Yes, Sieghard, I have contacted them. I tried twice through their customer support phone line, but nothing happened, at least with 2 subsequent app updates.
Last Wednesday I direct messaged them throughTwitter, asking them to please make thir iPhone app fully VoiceOver enabled for blind users. Several hours later I received a direct message from them, thanking me for bringing this to their attention, and indicating they had forwarded the request on to engineering. So, we'll see. Yes, please, let them know of your concerns, it can only help. Mark Taylor has convinced me that social media streams seem to be a more effective way of stimulating change than other more traditional approaches. I understand he thinks the representatives on social media may have more impact within the companies they serve. Thanks, Keith -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sieghard Weitzel Sent: Monday, November 28, 2016 2:34 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Neato bot vacuum Hi Keith, " persnickety", now here is a word you don't hear often *smile*. Anyhow, I wish my wife was so persnickety as to forbid me to vacuum, she's just happy if I do it! Have you contacted Neato regarding the accessibility? I am wondering what their reply was if they replied. I may even try to contact them and tell them that I'd love to buy one of these, but I won't do so until they make a commitment to accessibility and until I hear from other users the app has become fully accessible. This reminds me a bit of Sonos 6 or 7 years ago. The app was useable but not very accessible. At first Sonos seemed not too impressed by my efforts to convince them, but I guess it got to a point where more and more people bought Sonos and complained and at one point there was a bit turn-around and ever since accessibility remains unbroken and apparently a priority. Regards, Sieghard -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kramlinger, Keith G., M.D. Sent: Monday, November 28, 2016 12:19 PM To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Neato bot vacuum Hi Sieghard, Well, initially, an earlier version of the app was more accessible. With this earlier accessibility, and hopefully renewed accessibility in future upgrades, I mostly managed the entire use of the botvac through the app. I did start the app from a distance, which was nice coming home from a weekend away to a freshly cleaned home. I also like the option, as Sandy mentioned, of knowingly selecting either the higher powered Turbo setting or the less powerful Eco setting, both for whole home cleaning from the start or the small or large spot cleans. I never used the Schedule function as its better for our household to set the thing off when we're leaving for a few hours; we don't have a predictable schedule for absences. Since the upgrade that broke the initial accessibility, which wasn't complete by any means, I now use the app for learning the battery charge, which wasn't available in the earlier more accessible app. And, I like getting updates when away from home as to how the thing is doing, whether still cleaning, or completed, or stuck. If I learn it gets stuck on something or another shortly after I leave, I know I still need to do a house cleaning when I get back. But if it gets stuck just as I'm getting home after several hours, I know it's a mostly clean house. Note, the the thing doesn't get stuck much anymore, as I've learned what to modify to reduce its hang ups. I do wish the thing had a Ping option from the app, to aid in locating it if it gets stuck, especially when I've been away from home. It does chirp out at irregular intervals when stuck, but it can be a game of cat and mouse to find it, and sometimes I have to wait for 5 to 10 minutes for another chirp. But then sometimes, it chirps out every 20 seconds or so. I might use a Tile accessory if a Ping option doesn't become available. I'm optimistic the accessibility will improve, but it's certainly possible that it won't. Nevertheless, I can use the thing without the app if I need to, and I'm glad to, as it has allowed me to resume vacuuming responsibilities in our household after being forbidden from doing so for several decades because I wasn't able to vacuum as completely thoroughly as my persnickety wife's cleaning standards required. Now, she is quite happy letting the Neato do the vacuuming, and she readily admits to it doing a better job than she did. And, this is no small complement. Keith -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sieghard Weitzel Sent: Monday, November 28, 2016 8:23 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Neato bot vacuum Correct, only the model that has "Connect" in the name can connect to WiFi and has an app. Both Neato and Roomba have models which typically cost at least $300 less for a non-connected version. I think companies currently do charge quite a premium for the simple addition of a WiFi modem and the fact that you have an app with which you can do some stuff. I talked my Mom into a Neato Connected vacuum when she had her hip replacement surgery half a year ago and for the most part she doesn't even have it on WiFi and just starts it manually.I am actually curious what all people who own them do via the app other than start them or maybe start them when they aren't home. I think I saw a Black Friday deal for a not connected Roomba model for less than $400 canadian which is half the price of the connected model. Regards, Sieghard -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kramlinger, Keith G., M.D. Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2016 12:08 PM To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Neato bot vacuum I understand the only Neato product with an app is the botvac Connected. It's possible, though, that they have introduced other models to app-dom. Keith -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kellie Sent: Sunday, November 27, 2016 1:04 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Neato bot vacuum Hey everyone, I just had a question about the neato bot vacuum. Is there any particular model that I should be looking at for accessibility? We found one online that is supposed to be good if you have pets. The model is the D 80. Is this model have an iPhone app to go with it? Or is there another model that people have been buying. Thank you and advance for any help. Kellie and Loki Sent from my iPhone -- 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 [email protected] The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- 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 [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/viphone. 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