# android "ice-cream sandwidge"

Category: Cell Phone Talk

## Post 1 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 12:25:20

Hi, android 4.0 was released code named "ice-cream sandwidge" I am very excited to see the accessibility improved in this release. Let me post some features here for you all to read. Designed for accessibility
A variety of new features greatly enhance the accessibility of Android 4.0 for blind or visually impaired users. Most important is a new explore-by-touch
mode that lets users navigate without having to see the screen. Touching the screen once triggers audible feedback that identifies the UI component below;
a second touch in the same component activates it with a full touch event. The new mode is especially important to support users on new devices that use
virtual buttons in the System Bar, rather than dedicated hardware buttons or trackballs. Also, standard apps are updated to offer an improved accessibility
experience. The Browser supports a script-based screen reader for reading favorite web content and navigating sites. For improved readability, users can
also increase the default font size used across the system.
The accessibility experience begins at first setup — a simple touch gesture during setup (clockwise square from upper left) activates all accessibility
features and loads a setup tutorial. Once accessibility features are active, everything visible on the screen can be spoken aloud by the standard screen
reader.
End quote

## Post 2 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 12:32:42

Now how many developers take hold of this new API and run with it I am not sure we will not know until it’s released on more then one phone and apps are designed for it. One thing I will say is this, I like the fact that standard apps will bee able to take full advantage of the accessibility frame work that would rock. The ability to actually see the okay, cancel buttons all the time. Last before i go, you can actually speak to your phone and flat out right a text, passage it bee very accurate even though you might have paused to take a breath.

## Post 3 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 12:35:20

Souds interesting. I hadn't heard anything accessibility wise, just that Ice Cream Sandwich is proposed as a low-powered solution for the developing countries.
Is it true now that Ice Cream Sandwich is basically Chrome OS?

## Post 4 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 13:29:25

no, ice cream sandwich is a melding of the tablet and phone versions of android. There is a tablet being produced for developing countries but this is the android operating system. I am glad that it supports scritable screen readers, but hope they can read the screens without resorting to scripting. now to get it on the phones. Those with 2.3 should see it in a couple of weeks, those with 2.2, well, don't know, maybe root?

## Post 5 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 15:41:49

Looks like I might bee learning how to root my phone, so far I have not even gotten 2.3. I was do for an upgrade.

## Post 6 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 17:50:51

Which phone do you have? I am still on Froyo and am not looking to root, since rooting can be a pain depending on whose custom rom. Don't forget to backup your existing rom before rooting if you do. one thing to be aware of, MA may not work with ICS yet so the stock accessibility will be what you get, which may be just fine, but it might mean that you just threw away a hundred dollars until it is guarantied to work.

## Post 7 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Wednesday, 19-Oct-2011 17:55:22

I am hoping someone ports the accessibility library of apis to run and function on 2.1 and greater providing the same functionality until we can get ICS. If you decide to root, post your results please. Figure the first rom will be available bby the first of the year.

## Post 8 by starfly (99956) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 9:25:26

I have the my touch 4G not the slider one. Hmm.. wish I had the processor in the my touch 4G slide, its a 1.2 dule core. mine is a single 1 cor processor but it works and I love it, just hate how updates are beeing done. You make a vary valid point cowboy one about MA not working in ice-cream sandwidge, hmm... if I do rute the phone I will let you all know how it went. Just to bee flat out honest, I am a farely new user so, the word root "using in a android sense" is new and even how to do it is new to me as well. I am quite leary of rooting my phone because of its potintial to bee bricked by me.

## Post 9 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 11:07:01

I don't blame you about being leary of bricking your phone. I am still under warranty so rooting, though not illegal, is something that I am reluctant to do. As much as it pains me to do it, I will have to test use an ICS device and compare it to the various apple products and see which will "work" better for my needs and carrier. Since my carrier is t-mobile, the advantage for the same dollars may wind up going ICS. In that case I would have to decide to buy a new phone, I have to pay full retail so subsidized phones aren't an issue, pay the etf and jump carriers, keep the one I have and do nothing or root.

## Post 10 by WillieTheWoof (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 13:50:10

I've got the evo 4g shift adn hope that they will make it available for this phone. I'd love this and it would make working so much more eficnent. Also, it would allow me to recomend android to clients.

