Episode Details

On this week's Friday Finds episode, we're covering a range of topics in the tech world. First, we discuss the recent changes to the popular app, Voice Dream Reader, and the impact of a new subscription model on users. Then, we dive into the flood of scam chat GPT apps on the Mac App Store and provide tips for staying safe while browsing. Finally, we explore the rumor of app sideloading coming to iPhones and the potential privacy and security implications for users. Join us as we delve into the latest in tech news with an accessibility view. transcripts:

Transcript:

Hey everybody, so I am the bearer of the bad news. To begin with here, last week we talked

about Bookshare raising its membership fee to 80 bucks for those of us who pay out of

pocket and unfortunately this week we have another sad tale of something that we're paying

for that we didn't used to have to, for some people that is. So I was looking at the iPhone,

The VI phone, it's called the VI phone list.

This is an email list, it's a Google,

I think it's a Google list that basically talks about

everything iOS for blind and visually impaired folks.

There is an app that we, many of us in the blind community

know and love and trust.

And it is called Voice Stream Reader.

This app has been around, oh my gosh,

I can't even, I'm not exactly sure how long,

but it is a quality app.

I mean, most people that use this app just love it.

We are just, you know, the developer is awesome.

He really, really, if there's a problem,

you could write to him and he would help you right away.

His name was Winston Chen.

His name is Winston Chen, I should say.

Great developer.

So it was sort of a shock to a lot of us

when we find out that there will now be,

that the app was sold to a group

that I've never heard of,

but the applause group it's called.

I've never heard of that group,

but apparently they are taking over the development

and everything about Voice Dream Reader.

• Well, I've never even heard of that group either.

• A floss group?

• Yeah, do you know what else they make by jam, sir?

• I don't.

Winston said that he liked the group

because he felt that they would continue developing the app,

that they would really do right by it.

So if you've already have the app,

you're grandfathered in, so you wouldn't have to pay.

I don't know about upgrades or anything like that.

So it's $59.99 is gonna be the annual price.

So that's, you know, 60 bucks a year is something that,

it sort of shocked me a little bit.

• Yeah, that's a lot of money, 60 bucks a year?

• Yeah.

• This is one of the higher, most expensive prices

I've seen.

And you know, the thing is,

once someone kind of goes for something like this

and tests the water, then everyone else sort of goes,

well, if they're doing it, we can do it.

And the thing that makes me nervous

is that if everyone starts charging, you know,

50, 60, $7 a month for apps, you know,

you're really gonna have to decide

what apps you absolutely need

and what apps you absolutely don't need

because you can't just get everything, you know?

• Yeah.

• Because people can't afford,

if you were to add all that up,

just if you're paying for three, four, five apps,

you know, 60 bucks a year for all of those

becomes a lot of money.

Demoss, did you use this app for anything?

Is this your tools you got in your toolbox?

• I have been a voice stream reader user

since it was released an