Lyn's disability Mac blog

On a musical note

2011-12-23T10:42:00.001-08:00

Ok let's jump right in. Some music news. ITunes has just been updated and now it has ITunes Mach, This means that if you have imported tracks from CDs, you can get a equivalent track in iCloud for just below twenty two quid a year. This.means that your inter library can be in the cloud. This is a good way to secure all your music.

Ok next Nano Studio has an app just for the iPad. I have been using the iPhone exertion on.my iPad. The iPad version is nice. This is an assay app for making music.

Lastly I've discovered a weekly YouTube program called Sonic Talk and there's a musical iPad app addition called Sonic Touch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=YTvSov83ea8

That wraps up this blog. See you on the other side of Christmas. Have a good one.

Zooming around

2011-10-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a week for Apple. The release of ICloud and IOS 5. Both make life easier for me. Lets start with ICloud first. This is pretty dam cool. I no longer have to ask someone to hook up my iPad to my iMac to get music, files or photos of it. It's all synced and very nice. I haven't tried the Calendar sync yet, but I will.

A new iOS has been launched this week and I am going to cover something that the blog readers might be interested in especially if you use an head pointer. Now in the accessibility preferences, there's assistive touch. What this allows you to do is use a single touch. When the preference is on, you get a small round icon on the corner of the screen. Click on that and a menu comes up and it has swipe and zoom options as well as a menu for the device buttons.

It works with my nose, it's very cool. All in all. I'm a bit more independent and able to do slightly more than I did. I'm off to bed now.

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

1955 to 2011

No phone call from MI5

2011-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I wrote here. The good news is I have my stolen Imac back, but my lovely partner had bought me a new one, so he has the old one. I think he likes it. So how did I do it?

I had a Mobileme account and my stolen Mac was still logged into that so I could see the screen and also I used my computer as if it was infront of me. Luke, my partner's brother, got all the essencial files off of it.

I was lucky as the user didn't know much about Macs. But I knew this wouldn't last. I had to act, and fast. I wanted to be one step ahead.

I did a search for security software and found Prey. Prey is great, it just sits in the background and spies on the stolen user. I got the zip file on the stolen computer, the next job was to install it and log in without the user knowing. Luckily when I had it I had an external monitor. I presumed the user didn't have one, so I could move the installer on the external screen on the OS software without them seeing what I was up to. Even so installing the software was nerve racking. People with cerebral palsy have the problem of increasing involuntary movement, when stressed or trying to hurry. It took several attempts of putting in my password, I was twitching all over the place. I did it, in the end.

Prey software gives you a Google map location as well as a screen shot and mug shots. I think the user went to his friend with my Mac and manage to disable Mobileme and create a new user name. I expected this. This is where Prey became the main sauce of information. It was handy for the police. Armed with my Prey details, they could log in and see what was happening.

The user claims he bought it at a South London market and no arrest was made.

I did run a deleted file scan, but found nothing implicating. I haven't had MI5 offering me a job either.

IOS 5

2011-06-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

IOS 5 is out in the autumn One of the crucial things about the OSS is that you don’t need a computer to own an ?iPad. This is good news for AAC users, the IPad is more attractive for some people who are looking for a cheap speech aid.

I don't know if here is going to be update to access preferences. I will be looking for more information later. You wil be able to get all notification by just one swipe this may be difficult for some people.

I will talk about Icloud in my next blog.

Lion in July

2011-06-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

The long awaited Lion OS is out in July. It's looks pretty cool. I have concerns though and it's not just me, that disabled uses are being left behind. The finger swipe for instance isn't very disability friendly. Also this system is getting more like the IOS system used on Iphones Ipods and Ipads. Though I believe that operating systems should be easy to use, I am some functionality might be lost. I like to know where files are kept or where I can delete a certain program extension.

I do like the idea of cleaner looking email and viewing it with full screen view will make it easier to read.

I will not need to trudge up to my Apple store to get it because you can get it through the Apple store app witch is a rather strudel move by Apple, as it means setting up an account by them in order to get it.

Imean

2011-03-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Imean has now got voices but for me Assistive chat is better. I just like the layout. It also auto spaces after every word which saves time. Using Imean after Assistive Chat was annoying.

New Ipad

2011-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

This is the new Ipad. It has a rear and face camera. It's in black or white. It has Garage Band and Imovie
Specs are on the web sire. Oh and it's 30 percent thiner. It will be available in the UK March 25th.

