Category: Geeks r Us
Does anyone use Hotmail or now it is called outlook for a email? If so what the heck did they just do to it? I cann't seem to use it with JAWS. Any help?
If you have not, you need to migrate your Hotmail to Outlook.
It is easier used with clients such as Outlook, or Windows mail, Thunderburg I think it is spelled.
These work best.
The web based works, but you'll have a learning curve.
If you post what you don't understand, I'll try to explain.
I've been useing the web based and just today everything is very different than it was. I cann't seem to even open a messege useing jaws. there is not a list of links anymore and alot of the buttons are now unmarked.
Well as to links, you don't hear the word link, but you click on the word.
Example, if you go down, you hear folders. Under folders you hear inbox, whatever.
Click on the one you want.
Now you go down, and soon you find your messages.
You click on the subject and the message opens at the bottom of the list.
You go back up and delete it, or just open the next one you want to read.
It requires going up and down the page, so I use Jaw's reading controls to skip things.
You can change the reading pane settings to suit you, but that is basicly how it works.
If it is difficult, use a client.
That is how it worked before the change. Everything is much different at least with mine it is. Looks like they totally changed the format. And it isn't real easy to figure out.
What version of Jaws do you have?
This might be the reason.
I took a look at it before posting, and I don't see anything different at all.
This might be because I use it often.
Consider yourself lucky, because it is a real pain to quickly do anything. I have 2 computers and it is the same on both. 1 has Windows 10 and Jaws 16 and the other is a Vista desktop with Jaws 14 on it. 2 days ago when I logged in to my hotmail there was a notice about the change and I had to click the next button a few times. If I remember correctly they are calling the email list a smart list or something. Anyways Jaws seems to go into application mode just about any time I try and click on anything. To read a message, it has been a real challenge. I’ve been able to do it but am not sure how I really did open the message. Seems like I need to click on it then use the arrow keys to pick it but this is not spoken, and then hit return to open the message. A few times Jaws has frozen up but that could have been me just not sure what is going on yet. I’m tempted to just open another gmail account it is very easy to use I use the basic html gmail. For now I’ll still play around with hotmail and see if I can figure it out. I do remember a few years ago when hotmail change before jaws didn’t work with it until the next version of jaws came out.
Remember you need to sign in to
www.outlook.com
not Hotmail.
Hotmail is migrating, or has been for a long time.
Yes, it is the same period, but I don't have any difficulty using it.
If you don't have, get Windows live mail. That way you'll have an easier time with it.
Or get Thunderbird .
there is no difference if I use www.outlook or if I use www.hotmail to sign in it is the same thing. One of the main reasons I use a web based email is so I don't have a email program or ap. Guess I could get one but then again I could just get another gmail account aalso. What ticks me off is when hotmail changes their format or design and it becomes accessably unfriendly as hotmail/outlook just has. And this isn't the first time it has happened. I get that nothing has changed for you yet. I'm guessing it will though.
Am I really the only one that this has changed for? Or am I the only one that uses the hotmail web page?
It has changed for me several times. I personally just don't find it difficult to use.They add things and such, but for the most part, it is okay.
I use Outlook, because I have the Office suite, and it is easier to leave it open all day to get alerts and such.
It also works well when I'm doing other task.
The web base makes me keep another windows on whatever browser I'm using, so kind of gets in the way when I've got several pages I'm using.
The client doesn't.
This is difficult to help with, because I can't guide you without being near you.
It is a learning curve.
But, if you hate it, switch. That is why you've got options. Smile.
Honestly, after using the web page for so many years, I migrated to a client - Outlook and windows mail both. I've never looked back. I remember when Hotmail changed things though. Not fun.
A question though. If you migrate your hotmail to outlook and someone sends an email to your hotmail, will it atually be sent to your outlook.com mail? Or will they just get a daemon bounce-back?
When you migrate you are given the option to change the ending of your email address, or keep it.
