull/17599
@NVAccess

Fix SAPI 4 driver by SaschaCowley · Pull Request #17599 · nvaccess/nvda

Link to issue number: Fixes #17516 Summary of the issue: After the move to exclusively Windows core audio APIs, the SAPI4 driver stopped working. Description of user facing changes The SAPI4 driver...

GitHub

Johann Jan 24, 2025

John Gruber Jan 24, 2025

Every time I visit the Washington Post they ask me to re-subscribe. I don't think I've ever seen a subscription offer where the annual rate is *more* expensive than the monthly one. How dumb are they?

(Also: fuck 'em, I wouldn't resubscribe for $1/year until Bezos sells.)

Johann Jan 24, 2025

Ged Maheux Jan 23, 2025

The Gulf of MEXICO.

Johann Jan 23, 2025

Jakob Rosin Jan 23, 2025

"well, about time for that HID support, GOogle. "We’re beginning to roll out new updates to TalkBack, Android’s screenreader, to make devices even more accessible for people who are blind or have low-vision. Starting with Samsung Galaxy S25 devices, anyone who uses braille will be able to use their displays via HID, a way to connect to Bluetooth devices. Over the coming months this functionality will begin to work on any phone or tablet using Android 15. TalkBack will also provide more detailed image descriptions, powered by Gemini models, on Galaxy S25 devices in the coming weeks." https://blog.google/feed/samsung-unpacked-hearing-aid-talkback-updates/

Android is introducing a better hearing aid and screenreader experience.

Today we’re rolling out a handful of updates to make Android’s hearing aid and screenreader experiences even more accessible.Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S25, we’re bringing the benefits of the next generation of Bluetooth to GN Hearing and Oticon Intent hearing aids, using new LE Audio technology. With LE Audio compatibility, people can now access easy hearing aid management — including hands-free calling, a way to change presets via native settings and lower latency Bluetooth connections. This new integration will also be available on the Pixel 9 with Android 16 beta and come to Galaxy S24 with Android 15 in the coming weeks.And we’re beginning to roll out new updates to TalkBack, Android’s screenreader, to make devices even more accessible for people who are blind or have low-vision. Starting with Samsung Galaxy S25 devices, anyone who uses braille will be able to use their displays via HID, a way to connect to Bluetooth devices. Over the coming months this functionality will begin to work on any phone or tablet using Android 15. TalkBack will also provide more detailed image descriptions, powered by Gemini models, on Galaxy S25 devices in the coming weeks.

Google

Johann Jan 22, 2025

Steve Troughton-Smith Jan 22, 2025

Your favorite big tech CEO (pick one) just sat on stage behind and in support of somebody who defined trans people out of existence, side by side with some motherfucker who later did nazi salutes from behind the seal of the POTUS.

There is no going back from that

Johann Jan 22, 2025

Borris Jan 22, 2025

Congratulations to every disabled Trump voter out there. You successfully voted against accessibility, for all intents. I hope you're happy with yourself.

Johann Jan 22, 2025

Dave Nanian Jan 21, 2025

macOS 15.3 has been released. It includes a fix for the replicator failure in 15.2.

Once installed, SuperDuper “Erase, then copy" backups should start working again.

Thanks for your patience!

EDIT: I think I goofed, and this is the 15.3 RC, and LOOKED like a public release. Apologies for the inadvertent disclosure...it wasn't marked as such in the update notice.

Johann Jan 22, 2025

Pitermach Jan 21, 2025

Here's another really cool recent discovery. The "phonetic punctuation" NVDA addon has been around for a while, and it used to do one thing, substitute various symbols (or more technically any regular expression you put in), with sounds. But, as I discovered accidentally while looking for something in the addon store, it was quietly updated in December, now renamed "Earcons and Speech Rules." And this new version is a huge game changer at least for me. If you ever used the JAWS speech and sounds manager to its fullest this addon is now basically an equivllent. You can give any control type or state a sound, and unlike something like unspoken, these sounds are played in sync with the speech and the addon has no problem dealing with something like multiple links on a line. It also allows you to have NVDA indicate various formatting attributes, like bold, italic and heading levels, with either pitch/speed/volume changes or sounds. The very latest version of this addon comes with built-in heading level sounds that I contributed, and in an upcoming version it will also support assigning spelling errors as a formatting attribute. http://github.com/mltony/nvda-phonetic-punctuation

GitHub - mltony/nvda-phonetic-punctuation: Phonetic punctuation is an NVDA add-on that allows to convert punctuation signs into audio icons. It can also convert any regular expressions into audio icons.

Phonetic punctuation is an NVDA add-on that allows to convert punctuation signs into audio icons. It can also convert any regular expressions into audio icons. - mltony/nvda-phonetic-punctuation

GitHub

Johann Jan 22, 2025

Zach Bennoui Jan 21, 2025

Ok, this needs to be said. For all my followers in the LGBTQ community, I support you 1000 percent, know matter what any shitty government says. You are worthy, and you deserve to exist. Don't you dare let anyone ever take that away from you. Never surrender until we have equal rights for everyone!

Johann Jan 21, 2025

ProjectFearlessness Jan 21, 2025

By withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement the U.S. joins Libya, Iran, Yemen, and that's it.

All other countries in the world remain committed to fighting climate change.

So, in case anyone's in any doubt, yes. Yes, you are the baddies now.

#ClimateAction