Hi Rajmund, I would say to use the method that is most convenient for you, knowing that you may be offered another means of communication so that your concern reaches the right person.
Jonathan has been kind enough to post a link, so unless that is somehow prohibitive for you, then that would really be the way to go. Cheers! Cara --- iOS design and development - LookTel.com --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/models/Cara-Quinn Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ModelCara On Dec 1, 2015, at 2:15 PM, Rajmund <brajmund2...@gmail.com> wrote: Hello Cara, Do we use accessibil...@apple.com or some kind of other address for this? Its not a direct accessibility feature, after all. ----- Original Message ----- From: Cara Quinn <caraqu...@caraquinn.com> To: viphone@googlegroups.com Date: Tuesday, December 1, 2015 8:53 pm Subject: Re: Apple, Don't Take my Headphone Jack Away > > > Hi Marshall; > > You're not stupid! :) That's a great question. > > My point is really that rather than us waiting for more news on things or > wishing that something would work for us, that we simply take the first step > and really go ahead and start a friendly dialogue with anyone we may know > between us and that which we are working toward. > > In regard to Apple, we have an email address and a phone number. Some of us > have other connections as well. Use these. That's all. > > For Android and other companies, just take the step to find their contact > details and go ahead and follow that. You will find that there are people who > will listen. > > It does not mean we need to fight or be confrontational. There are many > people in these tech companies as well as small developers alike who are > really interested in what we have to say. > > Our job I feel very strongly now, is really to come together and lend our > voices, not as iPhone users or Android users, not as Mac users or Windows > users, but just as customers who really rely on all of these various > technologies (and more) to have a good quality of life or very much enhance > or improve our lives.. > > So many times, we wish that something was accessible and so many of us just > stay at that point, (I've done it myself) when really what would help would > be just to add your voice to the mix. Even just one comment, question or > tweet can really make a difference because it may start a ball rolling > somewhere that you may not even know about. > > We have almost two thousand five hundred people here on this list alone. > While that's not many in the grand scheme of the entire world population, it > sure is a lot when it comes to a company receiving emails or phone calls or > tweets. > > If you were to receive even a thousand emails in a week, all commenting on or > asking for the same thing, I guarantee you you would sit up and take notice. > > I am on this journey right along with you and everyone else here. So while I > may not personally have every answer we need, I am absolutely confident > beyond any doubt that we can do more now to really assure that our voices be > heard and that we take that extra step to do all we can to make the > technology we need accessible or to make sure it stays usable and beneficial > for us. > > As has already been said here, if the touch tone bug had happened to the > sighted market, there would have been nothing short of outrage. -But you know > that that kind of bug would never have happened to sighted purchasers of the > iPhone. So my point is that while yes, we need absolutely, to be thankful for > what we have and what some amazing folks are willing to go the extra mile to > make available to us, we also need to simply speak up and guide them. -Or in > some cases, we need to really bring about the point that these common > technologies now are a real need for us. > > This sort of thing is our responsibility. What I am saying is to use the > tools that we have in order to connect with the developers or companies that > we can connect with and don't give up. Continue to intelligently let them > know that you need equal access and how important it is for all of us. > Understand that access is not just being able to use a device but it is also > being abel to use that device as easily and comfortably as compared to our > sighted counterparts in as much as that is possible with current technologies > and capabilities. This means making the experience of using that product > helpful and enjoyable for us, not an arduous and frustrating process. We can > take the definition of accessibility and move it forward and help others to > understand that. > > As I said, there are people who are interested and who will listen. If you > don't find them on the first try, then just do it again. You *will* find them > and they *will * listen. > > There are also organizations that we already have that have been helping us > all throughout this process. Maybe you don't agree with one or the other of > them, but just make the step to check in with one of them. That's a start. > See what they think of the situation and if they may already have a plan to > address it. > > If you want better Android accessibility for example, perhaps someone at a > local chapter of ACB or NFB or perhaps your local rehab organization has > someone who has also given this some thought. By doing this, you have just > created an alliance where there was none previously. This way more ideas > happen and those ideas find motion. Does this make sense? > > > These are just a few ideas I have. What are yours? How do you think we might > help ourselves to assure that accessibility can continue to thrive and > improve and grow as it needs to now?... > > Thanks so much for reading and for your question. > > Have a great day! > > Cheers! > > Cara > --- > iOS design and development - LookTel.com > --- > View my Online Portfolio at: > > http://www.onemodelplace.com/models/Cara-Quinn > > Follow me on Twitter! > > https://twitter.com/ModelCara > > On Dec 1, 2015, at 12:50 PM, Marshall Scott <mfsc...