Hi Kelly, Indeed, I am understanding so long as AOL is actively working with CBS to meet their accessibility obligations under the laws and in accordance with NFB's previously agreed upon settlement with AOL. If it turns out this is, in fact, not happening in good faith, then NFB should be ultimately taking the lead as the organization who originally made the agreement.
In the meantime, I am aware of URL capturing, but I feel it should be AOL who provides this information officially as an alternative for its blind and visually impaired listeners as a means of showing good faith. I will say one good thing for AOL in this instance. They are, at least, admitting there is a problem, which is a heck of a lot more than most mainstream technology companies do for us these days. Most companies continue to believe it is acceptable to ignore our needs. That's happening for one reason. We're not making our voices heard frequently and loudly enough! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelly Pierce" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2008 9:09 AM Subject: Re: Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) Darrell, In his response, Tom Wlodkowski did not offer a workplan or timeframe on how the access concern would be resolved. He indicated that there was no commitment from CBS Radio and other third parties to give AOL the ability to modify the interface for accessibility. Currently what we have are promises from time Warner that can't actually be fulfilled. has anyone asked Tom for the time frame for resolution and ongoing updates? Regarding alternate methods, consider accessing a CBS Radio stream and capturing all the URL's that are generated with a program such as Replay A/V or URL sniffer. Plug each URL into Winamp and in nearly all the stations I have tried, I eventually connected with the station. Bookmark the station and then access it in Winamp in the future. I have listened to WXRT in Chicago for about a year now with this method. Other cool CBS stations are likely similar. Kelly ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darrell Shandrow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC Audio Discussion List" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 10:10 PM Subject: Re: Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) > Yeah, really, even I believe a lawsuit or anything close over this > situation > would be jumping the gun. I'd definitely like to know about alternative > streaming options though. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "albert griffith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 7:52 PM > Subject: RE: Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) > > > I don't think so. AOL seems to be acting in good faith but we'll have to > wait and see. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of chris ramsay > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 10:32 PM > To: PC Audio Discussion List > Subject: Re: Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) > > sounds like time for another law suit. chris > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Pattison" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Access-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "PC-Audio" > <pc-audio@pc-audio.org> > Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 10:28 PM > Subject: Fwd: Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) > > >> From: Curtis Chong [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> Greetings and felicitations: >> >> I have been asked to post the following message on behalf of Tom >> Wlodkowski, Director of Accessibility for America Online (AOL). Mr. >> Wlodkowski does not bring good news, I am afraid; however, in his >> favor, he is doing his best to provide us with advance notice and a >> promise to work to make things better. >> He and I have worked together for several years on accessibility >> issues pertaining to America Online, and I believe him to be a man of >> integrity and a person who is deeply committed to ensuring access to >> AOL's services by all people with disabilities. >> >> Should you wish to contact Mr. Wlodkowski directly, his email address >> is [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> Here is Mr. Wlodkowski's message and the original post to which it >> refers: >> >> Cordially, >> >> Curtis Chong >> >> ------------------- >> >> The player Mr. Roderick references in his original GUI Talk post below >> is one built by AOL. While there were some compatibility issues >> between the AOL Radio player and JAWS due to the use of javascript, it >> was generally usable. >> Regrettably, this player will no longer be available as of June 9. In >> fact we will take some significant steps backward as we transition to >> the use of a third party player. We apologize for the inconvenience >> and plan to work with our partner to improve usability of our new >> player in subsequent releases. >> >> Beginning on June 9, the AOL Radio product will be powered by CBS Radio. >> The >> necessity of this new business model was driven by the dramatic >> increase in the music royalty rates paid for Internet Radio. This >> action by the record labels left AOL no choice but to look for an >> alternative way to stay in the internet radio business. Given the >> business demands and accelerated transition, there wasn't ample time >> for us to effective address the major usability issues with the CBS >> Player. The AOL Radio team is aware of the accessibility barriers >> presented by this transition, and is committed to addressing the issue >> with CBS Radio once the new player interface launches on June 9. >> >> Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. As you >> know through the recent release of the accessible webmail product, AOL >> Instant Messenger and other products, we're committed to ensuring the >> usability of our products and services with screen access software. >> There are times however where business needs put us in a situation >> where we regrettably cannot deliver an accessible interface when a >> product is first launched. >> This is the case with AOL Radio. We will certainly look to you, Mr. >> Roderick >> and others to test the accessibility of the new player interface once >> the team is a bit further down the path of implementing the necessary >> usability improvements. >> >> Best, >> >> Tom >> >> Forwarded message from Rick Roderick [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> Subject: [gui-talk] AOL radio >> To: NFBnet GUI Talk Mailing List [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> I am trying the new version of AOL radio. Unfortunately, some of the >> keys are not working. I am using Internet Explorer and JAWS 9. >> >> When I get to the categories, it says that a particular category is >> off and to press open it. When I press Enter, I simply hear the same >> message, and the category remains closed. >> >> I go into a selection of all stations, and not all the stations come up. >> I >> am able to choose a category from this area, however. When I do so, I >> then select a station. Everything works fine. However, when I hit >> Alt-Left-Arrow to go back to the list, I can't get out of the current >> station. >> >> Any suggestions? >> >> Thanks in advance. >> >> Regards Steve >> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Windows Live Messenger: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Skype: steve1963 >> >> >> >> Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... >> http://www.pc-audio.org >> >> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... > http://www.pc-audio.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... > http://www.pc-audio.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... > http://www.pc-audio.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
