Apple vs Microsoft with Commitment to Accessibility

[david520able]

I just like it because its free and it doesn't take more then 3 minutes to install.

[rml695]

@david520able This is true although you have to wonder about those people who are newly blind who are elderly who just got into the whole computer thing and don't know where to begin...they wouldn't know the first thing about installing NVDA, and it all depends on your agency as well.

[david520able]

Do you like it? I mean have you gotten to experience it for yourself?

[rml695]

@david520able A little bit - felt lost. LOL One thing I love about VoiceOver is it offers you a chance to sit down & learn it, rather than plopping you in & letting you fend for yourself. A friend of mine read the user's manual? Was totally lost.

[david520able]

Actually, there is a free screen reader called NVDA, which stands for NonVisual Desktop Access. In fact, I am using it now. It's competing with JAWS, and in my opinion, it beats JAWS.

[rml695]

@david520able I'm familiar with NVDA. Our local Blind Center had NVDA installed on our computer lab's systems...guess what? Everyone hates it. I think because they've been using JAWS for the last I don't know how many years and the learning curve is so drastic for some, and the center did this right under their noses.

[Moshikashitenai]

Holy crap! JAWS is built into the Mac? Cool! I want a Mac now! :D :D :D I don't wanna pay out the nose for JAWS when I can get it for free

[rml695]

@Moshikashitenai I think you misunderstood me. :) What's built into the Mac is a utility called VoiceOver - and that's built into the core of the operating system, it's not something additional that you install.

[Moshikashitenai]

@rml695 Oh. Well that sucks then

[rml695]

@Moshikashitenai Why? The way Apple has built it in has made it impossible to crash the screen reader. Also you flip on VoiceOver for the first time, and instead of leaving you on your own, or having to find an audio CD, it will come up and ask if you know how to use it. If not, it will go through with you step by step and teach you everything you need to know about the screen reader.

[Moshikashitenai]

@rml695 Oh, well I guess I never really had any experience with the accessibility features in a Mac, I've always used Microsoft except in school

[rml695]

@Moshikashitenai You should give it a shot. Due to Apple's efforts, Microsoft is going to follow suit with their own JAWS-level screen reader. Freedom Scientific is worried about this - and i'm glad! lol

[Eyelessguy1987]

@Moshikashitenai The Mac voice Over is much better than JAWS. I have both and I like the Mac much more. I have posted a lot of tutorials if you are interested in learning more. Look for "How to be blind"

[Moshikashitenai]

@Eyelessguy1987 And I disagree 100%. I absolutely hate VoiceOver after trying it out. It's backwards, tedious, and confusing. JAWS is insanely easy to use and it's less annoying.

[bcgg2009dlc]

The Voice is REALLy Distorted too! Extremely artificial sounding and synthesized & there is one more thing too! THe Narrator Only reads what you have typed. NOT what someone types to you. What GOOD does that do? I ask ya. I HATE BOTH of these! I Agree a billion % that MS needs to follow in the footsteps of Apple.

Excellent video as always! Entertaining, Educational, Informative, and always a JOY to listen to! You are indeed an inspirational speaker. Passionate and Dedicated! Keep-em coming!

[bcgg2009dlc]

IT Doesn't It's kinda of funky little gizmo that alters the screen and will ONLY magnify what you put the cursor on. Now this would be okay except fer the fact that ONCE this is Done? THe screen is So altered and distorted? THat you can't see a thing. For those of us with eye issues? THis is COMPLETELY unacceptable! Now then. Let's discuss the "Narrator" MY TAKE: 1 word Sux! The voice is worse than the orginal generations of JAWS back in the late 90's ...

[bcgg2009dlc]

I have both the narrator and the magnification default built in. However After using BOTH! They are SO BEYOND Non-user friendly? It's not funny. As you know I had to have my computer basically rebuilt from the ground up as there was an issue in losing ALL the drivers Including the Kernal driver. Once this happened the computer was fixed up and secured ect, AND BOTH the Narrator and the Magnifier were set up as well. THe magnifier 1st? Was supposed to be able to do FULL screen magnification....

[musicdrumbeats]

I agree. Microsoft doesn't care much for the disable and Apple care more. Macs have built in accessible features and Window users have to buy $500+ software and thats not right. thats y apple is getting bigger then windows and people are moving to their features

[Shinedown51287]

I was looking for a magnifying software for windows mobile. But actually I'm not willing to pay for a software that just can zoom in wich I NEED to use this devic just like any other user. Is there some freeware for windows mobile phones? I really would be thankful for an answer, cause I wa searching for ever now. At least it feels that way. It's really frustrating.

