You guys may’ve heard the Tek Talk broadcast the other night where Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell covered some changes at Serotek. Didn’t catch it? Click here and listen at your leisure. Or, if you’d rather read about some of our changes, here’s a breakdown: Windows 10 It's clear by now that although Windows 10 attempts to make Windows 7 users feel at ease with the return of the Start menu, the new operating system unapologetically builds on the foundation that Microsoft laid with Windows 8. The cornerstone of this foundation is an application platform and user interface style that has gone by many names. It was once called Metro. Microsoft later referred to apps based on this technology as "Windows Store apps". We have often called them "modern apps". Microsoft currently prefers the name "Universal Windows Platform". Whatever you call it, it's even more pervasive in Windows 10, from the moment you enter your password on the Windows sign-in screen. You'll also find the new style of user interface in the Action Center, where you can review and respond to notifications, and in the Settings app, which is the modern equivalent of the Control Panel. Even the Start menu, meant to entice … [Read more...] about What’s New at Serotek?
iBlink Radio
Serotek and iBlink Radio bring You Coverage from today’s Apple event
Apple’s highly anticipated press event, where new products are expected to be announced, begins at 1 PM Eastern today and iBlink Radio will be bringing you full coverage, no matter what platform you’re using. There’s lots of coverage to choose from. Apple will be streaming the event live for those using an iDevice with Safari, and you can tune in to that event here. If you’d like to hear the event with live commentary, you’re in luck. iBlink Radio will carry mainstream coverage from Leo LaPorte and the TWiT team, as well as a couple of streams with commentary from an assistive technology perspective. During the Apple event, catch commentary from community leaders including Jessie Lorenz, executive director of the Independent Living Resource Center in San Francisco, Mike Calvo, co-founder of Serotek, and Derek Zarda, assistive technology educator. When the Apple event is concluded, tune in to coverage from the Maccessibility RoundTable, featuring Josh DeLioncourt, Holly Anderson, Darcy Bernard and others. You’ll find all this and more on the iBlink Radio app, Serotek’s cross-platform solution providing access to global radio stations, podcasts and local and national reading … [Read more...] about Serotek and iBlink Radio bring You Coverage from today’s Apple event
Serotek Announces iBlink Radio for the Mac
Earlier this summer, the "accessibility anywhere" people brought you exciting updates to our iBlink Radio app across multiple mobile devices, including iOS, Android and Amazon's Kindle Fire product line. Our commitment to providing cross-platform access continues with the release of iBlink Radio, with the SAMNet Connect feature, for the Mac. Now you can access all your favorite blindness-related radio stations, podcasts, and local and national radio reading services either from your mobile device or your Mac computer. Additionally, if you're a SAMNet subscriber, you can access all your news, entertainment, SAMNet forums, notes, media library and much more right from within the iBlink Radio app. The best part is that if you use iBlink Radio from multiple devices, your activity is synced across each device so you never lose your place. What is iBlink Radio? iBlink Radio is a free app providing access to global radio stations, podcasts and local and national reading services of special interest to the blind and visually impaired. The app was inducted into the highly acclaimed AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame in December 2011, and and is often promoted as a must-have app for consumers … [Read more...] about Serotek Announces iBlink Radio for the Mac
Exciting Update to iBlink Radio!
Serotek is proud to announce an updated version of iBlink Radio for iOS, Android, and now the all new Amazon Fire OS! The latest version of the software that many have called "The Pulse of the Blind Community" is taking Serotek's mission of "Accessibility Anywhere" to an entirely new level to include "accessibility On Any Mobile Device." That's right! You can now enjoy all of your favorite iBlink and SAMNet content across all of your mobile devices on IOS, Android, and now Amazon's Fire OS. Enjoy enhanced access to your SAMNet account and community through the all new SAMNet Connect feature. Download content so you can play it while you're on the plane or in an area with spotty connectivity. Switch from device to device and never lose your place in your favorite podcast, audio-described movie, or other content. A SAMNet subscription is required for some features. What in the World is SAMNet? System Access Mobile Network (SAMNet) is the world’s largest consolidation of entertainment and social networking for the blind community. Unlike other online social networks, the system is completely accessible. Your monthly or annual subscription unlocks thousands of Internet radio stations, … [Read more...] about Exciting Update to iBlink Radio!
