There's one area where Apple has always led the way when it comes to the never-ending conflict between its and Google's mobile operating systems: accessibility. While the Cupertino company already has been supporting direct Bluetooth streaming to hearing devices from many different manufacturers for a long time, Google is only now introducing a similar feature with Android 10. In cooperation with GN Hearing and Cochlear, the company has just announced the first hearing devices to support low-energy Bluetooth streaming on the new OS.
Read MoreGoogle Docs gets new fonts to improve reading speed, so now everyone can reject your screenplay much faster
Today Google has announced that Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides have access to a small pile of new "Lexend" family of fonts meant to make reading a bit easier. Based on a bit of research which claims that character size, spacing, and stretch can enhance understanding if customized to reading speed, the new fonts come in eight different widths from "Zetta" to "Deca."
Read MoreGoogle Nest is giving 100,000 Home Minis to people living with paralysis
The tagline for Google's smart home products, "A little help at home," resonates with many, but none more so than users with disabilities. The hands-free assistance offered by Google Home devices can go a long well to helping users feel more independent, and this is particularly true of people living with paralysis. Today, Google announced a partnership with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation that will see 100,000 Home Minis given out to improve even more lives.
Read MoreRedesigned Sound Amplifier app now available to millions more Android devices
One of the great and newer accessibility features on Android is Sound Amplifier, which basically turns your phone into a hearing aid with the help of a pair of headphones and a couple of frequency cut-off faders to isolate the sounds you want to hear. Now, in its first major update, the applet is becoming available to people who aren't just using Android 9 Pie devices and is also getting a visual refresh in the process.
Read MoreMicrosoft's Your Phone app testing new accessibility features, GIF and emoji buttons in messaging
Microsoft is bolstering its PC-to-phone bridging app, Your Phone, with the release of the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview — in fact, it's the bulk of the changes touted in this preview version. For build 18908 (20H1), fast ring insiders will be able to try out new accessibility tools and messaging features with more Android devices. Oh, and there's a new logo, too, but that's just the start of things.
Read More[Update: Device limitations] Live Caption will caption all content in real time
Among the many Assistant announcements at Google I/O 2019, perhaps some of the most heart-warming came from the new accessibility features. One of those, built for the many who are deaf or are otherwise hard of hearing, is called Live Caption, a captioning service that displays a transcript of what's said in a video, a video call, or even an Instagram story in real-time.
Read MoreGoogle's Project DIVA brings non-verbal commands to smart speakers and displays
One way or another, technology has adopted ways for everyone to connect to the digital society, including the disabled and differently-abled. With the advent of smart speakers and other smart home appliances, the age of having machines perform actions on voice command is here, but non-verbal people have not been able to reap its benefits. Google wants to extend that utility to as many as possible through new initiative called Project DIVA, or "DIVersely Assisted."
Read MoreLive Relay allows deaf and mute users to talk with anyone over the phone
Live Relay is a new accessibility feature that's sure to be a boon for hearing and speech-impaired users. By combining text-to-speech and real-time transcription, it will allow you to conduct a phone call by just reading and replying to text messages on your screen.
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The Best Of AP
Chrome 74 adds dark mode, accessibility improvements, new Translate shortcut, and more [APK Download]
In this crazy world we live in, it's comforting to know that some things will never change — the sky is blue, the sun rises in the east, and Google releases a new version of Chrome (roughly) every six weeks. Chrome v74 is now available on desktop and mobile platforms, and while it doesn't include a massive number of noticeable changes, there is still plenty to talk about.
Dark mode
Slowly but surely, Google is adding a dark mode to all of its applications in preparation for Android Q. Chrome's dark mode first made an appearance early last month, and has finally trickled down to the stable channel with Chrome v74.
Read MoreAndroid Accessibility Suite 7.3 exits beta, brings screen search and other TalkBack additions [APK Download]
Accessibility options have come a long way in Android, especially in the last year or two. The aptly-named Android Accessibility Suite, formerly TalkBack, just hit v7.3 stable, adding some refinements to the Accessibility Menu and other new options like screen search and additions to continuous reading.
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