@me.com> wrote: > > I may be particularly stupid this morning, but how do you suggest that we do > so. Do organizations like ACB and NFB do anything to make these kind of > suggestions? > Thanks, > Marshall > >> On Dec 1, 2015, at 12:27 PM, Cara Quinn <caraqu...@caraquinn.com> wrote: >> >> Hi Jonathan and all; >> >> I absolutely agree here. I myself have been considering the possibility of >> other phone options in light of what I consider to be a real concern of >> degrading quality and user experience. Yes, I have felt trapped as well so >> to speak. >> >> This is part of the reason I feel that as a community, now more than ever, >> we really need to be seeing ourselves not as iPhone users vs Android users, >> or Apple vs Windows users, but simply as blind or visually impaired people >> who need accessible technology in their lives. >> >> I feel that we all need to really push for a good access experience in all >> of the technologies we need to rely on on a daily basis. I feel this is >> vitally important for us. We need to have choices at this point and >> companies need to know that we need this. This is not a want. This is not a >> nice-to-have at this point, this is a need. >> >> Technology is now not only ubiquitous but is a crucial part of daily life >> for everyone and we absolutely need to stay in the forefront of all of it. >> >> We have been fortunate to have this experience with Apple products and this >> has made so many people's lives infinitely better. I not only wish to see >> this continue to go forward with Apple but also with Android and other >> technologies as well. Please know how important it is to support companies >> that are providing us with accessible offerings and that they need to know >> how much you need these but also how they can improve these experiences for >> all of us. >> >> Remember, technology is a need for us now, the days of it being a >> nice-to-have are gone. The landscape has changed. Because of the place that >> technology now occupies in the world and in people's lives, it is now >> basically a right. Developers and companies need to really understand this >> in a positive way. We can help them to do this. >> >> Thanks for reading, and thanks to you all for such a great thread. >> >> Have a great day! >> >> Cheers! >> >> Cara >> --- >> iOS design and development - LookTel.com >> --- >> View my Online Portfolio at: >> >> http://www.onemodelplace.com/models/Cara-Quinn >> >> Follow me on Twitter! >> >> https://twitter.com/ModelCara >> >> On Dec 1, 2015, at 9:10 AM, Jonathan Mosen <jmo...@mosen.org> wrote: >> >> Hi Mary, yes, when it comes to mobile phones at least, I must confess to >> feeling increasingly trapped. >> There are excellent alternative tablets and computers, but it's the phone >> that it's tricky to find an alternative for. >> Jonathan Mosen >> Mosen Consulting >> Blindness technology eBooks, tutorials and training >> http://Mosen.org >> >>> On 2/12/2015, at 5:02 AM, Mary Otten <motte...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Jonathan, >>> I saw the same article you did in mac rumors. I admit that I have not been >>> trolling the Apple forums or the MacRumors comment sections, so I do not >>> know what the public reaction to that story has been. But, while I am not >>> hearing impaired, I absolutely join you in your condemnation of this >>> possibility. We don't need thinner iPhones. We just don't. And 1 mm? Who is >>> going to notice one stinking millimeter? For that, Apple will make me buy >>> some stupid little connector to use my headphones with? And they will >>> probably charge $30 for it even though the parts cost them five. And then >>> when I lose said connector, which is almost inevitable, I will get to buy >>> another one. This just looks like a cheap crappy trick for Apple to make >>> more money off of people who are willing to keep paying top dollar for >>> increasingly shoddy products. If they did this, and android weren't such a >>> mess in some fairly fundamental ways for blind screen reader users, I >>> would really consider switching to android. But, web browsing and >>> continuous reading and some other things are still so bad on that platform >>> that such a switch is untenable if you want to use your device efficiently. >>> My opinion only of course. >>> Mary >>> >>> Mary >>> >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Dec 1, 2015, at 7:49 AM, Jonathan Mosen <jmo...@mosen.