## Post 11 by starfly (99956) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 14:37:23

I chose the my touch 4G because on t-mobile you can really see the difference between "what t-mobile calls 4g" and other cariers 3G. Now that the Iphone is using the 3.5 G or what t-mobile calls 4G I will stay with my phone but if its not going to bee updated past android 2.34 then I am at a cross roads as what to do. If I ever, ever, get a Iphone it would bee only the 4s because of its ability to use the 3.5 G speeds.

## Post 12 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 14:59:36

The accessibility improvements are meaningless unless there's actual support for them. Apple stands behind voiceover on the iphone, who stands behind accessibility for Android? Until Google comes out with hardware that they officially support accessibility on, or at least makes an agreement with a phone manufacturer to insure that I can buy a phone and be garanteed it will be accessible and continue to get accessibility updates I'll stick with my iPhone.

## Post 13 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 16:09:03

Heard of Motorola, that is one platform that I will guaranty will be known to run and be accessible. I am glad the iPhone works for you but like someone said in another thread to another poster, do not speak unless you know. The nice thing about this is that if the phone isn't fully supportive, going into the stores and playing with one will tell you. Google obviously supports accessibility or they wouldn't integrate it. Apple isn't any better because third party apps still exist that aren't compatabile with voiceover and besides, apple's one size fits all approach is what makes their platform so accessible.

## Post 14 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 16:21:48

There's no garantee Motorola will be accessible, Google isn't done with the purchase so we have no clue weather google will use Motorola to produce hardware or strip Motorola for it's pattents and sell off the hardware portion. Google has not come out with a corprit statement on any accessibility for a specific phone, for an example of google hardware that is currently unusable for the blind look at the Nexus S. Android 4 will hopefully change this but it'd be nice to get official google statements on accessibility more then every time a new Android OS is released. I would argue that Apple is better with accessibility, for one they give app refunds for inaccessible apps if you ask for one, Google does not. Apple also allows a blind person to set up a phone completely independently, once again something Google claims will happen but the proof is in the results not the talk.

## Post 15 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 16:35:09

google does give a fifteen minute money back guaranty and you don't have to justify why you don't want an app to return it the way you do with apple. Google lets the vendors deal with refunds. I agree, fifteen minutes isn't long enough and google should give refunds rather than the third party developers. by the way, let's not compare the nexis S to ICS sandwich since google hasn't integrated accessibility into anything until now. Voiceover has a head start that's all. Instead of trolling, take a look and until then reserve judgement. Google is also attempting to reign in fragmentation to so we'll see.

## Post 16 by The Roman Battle Mask (Making great use of my Employer's time.) on Thursday, 20-Oct-2011 23:34:55

Google designed the Nexus S and had complete control over the phone including both hardware and software so a comparrison to the iPhone is fair. All the following information can be found with Wikipedia searches. The origional iPhone was released on june 29 2007 with no accessibility. The iPhone 3gs which was the first iPhone to have accessibility features was released on June 19 2009. Lets call it two years from initial release to good accessibility. There were no intermediate steps inbetween which tends to be the way apple does things. They generally either release a polished product or don't release at all. The first version of Android running on the G1 was released on September 28 2008. This had no accessibility what so ever. The first version of Android with limited accessibility support was released on September 15, 2009. It took just under a year from Google to go from no accessibility to very limited accessibility. This doesn't mean Google cares about accessibility more then Apple or puts more resources into accessibility. It just means Google will release things that aren't feature complete. Google released the Nexus S December 16, 2010. Lets give google the bennefit of the doubt and call it two years from the release of Android 1.0 to put it on an even playing field with Apple. While it's true I haven't used an Android phone as my primary phone I believe it's safe to say comparing the iPhone 3gs to the Nexus s apple has done a better job with accessibility. Some basic things Apple got right after two years that Google didn't include making the default mail client accessible, internet browsing accessible, and enabling speech with no sited assistance.

## Post 17 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 0:11:38

I wouldn't go around citing wikipedia as your source if you want any credibility with me. I do not dispute the 3gs accessibility over the nexis but you are the one making it about something it isn't. This thread is about ice cream sandwichand what is to be. You have every right to believe in a certain product. Please respect those who wish to applaud the achievements that Ice Cream Sandwich.

## Post 18 by Jesse (Hmm!) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 11:51:54

I appreciate what Google is trying to do with ICS. It does not mean I will switch to a phone running it when the time comes, because, like Jared said, it's still not a polished product. Android appeals to hackers, of which I am not. I want the frustration of figuring out the interaction between screen reader and operating system on my phone, which already has a limited interface. It needs to just work. My iPhone does that for me. However, if the other way appeals to somebody, it's nice to know they have that option.