Serotek And SPN at this year’s Summer conventions
There’s a lot to be excited for at this year’s NFB and ACB summer conventions, and whether you’re jetting off to Orlando or Vegas to enjoy them in person or you’re experiencing them from the comfort of your own home, Serotek and SPN have got you covered. First, we’re proud to announce updates to iBlink Radio for Android and iOS devices. We’ve been hard at work on an API (Application Programming Interface) which will make it easier than ever for third-party vendors to access your favorite Serotek services from other devices. Our Android update, which will be found in both the Google Play and Amazon stores once approved, is the first app to use the Serotek API, and we’ll have more partnerships to announce in the coming months. This release supports SAMNet Connect, allowing you to enjoy your favorite SAMNet content from your Android device, and even download it for offline listening. iBlink Radio for iOS will also see an update, available in the app store once approved, which adds improved performance and the ability to download content to your iDevice for offline listening. Whether you’re listening from iBlink Radio or elsewhere, The SeroTalk Podcast Network will bring you the most … [Read more...] about Serotek And SPN at this year’s Summer conventions
Working in Partnerships to Better Serve You
Partnership and collaboration are terms more commonly associated with social causes. Two nonprofit organizations get together, combine their efforts, and deliver better services for their beneficiaries, but at Serotek, a for-profit venture, we’re in the business of working with partners inside and outside of the assistive technology industry to provide you with awesome opportunities. You may have heard of our In It to Win It promotion. The short version is that SAMNet and Accessibility Anywhere subscribers are randomly selected to win a prize just for being subscribers. Each month we will feature a different vendor. In February the lucky winners were: Jim Fettgather Wendy David Christine Shade Each received their choice of a charm for their cane or a dog bone charm from Laura Legendary’s Elegant Insights Jewelry shop. If you’re interested in being the featured business for an upcoming month, drop us a note. It’s a great way to spread word of your products to one of the fastest growing consumers bases on the web. Also, we recently partnered with BillSparks.org to expand our radio content. If you’ve never heard of it, BillSparks.org is a large online database of radio streams … [Read more...] about Working in Partnerships to Better Serve You
Will We See You at CSUN?
Join our very own Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp at this year’s CSUN! In addition to the thorough coverage you have come to love and expect, Ricky and Joe will be making two presentations you will not want to miss. Crowd-sourcing as an Effective Development Strategy in Assistive Technology Wednesday March 19 - 1:50 PM Presenting: Joe Steinkamp and Ricky Enger Location: Torrey Hills AB, 3rd Floor Seaport Tower Learn about how we’ve tapped our community to assist in software development. Socializer and DocuScan Plus are just two examples of end user involvement that paved the road in software development and set the overall direction of the projects. Maximizing Potential with Mainstream and Assistive Technology Thursday, March 20 - 9:20 AM Presenting: Ricky Enger, Dave Wilkinson, and Joe Steinkamp Location: Golden Hill AB, 3rd Floor Seaport Tower Join Serotek and HIMS, Inc. to discuss the intersection of mainstream and assistive technology. HIMS displays, iOS devices, and DocuScan Plus are a few examples of the way technology has overlapped to create a more accessible digital lifestyle. And, speaking of accessible digital lifestyles, if you can’t make the conference, we … [Read more...] about Will We See You at CSUN?
Seasons Greetings From Your Serotek Family
At Serotek, accessibility is our bread and butter. When we jumpstarted this operation in 2002, we came to the table with our own approach to the well-known issue of expensive assistive technology. We were on fire, and never mind that all odds were stacked against us. By conventional standards Serotek Corporation should have collapsed after the first year, not just because this is true of more than 50% of all companies, but because we were the little fish swimming in a small pond with large sharks. Enough of you gave us your support and allowed us to bring to the market our own version of “affordable technology.” As we close the books on another calendar year, I am pleased to report that our story is still a bestseller. Let’s take a quick look back at some of our accomplishments. Among other things, we: Rolled out a fresh website to better serve you; Worked hard to make your experience on Windows 8, 8.1 and Office 2013 a positive experience; Continued improving System Access based on your valuable feedback and continued to provide updates with no software maintenance agreements; Introduced the new and improved >Socializer, bringing you seamless access to Twitter, Facebook, … [Read more...] about Seasons Greetings From Your Serotek Family
Accessibility Anywhere Turns One
July 1 marks one year since Serotek unveiled its most ambitious disruption to the assistive technology market. Other companies develop singular products and pitch them to the consumer base as standalone products. Well, we do the same, because we understand you want to choose what goes into your toolbox, but we also understand the limits on your wallet. Unlike our fellow peers, we do something about it. So our team went to the drawing board. Reliable screen reader? Check. Outstanding document scanner? Check. Instant access to information and entertainment? Check. System Access, DocuScan Plus, and SAMNet have each resonated with the community all on their own, but what if we wrapped these up into the never-before-seen price of $21.95 a month? Click here for all the details. So, where are we as we raise our glass to celebrate the first birthday of this dynamic package? Windows 8 Compatibility “Well, duh,” you might think to yourself. “Everyone’s doing something with Windows 8.” Yet, the truth is Windows 7 is now the most popular operating system in the world. People are choosing to stay put rather than upgrade to the latest OS, and as a small company we could have chosen to use that … [Read more...] about Accessibility Anywhere Turns One