Robbed

2011-02-03T04:42:00.000-08:00

Yes I have been robbed.. Blogs will start again soon

Nano Studio

2011-01-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

I have many music apps on my Ipad. I just got Nano Studio, this is quite a cool program It has six tracks,
two dedicated to drums. What's cool about this, even though there's only six tracks, you can mix down and put samples on the drum machine. You can save and email your song as Wav or MIDI file.

Here's the Iphone demo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stcf_8H_qVM&feature=player_detailpage

New year stuff

2011-01-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

The new app store is now open. This s potentially dangerous for me. There's no big programs on there like Logic Pro yet but this may change. but ILife is on there. This year will be exiting. There will be a new OS software Lion which will be released in the summer. Also the second generation IPad which will be out in the early part of the year and will certainly have a camera. This my open the doors to eye gaze software maybe. The Ipad will have an industry standard USB. It will bee lighter. I did read that there will be better speakers but I'm not sure about that. There will be IPhone five too.

There's a lot to look forward to and I will be reporting on them here.

Looking back at 2010

2010-12-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

This year has been quite a cool year. I had Crash Head play on my favourite radio station, Radio Caroline by Tom Lodge. The track was produced on Logic Pro. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tom for playing it.

Leading on from that, I also beta tested the Radio Caroline Iphone app on my Ipad, which worked well and is now on Itunes.

Okay this yeah has brought one piece of technology that changed everything. It has such an impact on my life, from reading to communicating. To having access to information all the time, to playing games or playing music. I even use it as a light to go to bed. Yes it's the Ipad. I went and did a little demo at a special school up the road. The school bought seven for the kids to use.

In the next blog I will be looking at what's coming up in 2011 but meanwhile click to hear Crash Head on Caroline.

Rock Melt

2010-12-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

i have been trying another web browser called Rock Melt. This browser incorporates Facebook in it's interface. It also incorporates Twitter but I don't have Twitter. I tied it once, maybe I should try it again.

Anyway let me describe the main Rock Melt window. On the left hand side of the min window tre are two icons you can click on allowing different windows to pop up so that you can see who is online. There are icons on the right for ?twitter and Facebook.

Rock Melt is a beta version. Just google.Rock Melt and download it. I think it's a cross platform browser.

4.2

2010-11-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

I updated on Tuesday. I mean 4.2 and I must say I'm loving Folders. It gives me quick access to stuff. I also like the multitasking, that works well. The only difficulty I have is double clicking the home button to get to the open apps. I haven't tried the air thingy out yet. My tv is hooked up to an old Mac Mini doesn't recognize my Ipad, well I mean the Ipad doesn't recognize the Mac Mini.

Dam stupid

2010-11-22T08:18:00.000-08:00

How dam stupid. Apple's web site states that ios 4.2 is available, so I get all exited and plugged my Ipad into my Imac, but no, it's not available on Itunes yet. So why state it's available!

The Beatles. Now on Itunes.

2010-11-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

Now the Beatles are now on Itunes. I quite like The Beatles but I am quite disappointed it's not something more exiting. So there you have it, after eight years of ranging, The Beatles are on Itunes. What an anti climax.

Somethings happening tomorrow

2010-11-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

Yes something is happening in Itunes. Something we'll never forget according to Apple's web site. what could this mean? Well maybe an online server to keep all your music? A new way of paying? We'll find out tomorrow. I'll be commenting about it of course. I love Itunes. It's great and easy to play and buy music.

drawing

2010-11-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

I have downloaded a free drawing Ipad App and this is the result.

I was in a Scope institution where you were "encouraged" to take up the daily activities. I had art twice a week. I knelt on the floor with crayons and paper taped to hardboard. I used to rub my knuckles raw.

A bug

2010-11-12T04:27:00.000-08:00

It's looks as if there's a bug in the new Ipad 4.2 operating system and now will not be released for another week. The bug is causing WI FI difficulties. Hopefully they will sort it out by next week.

Sorry, update blunder

2010-11-12T03:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry, it looks as if there is no Ipad updates yet. I will let you know as soon as I have news.

Radio Caroline app now out

2010-11-11T15:43:00.000-08:00

The Radio Caroline app is now out. I was testing the beta version for Pat Edison but now it's out for the Iphone but it works on the Ipad. Help support Caroline by downloading the app.

Updates

2010-11-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday there was a Mac update. Nothing major, just some fixes. Sorry I don't warn you before. Yep I'm slacking.

Lets talk about tomorrow. There is an major update for Ipad users this is quite exiting, well I'm exited.

The update will enable you to run several applications at once which will be useful. Also you will be able to print if you have a printer connected to a base station, which I have, though it needs more ink. I am not very good with printers. I seem to go through printers like there was no tomorrow. Ok picture this, you are away on holiday watching a movie on your Ipad, you get half way through and went to watch on your tele, now you can if you have Apple TV. You will be able to witlessly connect it.

