Blind Bargains Qast 221: The Other Oppisitte Of That

This is kind of funny. Our last show, episode 220 from December, was in 2020. And now BBQ 221 starts off 2021. Okay, it was funnier when we said it out loud during this show than in print. It s a good thing we have a couple of demonstrations of a new speaker and the Chromecast with Google TV to fall back on instead of us relying on calendar-based humor. There is even an actual honest to goodness real news section for the show this go around. Plus, there is a bit of Sound Off and we ignore all food based New Year s Resolutions in the Last Word . So, charge up those Bluetooth remotes and join us for a new installment of the BB Qast.

0:02:50 In The Impromptu News:

I.D. Mate Is Being Discontinued

It's Back! Accessible Apps releases Chicken Nugget version 4.71, bringing AI image descriptions, new sounds, and More

Humanware introduces new line of Brailliant BI ex Braille displays

Victor Reader Trek updated with new GPS features and more

December's Sight Tech Global Archives are worth the read

GoodMaps Explore starts their navigation journey

Larry Skutchan: Access Tech Visionary Retires

0:19:27 Demonstration: Tribit Stormbox Pro 40-Watt Bluetooth Speaker; 360-degree Sound

Its the largest and loudest speaker from Tribit yet. Everything you love about Tribit's high-quality speakers in a supersized, yet compact form. 40 watts of power, XBS bass technology, 360-degree sound, and more. Buy two and pair them together for room-filling stereo sound.

Want portable with a punch? With one independent subwoofer and two, mid-high frequency drivers, this 2.1 system is unique for it's combined portability and power. You'll notice the beautiful, full-spectrum sound thanks to AptX decoding and AKM7755 DSP. It's the highest fidelity sound, bolstered by strong bass and all with less than 0.5% distortion.

Bass You Can Feel

What's a great speaker system without full-bodied bass to bring the feeling alive? You can't miss the Tribit XBass Technology it will get your foot tapping and the party moving. It's the kind of bass you actually feel, not just hear!

Excellent Connectivity

Stay connected to your music. Supported by Bluetooth 5.0 and a Qualcomm QCC Bluetooth chip with ultra-low latency, the speaker prioritizes top-notch audio quality. Plus, you can even connect 2 devices to the speaker at the same time for multi-point functionality!

No Fear in the Pool

Meet your new pool pal! A little splash is nothing to the Stormbox Pro, which is waterproof (IP 67) up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Hey, life happens, right? This speaker will stick with you through waves, drops and more!

2 Speakers, Triple the Fun

One speaker runs the party, but two blows it through the roof! Imagine getting concert-like, stereo sound when you pair 2 speakers together. Maximum sound for an unbeatable auditory experience.

Boosted Battery Life

Nothing kills the party faster than a dead speaker! Behind the curtain is a beefy 10,000mAh battery, giving the Tribit StormBox Pro up to 24 hours of power. Plus, you can charge your phone or other devices on it!

Features

APT-X decoding function

Charge other devices from the built-in battery

40 watts of power with high power, X-bass

2.1-channel sound system, independent woofer

360-degree sound

Stereo mode (when two speakers are connected)

IPX67 Waterproof

Playtime up to 24 hours

To learn more about this device, and many other new tech offerings, head on over to the A.T. Guys product page

0:25:17 Demonstration: Chromecast with Google TV

J.J. and Joe discuss the good, the bad and the very ugly sides of the new Chromecast with Google TV. The device was released in October and for something that is so round it has a lot of rough edges. Does the duo think this new entrant in the streaming wars can stand up to the various amazon Fire Sticks or the Apple TV? Short answer, um no. Check out the below links to know more.

Chromecast with Google TV at the Google Store

Chromecast with Google TV: An Accessibility Review

The Best Settings to Try on Your Chromecast With Google TV

How to access the full Play Store on the Chromecast with Google TV

Tip: THE 5 BEST CHROMECAST REMOTE SHORTCUTS

Joe had J.J. perform some of these helpful shortcuts live during the Chromecast demo. Note, some of them require some memorization with Talkback.

0:57:08 Sound Off:

Long time listener Jan Brown wrote in about Braille issues in iOS 14.3. While we recognize that there are some outstanding issues with displays in 14, none of them really compare to the big one that was introduced in 14.4. Read the Apple Vis article below to know more and please turn off automatic updates until you can verify that it is safe to upgrade in the future.

[Updated With Important Warning for Braille Display Users] Apple Releases iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4; Bringing a New Direct Touch Setting for VoiceOver Users

1:00:17 Last Word:

Joe and J.J. note that the Pizza Hut Detroitt Style Pizza is not real Detroit-style pizza

Taco Bell Fire Chips

REVIEW: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ice Cream

Girl Scout Cookie Season Begins

The 7 Best King Cake Delivery Services of 2021

222 sounds like a nice round number for an episode. And we ll be back with more in the future.