Software Update Makes iTunes Accessible To Blind Users

rickthewizkid writes "Recent updates to the iTunes software allow blind users to access the program without assistance. From the article: 'The new software — which transforms the written information on an iTunes-linked computer screen into speech or Braille — stemmed from an agreement between Apple, the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer company, the National Federation of the Blind and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.'" It's not just the actual iTunes app, though; the article notes that this update makes iTunes U useable as well.

Comments

The MUTE button!?

[Speare]

Did they add the Dock Menu's MUTE option back into the thing? Seriously, WTF did they remove the mute option in a recent update? I'm playin' my tunes or watching a video, I don't want to go find and PAUSE it, I just want to kill the sound for a sec. while I listen to something else briefly.

Re:You insensitive Claud!

[Anonymous Coward]

whoosh!

FAIL: Timothy knows nothing about usabilty

[gnugnugnu]

First lesson of usability, learn how to spell it.
Usability.
Usable.

Sure useable is in the dictionary but so is dumbass.

Re:Nice headline but isn't 1990 calling back?

[Colonel Korn]

I must confess, I'm not really following what is going on in helping the disabled in the technology field, but I know it's been a big issue since at least one decade and I thought it had somewhat been solved at the OS / standards / specialized hardware level.

I'm kindof shocked by this headline ... and also wondering what is the current state of supporting the blinds in other apps than iTune nowadays? Is iTune (pre-patched) the exception or the norm?

In Windows it was already fully accessible. I guess OSX doesn't have the same sort of accessibility features, but now at least in iTunes it does.