I wanted to just make sure that there aren’t folks out there who have written to me through the email address on this site and have not gotten a response. For a few weeks, my ISP was blocking a lot of the mail going to and from the email address with their spam filters. I have, however, corrected the issue, and mail should be working fine both ways. So, if you have written to me via the
and never received a reply, please let me know and I will get back to you ASAP.
This might be a bit off topic as far as directly relating to the use of the Mac or iOS devices, yet it is still quite important for both the blind and iOS devices overall. Josh de Lioncourt of the Mac-cessibility Network, makes some very impressive points and asks some rather critical questions. Thus, I highly recommend that his editorial be read by all.
See here
for his informative editorial.
For those who are interested, a Daisy audio version of the Apple TV 2nd Generation Setup Guide is now available for download from the
page. If you encounter any trouble with the file, please let me know, as I created it.
Additionally, because of spam problems, we have slightly changed the posting comments rules here. You now must register as a member before you can post any comments. This became necessary because I have received several spam posts over the last few weeks, and this will, hopefully, reduce that problem.
Closing the Windows Behind Me: My Continued Experience as a Switcher to the Mac
by John Panarese
It’s hard to believe that I have been a Mac user for nearly six years now. I look back on the original article I wrote on my early days as a switcher from Windows to the Mac, and I am truly amazed. I can’t believe how much time has passed, and I certainly am so proud and thrilled to have been a part of something that has progressed so quickly and so impressively. Indeed, if there is someone who is “truly a happy Mac user”, I surely fit the definition.
That’s right folks. VoiceOver on the Mac is still going strong. It wasn’t a “quick fix” Apple was legally “forced” to create to keep them from facing lawsuits from disability groups. It wasn’t a one-shot deal that would never see improvements. Apple hasn’t decided to throw it by the wayside because us blind folks make up such a small segment of a potential market. It hasn’t become stagnant or left behind as Apple has come out with new operating systems.
So many of the detractors and critics said all those kinds of things over the years. But, after Tiger came Leopard, and after Leopard, Snow Leopard was released. And this summer, Lion will become the latest operating system Apple will produce for the Mac. Through it all, VoiceOver has continued to evolve and improve, and I have no doubts at all that this trend will only continue. Apple is committed to accessibility, and it’s becoming harder and harder for the doubters and detractors to make the claims of the past, especially as the iPhone became accessible and we, as blind people, have access to the iPad and all of the latest iPods.
Here I am with my Mac Book having been replaced by a Mac Book Pro in 2009, and I own an iPhone 3GS, an original iPad, and a 2nd generation Apple TV as well. I also still use my 4th generation iPod Nano just about every day. Yes, as Apple has expanded the accessibility in their devices, it seems their products have found their way into my home. I don’t deny it in the least that I have become an Apple “fan boy”.
The reality is, however, I feel that I have good reason for that status. When a company does so much with their products alone, they should be commended and encouraged by both buying their products and saying positive things about those products. On top of that, though, as a blind person, in a world where we are used to paying extra for whatever accessibility we can get, how can one not want to purchase products that have accessibility out of the box and free of charge? No, folks, there is no “blind tax” when it comes to Apple. So, call me “fan boy” or “Apple apologist” all you like. I don’t mind it one bit. Continue reading
Macfortheblind.com is meant to be a community place. We want as much feedback and, more importantly, contributions from our members.
We certainly know that we can’t have every single bit of information or have the answer to every obscure question, but we desire to try to be as comprehensive and informative as possible. We attempt to cover as many areas as we can, and we will try to include any useful and helpful comments into our pages.
With that said, we really are looking for your help. I have collected some emails from the various Mac and Apple related lists I am subscribed to, and I have included them here on the site. However, as you will discover or have discovered, this is a work in progress and there is a lot missing. This is where you can give us a hand.
What we are looking for are;
For specific information on contributing to this project, please read our
Requests and Contributions page
Welcome to Mac for the Blind. We hope that you will find these resources and files both helpful and useful. Please feel free to look around and tell us what you think. We will be adding more and more as time passes.
