A few weeks ago, I updated the categories on my little blog. I wanted to give some love to the various long tails referenced up there in the tagline. OK, so write something, already! I’ve loved classic film since high school, when I…that’s a blog post I’ll write later. Suffice it to say, old movies have been an obsession of mine for EVER. And, like most hobbies, or fandoms, or relic-worship topics, the Internet has…
Shelly's Web of Wonder Posts
Apple’s Trust Dividend
Posted in Access and Disability
If I were asked to summarize the attitude of enthusiasts toward Apple Watch accessibility, this would be my pull-quote: “It was kind of weird for awhile, and I’m still not 100 percent sure what to expect, but everything will be awesome!” (By the way, that’s less than 140 characters, leaving plenty of room for breathless hashtags.) The chain of events leading to next week’s delivery of the first Apple Watches has not been without twists…
Apple Watch Demos, and the Irony of Low-Vision
Posted in Access and Disability, and New Media and Tech
I wrote last week about Apple Watch accessibility, mostly pointing to the first hands-on articles written by VoiceOver users. Many of our questions have now been addressed. VO is part of the watch, and so are some low-vision features, including zoom and grayscale. But during the long few weeks between watch pre-orders and watch unboxings, uncertainty obviously remains. In the larger context, that’s the point of the in-store try-on program, right? You use some combination…
I snarked on Wednesday about the number of Apple Watch reviews, and the seemingly larger number of Apple Watch review roundups. A day or so after the big-picture coverage, we got a couple of write-ups that focused on Apple Watch accessibility. Which was terrific, and answered questions many potential watch buyers had been asking since September, and which Apple had only begun to address on its site within the past few days. (By the way,…
Maccessibility Roundtable #81
Posted in Pods and Presos
Apple Watch anticipation continues, but we distract ourselves with Periscope, and Steve Jobs biography talk. Maccessibility Roundtable #81: The Hearts Aren’t Labeled
Sample SXSW Music: The Roundup
Posted in General Store
It’s that time of year. SXSW Music (and Etcetera) is upon us again. As my annual public service, I offer you links to a wide range of music samplers and playlists, available for free around the Internet. They range from the venerable Unofficial SXSW Torrents to the offerings of record companies and show promoters. I update the post as links arrive, so keep checking back. If you know of more, please drop me a line,…
Clockwise #79
Posted in Pods and Presos
You’re sick of hearing about my being on podcasts, yes? This one was fun, and it’s one of only a few tech podcast I listen to regularly. Even better. Thanks to Jason and Dan for having me. Clockwise #79: The Next Free Noms
I used to do a podcast. I mean, I used to do a podcast frequently. Now I do it when inspiration hits me on the head, or when I find a good title. Shelly’s Podcast #251: High Heels and a Dead Cat
Outside the Box with Jason Snell
Posted in Access and Disability, and Pods and Presos
A committee of the Maccessibility Roundtable chatted recently with Jason Snell, former Macworld poobah, and current proprietor of Six Colors. We talked about Apple accessibility, as seen from the mainstream tech world. I should note, too, that I’ve known Jason since we both worked at MacUser, back in the day. He and I covered the Internet, initially in our spare time. We also shared custody of an email server, from which we ran music mailing…
More Book Talk on KPFK
Posted in Pods and Presos
The nice folks at KPFK Radio’s Access Unlimited invited me back to talk about the iOS 8 version of iOS Access for All. Also, there were cocktails. LA radio station KPFK’S Access Unlimited covers accessibility issues. They archive each week’s show for 90 days. Here’s the MP3 of my March 11 appearance.