## Post 19 by Toonhead71 (move over school!) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 11:58:44

It's not sandwidge. it's Sandwich! Please learn how to spell? Sorry to be an asshole, but sheesh...if you're gonna mention something like this, at least bother to use spell check! if you had done that, it would've caught your mistake and corrected it.

## Post 20 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 12:52:57

Nobody believes in a product, they use the product that does the best for their job.
I've got any number of screwdrivers and hammers in the garage, some I may favor over others, but that is because of their performance.
I used to think the Apple people were fanchildren and religious in a way. I never thought I'd see or say it, but wow, Android's got its shiny happy people also.
Frankly if I had oodles of both money and time, I'd get an Android tablet just to play because hacking around can be fun. Sort of like the car that's up on blocks or that you lower the suspension in, but you would never use to get your skinny ass to work in, or take the kids to the doctor with, or even use to haul firewood. It's your baby, it's fun to fool with, etc.
When that changes, many of us so-called Apple believers, e.g. just current users of Apple, will switched. Many of us switched from Windows Mobile, and frankly, there are still some Windows Mobile things I actually miss like better management of contacts groups, broadcast emails, etc.
I finally was able to get office apps for the iPod - the iLife set, and they work pretty well. I hated not having a file explorer for awhile but with iCloud I can hae all my documents and data synced the way I need anyway. Believe it or not, there are still users holding onto old Blackberry devices because of productivity. They're not believers, the devices just do what it is they need.
On a personal note, I was rather disappointed that Android, the hacker phone of hacker phones, would actually have believers. One reason I was reticent to go Apple is I don't really like fandom, but needing to get 'er done, I just swallowed the dog and went to the Shining Happy People to get the device. And Windows Mobile, which I'd used since 2004, went the way of all things upstaged.
It's very possible Android could at some point do to Apple what Apple did to Windows Mobile, at least for many who are just using it as a tool.

## Post 21 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 14:43:09

Leo, I agree with you, the problem is there are fans of everyproduct. You can't tell them that there way isn't the best no matter what you do to prove it. Android, does do what I want, though I admit that apple's approach is more refined and easier, but I have some advantages that Apple doesn't have before. Unlike most fans, I don't care, if it works for you, great. You don't need to be a hacker to use Android but it is appealing in that way. If you want commonality, great too. In the end, if what we get works ffor us, who really cares. It is about having the choice. As long as the lines are blurred enough so that functionality is similar, then we truly have the type of product choice that will only lead to more improvements in the future. We all benefit when that happens. Let's hope that ICS does live up to the hype for accessibility as it is promoted to be. I see what is offered to have the same functionality as voiceover but for android with the added ability to have additional players in the screen reader field. If this is the final outcome when finally released, then trying it side by side with the iPhone, will definitely be something I would encourage.

## Post 22 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 15:40:58

That's true. The tablet option for ICS looks good also, so you have what amounts to a Android phone for your pocket and a tablet the size of an iPad for mid-level work, and maybe, what? Chrome OS? for the desktops.
To me, the thing Android has great potential for is a final breakdown of the digital divide. Especially either hackers, or basic users who use email, the Internet, games, GPS, etc. and no office suite apps.
As to accessibility, I have heard nothing compares to Google Goggles for object identification. I have never seen it, but wouldn't at all be surprised.

## Post 23 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 15:51:09

Actually, there is some office suite appps under development. There is already an accessible document reader that can read the .doc file type right now, for example.

## Post 24 by starfly (99956) on Friday, 21-Oct-2011 22:27:13

Just to clear a myth up here, the stock email client is very accessible now, its that some of use use K9 mail because its what we started out with in using android.

## Post 25 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Sunday, 23-Oct-2011 19:59:20

On my phone only the stock gmail client is, the stock email client needs updating since I can see the message subject but tnot the message itself. I can, however get a four line preview.
so in my case, I need to use k-9mail until this is fixed. could be a modification made by Motorola but at least I can see both ways if necessary.

## Post 26 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 24-Oct-2011 8:16:16

Google goggles does very well reading your dollar bills!, I was at KFC and used it on a 10, 5 and 1. Keep in mind my phone has a 5 mega pixal camra with a flash so that does help.

