I would say that the Droid OS being free to implement is a double edged sword.
On one hand, I appreciate cheapness, or economy, as it is more politely phrased. On the other hand, someone willing to put forth the money to purchase the right to put an app on the app store, if nothing else, is more likely to take the time to do it and do it right. Honestly, this is one of the few things that I actually love about Apple, even while it irks me. Google on the whole, and Droid in particular, have grown very much in the vain of quantity over quality. I still like GMail, and I still prefer Google Search, but the quality in other areas is decreasing. I am convinced that Accessibility is, at best, a tertiary concern for Google, as opposed to it being at least Secondary for Apple. I'll put forth an example. Google wants people to use their services, whether or not they use an Android device. they put forth several apps for the iPhone, ranging from Search to Chrome to Maps to Drive. Many of these Apps have parallels on the iPhone already, though users with pre-existing Google accounts may want data or certain features associated with the account on their iPhone. Google Drive is much less accessible than the Dropbox app, which may be a poor example, because Dropbox is independently made, though it's still fairly poignant that the independent Dropbox service produces a better and more accessible app than does the multi-billion dollar Google corperation. Apple maps is somewhat inaccurate, according to reports, though I've never had any problems with it, but Google Maps is a disaster where accessibility is concerned. Apple Maps is beautiful. Why can't Google make their maps app as good? Why is it that only now, after quite a lot of clamor, that the Youtube app is accessible on the iPhone. I note, by the way, that it isn't accessible on Ice Cream Sandwich, though whether it is accessible on Jellybean is a question I can't easily answer. The only answer I can come two is two fold. Google is much less concerned with accessibility than is Apple. Also, much of what is implemented is free work from the community or work specific to device providers. the incredible variety in Android devices out there is great for the average consumer, but it throws a monkey wrench of epic proportions in the works for those with accessibility concerns. I want to make one more note to the list before I close the topic on the note of games, about which this list is primarily concerned. That note is this: The iPhone isn't technically accessible out of the box. The triple click to turn VoiceOver on should be implemented as standard, but it isn't. You'll need someone to help you turn it on the first time, but then you can go into settings, general, accessibility for yourself and set up triple click to turn on Voiceover if you want. Now, as for games, there are a wide variety of games on both IOS and DroidOS. In fact, many makers of games are deciding to push the envelope and make their products cross-platform. this is amazing, and it's let me play games with friends and family in a way I never expected. The fact is, a lot of games aren't going to be accessible either way, and the further fact is that I haven't tried out Android's accessibility features very extensively at all. I can, however, say with certainty that the iPhone isn't limited to games designed with accessibility in mind. it takes patience and a lack of fear of failure, but I suggest going into the App store, downloading what titles look interesting, and trying them out. If you don't like the result, you can delete the app from your phone, but a lot of things you wouldn't expect work pretty well, and a lot of developers on the app store are like those kind souls we have on this list, independent folks looking for user feedback. One of my favorite games, ErnCon, is pretty much a different experience now from when I first started playing it, all because of the fact that the developer was willing to listen to the feedback of myself and a few others. It's pretty common. Essentially, I want to advise whoever is making smartphone choices to do a lot of careful research and consideration. If you don't want a phone, consider a tablet. If you only want a phone that dials numbers and stores contacts, consider a phone other than IOS or DroidOS. If you want a smartphone or a tablet, consider what you want out of it, and don't buy anything unless you have put it through its paces. The iPad mini is a pretty neat little tablet that might do for someone looking to try out iOS in a small package without commitment, and there's always the iPod touch THird Generation and later, all of which don't vary too significantly from the iPhone, at least according to what I can see. As for Android devices, the devices are as varied as can be imagined. Try before you buy, and if it doesn't work now, maybe consider writing in a request to the manufacturer and/or to Google. Maybe if we bug them enough, significant change will occur. Either way, good luck and good hunting. Signed: Dakotah Rickard On 1/6/13, Michael Taboada <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Thomas, > I think if you get a contract then the phone is a lot cheaper. For example I > > got my iPhone 4s when it came out for like $200 or so, and it's a 16 gig. if > > you really wanted lots of music you may want the 32 gig or so, but even that > > was only like $300. In my case, however, I really only use my phone for > apps, so only needed the 16 gig. > Hth, > -Michael. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Thomas Ward > Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2013 10:05 PM > To: Gamers Discussion list > Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Good iPhone games for Voiceover user > > Hi Dark, > > Yeah, well the cost is the big sticking point for me. personally. > Tonight my wife and I were out at Wal-Mart getting a few items so I > decided to look at the phones Verison had in their store and I can't > see putting down $500 USD down on an iPhone 5 when I can get an Asuse > Nexus 4 running Jellybean 4.2 for $238 which is less than half the > cost with about the same features. Actually, as a software developer > the Nexus has one advantage over the iPhone and that is that Droid OS > is an open system meaning I can develop my own apps from my Windows PC > and install them on my phone without having to purchase an Apple Mac, > use their development kit for iOS, register my app with the Apple > store, and all that other business just to write games and other apps > for my smart phone. Google's Droid OS is basically the way to go for > someone wanting to develop quick and inexpensive apps for a smart > phone without having to sell your soul to Apple to write software for > their proprietary devices. > > On 1/6/13, dark <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi tom. >> >> Well as you know games were part of the reason I bought an Iphone 5 in >> the >> first place and I got a very good deal from my phone company. I don't >> have >> any problem with the screen size personally for brousing, texting etc, so >> I'd recommend it myself albeit that it does cost. >> >> Beware the grue! >> >> Dark. >> > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
