Android

Transcript: how do Apple and Google compare?

Roberta: Both Apple and Google have received a lot of attention about the accessibility of their mobile operating systems, iOS and Android. Today we are joined in the studio by Sarah Pulis, Manager of Digital Media and Technology, from Media Access Australia, who’s going to talk to us about the different approaches that Apple and Google have taken in their mobile operating systems and what this means for you. Welcome, Sarah.

Sarah: Thanks very much, Roberta.

Taxonomy:

Blind or vision impaired

Digital media and technology:

Top of page

Read more about Transcript: how do Apple and Google compare?

Accessible web browser and music player for Android released as standalone apps

no

Android users who are blind or vision impaired can now purchase Code Factory’s Accessible Web Browser and the new Accessible Music Player as standalone apps from the Android Market.

Accessible Web Browser was first released in March as part of Mobile Accessibility, a suite of ten accessible applications including a screen reader for Android. Due to popular demand, Accessible Web Browser is now available for individual download from the Android Market for AU$21.07.

Taxonomy:

Digital media and technology:

Android smartphones

Android

News alert taxonomy:

Blind/vision impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

Top of page

Read more about Accessible web browser and music player for Android released as standalone apps

Commentary: iOS versus Android: two models for achieving access

no

The release of iOS 5 beta 3 with Assistive Touch has sparked discussion in the social media space about Apple’s ongoing commitment to accessibility. In light of this, we take a moment to look at the different approaches to accessibility that Apple and Google have taken in their mobile operating systems.

Apple has a long history of including assistive technology in its products as standard features, and at no extra cost. This history started with the inclusion of accessibility features in Mac OS X, and has continued through to their mobile operating system, iOS.

Taxonomy:

General

Digital technology

News

Digital media and technology:

News alert taxonomy:

Deaf/hearing impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

Blind/vision impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

Top of page

Read more about Commentary: iOS versus Android: two models for achieving access

Apple continues to improve accessibility of iOS

no

A new feature in the latest beta release of iOS 5, the operating system for the iPad and iPhone, provides on-screen replacements for various button functions, such as the home button.

The control panel, called Assistive Touch, will assist users who may have trouble using the standard gestures or the physical buttons on the iPad. For example, instead of using the swipe action (gesture) to move from screen to screen, you can tap on an icon instead. This may increase accessibility for users with a physical disability.

Once the feature is turned on in the accessibility settings, you can tap on a designated corner on the device to bring up the control panel.

Assistive Touch has four options in total:

Taxonomy:

General

Digital technology

News

Digital media and technology: