[access-uk] Re: Apps for the Mac, was New voices for the next apple operating system
- From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 11:16:35 +0100
Hi Andy
When I say Office doesn't cut it on the Mac, I mean that the programs
available to Mac Users don't work in the same way as Office. I bought a
program called iWork for my iMac. This has Pages as its word processor, and
Numbers for the spreadsheet. You can save your documents to Windows format,
and import them successfully. But it isn't the same as Microsoft Office
because you don't have Outlook. You do have a programme built into the Mac
operating system called Mail, and Martin has set up his Email account on his
Mac Mini, and says it is easy to navigate with VoiceOver. But it isn't as
sophisticated, dare I say it, as Outlook and all the things you can do with
the calendar etc. On the other hand, a confident Mac user might argue that
you can do everything on the Mac that you can do in Windows and, more
specifically, within Office. I'm not expert enough to contradict that
viewpoint, I'm only just beginning my Apple adventure.
It probably depends what you want the Mac to do for you. I've got two
systems running on different machines, and jump to the Mac to experiment
when I have time and inclination. I'm in no way ready to dump Windows, and
nor do I have plans to migrate either. I just like the idea of playing with
a different concept, and actually find Apple's attitude to accessibility
very refreshing! I also find that Braille to Apple isn't just an
afterthought, and very much something that is included in their operating
system. There is no fuss about digitally signed drivers, you just plug in
your display and Apple recognises it, well certainly the newer models
anyway.
Kind Regards,
Jackie Cairns
J&M Work-Ability
jandm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.work-ability.co.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
ANDY COLLINS
Sent: 19 May 2011 10:07
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: New voices for the next apple operating system
Hi Jackie - this is useful feedback, thanks. So, if as you say, Office
doesn't cut it on the Mac, what are the word processing/spreadsheet options
for a blind user of the Mac?
Andy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 9:27 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: New voices for the next apple operating system
> Well Andy, I still use JAWS primarily because I'm used to it, sort of in a
> comfort zone if you like. I don't like Freedom Scientific, I think
> everybody knows that. I hate the way they operate, but that's my opinion
> and I'm sticking to it. I hope the day comes when Microsoft, for all its
> faults and flaws, will do as Apple have, and bring out a built-in screen
> reader. And the reason? Because Apple's operating system works with
> VoiceOver. You don't have to buy scripts or add-ons, and when the
> software
> has an upgrade, so does VoiceOver, and it works with everything on the Mac
> that is part of that operating system. That is not to say that VoiceOver
> works with everything you can buy for the Mac, and therein is the
> difference. There is software out there that doesn't work with VoiceOver.
>
> It is also a steep learning curve, but I now have an iMac, and I like
> leaving Windows for a bit to learn something on it. I also don't have
> iTunes on my PC, but use it on the Mac, and have my music collection on it
> so I can transfer what I want to my iPod Nano and the iTouch. The Alex
> voice on the Mac is very good too.
>
> I don't think I would ever swap my PC for the Mac full-time, I don't feel
> confident enough to do that, and there are apps on the PC that don't cut
> it
> on the Mac like Office. But to play with and learn, it's an interesting
> concept.
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Jackie Cairns
> J&M Work-Ability
>
> jandm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> www.work-ability.co.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of
> ANDY COLLINS
> Sent: 18 May 2011 16:59
> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New voices for the next apple operating system
>
> Well you know Jackie, I've been considering a mac for when the time comes
> to
> buy a new laptop, if I haven't gone the IPad route by then.
>
> I guess there's quite a steep learning curve if going from Windows to Mac,
> but any improvement over JAWS and eloquence has to be a big plus for me -
>
> Andy
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 8:27 AM
> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New voices for the next apple operating system
>
>
>> Yep Andy with you completely, and they are slower on a device too. I
>> wouldn't touch them with a barge pole unless they are built into
>> something
>> that doesn't allow you to change them. Alex on the Mac is very good
>> quality. You even hear him take breaths when he is reading. It's
>> personal
>> preference, but I agree those voices are dreadful, apart from Sangita,
>> who
>> is really quite realistic in her own way.
>>
>>
>> Kind Regards,
>>
>> Jackie Cairns
>> J&M Work-Ability
>>
>> jandm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> www.work-ability.co.uk
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
>> Of
>> ANDY COLLINS
>> Sent: 17 May 2011 13:51
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: New voices for the next apple operating system
>>
>> Well, I hope, but doubt that they would sound better under Voice Over. I
>> hate them. Still too mechanical. Why do these voices always sound as
>> though
>> they're gargling as they speak? I'd hoped by now we'd be having a more
>> naturally flowing voice -
>>
>> Andy
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Gordon Keen <mailto:gordonkeen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 10:01 AM
>> Subject: [access-uk] New voices for the next apple operating system
>>
>> Hi
>> Thought some of you might want a listen to these, what do you think
>> of them...
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>>
>> Hello
>>
>> Here are samples of a couple of the new voices in Lion which
>> have been doing the rounds. These aren't generated through Apple's speech
>> engine, they're the same voices used by another service so the samples
>> are
>> generated from that. They may or may not sound better when used in
>> VoiceOver:
>>
>> English American Accent - Samantha
>> <http://nextupdownloads.com/scansamples/samantha.wav>
>>
>> English British Accent - Serena
>> <http://nextupdownloads.com/scansamples/serena.wav>
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>>
>>
>> G
>>
>> From Bridgerule in glorious Devon, England.
>> Catch the buzz at http://www.bridgerule.co.uk
>>
>>
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