List of accessible Google services

On the official Google Blog today, I saw a post that discusses the many services Google offers to clients who have varying accessibility issues -- whether sight or mobility-based. This list shows a little more than a dozen of their various services (hyperlinked to the service itself), then also includes a link at the end to join the accessible Google user group and make your voice heard on various topics.

I love to find companies that go the extra mile on accessibility issues, whether they are located online, or in brick-and-mortar buildings. This is also another reason I love Apple, Inc., as they have always had a team devoted to these very issues as well.

Overview of Our Accessible Services
[via the Official Google Blog]

WWDC '07 Keynote Highlights

On Monday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs gave the keynote address at this year's Apple World Wide Developers Conference. This meeting is targeted at the companies and programmers who develop software for the Macintosh platform. Steve's presentation focused on key features of the MacOS X 10.5 Leopard that will be released in October.

Watch a Quicktime stream of Steve Job's presentation (approx. 90 minutes long)

MacOS X 10.5 Leopard Highlights

The new release of MacOS X will feature an extensively refined desktop and Finder, bringing many of the features of the iTunes interface to the Mac desktop. It also features easier to use file sharing, the new Time Machine backup utility, Spaces - a screen virtualization tool, and Quick Look that allows you to preview entire documents without opening them in an application.

Safari 3.0 Beta for Mac and Windows

Apple also released a beta version of the Safari web browser for not only the Mac platform, but for Windows XP and Vista as well. However, I'd caution you that this beta version has already been found to be fairly buggy, so be cautious.

More MacOS X 10.5 Links

Apple 10.5 Leopard website with video previews
MacWorld Preview article
Information Week review

[Thanks, Verne!]

Advice For The PC-to-Mac Switchers

If you've recently made the switch to an Apple Mac after using Windows exclusively, or even if you've just added a Mac to the fold, you may feel like you'll never learn your way around the system. Everything seems so foreign, and you think to yourself "Wow, I didn't think the learning curve was gonna be this steep!" Relax. Take a breath. Although doing things the "Mac way" takes a little time to learn, you'll be a pro in no time. You actually know more than you think from your Win ways, it just has a slightly different spin on a Mac.

A nice article detailing equivalents between Macs and PCs when it comes to keyboard commands, terminology, and other ways to help you familiarize yourself with not just a machine, but a new friend can be found at Apple Matters. As a matter of fact, it's written so well that I am forwarding a copy to myself to be used in training the student workers at our university help desk. Enjoy that Mac!

A Switcher's Guide to Windows and Mac Differences and Equivalents

Mac OS X: Display the Date in the Menu Bar

Problem: You want to display the current date along with the current time in your Mac OS X menu bar. However, the OS doesn't allow you to do this.

Solution: With a little work in OS 10.4 or later, you can use the International Formats area to get the job done. Feeling adventurous? MacInstruct shows you how to get the job done, step by step. Wonderful job; I'll be using this right away. Take a cruise to the home page and check out their other tutorials. The interface is easy on the eyes, too.

MacInstruct: How To Display The Date In The Menu Bar