I missed how one can get this program. Can someone repost that information?
Kristeen Hughes
On May 31, 2013, at 12:21 AM, Cara Quinn <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hi Alan, actually a mobile app is a computer program. App is short for
application. There's no difference. :)
Even web apps these days are really full-fledged programs…
Just a quick FYI… :)
Have a terrific evening!
Smiles,
Cara :)
On May 30, 2013, at 11:44 AM, Alan Paganelli
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Wow Todd! That makes me tired just from reading all this. I guess I
just assumed that because it was an app that it would be less of a
headache then writing a hole computer program. Now I know!
Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the blind.
----- Original Message -----
*From:*Todd Bernhard <mailto:[email protected]>
*To:*[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Cc:*Todd Bernhard <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:*Wednesday, May 29, 2013 6:51 PM
*Subject:*Re: Apple just approved All Access: Talking Menus & More
Thank you everyone for the great, constructive feedback. We've
learned a lot and I wanted to give you an update. I just submitted
an update to Apple based on all the comments received so far!
First, I've built over 80 apps, for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Mac
OS and even Samsung Bada. This is the most complex one I've ever
built. In addition the emphasis on voiceover, the app is also meant
for the Deaf, Non-Verbal and Non-English-speaking audience, as it
can speak the order to the waitstaff, independently of voiceover.
The app is accessing four different servers from three different
companies. One server, in Switzerland, is for the logo scanning, one
in Rochester, NY (soon to migrate to Amazon's cloud servers) is our
own with our internal database with photos and premium customer
info, another in Las Vegas is for the text-to-speech hints (which
you do not need if you are using voiceover) and the last one, in San
Francisco, is for the restaurant/business/menu database. That
service and server is provided byLocu.com <http://locu.com/>.
That last one is where we have the following issues. First, thanks
to the popularity of the app, we went over their previously
undisclosed limit of 1,000 requests per day, around 8am Pacific
time. That is why some of you saw the app crashing. Since that
provider doesn't open until 9am, I had to keep calling until they
answered to get our limit raised. (I asked for 100,000!) It was
raised and I've made an edit to the app (for the next update) that
will display a message instead of crashing if that ever happens again!
Next, is the issue of no menus. That was probably because their
server offers info for more than just restaurants. For example,
they have hair salons, spas, etc. I'm changing the app to just show
restaurants, by default, and we may re-enable other businesses in a
future update, but because it was causing confusion, I don't think
it should default to "all businesses". That other info is valuable,
but the confusion seems to be the bigger problem.
Regarding stale data, I have noticed this and complained about it,
too. I think the provider's emphasis, understandably, is on growing
their database and there is less focus on pruning out old info.
They are a startup, too, and I can relate to prioritizing
resources. But I think we will create a button that lets you report
old data and then we can blacklist it from the app, even if it
hasn't been removed from that provider's database. To be honest,
it's quite remarkable that they've built this menu system, without
requiring restaurants to do anything. They search for websites, and
even scan paper menus and have over one million such menus now.
They have signed deals with GoDaddy and Yelp so we're in good
company. And they are excited to be part of this accessible effort.
Re voiceover and accessibility. The specific feedback was great,
and I believe I've made all of the changes. I've used the app
repeatedly in voiceover mode and I think I've eliminated everything
people were running into. For the technically inclined, you might be
interested to know that there are at least 109 specific
accessibility commands in the app source code. The problem wasn't
really the lack of voiceover commands but that we were layering
views on top of previous ones, and that meant in some views, if
there wasn't another accessible element displayed, the ones below it
would "peak through." That has been fixed.
I will change how you edit settings, like manual address versus GPS,
as this was confusing even to sighted folks!
Regarding finding the app, I sent the initial email shortly after
Apple notified us it was approved, and it takes some time for apps
to show up, especially worldwide. Nobody should have a problem
finding it now, either by searching for all access or search for
blind menus or use this link:http://bit.ly/AllAccessMenus
For a restaurant to be included in the app, or to update their
existing info, they can either contact us directly, which is
preferred, or they can contactLocu.com <http://locu.com/>who is the
menu database provider. There is no charge to be listed and no
charge to have a menu included. Both Locu and our firm, All Access,
offer premium features where we plan to earn revenue. Locu charges
restaurants to upload their own photos, whereas our focus is on
letting users upload their photos, via a scavenger hunt style
contest, in exchange for gift cards from the restaurant. We also
charge for the Logo Launcher scanning feature, and for the ability
to add custom deals (like groupons) and other custom buttons.
Lastly, the app is for more than menus. The app will provide a link
to directions via Apple Maps, twitter, facebook, weather, and more.
Are there other items you would like to have?
Thanks again, and please send feedback. It's probably easiest to
use the feedback button in the app. I'll let you know when the
update is approved. I hope you'll give that version a chance.
Todd@ToddBernhard
Cofounder,AllAccessMenus.com <http://allaccessmenus.com/>
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