[rml695]

@Shinedown51287 Sadly, for Windows Mobile, I don't think there is.

[Danigurl343]

Just wanted to say thanks. I'm legally blind and bought the iPhone 3GS last year. I love it! I'm working on saving up for the MacBook Pro. It will be my first Mac. Hopefully by Christmas I will have enough. Maybe sooner. Who knows! Im so excited to get away from Windows. Thanks again for sharing your opinion.

[0Beautifulbrutality0]

@Danigurl343 I had the same idea too much and they are horrible in my opinion.

[Danigurl343]

@0Beautifulbrutality0 If you're referring to windows.. then I do agree.. I'm just so tired of being frustrated by Windows... Lol. Though, I do hear windows 7 is much better. I've yet to try it out. I will definitely check it out in the future to form my own opinion on it. =)

[TheNicolaisvendsen]

I agree with everything you're saying. I'm impressed with Mac and the integration. My JAWS was funed, granted, but if something completely crashed like the WIndows OS does a lot, itd sometimes take months to get fixed. And the iPhone is great. Hook it p to iTunes, activate VoiceOver through iTunes itself and you're up and running. I don't care about price, it's worth it.

[impossibleprincess06]

I was a zoomtext user once but I felt like the speech support was not enough for me. I could not afford AU$2000 for JAWS so I ended up getting an iMac for home use, to go with my old macbook which was GREAT in terms of accessibility.

[zkrisher]

I am a ZoomText user and have not experience with Mac though I find it's accessibility features interesting.

I tried the new Magnifier on Windows 7 and while usable, I would not like to use it all the time. As you raise the magnification level the text quickly becomes blurry and eye-strain sets in after some use.

My question is, if the Mac voiceover and zoom are really up to par with the windows payware?

Do they get the same level of support with difficult software?

[rml695]

The way I look at it is this. If the developer knows what their doing, it's accessible. If they don't, it's not. LOL Many apps are in the category of the latter.

[musicdrumbeats]

@rml695 I'm a ZoomText user too and I'm looking for the same but I went to Apple yesterday and tried the iPhone 4 and it has voice over and magnification on it. I want a iPod touch 64GB but I want magnify on it

[guitarlovenjc]

Zoomtext wouldn't work with zune which is why I'm getting an Ipod touch! 32 gig with voice over. Hope it works well!! Usually though, at least from my experience, schools / agencies help with paying for screen readers such as zoomtext. Though mac just got bonus pts IMHO.

[guitarlovenjc]

You need zoomtext :)

[sherry477]

nice vid:)

[jls1114]

maybe you have to spend more money but i honeslty rather go with accessibilty for windos that ismade by an outsie party this specically works on this stuff then apples on built in stuff

[VideoGuyNC]

NVDA does take a little time to get used to, but once you have it going, and customized to your liking - it works EXTREMELY well. If it has been a while since you tried it - I would suggest that there have been MANY improvements to the program since the early versions. I would say that it now rivals Jaws in terms of overall functionality. The first thing I do is to shut OFF the onnoying features of NVDA such as the mouse curser tracking beeps, and status beeps. Insert key+N turns it off.

[VideoGuyNC]

NVDA is a decent, FREE screen reader. The beauty of NVDA is that you can load the portable version on a USB drive, and use it EASILY on any PC. You can pick up a pretty decent PC laptop for $499 or less. With a FREE copy of NVDA, you're good to go for $500. As for full screen magnifiers - DesktopZoom (also a portable small application). Plus you get all the options of the PC platform, and your're not buying into apple's hype (NO disrespect to apple users). You should try NVDA & Desktopzoom.

[rml695]

In the AT industry though, like all the schools & rehab agencies, seem to be stuck in a JAWS world. i tried NVDA once...couldn't figure out how to shut it down when I was finished. LOL

[rml695]

Also NVDA is not built-in to the OS, which tells me MICROSOFT THEMSELVES are not doing it. What I was saying is that MICROSOFT needs to do something like NVDA so you don't have to download anything, you can just hit a few keys and start it up. Also, it should rival VoiceOver and JAWS. Only then will it be accepted.

[ProjectRevolution07]

Dont use Screen Flow Demo

use

Cam Studio. its alot better

and its freeware. just google it

[rml695]

Point me to it for OS X.

[acynnon]

There actually is a narrator on Windows 7 but im not sure how well it works since I don't need it.. it's in the Control panel under "ease of access center"

[m4tthewk]

Did you watch the video? He said, "Narrator is garbage".

[acynnon]

Nope any other statements you'd like to make?

[Yngwie811]

agee