Ok how do you open a email useing the web based page? Once I sign in I go right to my inbox so no need to describe how to get to that folder.
What I do.
Once I’m on the page and signed on I start at the top.
I type the letter H until I get to show-hide categories, if all I am after is reading.
Notice you will pass folders, and if you want to change the folder you are viewing, simply press enter on the type.
Example Inbox, Junk, whatever.
Okay after I am at the spot I stated, , I use my arrow keys to go down.
Mine starts with my Inbox by default.
I have a message from EBay. It says the name of the sender and the subject and has a check box. You use that check box to act on the message, such as delete it, move it.
For reading, we skip that.
I go on and it says the sender, keep this message at the top of your Inbox, the time it was delivered.
The next thing is a link that says the same line before about the message again. If it doesn’t show a link, no matter, you press enter on that one.
Soon as you press enter the page, or message opens.
But, here’s the thing, it has the same stuff on that page again, so I press my letter H again to get to where I can read the content.
Now after I’ve read, I go back up to the top of the page to act on the message. I find what I want, delete, or whatever, and press enter.
If I don’t want to do anything but keep that message, I can either do the above stuff and click on my Inbox again and find the rest of my messages to read them, or just find another I want to read and open that one.
Under the settings, you have lots of choices on how you want messages to open and such, but the default settings work well.
It is up to the user how they like to read.
If this wasn’t clear, say and I’ll explain what I didn’t explain well. Smile.
Yup that is clear enough. It does sound like yours didn't change format witch seems weird. On mine witch just changed this week there are no headings so pressing h does nothing. There are also no check boxes witch is how I moved quickly from email to email before the change. Now the email list is in a list box and jaws reads the sender date subject and a preview of the messege if I arrow down it reads the same thing for the next messege. If I click on this I get the sound like I clicked on a edit box. Then I can use the arrows to choose a message however this is not spoken with jaws I mainly have to guess witch messege I'm on presss enter again and the messege opens. Now to get back to the list box with the list of all the emails is pretty tricky. Also some of the buttons are labled and some are not. It has been a real fun time learning this new format. Like I said before it isn't real accessably friendly. Btw I have only been useing JAWS for around 16 years, so I'm not the best at useing it but manage to get around most web pages.
I've done some tweaking of my settings, but it is working.
I looked at it to write how this morning.
Have you checked your screen resolution? It matters how this is set as to how Jaws sees things.
I don't have headers, just sections.
I can also use the letter N to move to sections.
You are correct, there are no links or buttons, you just know to click the titles.
But again, why are you struggling? Just get one of the clients?
These are free, and easier by far.
wrm2012, you aren't the only one. Mine changed months ago and I've given up on it for the time being as it isn't one of my important accounts. I don't have checkboxes available anymore and like you said, I can occasionally get it to open an email, but I can't seem to get it to replicate a second time.
Forereel, as far as using a client-do you mean Office Outlook as a program? I do use that but do not wish to have my junk email accounts filtered through it. I like to keep it separate and not just in separate folders.
I have tried the mail ap that came with Win 8.1 and the one that came with Win 10 and didn't care much for them. Maybe I will try another, but right now I'm trying to learn something new and avoiding a web page doesn't help me learn anything new. That is why I posted this post to see if anyone else used the web based page and had a easy way to use it. It seems od that the format hasn't changed for you as it has for me this week. By your description you are still seeing the old web format witch was fairly easy to use.
Thanks vh I was starting to think it was only me that is seeing the change. I'm still trying to figure things out but it is slow going as the page isn't real accessible. For the life of me I cann't find the log out on it at all. This is also a second account for me as I did switch my main to google the last time hotmail became unaccessible.
I wonder why it hasn't changed for me. I use this on several computers, not my own, so I'm lost.
I do mean Outlook, or the others I've posted above as clients.
Outlook isn't free, but the others are.
In outlook, you can filter your junk mail in many different ways. You can even tell it to reject it period, but I'd not do so.