I am not sure what else there is in the update if anything All exiting stuff ay?

broadband update

2010-11-03T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well I've got my broadband. It's very nice. It's slightly slower on the Ipad than on the Imac. Life on the internet is easier now. Everything seems more stable. Spotify is nice, very seamless. I need to see how Itunes downloads film. Videos used to stall on the Ipad but now it's fine.

Fast broadband

2010-10-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

I getting Infinity the latest high speed broarband package from BT. The modem came Thursday and the engineer to coming tomorrow. The download speed is 30MG and upload 40MB I think. We use the Internet quite a lot in this house. Matt, my partner is usually on his PC, my PAs on a Laptop me on my Imac.

At the moment I run a D-link on an Apple base station network which has served me well though sometimes we do have to restart everything but this only takes a couple of minutes.

I will let you know how fast it is.

Speech apps

2010-10-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to talk about speech apps. There are several in the App store now that are slightly different in terms of keyboard size, button size and word prediction choice.

Speak It a good little App and relativity cheap. You can buy voices for it. It has a normal sized keyboard but this has just the basic word prediction you would find on a mobile phone.

If you have about-ninety quid to spare you can splash out on Proquolo2go. This has words and symbols with boxes of categories. It as a big size keyboard but this is slightly frustrating as you need to scroll down for some letters. This App is aimed at people with autism and speech difficulties. I personally didn't like the App. It doesn't have a word prediction facility only the basic phone one.

Then there's Imean with a big keyboard and a:Four predictive text menu, all most perfect except it has no speech.

Typ Q has speech, Six predictive word menu but I hate the pidly little play button, but I like this for word processing. I like writing this blog with it.

But Assentive Chat is my favorite It has four predictive buttuns that are a nice size. I like the speak button. The only thing I don't like about it looks a bit childish but apart from that I love it.

2010-10-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday at 1am British time Soldierknowsbest gives a talk tech show on Ustream. Its mainlly about Mac but he does talk about other tech stuff as well.

Click here to see. http://www.soldierknowsbest.com/ustream.html

Mac tip one

2010-10-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

One thing I don't like about the Imac is the dam on button. It's at the back. Why not have it at the side. There is a cool way to get over the problem, get the Mac to start up on its own and Shut down.

What you do is go to System Preferences under the Apple menu or from the Dock. Go to Energy Saver then Schedule and there you can set the times when you want it to stat up and shut down.

This may be useful if you are away and you want to access Mac remotely.

Even cats like Ipad

2010-10-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Today I'm not blogging as such. but this is fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9NP-AeKX40

controlling everything from Ipad

2010-10-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

There are other ways to use your Ipad. You can use it to see other computers and control them. There iare various apps to do this The best one is Desktop. This involves computers being on a network. Then you just have to log in and a way you go.

Zoom jesters are needed for this. I use my thumb and nose. Some tasks are hard to do like closing a window even though you can enlarge everything. I like writing text from the Ipad to the Imac.

If you are a musician there are MIDI apps that control parameters of Programs like Logic. I will be cowering making music on Macs at a later date.

There is an infra red controller on my Imac and so i am able to control my TV, HIFI and so on right from my Ipad

Lots of good stuff to come.

How I use my Ipad

2010-10-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I'd show you how I use my Ipad, just to show you how I use it.

IPad Ipod Iphone users please go to my Youtube site to see this.

Dissing Mac

2010-10-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

We were in Comet by the Apple computers. My partner asked, "Where are the real computers?" This raises a question of what people think of Macs or what people think of computing. To some this should be arduous task. That computing should be getting computers to work. Computers should be ugly boxes with a heap of wires out the back. That's a proper computer. People feel better struggling because they are using a real computer.

Simple people like me use Macs because we want to get a particular job done. This post is to Microsoft users who Dis Macs. Ok Macs are more stylish and why shouldn't they be? Macs are more expensive? Well Mac users don't have to fork out for anti virus software. Slim lined computers are easier to move about about. The invention of the Ipad has given me a multi media and production centre mounted on my chair like a picture frame.

Apple technology has made my disability a far lesser problem. I have been using Macs for about twenty five years and now it seems it's getting more exiting.

Boom

2010-10-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

Apple have just announced their new operating system coming out in the summer. Continuing it's cat theme, the next OS will be Lion. There is an new Ilife coming out with cool new features in Iphoto, Imovie and Garage Band.

