The 11th installment of the Macfortheblind Audio Demonstration series is now up in the
Demonstrations page.
In this demonstration, I cover some iCal basics, including the interface, iCal preferences of note and setting up a new event. It is not an in depth demo, but hopefully, it will be enough to get you started.
The next episode in the Macfortheblind Audio Demonstration series is coming. It will be on some iCal basics. I was, unfortunately, sick for a bit and my voice was not exactly up to recording quality, not that it’s normally pleasant to listen to.
I have added an Apple script to show the downloads window in Lion. This is not shown by default in Safari when you start a download, and you actually have to find the downloads button to see the status of downloads. This script will enable you to set up a keyboard shortcut either with Keyboard Commander in VoiceOver or a third party application, such as, Spark. It is, the, Toggle Downloads Pop Over script and can be found on our
Freeware Applications and other Downloads page.
Please read my notes in regard to setting it up and using it.
The 10th episode in the Macfortheblind Audio Demonstration Series has been added to our
Demonstrations page.
This is not a comprehensive demonstration, but I tried to cover the aspects of IChat that I felt were the most important to mention. This includes setting up audio and speech notifications, iChat preferences of note, items on the menu bar to be aware of, and starting a text chat with an online contact. It is obviously done in Lion, but the demonstration does pertain to Snow Leopard and, I think, even Leopard iChat users as well. Continue reading
I wanted to comment on two specific reactions of some members of the blind Mac users community I have read on various email lists. Obviously, everyone is entitled to their opinions and there is not necessarily a “right or wrong” answer in this particular case. However, I find myself having to respond to these two specific notions that have become common in the responses I have, thus far encountered.
The first area is the subject of iWorks and Apple’s responsibility in making the application accessible. I, of course, fully agree with this assertion. This, to me, is something that is definitely necessary.
The second line of thinking is what I feel is an almost “defeatist” attitude about it being a losing proposition to try to get Microsoft to fix the current accessibility problems in their Office suite for the Mac. I don’t believe that simply boot camping or using VM Fusion to be the acceptable solution nor do I even agree with the opinion of the importance of the current reality that Microsoft Office is as “dominating” a product in the business world today as some keep repeating. Continue reading
The following is an open letter that David Poehlman posted on several blind Mac users lists or was forwarded by other members. David was kind enough to give me permission to post it here. Whether you agree or disagree with his position, it is still very good food for thought. I will post the letter and then follow up with a post with some additional thoughts of my own on the topic.
Many blind folk are successfully employed for performing tasks which
involve
the above and have been for many years. Few if any though are using the
mac
for many reasons but I want to focus on moving forward in areas in which
we
can move forward and to focus your attention and seek your assistance with
those.
We need gallant folk to step up to Microsoft and shout out that office
needs
to be made accessible in order that the market for blind employees will be
wider. To do this, folk must provide concrete detailed and factual
information about the issues of using Microsoft office on the mac. You
can
even find some good stuff that is already written and submit it to them.
I
don’t have a handle on the Microsoft stream and cannot purchase the
product
so cannot help directly but am willing to help in any other way I can.
We need to provide solid feedback to apple on issues related to IWork from
a
productivity standpoint. Some employers will be willing to accept a blind
person with a mac since we can export office formats and they would be
willing to mix systems if they are able.
We need to locate employers willing to work with us and rehab or other
agencies who are willing to take on the challenge if for nothing less than
the potential cost savings.
I know that there are a myriad of issues which we face with regard to this
ultimate goal of prominent positioning of mac in the work place of the
blind, but if we work together, perhaps we can move forward and provide
assistance in this important effort.
I know that there are efforts ongoing at apple and lots of feedback coming
to them which they are paying attention to and which is helping to guide
them toward better accessibility. I’d like though to discuss experiences
and desires and perhaps translate some of those into meaningful dialog
with
apple and microsoft.
The 9th episode in the Macfortheblind Audio Demonstration Series was uploaded and will be available in iTunes. It can, as usual, be found on our
demonstrations page.
The version history and the modern document model now found in Lion is the topic I attempt to demonstrate and I discuss.
On the
Miscellaneous
page of the site, I added the article I recently wrote on my experiences with my new Mac Mini as well as an article on using the Mac by another blind user, Michael Coulombe. This is another perspective on why the Mac is a great alternative for a blind user. I thank Mike for allowing me to include his article here.
As a Mac user, up until a week ago, I have only owned Apple laptops. I began with an iBook just a week after VoiceOver was first released in OS X 10.4 Tiger in the spring of 2005, and I moved onto a Mac Book after that. Then, when the multi-touch glass trackpads became available on the Mac Book Pros, I bought the laptop I currently have a few years ago. However, I have always desired to own some kind of Mac desktop computer, and the Mini has always been a model I have frequently considered for purchase at some point.
When Apple announced that the Mini line was being refreshed a month or so ago, my interest in buying one was reborn. I read the updated specs and really found myself interested in finally taking the plunge. I have very much wanted to phase out my Windows desktop, since I am no longer in the reseller end of the adaptive technology business. I want to keep my Windows screen reader skills somewhat sharpened, but I simply do not use Windows enough to warrant the need to keep a desktop around here. Frankly, it has just been taking up space, and visiting family members have used it more than I have over the last year by a long stretch. Continue reading
I never thought I’d be writing a post like this, as I would think that the content of this site would make it pretty obvious as to what my intent for having it happens to be. However, I just trashed a comment someone wanted to make because it was completely out of bounds in regard to the purpose and intent of Macfortheblind, and, not to mention, it was so inaccurate and bias that I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when I read it. I really can’t believe that there is anyone, other than Steve Balmer of Microsoft who still can’t get their brain and mindset out of 1995. Hey …. maybe it was Mr. Balmer incognito who wrote the comment ….
In any event, please understand that this is a resource site for blind and visually impaired people who are either using a Mac or iDevice or who are considering using a Mac or an iDevice. I have tried to gather as much information as possible on a variety of topics to help the current or potential user in as many ways as possible. Whether this be by touching on frequently asked questions or the not so commonly encountered subject, I have tried to cover as much ground as I can.
Additionally, I started to do the audio demonstration series and podcast to enhance the information on the site. Often, hearing someone go through the steps to carry out a task is even more helpful than reading a step by step set of instructions. Thus, I’ve tried to pick topics of interest or importance to demonstrate and, hopefully, add to the value of what else can be found here. It is a labor of love, but, overall, it is MY site. Continue reading
A demonstration of web browsing Safari has been added as the 8th installment of the Audio Demonstration Series. It is, by no means, a comprehensive look at Safari and BoiceOver, but I hope that it will be helpful to both newcomers to the Mac as well as long time users. This, by the way, includes both Lion and Snow Leopard users. You can find the demo in the usual place on our
demonstrations page.
I have added another audio demonstration for the
Demonstrations Page
of the site. In this demonstration, I talk about working with signatures in Apple Mail, which includes creating a new signature, selecting a default signature for an account and choosing a signature manually in a message.
Also in regard to the audio demonstration series you find here, we are now officially available as a podcast in iTunes. Thus, you can subscribe to the podcast and receive future episodes as they come out. For those who are interested, the link in iTunes for the Macfortheblind Audio Demonstration Series can be found
here.