Sometimes good stuff gets in the folder.
No, I'd not avoid the web based, but I can't see your issue yet, anyway.
You do remember, you have options under settings, so maybe you need to check these out?
Consider yourself lucky you haven’t had the change yet. I did look at the settings briefly, which was also difficult to do. All I really saw was basic stuff like set preview on or off, left or right.
I use Outlook, so. If it does change, I'll be set.
Just checked out the Windows 10 mail ap and that really isn't much better than the hotmail web page.
No, the windows 10 mail app sucks.
I didn't list that one, it really isn't all that accessible.
It works, just not well yet.
Just logged in to my hotmail, Web page, and was asked how I like the new outlook. :) I gave them a score of 0 and told them why.
Yeah. Tell em. Lol
Seriously, if you hate it, it is good to report.
I'm still waiting on the change.
I thought I had a change already, so I'll see.
Well hate may be a little on the strong side. I am getting better at figuring out how to work the web page. It ccan be done it just isn't real easy to do.
Usually, and especial email clients, are built to be easy.
You don't want them to difficult, because you want them to work for everyone.
If I do get this major change, I'll post my thoughts.
No change for you yet?
Yes. In fact I have finally noticed this change on a computer I reformatted.
I have two email addresses connected to Outlook. One is same, the other has changed.
I've not had much time to figure out the fix yet.
It can be used as you suggest, but is not as easy as it should be.
I use Office, so have Outlook, the client, so this isn't an issue directly.
I'll put some time in and tell you what if anything I was able to change.
Is Windows Live the easyest most accessible free mail client? I may just try a client out as I haven't really had much luck with the web based page. I can use it but it sure isn't any fun.
Thunderbird, and the one you said work well.
Yes, Thunderbird is great! I've used it for about a year now, and I wouldn't go back to using web-based anything. if you go to ninite.com and look for Mozilla Thunderbird, you'll be able to download and install it, then set up your Gmail/whatever other accounts you may have.
Hope that helps.
I did go to ninite.com that looks like some kind of 3rd party type of place and another program that is one of those downloader things. Not sure I want some kind of auto downloading program. Has anyone used Windows Live and Thunderbird and have an opinion on both?Wish I could give some tips on using the Hotmail web page but every time I think I know how to do something it doesn't work every time. I can use it but there is a lot of hit or miss actions.
I personally would get Thunderbird directly from the people that make it.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/
I'd not download it from a third party website.
Both programs are easy to use, and Microsoft has keyboard keystrokes you can use.
Try them both.
You can get user instructions for both easy.
For the record, there is nothing wrong with using ninite.com. I've used it regularly to download the latest versions of various programs that I use on a regular basis. It's got Dropbox, iTunes, Thunderbird, and a whole host of other programs I can't recall. It does not come with viruses; it's simply a quick and fast way to download multiple programs at once.
Also, if you read my previous post, I said that I do use Thunderbird, and I wouldn't ever go back to using a web-based site unless I absolutely had to.
I did read your post and was asking if anyone has used Windows Live witch is also a email client just like Thunderbird is and if one or the other was better or easier.
Yes. Thunderbird is easier. WindowsLive is old and outdated.
I have looked at Thunderbird, but prefer Windows live, because it is similar to Outlook, the client, and the HTML web based mail.
I'd suggest trying them both.
Windows live has all the same keystrokes and ways of doing things you might be use to.
It has been updated.
Freedom Scientific suggest this to get your web based mail going.
I can't remember what I did to fix the one I use, so might do the same thing to get my second one like the first.
I recommend contacting the Microsoft team to see if they can provide you with tips on setting the Outlook page to the basic HTML settings for optimum performance with JAWS. You can reach this team at:
1-800-936-5900
Monday to Friday 5 A.M. - 9 P.M. PST and Saturday 6 A.M. - 3 P.M. PST
Or:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/contact-microsoft-accessibility
(there is an email form on this page)
A note on my preference for getting programs directly from the source that creates them.
