Hi there I realize that we are doing a lot of speculation here, but does anybody know if we will be able to have a female voice with iOS eight? My sided husband had this reaction when I told him about Alex on iOS eight. He is been using voice over a lot lately to do reading on his iPhone because he's been having some trouble with his eyes when it comes to reading. I guess he could get one of the Irish forces or South African voices that are on there now. Sincerely, Gigi
Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 2, 2014, at 6:17 AM, 'David Goldfield' via MacVisionaries > <[email protected]> wrote: > > My only complain about Alex on the Mac is that the voice tends to slur a bit > when the rate of speech is up to a high value and if the inflection or > intonation is past 85%. Other than that, it's a pleasant voice with a > realistic breathing algorithm. I notice that it doesn't breathe when you > perform a continuous read but it does if you're using arrow keys to move line > by line. > > Feel free to visit my new Web site http://www.DavidGoldfield.info Feel free > to visit my LinkedIn profile > http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-goldfield/12/929/573 Visit my blog > http://davidgoldfield.wordpress.com Follow me on Twitter > http://www.twitter.com/davidgoldfield David Goldfield, Founder and Peer > Coordinator Philadelphia Computer Users' Group for the Blind and Visually > Impaired >> On 7/2/2014 7:06 AM, Daniel McGee wrote: >> Which voice do you use, then if you don’t like Alex. >> >> >>> On 2 Jul 2014, at 12:01, Christopher Hallsworth <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> In what way don't you like him? >>> >>> Christopher Hallsworth >>> Student at the Hadley School for the Blind >>> www.hadley.edu >>> >>>> On 02/07/2014 10:31, Anders Holmberg wrote: >>>> Hi! >>>> Actually i must be the only guy on this list not liking alex at all. >>>> For some reason i don't like him. >>>> /A >>>>> 1 jul 2014 kl. 09:31 skrev Sandi Jazmin Kruse <[email protected]>: >>>>> >>>>> gorgeous! so now alex can guide me around when i am out visiting >>>>> patients ! yeehah!! apple way to go! >>>>> Will it also mean one can hear the map when i drive on the highway one >>>>> wonders? lets hope so… >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On 6/30/14, Christopher Hallsworth <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> If it's like the mac Alex will be a U.S. English voice only. Other >>>>>> languages should still use the Vocalizer Expressive voices as with the >>>>>> case on iOS 7. As for speak screen I speculate this would be useless for >>>>>> VO users; more for those with low vision such as Zoom users or those >>>>>> with a learning disability such as dyslexia. Just a disclaimer: I am a >>>>>> beta tester but can still only speculate. >>>>>> >>>>>> Christopher Hallsworth >>>>>> Student at the Hadley School for the Blind >>>>>> www.hadley.edu >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 01/07/2014 04:05, mário navarro wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> hi. >>>>>>> alex on IOS8 will only support English / USA, or will speak all the >>>>>>> languages that are available today in the voices of IOS7 vocalizer >>>>>>> expressive voices? >>>>>>> yes, because if Alex comes to IOS8, must be present for all languages >>>>>>> and not only for English USA. >>>>>>> on the mac, alex only supports English / USA. >>>>>>> who assures us that alex on IOS8 will not be the same as the mac? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> now speak about speak screen. >>>>>>> Can anyone explain in more detail what this tool is capable to do >>>>>>> specifically on the screen? >>>>>>> because it seems to me that for this purpose we have the selector >>>>>>> elements. >>>>>>> with the selector elements can also view the screen and all the elements >>>>>>> that can be found in the screen ... >>>>>>> what makes this tool more? >>>>>>> is this not more of the same? >>>>>>> I do not understand what the speak screen will give us more than the >>>>>>> selector elements. >>>>>>> We can also read the entire screen with two fingers up gesture, that >>>>>>> informs us of what is on the screen. >>>>>>> anybody explain to me what the speak screen does most specifically? >>>>>>> thanks. >>>>>>> cheers. >>>>>>> Em 28-06-2014 15:23, Robert C escreveu: >>>>>>>> Yosemite is no harder than Apple. It could be worse, much worse. And >>>>>>>> now we wait out the summer. That for some methinks will be much harder >>>>>>>> than learning to spell Y o s e m i t e. ;) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Quote of the nanosecond . . . >>>>>>>> I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it. >>>>>>>> Robert & Annie Yanni ke7nwn >>>>>>>> E-mail- >>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 6/28/2014 5:05 AM, Devin Prater wrote: >>>>>>>>> I totally agree with the article. Even little things like the reader >>>>>>>>> mode in Safari for mac and iOS, make things so simple and lovely. I >>>>>>>>> can't wait to see what's new in Yosimidy though. On a side note, do >>>>>>>>> they have to make OS names so hard to spell nowadays? What ever >>>>>>>>> happened to simplicity there? LOL. >>>>>>>>> On Jun 28, 2014, at 2:15 AM, Nicholas Parsons >>>>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thought the below article might be of interest to some on the list. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> http://www.macstories.net/stories/an-overview-of-ios-8s-new-accessibility-features/ >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> An Overview of iOS 8's New Accessibility Features >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Since this year's WWDC keynote ended, the focus of any analysis on >>>>>>>>>> iOS 8 has been its features -- things like Continuity, Extensions, >>>>>>>>>> and iCloud Drive. This is, of course, expected: iOS is the operating >>>>>>>>>> system that drives Apple's most important (and most profitable) >>>>>>>>>> products, so it's natural that the limelight be shone on the new >>>>>>>>>> features for the mass market. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> As I've written, however, the Accessibility features that Apple >>>>>>>>>> includes in iOS are nonetheless just as important and innovative as >>>>>>>>>> the A-list features that Craig Federighi demoed on stage at Moscone. >>>>>>>>>> Indeed, Apple is to be lauded for their year-over-year commitment to >>>>>>>>>> improving iOS's Accessibility feature set, and they continue that >>>>>>>>>> trend with iOS 8. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Here, I run down what's new in Accessibility in iOS 8, and explain >>>>>>>>>> briefly how each feature works. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Alex. Apple is bringing Alex, its natural-sounding voice on the Mac, >>>>>>>>>> to iOS. Alex will work with all of iOS's spoken audio technologies >>>>>>>>>> (Siri excepted), including VoiceOver, Speak Selection, and another >>>>>>>>>> new Accessibility feature to iOS 8, Speak Screen (see below). In >>>>>>>>>> essence, Alex is a replacement for the robotic-sounding voice that >>>>>>>>>> controls VoiceOver, et al, in iOS today. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Speak Screen. With Speak Screen, a simple gesture will prompt the >>>>>>>>>> aforementioned Alex to read anything on screen, including queries >>>>>>>>>> asked of Siri. This feature will be a godsend to visually impaired >>>>>>>>>> users who may have issues reading what is on their iPhone and/or >>>>>>>>>> iPad. It should be noted that Speak Screen is fundamentally >>>>>>>>>> different from Speak Selection, which only reads aloud selected >>>>>>>>>> text. By contrast, Speak Screen will read aloud everything on the >>>>>>>>>> screen -- text, button labels, etc. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Zoom. Apple has made some welcome tweaks to its Zoom functionality >>>>>>>>>> in iOS 8. The hallmark feature is users now have the ability to >>>>>>>>>> specify which part of the screen is zoomed in, as well as adjust the >>>>>>>>>> level of the zoom. In particular, it's now possible to have the >>>>>>>>>> virtual keyboard on screen at normal size underneath a zoomed-in >>>>>>>>>> window. What this does is makes it easy to both type and see what >>>>>>>>>> you're typing without having to battle the entirety of the user >>>>>>>>>> interface being zoomed in. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Grayscale. iOS in and of itself doesn't have "themes" like so many >>>>>>>>>> third-party apps support -- and even like OS X Yosemite's new "dark >>>>>>>>>> mode". iOS does, however, support a pseudo-theme by way of Invert >>>>>>>>>> Colors (white-on-black). In iOS 8, Apple is adding a second >>>>>>>>>> pseudo-theme to the system with Grayscale. With this option turned >>>>>>>>>> on, the entirety of iOS's UI is turned, as the name would imply, >>>>>>>>>> gray. The addition of a Grayscale is notable because it gives those >>>>>>>>>> users who have issues with colorized display -- or who simply view >>>>>>>>>> darker displays better -- another way to alter the contrast of their >>>>>>>>>> device(s). >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Guided Access. The big addition to Guided Access is that Apple is >>>>>>>>>> leveraging its own new-to-iOS-8 Touch ID developer API to enable >>>>>>>>>> users to be able to exit Guided Access using their scanned >>>>>>>>>> fingerprint. This is a noteworthy feature because it effectively >>>>>>>>>> guarantees that students (or test-takers or museum visitors) can't >>>>>>>>>> leave Guided Access to access the Home screen or other parts of iOS. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> As well, Apple has added a time limit feature to Guided Access, >>>>>>>>>> thereby allowing teachers, parents, and the like to specify the >>>>>>>>>> length of time Guided Access is to be used. Especially in special >>>>>>>>>> education classrooms, features such as Touch ID to exit and the >>>>>>>>>> timer can be extremely powerful in ensuring an uninterrupted >>>>>>>>>> learning experience, keeping students on task yet still set the >>>>>>>>>> expectation that a transition (i.e., "You can play games now", for >>>>>>>>>> instance) will take place in X minutes. In terms of behavior >>>>>>>>>> modification, Guided Access's new features are potentially >>>>>>>>>> game-changing, indispensable tools for educators. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Enhanced Braille Keyboard. iOS 8 adds support for 6-dot Braille >>>>>>>>>> input system-wide. This feature involves a dedicated Braille >>>>>>>>>> keyboard that will translate 6-dot chords into text. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> "Made for iPhone" Hearing Aids. Apple in iOS 8 has improved its Made >>>>>>>>>> for iPhone Hearing Aids software so that now users who use hearing >>>>>>>>>> aids and have multiple devices now can easily switch between them. >>>>>>>>>> Moreover, if a hearing aid is paired with more than one device, >>>>>>>>>> users will now be able to pick which device they'd like to use. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Third Party Keyboard API. This topic (as well as QuickType) is >>>>>>>>>> worthy of its own standalone article, but the accessibility >>>>>>>>>> ramifications of iOS 8's third party keyboard API are potentially >>>>>>>>>> huge for those with special needs. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> A third-party keyboard on iOS 8. (Source: Apple.com) >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Anecdotally speaking, I hear from several low vision iOS-using >>>>>>>>>> friends who lament the default system keyboard, which is essentially >>>>>>>>>> the same keyboard that shipped with the original iPhone in 2007. The >>>>>>>>>> problem, my friends say, is that the key caps are too small and the >>>>>>>>>> glyphs too hard to read. With the new API, though, third party >>>>>>>>>> developers such as the team at Fleksy can create entirely customized >>>>>>>>>> keyboards that users can use instead of the stock one. This means >>>>>>>>>> developers can control key spacing and size, color, and so forth in >>>>>>>>>> an effort to create keyboards that accommodate for a wide array of >>>>>>>>>> visual -- and motor -- needs. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> In fact, at WWDC I had a chance to speak with Fleksy co-founder and >>>>>>>>>> COO, Ioannis Verdelis, about the keyboard API and his company's >>>>>>>>>> product. While I won't divulge anything that was said at our >>>>>>>>>> meeting, suffice it to say that Ioannis and his team were stoked at >>>>>>>>>> the news of the new API, and are really excited for what they have >>>>>>>>>> in the works for iOS 8. They really believe the new Fleksy will >>>>>>>>>> benefit a lot of people with special needs. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Miscellany. iOS 8 brings with it a few housekeeping changes to >>>>>>>>>> Settings.app, where the Accessibility options are located. For >>>>>>>>>> example, the Subtitles & Captioning option -- which previously was >>>>>>>>>> found under Hearing -- has been moved to a new Media section, right >>>>>>>>>> next to a new Video Descriptions toggle. Furthermore, the Physical & >>>>>>>>>> Motor pane -- home to such features as Switch Control and >>>>>>>>>> AssistiveTouch -- has been rechristened Interaction. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> As stated above, Apple's steadfast commitment to improving >>>>>>>>>> Accessibility year after year deserves the utmost praise, and 2014 >>>>>>>>>> is no different. As someone who relies on some of iOS's >>>>>>>>>> Accessibility technologies in order to use my devices, the breadth >>>>>>>>>> and depth of these features never cease to amaze me. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Without any tinge of hyperbole, I often marvel at how truly >>>>>>>>>> Accessibility reflects Apple's ethos of designing products for >>>>>>>>>> everyone, regardless of cognitive or physical impairment. (A >>>>>>>>>> sentiment I have expressed numerous times elsewhere.) Again, these >>>>>>>>>> are signs of real innovation, although they (unfortunately) go >>>>>>>>>> largely unheralded. It's my strong opinion that Apple is leading the >>>>>>>>>> industry in this regard, and iOS 8 takes another step forward in >>>>>>>>>> extending their lead. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>>> Groups "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>>>> email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>>> email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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