## Post 27 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Monday, 24-Oct-2011 12:03:21

What exactly doesn't Google goggles read? I have read online it recognizes restaurant menus, packaging, etc. though I don't know how much of that is fully accessible for us.
Disappointed that it doesn't seem to do that well on the iOS platform, at least not with the iPod which has a pretty low-grade camera. But even with the iPod's camera I can use Viz Whiz and oMoby.
Anyway Google Goggles is one really tantalizing app for Android.

## Post 28 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 24-Oct-2011 12:55:23

so far I have not found anything it can not read. I will say some times text is left out of what is OCR by the app. It could bee me as a user who is new to the app.

## Post 29 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Monday, 24-Oct-2011 22:10:28

the knock off app on the iPhone isn't a representation of google goggles at all but the human interaction of vis wiz will beat anything that google goggles will do, not sure about the other app mentioned. Google goggles is a darn good all in one app, so I would recommend it for all android users.

## Post 30 by starfly (99956) on Tuesday, 25-Oct-2011 8:49:08

I wish we could have viz wiz on android, I emailed the developer and asked but their probly laughing their ass off at me for even asking such a thing. Oh well, never hurts to ask even if someone in the end gets a chuckle.

## Post 31 by Leafs Fan (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 25-Oct-2011 12:12:12

Doesn't sound like it even touches VoiceOver on the iPhone.

## Post 32 by starfly (99956) on Tuesday, 25-Oct-2011 14:57:49

Um... how an app can interact on an android is different then the Iphone, believe it or not a app can use the android speach access frame with out having to depend on a screen reader. I know of several apps that do this, one is cf's music player. any who google goggles and viz wiz for the Iphone are not screenreaders for either platform, so to say its not as good as voice over is on the Iphone is odd to me lol :). I was talking about OCR apps for both IOS and android.

## Post 33 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 25-Oct-2011 18:36:39

@Starfly they may or may not be laughing their ass off, but most likely have considered it and may be in the process of porting the code to the Android framework.
Objective C used by Apple is quite different than the languages one can use on Android. Doable? Yes, but hardware-specific applications like camera apps, etc., do take more time. That includes more time on the research component to figure out what's possible. So they may well be underway.

## Post 34 by starfly (99956) on Wednesday, 26-Oct-2011 11:59:16

Oh, okay I am not well versed in programming, not sure how all that works between android and apple.

## Post 35 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Wednesday, 26-Oct-2011 15:37:49

even if the language was the same, the underlying libraries are different, do ddifferent even if similar things, and even are accessed differently.

## Post 36 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 26-Oct-2011 16:04:31

The thing with android is also because it is hardware specific, there are limitations and modifications for specific hardware configurations. I have no specific examples of this as I have not personally done any work on Android, but have friends who do and constantly harp on this Windows-like open-endedness which makes hardware compatibility difficult and solutions hard to get done in time for consumers. Probably one reason why, even though Android has a huge market share, its apps market is much smaller than Apple's. Not opinion, just observation, and that third-hand from people I know working on apps for it.
This only affects cameras, gyroscopes / accelerometers, etc. GPS, Bluetooth and other standard interfaces I would think would be pretty common. That is all just by observation: again I haven't actually done any Android work myself.

## Post 37 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Wednesday, 26-Oct-2011 16:46:18

good observation Leo, it is right on. The same would exist if iOS 5 were allowed to be installed on any hardware device that supports it, but actually more could be done by google to standardize hardware specs so that the same thing happens when one hardware configuration as does with another. This can be done by setting up the actual hardware interface to send out the same set of commands and maintain the differences as commands internal to the hardware device.

## Post 38 by cowboy1 (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Monday, 31-Oct-2011 9:32:11

I would have rather seen the explore by touch feature tied more into the actual way the device is used and not requiring the app developer to turn on anything. They just interact normally and if explore by touch is activated, ICS handles input and output differently but in a way that is invisible to the app. All the app knows is it is interacting with the user in the same fashion regardless of the mode.

## Post 39 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 21-Nov-2011 8:00:03

I will get a link from one of the lists I belong to and post it here that shows a person starting there phone and turning on accessibility with out needing assistance. Also it shows the explore screen feature that was updated in icecream sandwidge. I will say I like that fact you have to just find what you want to select then tap once.

## Post 40 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 21-Nov-2011 8:16:38

I am posting a link to a you tube video dimistration for Icecream sandwidge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DeprwFkl3U