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi everyone, I waited a few days to see if this issue might be raised by >>>> someone else. But I'll raise it here myself, because I'm not sure whether >>>> Apple may be flying a kite here and seeing what reaction this idea gets. >>>> >>>> There's an unconfirmed rumour from a source that has in the past been >>>> credible, that the next generation iPhone will not include a headphone >>>> jack, so Apple can make the phone thinner. >>>> I'm pasting a blog post that I wrote and published on this subject 72 >>>> hours ago. Here goes. >>>> >>>> I like thin, lightweight technology, but it isn't the only criterion that >>>> determines what I use. If thin and light doesn't give me the performance I >>>> need, I'm happy to choose something heavier or bigger. >>>> >>>> When the iPhone 6 Plus came out, I bought one. Initially, it seemed >>>> absolutely enormous, and I thought I'd never get used to it. Now I'm on >>>> the 6s Plus and would never go back to a smaller iPhone. The battery life >>>> and the bigger screen for Braille screen input make it the right choice >>>> for me. >>>> >>>> After being a MacBook Air user for three years, I recently bought a >>>> 15-inch MacBook Pro with all the specs maxed out. It includes 16GB of RAM >>>> and 1TB solid state storage. >>>> >>>> Compared to my MacBook Air, the Pro feels heavy and thick, and I've >>>> therefore given it the nickname "The Big Kahuna". But it fits in my >>>> backpack just fine when I travel, it isn't really that arduous to take >>>> places, and the thing is, it goes like a rocket. I enjoy having OS X for a >>>> few apps and functions, but Windows is still my primary operating system. >>>> With a laptop this fast and powerful, I can run JAWS in a virtual machine >>>> with superb results, and still tend to iMessages and FaceTime calls. >>>> >>>> Sometimes I pick up my old MacBook Air and think, "oy, what have I done? >>>> This thing is so cute!" But the performance factor soon reminds me that I >>>> made the right decision for my particular needs. >>>> >>>> There's plenty of choice of form factor in the MacBook line now.. If you >>>> want to go ultra-portable, there's the new 12-inch retina MacBook, which >>>> is just adorably thin and light, with compromises to match. It sports a >>>> single USB type C port, which is the only way both to connect peripherals >>>> to it and charge it. And the keyboard is, to put it charitably, an >>>> acquired taste. >>>> >>>> So when it comes to Mac, Apple now has a line-up that can meet the needs >>>> of the road warrior who wants something really light for a bit of word >>>> processing, email and web surfing, all the way to someone who needs plenty >>>> of grunt and is willing to lug it around. >>>> >>>> There is not so much flexibility in the iPhone stable, where there are >>>> usually now two current models with similar specs but different screen >>>> sizes. So when I read a rumour that Apple may dispense with the 3.5mm >>>> headphone jack in iPhone 7 models, it had me concerned. >>>> >>>> Before I explain why, let me be clear that Apple itself has made no >>>> official statement about the future of the headphone jack. It's only a >>>> rumour. But I read a lot of technology sources, and have come to know >>>> which sources tend to be more reliable. The source of this story, the >>>> Japanese technology site Mac Otakara, has a good track record. No news >>>> site that reports things like this gets it right 100% of the time though. >>>> It's also possible that Apple wants to monitor customer reaction to the >>>> idea, by letting it leak. But there's no doubt that decisions as >>>> fundamental as this are being taken now, or probably have already been >>>> taken. >>>> >>>> You can read an English summary of the story at Mac Rumours. >>>> >>>> Even if the story is wrong, and I hope it is, I want to write a defence of >>>> the headphone jack for those who think its loss wouldn't be a big deal. >>>> Some of us really, genuinely need it. >>>> >>>> The story suggests that the 3.5mm headphone jack will be dispensed with, >>>> because it's preventing Apple from making the iPhone thinner. If they >>>> removed the jack, they could shave more than 1mm off the thickness of the >>>> phone. >>>> >>>> If this rumour is correct, Apple would probably include Earpods with a >>>> Lightning connector, since specs for headphones that use the Lightning >>>> port have been available since 2014. >>>> >>>> According to the story, the Lightning port would include a digital to >>>> analogue converter, so you'd still be able to connect 3.5mm headphones. >>>> There is no word in the story that this Lightning port would be in >>>> addition to the one already on iPhones, implying that you'll have one port >>>> for both charging your device and listening to wired headphones or >>>> connecting the device to a mixer. >>>> >>>> My first objection to this rumour is a philosophical one. 3.5mm headphone >>>> jacks are ubiquitous. The standard is supported by a massive number of >>>> manufacturers. It would be sad if Apple required its users to carry a >>>> proprietary adapter, probably sold separately, to connect standard >>>> equipment to their single proprietary port. But they've done this before. >>>> Even on my maxed out MacBook Pro, I have to buy