I find they are always virusor upwear free, and usually load as you expect.
They are less likely to have other programs piggybacking on them.
The only time I will get a program from a third part site, is if the program is not offered from the creator.
When I do this, I always save it, scan it before installing.
I am not suggesting the source suggested is bac for Thunderbird, it just not be my preference.
Upware. Sorry, didn't spell that correctly.
I haven't read all the posts so I apologise if this has been brought up before.
Hotmail support for Windows live mail on windows 7 will be discontinued in a few months, they recommend updating to windows 10 and using the mail client on that.
Thunderbird isn't bad, I just can't seem to get it to access hotmail's junk folder like I can with windows live mail.
If anyone happens to know how to do this it would really be appreciated.
The inbox isn't a problem, it just won't download the junk folder.
The mail client on Windows 10 in my experimenting with it doesn't work all that will.
It is usable, but not the best.
I wasn't aware they were fazing out Windows Live Mail.
Last, remember, Windows 10 only works with the last version of Jaws 16 and up.
If Microsoft's department for accessibility doesn't do as Freedom suggest, I guess the other best solution would be to get a single user Microsoft office subscription, if you really need all the features, address book calendar and such in your email client.
I think it goes for about 5 dollars per month.
I'm going to retract my statement about Windows 10 mail client.
It absolutely sucks.
I just opened it again to see.
Never mind that.
Does anyone have a better experience then I do with it?
Agree Windows 10 mail ap sucks. Kind of looks like Thunderbird is the only choice then for a free useable client??
O and yeah Cool Turk brings up something why I liked useing web based email. Nothing is auto downloaded to my computer. I could be wrong but with web page email there is very little chance of getting something unwanted on your computer. And with clients they download all emails even if you don't open them they are there. Correct me if I'm wrong about this.
It depends on how you set it up, hotmail does I believe, since it's using pop3.
I suppose a work around for me would be to just move the messages I want to keep out of the junk folder on my phone, then use thunderbird to save them to the PC.
No. Your web base protection comes along to the client.
Most have extra settings as well.
Your main defence is you however, even using web based mail.
Next is your security program.
I am sure there is a way to solve the Thunderbird issue of folders.
Look at the help file, or contact them.
During all of this conversation, I've omitted to say, doing a search for free email clients, and testing them is an option as well.
A good source to get them from would be downloads.com.
I had a list of these before once, but haven't kept up to date for lack of need.
To the person having the issue with Thunderbird, maybe you don't have your settings correct so that Thunderbird will synch with your phone and vice versa. Or, maybe you didn't realize the folder you're missing is called "spam" not "junk." I know I missed that at first, so that's why I mentioned it.
Regarding Ninite, the reason I brought it up here, and that I use it myself, is because it doesn't make you download any extra programs. What you download is what you download; nothing more.
I agree. Thunderbird works. How it is setup is the problem.
Well I downloaded Thunderbird. Seems easy enough. Only thing I don't like is if I arrow through the messeges more times than not I get a thunderbird messege saying something like Thunderbird has blocked bla bla bla right after the messege title. Kind of get sick of that messege.
You mean Thunderbird tells you "remote images are blocked" or "Thunderbird has marked this message as a scam?" If you mean either of those things, both of them can be changed within your Thunderbird settings. It's an easy fix.
Yes I am talking about the Thunderbird alerts. I don't really want to turn off the blocking or any of the protection I just don't like hearing the alerts all the time. Thunderbird is very accessable and after I figure out some tips on using it I'm sure it will be even easier. However, I still think Gmail web based email is even easier and quicker to use for me. I'm only using Tbird for my Hotmail accounts right now. I'm still morning the old Hotmail web page :) can't believe they changed it to be mostly unuseable and then MS is switching their client to the Win 10 ap witch is also unuseable.
Have you talked with Microsoft about the HTML settings?
Not yet but I plan too