This is certainly true. My understanding is that though the
behind the scenes move began in 2000, there was a lot of work
required to get the software and hardware to work to Apple's
standards on the Intels. This is probably not the complete reason
for the months that have passed, but I'd wager it''s a major one.
Not related to Apple, but to VO is to ,consider is that
developers like, Joe, and David N and Greg are not in the majority.
Many might be "aware" of accessibility issues, but they certainly
don't see it as a priority. I can tell you this from email exchanges
and phone call I've exchanged with a few. The standard "lip service"
is given in that they intend on making their applications accessible
because it's the "right thing to do", but I've found a few who
didn't even know VoiceOver existed. Obviously, Apple cannot Make all
of their developers be aware of VoiceOver or to even implement the
tools to make their apps work with VO, so this is another part of the
accessibility puzzle that is quite similar to the Windows environment.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED] net
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, DANCING DOTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING AND SALES
On Sep 25, 2006, at 8:56 PM, John Weir wrote:
One thing to be considered in all this. Just as VO came out in
Tiger, Apple made a decision to shift to the intel chip and it
pulled all its assorted SW development teams off the jobs they were
doing and assigned them fully to the transition task. The VO team
was stripped to help in this effort and the planned fixes that
Apple knew about were put off to get the transistion done. For the
Last year Apple has been in a dangerous position, some what like
changing horses in mid stream. They needed to apply all their
talent to making the change happen rapidly before the Apple
computer market crashed while users waited for the new intel
systems. Now that all the transition has been accomplished, it
would appear to me that they will now settle down to completing the
work needed on VO and possibly making other Apple products
accessable. But Apple lost a good 15 months to make the change.
So dont be too criticle about an 18 month time period to "fix"
itunes and other programs. They are only now really working on the
items that they had to put off. Vickie Weir
Scott Howell wrote:
Ah, at last some intelligent conversation on this topic. I think
Joe and
Abdul have exchanged some thoughts here that actually make sense.
I agree with both and would say that yes Apple has done great
things, but the fact is, they must continue and if it means
holding their feet to the fire, then by all means.
Joe being a developer has a good grip on development cycles etc.
and I realize all of this will take time, but I agree that 18
months does seem a little long considering. I think however,
keeping in mind the priorities of Apple's developers is a must as
well. Surely it would be easy to add accessibility in, but surely
it would make more sense to do so at the outset as opposed to
patching it in after the fact.
Of course Itunes has been in development for a good long while
now and at this point I'd think if it were possible, then they
aut to get to it. Of course Itunes is not the only application at
all, there's plenty they could work on.
Of course unless we're sitting with the teams everyday, we aren't
going to know what the future holds, but we can only hope and
encourage. As customers, even a minoirity at that, we do have the
ability to make our desires known. This is the power of words and
of course voting with your purchases doesn't hurt things. grin
Good discussion fellas.
Scott
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
