That might be Shaun's problem but it wasn't the problem with my friend using
tiger; we could hear iTunes just fine it was just not selecting the right
selection. But it's always a good idea to check the volume.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Esther" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 12:09 PM
Subject: Re: What was the I Tunes fix?
Hi Cheryl and Shaun,
Marshall's instructions should work. Is it possible that the iTunes
volume is muted or set very low? Remember that iTunes has a
separate volume control, so if you used to have your computer's
speaker volume set very high, and your iTunes volume at 50%,
for example, if you've changed your computer's volume with the
F11, F12, etc keys (or F4 and F5 keys), then your iTunes volume
will also change.
To check your iTunes volume, use Command+Option+f to move
to the "Search Text Field", then use VO-keys+left arrow. You
should hear the buttons for the three views: Cover Flow, Album
List, and Text List. The next VO-keys+left arrow should take you
to the full volume button. Try pressing that with VO-keys+space.
You might also try going to the volume slider, with the next
VO-keys+left arrow, and interacting. I once very weirdly found
that although my iTunes was set to full volume, I couldn't hear
any sound until I backed the slider down below 100% to 97%
or so. After sound returned there was no problem resetting it
to 100%. This was just after adding some files. If you VO-keys
+left arrow past the slider you reach the mute button. You don't
want to press this (smile).
Sorry if the left arrowing directions are a bit odd, but the only
easy navigation point in iTunes I've found is Command+Option+f
to start from the Search Text Field, so I tend to use this whenever
I want to reorient myself in iTunes.
Some other things to try: check that the selected file is really a
file that has audio content. iTunes supports PDF files. I know of
a couple of podcasts that have included PDFs with their regular
episodes: EscapePod and Podiobooks once included the
text of a new book on their podcast feeds, and one of the travel
podcast series by Rick Steves would occasionally include PDF
files of maps or supplemental information with their episodes.
Do a Get Info on the file either in iTunes (Command+i) or in
its Finder directory (Command+r is the keyboard shortcut to
show the file in a Finder window, or you can use the contextual
menu and select "Show in Finder"). If you work in iTunes you
want to check the Summary tab to make sure you don't have
"Kind: PDF Document", since it has probably been tagged with
the same keywords as a podcast file and can't be distinguished
by keywords. It's also possible to have PDF booklets associated
with albums in the library, although this is unlikely since iTunes
album purchases are still inaccessible. You could also check
whether double-clicking on the selected file (VO-keys+shift+space
-- I hold down the control, option, and shift keys and press the
spacebar twice quickly) works to start the file playing instead of
using the return key. (This is the way you would open the entry
if it were a PDF file. It would start up in its default app, which
would be Preview, and you would have to close the window
when you were finished reading.)
If the item is a podcast, are you sure that the file has been
downloaded? Remember that the default is to only start
subscriptions with the most current episode. But if you
used the contextual menu to "Update Podcast" and get
a list of all the other episodes that are currently available
on the podcast feed, remember that episodes you haven't
downloaded will say "undownloaded podcast" at the end.
If they're not on your machine you can't play them! In order
to get these episodes you have to use the contextual
menu (VO-keys+shift+m) and select "Download Podcast
Episode". If the episode titles are very long, your user
may not wait to hear "undownloaded podcast" at the end.
It sometimes helps to try first using Command+L to go to the
currently playing song, if you've previously been playing
tracks in iTunes. Then navigate the Songs outline from there.
The only other time when I lose response in iTunes is
if I have been playing a video podcast, movie, or tv
episode -- anything that might involve displaying an
image on the screen and which doesn't finish. In those
cases if you stop or pause before the track finishes,
focus is still in the viewing screen, and can't return to
the iTunes songs outline. Pressing escape will get you
out of this mode.
I think it's possible to press keyboard shortcut sequences
that are equivalent to using the Apple Remote on the
newer Macs. That would cycle you from iTunes to
another app, like iMovie. I don't remember the sequences
-- I'd have to sit down at a MacBook to find them out
again -- but that's another possibility.
Sorry, can't think of anything else that's likely at the present.
Try these suggestions.
Cheers,
Esther
On Feb 13, 2008, at 06:07AM, Cheryl Homiak wrote:
It appeared this fix worked for me but nor for a friend using tiger so I
assumed that was the important variable; maybe not. Make sure before
hitting
enter that both your voiceover cursor and your keyboard are on the item;
don't know if that will help but sometimes if they aren't on the same item
hitting enter won't work.
----- Original Message -----
From: "vashaun jones" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 9:59 AM
Subject: Re: What was the I Tunes fix?
This didn't work, but you can reach me at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Feb 13, 2008, at 10:50 AM, Marshall F. Scott wrote:
Hi,
Try the following:
1. Select the appropriate item in the Sources table.
2. Move to and interact with the Songs table.
3. if necessary, expand the item you want to play.
4. Make sure the item is selected.
5. Press Enter.
If this doesn't work, e-mail me privately and we'll discusss the
problem.
Marshall
On Feb 12, 2008, at 8:29 AM, vashaun jones wrote:
Listers, what was the fix for I Tunes when you can't click on a
podcast
or item to play it? When I press enter on a item that I want to play
nothing happens. Can someone help?
Marshall F. scott
University of Utah - CVRTI
95 South 2000 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Phone: (801) 587-9523
Fax: (801) 581-3128
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Skype: scott9576a
