Category: Geeks r Us
Hi all,
Just have a few questions about macs and accesibility. First of all, does voiceover come on all macs both portable and desktop? and how accessible would things be, such as the internet, word, and is itunes accessible using voiceover? what about the version of live messenger that they create, and is this the same as IChat? also, just wondering has anyone had ixperiences using rockbox or any similar program with ipods?
thanks
Pisces
couldn't tell you. I don't use macs. I use windows
to post 1:
I have an IMac, but I know that ITunes is accessible.
Voice over is on laptops, and desktops such as Macbook, Mac Mini.
Mac servers may or may not have voice over, unsure.
I don't have an IPod
IChat is accessible.
Adium similar to Miranda is accessible.
Office from Microsoft Office isn't accessible.
Safari is accessible, Firefox isn't.
Open Office is in beta for now, but it will probably be accessible, when it comes out in version 3.0.
Any other mac users lemme kknow if I'm missing information.
Thank you for saying something helpful as opposed to the prievious poster who semed to go out of their way to be unhelpful,
much appreciated
Pisces
iChat and Windows Live Messwnger are different.
Post 2. embarrassing. Post 3 let me elaborate just a tad. Open office 3 should be out beginning of september, and hopefully will be completely accessible I am running the beta right now but it seems to crash voice over. I can't seem to update it either. Mac is mac, so it will come on servers but with a whole lot more stuff 7 gigs in the dvd. Web browsing etc as we've said is all accessible, however you'd probably want to run adium as apposed to iChat simply because of flexibility i do and I love it. It doesn't seem to screw with your contact grouping like meranda does. Itunes yes god help me.. Pretty much everything that comes installed that is made by apple with the exception of iWorks and office 2004 is not accessible. Have fun!
It's worth noting that the latest version of Windows Live messenger apparently works with VoiceOver. Though you'd probably still want to go with something like Adium, because then you get access to various messaging services.
As for the ipod, I've had one for almost a year and love it. I never installed rockbox on it, but I can use it just fine without it. Also, if you install rockbox then it really ceases to be an ipod anymore.
isn't the latest version of windows live messenger 8.1? And sorry fore the previous. It's just I've never used macs, so what could I say? I don't like giving people false information.
once again, sorry
I don't use it, but I believe the latest version of live messenger on the mac is 7.01. Often if there are mac and windows versions of software, the version numbers aren't the same.
If we are refering to microsoft messenger as it were on the mac. it didn't work with tiger and voice over I don't know about leopard and voiceover I haven't tried it. However, I'd still encourage the use of adium. It is lightweight and efficient and fully accessibl.
As would I. If you've ever used Miranda, its just like that. Skype is still at version 2 on the mac, but it works great.
I'm definitely happy to be a Mac user! You have some great info on this board to get started with. Besides all that, I'm sure any of us Mac users would be happy to help you if you send us a private message or quicknote. If you switch though, remember that the interfaces for Mac and Windows are very different, although that's changed just a bit with Vista. Don't expect OSX to behave like Windows, and you'll be great!
look for some potcast on http://www.blindcooltech.com.
Maybe this address is right.
If not, look on audiogames.net and potcasts and audioreviews.
On blindcooltech.com are lots of reviews, and some are about macs.
Ah! There's also www.screenlessswitchers.com, which is Darcy and Hollie's blog!
Okay! irst, I really like the summary of apps and great info from that nice fellow who I have no idea how to pronounce your user name. We've spoken before and great job on the summary. All correct. Also, yes open office is in beta and when it comes out we should have a wonderful suite of office apps. I am having the same problem with the beta crashing but it's nice to see what they are doing. I would encourage you to consider looking at www.icanworkthisthing.com where you will find some excellent guides for different products and a great voiceover mailing list to subscribe too. Garage band accessibillity is a hot topic there and there are a few guides on how to use it. More and more aps are becoming accessible to voiceover and the reasons for making the switch to the mac are growing and growing. Have a great day.