Another exiting thing. There will be an app store on all Macs and Mac aren't waiting till Lion. From ninety days from today, it will be available.

that's it. Oh yeah, forgot! There was just one more thing....lol. Macbook Air has been updated. It has no hard drive. It has flash thingy so it starts up real quick. Boom, you are up and running.

Radio Caroline app

2010-10-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

Ok today I found an email in my inbox from Pat Edison, a Radio Caroline presenter asking me to test the Iphone app on my Ipad. It worked well with a nice clean interface, probably necessary if you are driving. You can listen to Caroline in Safari on Iphone and Ipad but it's nice to have an app you can just click on to and it's a good marketing tool.

It was a great honor to do something for Radio Caroline I'm not sure when the app will officially be available. I think quite soon.

To find out more about Radio Caroline, go here. http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/#home.html

My Ipad

2010-09-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

I am using my Ipad to write this blog. Infact it is the Ipad that I'm writing about.
I had It a day befoe its release. I use my nose to use it. There are some things I find difficult like zooming but I manage to do most things. There were ...a few things I couldn't do but now can. I can now send and receive text now with an online text messaging service that has an Ipad and Iphone App. There is now a simple and easy speech App with word prediction. The apps are SMS Magic and Assistive Chat.

I am able to do a lot of other cool things such as seeing and using programs on my imac on my iPad. In particular my infrared control which means I can operate the TV Sky my amp etc.

I can also mount the Ipad on my chair and this means i can always be connected to the web as my Ipad has G3.

There are thousands of apps for everything from chess to Making music. The Ipad is a great machine and I use it all the time. The only gripe is there is no preference for the keyboard. ? It would be good if you could delay the response of touching letters. Apart from that I'm very happy with my Ipad.

I always thought the internet was a liberating place

2010-04-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

I always thought the internet was a liberating place. I guess being seen as just another internet user is very handy. But if you tell people you have a disability and you type by your nose for example, people start to laugh in disbelief. I was watching soldierknowsbest on Ustream with his Ipad. You can stream live on Ustream as well as receiving messages from people. This guy is quite intelligent and into technical staff so I thought he would be cool, but when I said I with use the Ipad with my nose because I have cerebral palsy, he started laughing with his girlfriend.

Being anomanous on the net makes you equal but only because people think you are so called "normal."

Anyway, here's a video I made as a result of the incident. Well I'm having problems with the link. Type in my name in the Youtube search engine if it doesn't work.

The Ipad

2010-01-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

Mac has produced a tablet called a Ipad. It's similar to the Iphone but bigger. This is good news for some people who are looking for an alternative and augmentative communication device which is reasonably cheap.

There is some additional software needed in form of an app, (a program) that will enable you to input text and then then the Ipad will speak it. The communication software is by AssistiveWare and the site is http://www.assistiveware.com/index.php They also do software for Macs.

Hopefully this will bring down the price of other communication aids which are ridiculously high, and hopefully the end to the monopoly that speech aid manufactures have.

The last night

2009-07-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight I felt compelled to blog. In 2003 Matt (my partner) went to uni. It has been a roller coaster ride for him. He's study's film and has just finished his thesis on the subject. Tomorrow he goes home. Con you imagine what he's feeling. Ok ok lots of people go to uni. but here's someone who I love dearly, even though he demands breakfast. He loves life with a sense of wonder. This lovely intelligent crossdresser is my boyfriend and I'm so proud and lucky to have him.

Here's a video Matt started in his first year and decided to finish today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OAVx-sXS0k I love you. You can demand breakfast anytime.

Pete Doherty

2009-03-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a nice day. I went to see Pete Doherty tonight, it was cool. He puts on a good performance. The Troxy is a great small venue in east London, about 20 minutes from my home. Oh yeah, guess played with him? Graham Coxen.

Apathy

2009-02-09T03:40:00.000-08:00

I feel a strong sense of apathy today. I don't know why. It's as if have been on the weed yesterday but no. I should really go into the studio and do some music, but the motivation to do so isn't there. I need someone to collaborate with, a singer perhaps? The fact is the rainy day doesn't help.

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

2009-02-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

Okay I know I haven't blogged and this isn't a real post but take a look at this and tell me what you think. http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

Price of democracy

2008-11-25T05:36:00.000-08:00

Ever since the BNP member's addresses and mobile numbers were posted on a web site, revealing who is in the party, I've been thinking about civil liberties. the right to believe in what you like, and the right of free speech. On the other hand radical views by a group or party that could provoke racial hatred and violence should be held responsible for it's views. Posting the data however was a serious breach of confidentiality I don't know how right wing the BNP is, whether it's the same as The National Front in the seventies. All I know is extremists that intent on marginalising or discriminating a particular part of society need to be tackled.

