1. NVDA 2017.1 is now out. It includes, among other things, very nice
support for the Kindle app for Windows.
NVDA also includes improved support for the Edge browser in Windows 10,
as well as being able to identify sections and columns in Microsoft Word.
2. JAWS 18 was updated today with a significant update. It also includes
support for the Kindle app, as well as improved support for Google Docs,
Google Sheets and many fixes for users of Office 2016.
3. FSCast, the podcast from VFO Group, interviewed Glen Gordon, VFO's
chief technology officer concerning the status of JAWS and Zoomtext
working with Microsoft Edge, which is the new Web browser preinstalled
with Windows 10. Microsoft has made some changes in the way that
programs are able to access the Edge browser. While this can improve the
security of Edge, it also means that screen readers such as JAWS have a
much harder time of interfacing with it as well. One approach VFO is
trying to take with Edge is that, instead of JAWS converting the entire
page into a speech-friendly page when it fully loads, it will load parts
of the page at first and then load more of the page as the user starts
navigating through it. The benefit of this is that JAWS could begin
speaking the contents of the Web page much sooner than it already does.
The disadvantage is that there could be what Glen described as hiccups
as the user continues reading portions of the page. These issues are not
fully resolved, of course, but a demo version of JAWS working with Edge
will be available for people to try out at next week's CSUN technology
conference in San Diego. Glen says that a version which will be
Edge-compatible will be in customers' hands by the second half of this
year during the JAWS 18 release cycle. This likely means that, sometime
before JAWS 19 is released, users of JAWS 18 will be able to begin using
JAWS with the Edge browser. Glen indicated that some portions of Edge
are already working with Zoomtext 11 as far as magnification but there
are some tracking issues which still need to be addressed. I would like
to add that Window-Eyes, which is now part of the VFO product line, was
never mentioned. I find this fact to be sad and yet another possible
sign that Window-Eyes may well be discontinued, although that prediction
is just that: a prediction and there have been no official statements to
this effect from VFO.
--
David Goldfield,
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
You are invited to visit the moderator's Web site at WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
for additional resources and information about assistive technology training
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