Some changes may be necessary in the way that Jaws handles screen displays for the latest build of ITunes.
The problem shown below occurs only with the latest ITunes update. We have checked this issue on two different computers, one running Windows XP and Jaws, 12.0.1169 and Windows 7 with Jaws, 12.0.1169. We have also tried to read the same display with alternate screen readers and achieved the same results. We were accessing the ITunes store, using the Search field to locate a particular song. Once the name was typed in, the normal procedure is to press Enter and ITunes will display the items selected on a separate tab. It is necessary to tab through several other options before reaching the actual list of selections. In Tab order, that list usually appears immediately after a tab containing information about the user's individual account. Here is what is happening. 1. Visual confirmation indicates that the results of the search are present on the screen but the Virtual PC Cursor reads "blank". 2. When the jaws cursor is activated, the list of items is there but it's mixed in with other non-related data. The left mouse button will function and a selection can be made but other buttons which should be accessible such as playing a sample of the tune, aren't on the screen. This cursor also reads things like a list of the folders created by the user and shows the tool bar. But the selection of songs is at the far end of each line of information. 3. We virtualized that window by pressing Insert+Alt+W. The Virtual PC cursor will now read the screen but includes all of that unrelated data along with the selections. In fact, it reads the same information as the jaws cursor. 4. When the Jaws cursor is active and the left mouse button is pressed, the screen changes and the "Buy" button is now isolated and is accessible. However, that information is being read by the PC cursor, not the Virtual PC cursor. CONCLUSIONS: We believe, based on this study, that the screen or display showing the selected items after a search is initiated, now used with the current build of ITunes, does not match the Default configuration used by Jaws. We suggest that one solution might be to make changes in how that screen is shown. We have reached this conclusion based on the fact that a great deal of information is being read which is not in any way related to the list of selections. It is possible that the area of the screen containing the other function buttons such as Play Sample are being excluded from the window being used by jaws. It is possible to read the information using the Jaws cursor and making a selection by pressing the left mouse button, but a change in the screen configuration might return access to all of the functions made available by ITunes. We would appreciate it if this problem was elevated to Freedom Scientific so that their technicians can work on this in the laboratory. Please note. John Melia tried working with Technical Support on this issue but no satisfactory results were achieved. The technician "Could not duplicate the problem" while John was on the phone. 1. Some of these displays are not accessible unless the user has an account and is signed in. 2. This problem began only with the latest update of the ITunes software. Previous versions did not have this issue. 3. We have tried contacting Apple's Technical Support regarding this issue and have not been able to reach anyone who could understand the special problems arising out of using Jaws with ITunes. JOHN MELIA PERSONAL E-MAIL: [email protected] JOHN AND LINDA JUSTICE PERSONAL E-MAIL: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
