Announcing the AppleVis Editorial Team App pick of the Month for September 2013: BARD Mobile

At the end of each month, we at the AppleVis Editorial Team take a look at all the apps that have been posted to the site during that month—either for the first time, or where there has been a significant update—and decide which of these we think is the most noteworthy. One of the great things about owning an iOS device is the easy access to apps, information, and resources. With an iOS device, one can access social networks, stay up-to-date on the news, and even read both audio and eBooks. Our September app pick comes from the books category—from the audio/Braille department in particular. The AppleVis Editorial Team app pick of the month for September 2013 is BARD Mobile from the United States National Library Service (NLS). With BARD Mobile, registered NLS patrons have access to all of the audio and Braille materials available on the BARD website right from their iOS devices. NLS’s BARD Mobile has been in development for quite some time, and the app appears to have been worth the wait and living up to users’ expectations wonderfully. In addition to the official BARD Mobile Application User Guide, Scott Davert has also recorded an in-depth demonstration of the app, and you can find it here Freeq—an audio game in which listeners spy on societies gone by, interfere with peoples’ lives, and try to solve the mystery of what ended the world—also caught our attention because of the developer’s interest in accessibility and engagement with the AppleVis community. You can learn more about Freeq here. Many apps were updated for iOS 7 during September, and some were redesigned—including Facebook. We generally liked the September 2013 redesign of the Facebook app, especially the access to different areas of the app being provided by a series of buttons along the bottom of the screen. We also appreciated the quick turn-around of a bug fix from the Facebook Accessibility Team regarding the notifications area. Lastly, if you think we’ve overlooked something good (which is entirely possible), please do let us know in the comments.