Hey Scott, My niece works for Microsoft, so she has very proudly kept me informed of developments there. Poor thing has had to listen to me slamming Microsoft and touting Apple for years! :)
Maybe I should rethink Google, but they just seem so dicey. Re smart phones, it is so dependent on which version of Android comes on the phone, and as we all know, not only do they all not come with the same version, but the handling of updates is different across different models. That just seems like a mess to be avoided. That said, I'm glad they're making positive changes. I was on the EyesFree list for a while when I had an Android phone, and just wanted to throttle T.V. Raman most of the time. Unless I'm given a compelling reason to do otherwise, I feel some loyalty to Apple b/c they did the accessibility thing first. I'm glad to see Google and Microsoft coming around, but I think to a large extent that has happened because Apple raised the bar and started the discussion. As for home automation, it's likely my husband and I will be moving some time after the first of the year. So, I'm sitting tight till we know what's going to happen there, but yeah, I'm definitely wanting to do more in that area, if for no other reason than the cool factor. :) Cheers, Donna > On Dec 21, 2016, at 8:18 AM, Scott Granados <scott.grana...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi Donna, I haven’t tried the home app to any degree but I’m hoping for some > home automation gear under the tree so we’ll see if that happens. Else I’m > going to add some to my collection in the new year. > > Google has made huge progress on the accessibility side. Remember, there > were a lot of hit pieces written out there, some by a major organization > we’re all familiar with that are way off base in recent years. There were > issues years ago but Google has made huge strides to the good. They have > hired a lot of blind engineers and blind folks all across the company. > (Including approaching this engineer for their network engineering team). > They have a great new lead named Victor in talkback development who is highly > approachable, very active on the eyes-free list and you can watch him address > concerns and make program changes right on the master mailing list. They > have an aggressive open beta program and this translates to other products as > well including the chrome browser, chrome books and they have made huge > attempts at integration of accessibility in to their smart home products, > nest being one of them. > > Microsoft is another who is changing their ways. Recently they have > hired a bunch of folks on the blind sysadmins list and are not only working > on accessibility for their consumer facing projects but across their whole > line of server and business products. Talking installs are if not upon us > now in the very near future and a fully functional screenreader is forming > with a very similar integrated design of voiceover rather than the bolt on > nature of a JFW or Window eyes. Microsoft is also making efforts in the > phone side of things and including accessibility features there as well, they > are not as developed yet as Android or IOS but they are steaming ahead in > that direction. > > In reality, today it’s very likely you can walk in to any phone store, > pick up over 90% of the phones and they all have accessibility built in > that’s totally available to the blind user with out sited assistance. You > even have competing access options in the Android space with Samsung having > their own reader, Talkback from Google being included in all distributions, > Shine + being out there and more. Code Factory is still doing there thing > and fills a niche for certain users and the major companies are now all > offering free options. If I were you I’d take a new look around, a lot has > changed for the better for us. I’m still an Apple man but I’m definitely > branching out in to other environments because all of the sudden they have > become very usable and competition is a great thing. > > > > >> On Dec 21, 2016, at 9:01 AM, Donna Goodin <doniado...@me.com> wrote: >> >> Hi Scott, >> >> I am running the latest version of IOS. I admit, I'm pretty nonplused with >> the home app. To be fair, we don't have automated lights or security >> cameras, but to me the app seems kind of worthless. When I try to get it to >> connect, it does not see the nest thermostats. >> >> As for GoogleHome, I'm sure you're right, but I have an intense mistrust and >> dislike for google, based on their very checkered past where accessibility >> is concerned. >> cheers, >> Donna >>> On Dec 21, 2016, at 7:51 AM, Scott Granados <scott.grana...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> If you’re running the latest version of IOS you might be running that >>> software, I could be way wrong though. There’s a home icon on the main >>> screen of my phone now which I think is supposed to interact with devices. >>> I have not tried this at all. I am how ever jumping on the google home >>> band wagon. The AI with the google voice assistant beats Siri badly. The >>> recognition and the ability to understand context by Google just m makes >>> mince meat out of Siri. (To the point Apple made some emergency hires in >>> their AI team to try to catch up although I’m skeptical as to whether they >>> can). Google has some heavy heavy AI fire power on their team now. >>> >>> >>>> On Dec 21, 2016, at 8:47 AM, Donna Goodin <doniado...@me.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Scott, >>>> >>>> I don't have or want google home. From what I've read, to control Nest >>>> with Siri, you need some third-party software called Home Bridge which I >>>> haven't installed. >>>> Cheers, >>>> Donna >>>>> On Dec 21, 2016, at 7:32 AM, Scott Granados <scott.grana...@gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Donna, have you wrapped it in to google home or Siri at all? How does >>>>> that work? >>>>> >>>>>> On Dec 21, 2016, at 7:39 AM, Donna Goodin <doniado...@me.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I should add a bit more to this. >>>>>> >>>>>> We've had the Nest thermostat four almost four years. Since there's >>>>>> very little need to use the website, I haven't even tried in a couple of >>>>>> years at least, so it may well have improved. The iPhone app has most >>>>>> definitely improved during that time. Initially, you couldn't switch >>>>>> from heat to cool, or turn your unit on/off. You also couldn't set eco >>>>>> temperatures. All those issues have been fixed for a while now. So, it >>>>>> may well be that the access on the website is better, too, I just don't >>>>>> have much reason to go there, since I can do everything I need in the >>>>>> app. >>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>> Donna >>>>>>> On Dec 21, 2016, at 6:03 AM, Donna Goodin <doniado...@me.com> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> We have the Nest products in our house. Whoever installs them should do >>>>>>> the initial set up. Their website is a nightmare, the one thing that I >>>>>>> have found very difficult to do is to configure the temperature >>>>>>> schedule. However, there iPhone app is great, so day today usage is >>>>>>> very easy. >>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>> Donna >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Dec 20, 2016, at 10:45 PM, Scott Granados >>>>>>>> <scott.grana...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I have heard the nest can be difficult to configure as a blind user >>>>>>>> but works well once set up. My understanding is the Honeywell >>>>>>>> products are more accessible out of the box. Kevin on list here has >>>>>>>> done a lot of good research I think in this area and posted a bit on >>>>>>>> the eyes-free list, maybe he can detail more here. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Dec 20, 2016, at 9:35 PM, Sarai Bucciarelli >>>>>>>>> <sarai.bucciare...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi guys: >>>>>>>>> Has anyone used the Nest 3rd gen thermostat, the security camera, or >>>>>>>>> the smoke alarm? I’m looking for something to work my Echo, andmy >>>>>>>>> iphone. >>>>>>>>> Sarai D. Bucciarelli www.linkedin.com/in/SaraiDBucciarelli >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> The following information is important for all members of the Mac >>>>>>>>> Visionaries list. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, >>>>>>>>> or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact >>>>>>>>> the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list >>>>>>>>> itself. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. 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