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Join the Round Table Live Today

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Today, Apple will be streaming their media event live at Apple.com. Afterward, the Mac-cessibility Round Table will be streaming live our reactions to today’s event. You can listen to the stream at this link, and participate live on Twitter by using the hash tag #VOLive.

Apple’s event today is expected to focus primarily on iPods, iTunes, and the AppleTV.


Apple’s Live Media Event Round Up and product Accessibility

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Today, Apple announced many new products at its annual September media event. Here are some highlights, with emphasis on accessibility. More details regarding access features will likely be forthcoming.

  • The iPod shuffle models have been physically redesigned, but still include VoiceOver navigation of their playlists and content. Buttons have been re-introduced. Pricing begins at $49 USD.
  • The iPod nano lineup has been drastically redesigned with a 3X3 CM touch screen and iOS-like interface. It has dropped video and camera support, but still includes VoiceOver. The nanos are available in 8 and 16GB capacities for $149 or $179 USD, respectively.
  • The iPod touch has been updated to a slimmer form factor, sports a retina display like its iPhone 4 cousin, includes front and rear cameras, will support FaceTime video calling, and will run iOS 4.1. Prices range from $229 for 8GB to $399 for 64GB capacities.
  • iTunes version 10 will be released today, with support for Apple’s new music-based social networking platform, Ping. It will be available as a free download for both Mac and Windows users.
  • iOS 4.1 will be released to users next week, and includes many bug fixes, including those for reported iPhone 4 proximity sensor issues, BlueTooth connectivity, and more. 4.1 includes GameCenter support for competing with friends on iOS games. The update will be available as a free update via iTunes.
  • iOS 4.2, the next successive update after next week’s 4.1, will arrive in November. The update will bring parity across all iOS devices. Features such as multi-tasking, folders, etc, will finally be available on the iPad. The update will also provide wireless printing from iOS devices for the first time. iOS 4.2 will be a free update for all iOS 4 capable devices, including the iPad.
  • The second generation AppleTV has been entirely redesigned from the ground up. It includes a much smaller form factor, support for Netflix streaming, and iTunes rentals. Episodes of television series will be offered for $.99 USD to rent on the device. Video, audio, and photographic content can be streamed directly to the AppleTV from other iOS devices, as well as from iTunes on your Mac or PC. Will the Apple TV include VOiceOver support? We don’t know for sure. When we asked Apple Accessibility, they said they could not comment on features for products that are not yet shipping. This deflection gives us hope. The AppleTV will be priced at $99 USD.

A Key to the iPhone - Apple Releases iOS 4.1

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Today Apple released iOS 4.1 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Among the improvements for Voiceover users, come not only a host of important bug fixes, such as proper editing of contact phone numbers, as well as the fact that Voiceover will now read tables in their proper order, but VO users now have very comprehensive keyboard navigation support.

 

Now a VO user can pair a bluetooth keyboard to their iDevice and not only use it to type and edit text, but also completely navigate and operate the device from the keyboard as well.

 

Thanks to users on the VIPhone list, and a bit of experimentation from us here at Maccessibility, we’ve compiled a preliminary list of keyboard commands for use with Voiceover.

 

• Arrow keys MOve Voiceover cursor to navigate the iPhone / iPod Touch screens

• VO-spacebar activates the current item

• VO-a reads page from current location/starting at current item

• VO-b reads page starting at the top

• VO-h activates home button

• VO-m goes to the status bar

• VO— (dash/hyphen) stops the current action such as stopping / starting media playback or hanging up a call.

• VO-s toggles speech on/off

• VO-shift-s toggles screen curtain on/off

• Left/right arrow at the same time activates/deactivates the QuickNav feature

• left-up arrow and right-up arrow cycle through the rotor settings

• Up and down arrows together activates the item like VO-spacebar

• VO-Command-left and right arrows cycle through Voiceover settings (Use VO-Command-up and down arrows to change settings)

Settings are: Use Phonetics, Use Pitch, Volume, Rate and Typing Echo

• VO-Space Bar on the Page label of a home screen advances the page. I.E. Pressing VO-Space on the ‘Page 1’ label will move to page 2

 

?Along with this very detailed enhancement, Safari users will note that sites now are accompanied by a sound to let the user know the progress while a site is loading. Additionally, In-page links are now announced by Voiceover, so a user can more easily understand and navigate a web page.

 

On the gaming side of things, Apples recently announced Game Center is also accessible to Voiceover users, opening up a whole world of possibilities and enhancements for visually impaired online gamers.

 

These are only a few of the updates in iOS 4.1 so please stay tuned. I’m sure we’ll find out a whole lot more very soon as well, so we’ll be sure and keep you up-to-date.


The Mac-cessibility Round Table Podcast - Special Edition #8 - The Secret Code!

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In this special edition episode of the Mac-cessibility Round Table podcast, we discuss today’s release of iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iPod touch, which includes a number of enhancements for VoiceOver users, including bug fixes, enhanced web browsing, and extensive BlueTooth keyboard support.


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