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
