Archive for August, 2009

We’ve just added a new entry to our collection of guides for blind and visually impaired Mac users. In "The Insertion Point and VoiceOver", we provide an explanation and example for new VoiceOver users coming from Windows on the difference between the way in which Windows screen readers and VoiceOver handle the concept of the [...]

In the Mac-cessibility Round Table Podcast #5 – "Now Available in Natural Flavors", our knights of the round table Darcy Burnard, Holly Anderson, Steve Sawczyn, Cara Quinn, and Josh de Lioncourt discuss the recent launch of the Mac-cessibility Network, review the recent minor updates to the Mac OS X and iPhone OS’s, get Steve’s thoughts [...]

Curious how you can use your thumbs to quickly text / type on your iPhone, as you would on a standard mobile ‘qwerty’ keyboard? Try this technique… with the virtual keyboard showing on the screen, hold the iPHone as you would hold any other mobile device, while typing on it. I.E. so that your thumbs [...]

Visual Cortex has updated their Audible Timer application for the iPhone to include support for iPhone accessibility and VoiceOver. All buttons and controls are properly labeled, and the application works seamlessly with VoiceOver. Part of what makes this particular update significant is the fact that it included exclusively accessibility enhancements and fixes. Hopefully, these sorts [...]

Gregory Kearney, Manager of Accessible Media at the Association for the Blind of Western Australia, contacted Fictionwise.com, the company which develops many popular e-book readers, including eReader for the Mac and iPhone, regarding the distinct lack of VoiceOver access in both versions of eReader. Below is their response: Hi, Unfortunately, the ability to scoop the [...]

Ever need a quick fix of music during your day? On the home screen of your iPhone 3GS, simply tap twice, with two fingers, and treat yourself to some music from your music library on your phone. You’ll still see your home screen, and can access anything on its pages, so this is an excellent [...]

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Mac-cessibility Network, a new site devoted to the accessibility of Apple products and the people who use them. In the two years since the launch of Lioncourt.com, the site has grown beyond its initial aspirations and design. It was time for a major overhaul. This redesign [...]

In a recent blog entry, Bernard Maldonado, founder of the Solona.net captcha solution service used by many visually impaired Mac users and others, frankly discusses the challenges facing the service. Solona now has over a thousand registered users, but still essentially only one volunteer donating his time and resources to solving captchass. Mr. Maldonado is [...]

Low vision users will be pleased to note that Apple’s antiglare screen option, available only on the 17-inch MacBook Pro since the Mac maker revamped its MacBook line to include the unibody models in October 2008, has been quietly extended to include the 15-inch MacBook Pro today. For $50.00 USD, you can swap out the [...]

Apple.com launched a new page in its Education section devoted to Special Education and the accessibility features included in Mac OS X. The Special Education page offers many video sessions that introduce and demonstrate key accessibility technologies such as VoiceOver, Zoom, and others for a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities. This page should [...]

on Wednesday, Apple released Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 via OS X’s Software Update facility. Apple’s release notes make no mention of any accessibility changes, instead focusing on stability, compatibility, and security. However, as several readers have pointed out, there is at least one accessibility fix that should please VoiceOver users. A long standing issue [...]