The problem is how do we do this in a fair and Democratic way?

Drake Music reinforceses musicians with a disability as charity cases

2008-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

Below is an email from Drake Music. Will Drake ever learn we are not charity cases. It's always been the same with Drake, they have never pitched anything concerning the actual music. I have always thought Drake was like a guy asking for money for cerebral palsy children outside Sainsburies.

There was a concert once with Jools Holand and at the end out came the begging buckets. How demeaning is that. Come on, it's time to change!

Face the Music: Compose the Future

Drake Music is a unique charity, providing access to music for disabled people throughout the UK using assistive music technology tailored to the needs of those unable to use conventional instruments. For many people Drake Music offers the first opportunity they have been given to independently create and perform music.

Face the Music: Compose the Future offers you a more personal and interactive way to support the organisation's work.

We have gathered together music composed and performed by Drake Music musicians over the last few years. Visual media artist Michael Szpakowski and composer Mat Davidson have each donated their time and expertise to us: Mat has remixed music from our archives into a single track, Michael has created a short film to accompany the remix.

As we write, the video (containing imagery and sound) is hidden on our website. We are inviting you to reveal it, by making a donation. As each supporter donates, we will reveal a corresponding section of the film and track. Just how much we reveal depends on the size of donation you wish to make; a donation of £6.75 will reveal 4 seconds, £96.00 will reveal 1 minute and £250 will reveal an entire layer of the track. (eg: a donation of £27 will reveal 16 seconds, or £192 will reveal 2 minutes of the track)

Following each donation, the name of the donor will be displayed on our webpage showing the date of donation and section of track they helped reveal, unless they wish to remain anonymous.

Audition video

2008-09-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm just off out up the pub. I've just finished my audition video for DV8 which can be found here
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgk4K6GdeNc Please tell me what you think.

Not much else has been happening but except for one thing but I think I'll save that for another day as I think it will quite a long blog. I'll need a good few hours to write it.

Anyway I need a JD and coke.

Mother kills daughter with CP

2008-09-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

I was asked a while ago,"are we hated?' I.e are disabled people hated. My reply was, it's fear and ignorance that cause people to shy away from us. Usually the perants of a disabled child are more understanding and aware. Sadly this is not always the case.

A mother was in court yesterday for killing her four year old daughter Naomi, who had cerebral palsy after her father refused to look after her. Naomi's Mum Joanne was ashamed to go out with Naomi and so decided to kill her by holding her head under water in the bath.

I know that in society you will have people with bizzar views, but it's quite a shock to think that someone would kill their child because the child has CP. Full article is here.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1053559/Mother-drowned-daughter-4-bath-ashamed-cerebral-palsy.html

Lying in bed thinking of Modonna

2008-09-03T03:09:00.000-07:00

I was lying in bed thinking of Madonna. I was wondering if she was fat, would she be such a celebrity. Her iconic status has been built on by her beauty, her use of sex and the shock media catching exploits. I wonder as a musician with cp, whether I want to use such tactics. after all I have tits and a willy, surely I can make it into The Sun at least?

But seriously my musicianship comes first and for most. However I have recently been made aware that factors like my disability and transsexuality are influential in my music making. My experience of life is from a wheelchair inevitably plays a part of who I am. How much so? I'm not really sure.

But the fact remains, I wouldn't use my disability or transexuality to hide my lack of musical tallent.

independence

2008-08-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Hey, I've been quite busy this week. I wanted to sort out my video. The video is apart of an audition for DV8. You can check it out onhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNCxUpbx-wQ

This is the fist half.

So what have I been doing. I bought a massive hard drive that's wireless. It also has a ethernet connection and a printer connection. I have three Macs, now I can back up everything wirelessly from all three Macs. What's slightly annoying is, it has no audio socket, like my old base station which meant I had to run a wire from my Imac to my hi fi.

I tempted to purchase to buy my hard drive online with my Barckleycard, but didn't work. Today I went to the bank with a typed note and my speech aid and sorted it. I'm quite proud that I can sort stuff out myself. I guess I have to

Mac nerd

2008-08-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

I've spent all day yesterday sorting out my Mac. I decided it needed to have it's system software re-installed on Thursday afternoon. Mac has a problem with it's wireless software after you've installed the Leopard, system software. Luckily I have another Mac in the studio, I could download the relevant update of the software needed. But knowing which update to choose was just a question of trial and error. Flitting from room to room with storage drives. But now my Mac is working better.

The whole thing kept me occupied and helped me forget annoying thoughts over personal matters. Now I need to move on and do other things. I'm on the up I hope!