Funny thing, this discussion came up this morning. Last night, I was trying to smoothen certain issues with an add-on, under Firefox 55.
I did a number of searches on the net, hoping to trace some kind of a solution for my issue. Yet what I found, was not exactly uplifting. Developing team of Mozilla, has decided to re-engineer their core structure. it seems they started the process, in version 55. It all will be fully implemented in version 57, this fall. The redo will result in loads of add-ons no longer working, and for some it might mean the very death of the feature. Not all add-ons can be updated to run under the new structure, due to their construction and activity. For the blind user, we have already seen the WebVisum go, due to this very fact. But all my reading last night, told me there are numerous other features of Firefox that now will be burried 12 feet below. If you go to the Add-on manager of your Firefox, and you scroll down the list of your currently running add-ons, you will notice a certain marking on several of them. If your add-on says legacy, it means that it is not going to run under version 57+, unless the developer will be able and willing to update it. Pretty much ALL my installation, said Legacy. Mozilla claims this is safety. Add-ons have been one of the big benefits of the Firefox browser, and as with WebVisum, even been a way for users to taylor their browser experience, even into increased accessibility. With the new core structure of the browser, not only will old add-ons stop working over-night, but you might never see any add-ons take over the functionality, due to the core blocking for certain activities that the add-on relied on. OK then, NVDA and Jaws managed to update their coding right now. But for how long? As a matter of fact, a few weeks ago, I saw a discussion on the Android list, complaining that Firefox was experiencing certain issues in accessibility on that platform. Since a screen reader is depending all its activity on accessing rather deeply into the underlaying software, and Mozilla takes big steps in blocking deep access into their structure, somehow there is kind of a piece of math that does force my calculator to go negative in its result. Now all of this happens for the Firefox browser. But what about the Thunderbird mail client? Is that the next to have "security" updates, that makes it so secure that it no longer can be recconed as useful? Don't want to make any painting on the wall, but simply just wonder if we once more are seeing things like general accessibility in the daily living, dropping. I still remember the 80's when we as blind, experienced loads of accessibility issues. Through the 90's, we saw several new technologies hitting the market, that one way or the other, increased our chances in living independent lifes. You might agree, that in the earlier 2000's, we did see a time when we could do pretty well. We had the chance of benefitting from accessible software on the computer, got talking cellphones, and even our microwaves started babbling away. But for the last decade or so, accessibility has steadily dropped. On the computer, it is really hard to find a top-rated anti-virus, a low-cost office solution, and soon enough a safe web browser - which is close in being fully accessible. One by one, we have seen them fall. If for nothing else, the graphical interface, the lack of keyboard functionality, and now the partial dropping of add-on support. Even finding a good and accessible computer, starts becoming a challenge, due to the drop of certain keys, or the F-keys being no longer working according to established standards. OK, we as blind, due complain; and the developers can close their ears. What really puzzles me though, is that the drop of add-on functionality, for instance, is something that generates loads of complains from the genral user as well. It proved to be, in my search last night, that this has been discussed for a while on the Mozilla forums. And yet, the Mozilla team seems determined to disregard all user feedback. As such, they likely won't bother a dewdrop, should you complain the loss of accessibility. Such lack of compliance with end-user wantings, have killed many a product in the market earlier. And as for those who rely on accessibility, I am wondering if it is time to look around for alternatives. To me, it seems Win-Eyes was but the first screen reader to loose out. Eventually, jaws and NVDA might have to realize Firefox is no longer the priority. Sometimes a product turns so secure, that noone can use it, and it often means either it will have to be reversed, or it will eventually see its death. For some funny reasons, I am reminded about the joke of the Danish comedian Victor Borge, many years ago, when he told about his uncle inventing a bugglar alarm - which was so effecient, that it got stolen from him. :) BTW, anyone remember WordPerfect, as of the late 90's? Being the number one choice of most screen reader users. Why? Due to its high functionality, its wonderful accessibility, and its widely reputed popularity in the industry. Where is it all now? Sure still exists, but do you ever hear about it; even inside the screen reader community? Why did it fade into the blue? Due to its developers closing all ears to any feedback; at least from the screen reader manufacturers. Does history ever repeat itself? :) On 10/1/2017 7:57 PM, brice Mijares via Talk wrote: > Rod, that's exactly why I'm not bothering to roll back. I remember a few years back where I had firefox set up so it wouldn't update and it updated any how. I'm runninng Current win 10 64 bit and FX just dings. I'll still use wineyes for Thunderbird and navigating my computer system . Now that fall is here I'll take the time to learn Jaws. > > On 10/1/2017 10:24 AM, Rod Hutton via Talk wrote: >> Hi Brice, >> >> I checked the box to disable updating to the current version from 55 to 56, but it updated anyway. >> Be that as it may, I'm finding no negative accessibility issues running Window-Eyes 9.5.4 under Windows 10 and the current 32-bit version of Firefox. >> Granted, I'm only googling right now, and perhaps I will find problems with certain sites. >> >> Hth, >> >> Rod >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of brice Mijares via Talk >> Sent: October 1, 2017 12:19 PM >> To: bj colt via Talk <[email protected]> >> Cc: brice Mijares <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: firefox 55.03 >> >> BJ, Thanks anyhow. I think it's time to learn Jaws. I'd tell you how to >> stop FX from updating, but it's different than in latest version. But if >> I remember correctly, tool to option, advance tab and I think you tab >> once and arrow down to updates. HTH >> >> On 10/1/2017 8:47 AM, bj colt via Talk wrote: >>> Hi Bryce, >>> >>> Unfortunatly I had to do a search on google for older versions of >>> firefox. My drop box isn't working or I would have uploaded the previous >>> version for you. >>> >>> I did install it and its working fine with w.e. >>> It really is straightforward. Go to google and type in older versions of >>> firefox. The page is easy to navigate. Either tab down or press h till >>> you get to the link for downloading the previous version. The download >>> should start right away. >>> >>> I haven't found where to uncheck the box to stop firefox updating >>> automatically. When I do I will let you know how its done. >>> >>> Live long and prosper, John >>> >>> -----Original Message----- From: brice Mijares via Talk >>> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2017 3:18 PM >>> To: Window-Eyes Discussion List >>> Cc: brice Mijares >>> Subject: firefox 55.03 >>> >>> Does anyone have a working link to download fx 55.03? Thanks. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the >>> author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. >>> >>> For membership options, visit >>> http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/bjcolt%40blueyonder.co.uk. >>> >>> For subscription options, visit >>> http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >>> List archives can be found at >>> http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the >>> author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. >>> >>> For membership options, visit >>> http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/bricemijares%40att.net. >>> >>> For subscription options, visit >>> http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >>> List archives can be found at >>> http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. >> >> For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/rod_hutton%40hotmail.com. >> For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >> List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. >> >> For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/bricemijares%40att.net. >> For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >> List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >> > _______________________________________________ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/trailerdavid%40hotmail.com. > For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > . > _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. 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