How iTunes Accessibility Works Under Windows
9 September, 2008 @ 6:09 pm by LioncourtAs we reported earlier, Apple teamed up with GW Micro to make iTunes 8 accessible with Window-Eyes 7. This was accomplished by fully implementing MSAA (Microsoft Active Accessibility) in the iTunes software. What that means, ultimately, is that other screen readers can also take advantage of the new accessibility features in iTunes 8 if they so choose.
It is clear that Apple’s commitment to accessibility extends far beyond their operating system. They have gone far beyond the efforts of other high-profile technology manufacturers, and we are delighted to be able to report on these efforts.
Jake wrote:
Wow. I don’t know what else to say, really. This has been one awesome day for us blind Apple supporters. I absolutely love iTunes 8 at least with Voiceover (haven’t tried it with window-eyes yet). And now, to here that we at last have talking iPods… awesome. I’ll reserve judgement on the approach Apple has actually taken with this until I can lay my hands on one, as I am and probably always will be skeptical of the pre-recorded speech approach, but it would seem to be a good compromise in this case. Maybe we’ll get accessible iPhones or apple TVs next, although with the iPhone they really would need a TTS engine, ditto for the Apple TV.
I have a few friends who were of the Apple doesn’t care mindset. I must say it’s very satisfying to tell them: “I told you so.” And the fact that they’re extending it to windows users now as well is awesome too. If nothing else it gives me an excuse to fire up that windows VM I’ve got laying around just to test it.