RE: Itunes

  • From: "Mika Pyyhkala" <pyyhkala@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <blindcasting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 15:59:43 -0500

On a similar note, it occurs to me that there is probably nobody
represetning the interests of the blind at the Consumer Electronics Show
which is taking place right now in Las Vegas.  This apparently is the
largest industry trade show that takes place.

Why are our consumer organizations not representing us in these areas more
vigorously?

I don't think our interests are even on the periphery of the radar screens
for most of these companies.

Conversely, the deaf have made great strides towards accessibility
interests.  For example, captioning is a standard feature on any tv you buy
today.
 
-Mika

-----Original Message-----
From: blindcasting-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blindcasting-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Darrell Shandrow
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 3:45 PM
To: blindcasting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Itunes

Hi Gary,

It is always a balancing act.  Screen readers allow us access to computers. 
These companies must certainly continue doing their part to develop and
implement technologies that make our technology lives more accessible.  On
the other hand, mainstream tech companies must also do the right thing by
meeting us the other halfway, reasonably accomodating accessibility needs. 
We must ask and insist on it if necessary, finally using the available laws
when appropriate as the very last resort.

By and large, at this time, the blind community simply lacks the will to get
serious about accessibility issues.  The consumer organizations and others
are quite frankly paralyzed to do anything significant.  So long as that's
the case, we're stuck and inaccessibility is getting worse for us on
practically a second by second basis!


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Wood" <k8hlx@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <blindcasting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: Itunes


> Hi Darrell!  I think that as blind people, we should step up to the plate,

> and get involved to try to solve the accessibility issues; but I don't 
> know if we should ask companies to make their products more accessible to 
> us, or we should get involved with companies to make programs accessible 
> from the ground up; but I don't know how we could do this, but it's some 
> food for thought!
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Darrell Shandrow" <nu7i@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <blindcasting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:41 AM
> Subject: Re: Itunes
>
>
>> Hi Steve,
>>
>> I'm not sure there is much of a "good thing" to be lost with Apple. 
>> Apple has most likely created VoiceOver only to protect their education 
>> business from loss due to legislation requiring accessibility of 
>> technology in education.  As far as I can tell, the company has done 
>> nothing further for us.  I think it is time for us to do a few things. 
>> First, let's start thinking about drafting and sending a letter to Steve 
>> Jobs asking for Apple to do more to make their products and services 
>> accessible.  Second, let's start participating in the forums over at 
>> http://discussions.apple.com to publicly ask for more accessibility and 
>> see what we can get for a response from Apple and their users.
>>
>> Everytime I think about one of the myriad and increasing accessibility 
>> issues we face with technology, I feel very depressed.  Companies by and 
>> large could care less whether or not we jump in the lake, but the biggest

>> problem lies with the blind community, who largely refuse to take any 
>> significant collective and individual actions to insist on equal 
>> participation in all that technology already offers the sighted.  Almost 
>> everyone in the companies we need to become more accessible simply don't 
>> know that blind technology users exist.  Shame on us in the blind 
>> community for not consistently and frequently explaining it to them!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Steve Holmes" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <blindcasting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 7:24 AM
>> Subject: Re: Itunes
>>
>>
>>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>>> Hash: RIPEMD160
>>>
>>> When I read Anna Dresner's book about her iPod experiences, I got the
>>> impression that Apple's tech support was quite helpful and treated her
>>> fairly.  Though that was nearly a year ago now.  I hope some of us blind
>>> guys didn't go in there like gang busters and ruin a good thing.  But
>>> then again, my impressions of Apple's lack of committment to
>>> accessibility for such popular products like the iPod and iTunes, I gues
>>> I couldn't blaim some blind folks for ganging up on them.  I personally
>>> have heard absolutely *NOTHING* from Apple concerning making iTunes or
>>> the iPod any more accessible to blind people and furthermore, I have
>>> heard rumors that the shuffle was being discontinued.  If that last
>>> rumor is untrue, then I will stand corrected.
>>>
>>> ?As for the set files I wrote for iTunes, it shouldn't matter what
>>> version of iTunes is being used.  I haven't checked Brian Hartgen's sets
>>> out to see if they are any better than what I have.  I only passed my
>>> version to a few folks to see what was thought but mine need a lot of
>>> improvement before prime time release.  I just find iTunes to be so
>>> inconsistent with graphical displays and the like, I found it impossible
>>> to reliably purchase from the store for example.  I developed my sets
>>> using Window-Eyes version 5.5 so they probably wouldn't work for any
>>> earlier versions of WE but the version of iTunes shouldn't matter.  I'm
>>> currently using version 6.0 something and my sets still work with such
>>> as iTunes is.
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jan 07, 2006 at 06:31:49AM -0700, BlindTech of BlindTechs.Net 
>>> wrote:
>>>> Being a blind mac user myself and a trainer for mac/osx/tiger/
>>>> voiceover/zoom I have to ask one very important question please......
>>>>
>>>> What was the context in which you asked for help. I mean, Was it like
>>>> "Hey dude, I am blind and I can't find xxxxxx on your site so can you
>>>> help me?"
>>>> If so, I see why, if not. hmmmm.... I got to admit though that apple
>>>> has been getting snotty with allot of blind folks and its not making
>>>> me to happy because I push for the blind to convert to the mac and
>>>> promote the mac all over and it annoys the hell out of me when I hear
>>>> these stories because if one of my clients get this type of treatment
>>>> it looks bad on me.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> BlindTech of BlindTechs.Net
>>>> blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> website: http://blindtechs.net
>>>> Visit our website where we offer free email, shell accoiunts,
>>>> shoutcast radio service, online games and more!
>>>> Powered by Unix not Microsoft
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Jan 7, 2006, at 3:37 AM, Chris Gilland wrote:
>>>>
>>>> >Actually, when I looked at the web site, I didn't see any type
>>>> >limitations, but I could be wrong.  I didn't look very heavily
>>>> >since I couldn't even find the install shield for version 5, as
>>>> >that's gonna be the first thing that will have to happen, and
>>>> >frankly, Apple is being quite interestingly enough, very very very
>>>> >very very rude in not wanting to help.  I called and spoke with
>>>> >someone at the Apple Care Tech Support line, and they actually had
>>>> >the guts to sit there and say that because I was blind, they
>>>> >refused to help me as a customer.  None the less, I'm seriously
>>>> >thinking of taking a complaint to my local ACB chapter regarding
>>>> >this, as I'm not much for NFB, but I don't wish to get into a
>>>> >political discussion here, so thus, I really don't feel comfortable
>>>> >giving any reasons why that is on list.  Anyway, we'll get off that
>>>> >subject...  Yeah, I didn't see any limitations though, but I'll
>>>> >check later on today a bit more closely.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >Chris.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >----- Original Message ----- From: "BlindTech of BlindTechs.Net"
>>>> ><blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> >To: <blindcasting@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> >Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 11:31 PM
>>>> >Subject: Re: Itunes
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >I'm assuming that the set files are coded in a way to where they
>>>> >won't work with a demo of win eyes?
>>>> >
>>>> >BlindTech of BlindTechs.Net
>>>> >blindtech@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> >website: http://blindtechs.net
>>>> >Visit our website where we offer free email, shell accoiunts,
>>>> >shoutcast radio service, online games and more!
>>>> >Powered by Unix not Microsoft
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> >On Jan 6, 2006, at 3:55 PM, Chris Gilland wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >>I have an IPod mini.  I?m wondering if anyone may know where to
>>>> >>get  a coy of Itunes version 5, as apparently, the set files for
>>>> >>window  eyes do not work with any other version.  I?ve checked the
>>>> >>Apple  web site, and also have looked on olderversion.com and
>>>> >>download.com.  I?ve used google as well, with no luck.  I really
>>>> >>would like to try these set files with my demo copy of Window
>>>> >>eyes.  Please let me know if anyone has any ideas.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>Chris.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> - -- 
>>> HolmesGrown Solutions
>>> The best solutions for the best price!
>>> http://ld.net/?holmesgrown
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