a special adapter just to >>>> connect to wired Ethernet. >>>> >>>> My remaining concerns relate to functionality. As a hearing-aid wearer, I >>>> use my iPhone with a cable between the headphone jack and my hearing aids >>>> about 95% of the time. There's no latency because it's analogue all the >>>> way, and since no Bluetooth is involved, it's energy efficient in terms of >>>> hearing aid battery usage. The Lightning to analogue adapter would be one >>>> additional device to carry, use and potentially lose, and it would mean >>>> that I couldn't use my iPhone in the way that is optimal for me while I'm >>>> charging it. There's also the possibility that the digital to analogue >>>> converter may introduce latency. That wouldn't be important for most >>>> tasks, but it would be detrimental to all VoiceOver users who use 3.5mm >>>> devices, not just hearing aid wearers. >>>> >>>> But there's always Bluetooth, and that's the way the world is going, >>>> right? There may be a few exceptions, but the majority of Bluetooth audio >>>> I've used on iOS is laggy with VoiceOver, Apple's built-in screen reader >>>> for blind people like me, that I find it a frustrating, sub-optimal >>>> experience. Streamers for hearing aid wearers often power down very >>>> quickly after VoiceOver has stopped speaking, to save energy. This means >>>> that hearing aid wearers who use VoiceOver with Bluetooth streamers often >>>> must cope with missing the first second or two of what VoiceOver is >>>> saying, as the Bluetooth streamer powers up after detecting audio. If >>>> you're taking a phone call or listening to music, that's no big deal, but >>>> for a VoiceOver user, it's not a good experience. And Bluetooth streamers >>>> chew through hearing aid batteries faster than an analogue connection, >>>> imposing additional costs on hearing aid wearers. >>>> >>>> Taking hearing impairment out of the mix, there are many people who use >>>> the 3.5mm jack, and want to do so while charging their device. Bonnie, for >>>> example, has a pillow speaker, because she likes the radio on at night. It >>>> plugs into her iPhone while it's charging. >>>> >>>> We may be about to see a similar controversy with iPhone to the one that >>>> greeted the new MacBook's single USB C port and all the inconveniences >>>> that go with that. When that controversy was at its peak, proponents said >>>> that Apple often likes to move the tech agenda forward, and that they're >>>> uniquely positioned to do that by making "bold" decisions like this. >>>> Sorry, I don't consider a single port for peripherals and charging a bold >>>> decision. It's just a pain. If you want to use multiple devices, you have >>>> to buy some sort of hub, which detracts from the convenience of having an >>>> all-in-one device. >>>> >>>> I realise that as a VoiceOver user with a hearing impairment passionate >>>> about getting the most optimal audio experience, I'm a minority within a >>>> minority. But if this rumour proves to be true, it will be my queue to >>>> seriously examine other mobile options. I really don't want a phone one >>>> more millimetre thinner, when it's going to create an experience for me >>>> that would be poorer. >>>> >>>> >>>> Jonathan Mosen >>>> Mosen Consulting >>>> Blindness technology eBooks, tutorials and training >>>> http://Mosen.org >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone >>>> list. >>>> >>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or >>>> if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the >>>> owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>>> >>>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - >>>> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >>>> >>>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "VIPhone" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>>> email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >>>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >>> or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>> >>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - >>> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >>> >>> The archives for this list can be searched at: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "VIPhone" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - >> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> -- >> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >> >> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or >> moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >> >> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - >> you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com >> >> The archives for this list can be searched at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "VIPhone" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - > you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list.. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - > you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. Sent from a Braille Sense -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to viphone+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to viphone@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/viphone. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
