I agree, and I just wrote to them. I did not copy and paste your message, but I did ask for clarification on their policies, and if they plan to address accessibility during the app submission/review process. I, too, urge everyone to do the same. Don't forget to call them as well, since it might work better if you talk to a human, or even ask for a manager to get your point across if the rep does not seem to get what you mean. On Sep 11, 2013, at 10:33 AM, Neil Barnfather - TalkNav <for...@talknav.com> wrote:
> That is my view and I sincerely hope that many of us will support it and > write to Apple. > > > > Regards, > > Neil Barnfather > > Talks List Administrator > Twitter @neilbarnfather > > TalkNav is a Nuance, Code Factory and Sendero dealer, as well as an Apple > iOS, Macintosh and Android accessibility specialist. For all your > accessible phone, PDA and GPS related enquiries visit www.talknav.com > > URL: - www.talknav.com > e-mail: - serv...@talknav.com > Phone: - +44 844 999 4199 > > On 11 Sep 2013, at 15:27, Ray Foret jr <rfore...@att.net> wrote: > >> This is so well written as is, that barring the personalization of it, I >> think it could well stand as it now exists. This is a measure which all >> blind Apple users should support. >> >> >> Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind >> built-in! >> Sincerely, >> The Constantly Barefooted Ray >> Still a very proud and happy Mac and Iphone user! >> >> On Sep 11, 2013, at 8:58 AM, Neil Barnfather - TalkNav <for...@talknav.com> >> wrote: >> >>> The below should prove a concern to all Apple accessibility feature users, >>> and I would urge as many of you who can do so, to please write to Apple >>> yourselves to express your concern along the same lines where possible… >>> (accessibil...@apple.com). >>> >>> For years now Apple has led the way in accessibility standards and >>> application of methods in interacting with all of its product range. >>> Internationally within many disability arenas Apple is celebrated as the >>> defacto standard and is widely acknowledged as users preferred platform for >>> persons with accessibility issues. >>> >>> Whether or not the App Store had an unofficial policy towards customers >>> with accessibility needs or not, is unknown to me. What I am aware of is >>> that where I've bought Apps which turn out not to be accessible, Apple App >>> Store has always been prompt to refund the purchase immediately without >>> question. >>> >>> Since Apple do not enforce accessibility standards, nor in anyway >>> whatsoever offer a method of a disabled user to know whether or not an App >>> is, or is not, accessible in advance of purchase, this seemed to be a most >>> reasonable compromise. >>> >>> However, in correspondence over the past week with Apple iTunes support >>> staff via e-mail in relation to an App I have purchased which is >>> inaccessible, Apple's stance has been both surprising and frankly highly >>> dismissive of our needs and vulnerability when using Apple's App Store. >>> >>> I have been point blank refused a refund upon this occasion, with staff >>> suggesting that I could leave a review for the App which others could read, >>> and or write to the developer. Whilst I understand that the second >>> suggestion may illicit a positive response, and sometimes it does… In many >>> instances developers haven't even heard of Voice Over let alone understand >>> what it does and how they aught to address compliance with Apple's >>> Accessibility API's. >>> >>> Of course, the best approach would be for Apple to make compliance with its >>> Accessibility API's a requirement for all new Apps being approved to the >>> App Store, indeed a range of other options would also work, such as; a >>> discount on the 30% cut that Apple takes for compliant Apps, a penalty >>> higher fee (35% etc) for those that do not comply and perhaps indicating >>> with a marker in the App store which Apps do meet the requirements. >>> >>> Since Apple do none of these, despite so publicly professing to up holding >>> and supporting some of the most well implemented accessibility innovation >>> and support seen in the industry, it seemed like a fair compromise that >>> Apple voluntarily and without complication offered a refund to customers >>> who had accessibility needs where an App proved to be inaccessible. >>> >>> The situation now, though is that Apple is refusing in an uncompromising >>> and frankly shocking way to refund such purchases, with patronising and >>> unsympathetic suggestions as to how we, as blind users, go about reviewing >>> Apps etc. >>> >>> I would ask that Apple firstly developed a robust policy in this regard, >>> and secondly, reviews options as to improving the compliance uptake of >>> developers within their iOS and Mac App Stores. >>> >>> So that I can convey your response to the ViPhone, Macvisionaries and >>> other Apple Accessibility user forums promptly, I would sincerely >>> appreciate your earliest feedback and response on this issue. >>> >>> Yours kindly. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Neil Barnfather >>> >>> http://www.NeilBarnfather.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Neil Barnfather >>> >>> Talks List Administrator >>> Twitter @neilbarnfather >>> >>> TalkNav is a Nuance, Code Factory and Sendero dealer, as well as an Apple >>> iOS, Macintosh and Android accessibility specialist. For all your >>> accessible phone, PDA and GPS related enquiries visit www.talknav.com >>> >>> URL: - www.talknav.com >>> e-mail: - serv...@talknav.com >>> Phone: - +44 844 999 4199 >>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >>> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) mehg...@gmail.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
