Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Viable Skype Alternatives? (self.Blind)
submitted by VulpineAdversary
Hey blinks,
JAWS user here, totally blind from age four. As I'm sure you're aware, Skype recently popped a bunch of laxative tabs like they were skittles, then proceeded to squat over the trusting faces of their longtime PC users and relax. Classic Skype is completely disabled, the updated version of Skype is horrible for PC screenreader users, and won't even launch since a recent Windows update besides.
A fruitless hunt through barren wastelands of Microsoft support forums telling me to hit Windows+r, type in jloizxdjseuhfrfuhdsjxxr.muahahaha, and hang one-legged from the hanger rod in the closet has left me bereft of hope for ever rekindling what once was.
I am not a techy fellow, so I don't like long and drawn-out installs, fixes or customizations. I write a lot, browse the internet, and play MUDs. That's about the extent of my computer prowess. My ideal VOIP and chat client would be skype circa 2016. Since this is no longer an option, I was wondering if any of you had any experience with apps/clients that serve the same function without all of the frills that recently made the user experience so intolerable. I can already hear someone saying Discord. My first look at it a year ago wasn't great. Lots of unlabeled buttons, graphics and mystery bells and whistles. However I am open to having my mind changed, and exploring any other alternatives offered. Networking is a big part of what I do.
JAWS user here, totally blind from age four. As I'm sure you're aware, Skype recently popped a bunch of laxative tabs like they were skittles, then proceeded to squat over the trusting faces of their longtime PC users and relax. Classic Skype is completely disabled, the updated version of Skype is horrible for PC screenreader users, and won't even launch since a recent Windows update besides.
A fruitless hunt through barren wastelands of Microsoft support forums telling me to hit Windows+r, type in jloizxdjseuhfrfuhdsjxxr.muahahaha, and hang one-legged from the hanger rod in the closet has left me bereft of hope for ever rekindling what once was.
I am not a techy fellow, so I don't like long and drawn-out installs, fixes or customizations. I write a lot, browse the internet, and play MUDs. That's about the extent of my computer prowess. My ideal VOIP and chat client would be skype circa 2016. Since this is no longer an option, I was wondering if any of you had any experience with apps/clients that serve the same function without all of the frills that recently made the user experience so intolerable. I can already hear someone saying Discord. My first look at it a year ago wasn't great. Lots of unlabeled buttons, graphics and mystery bells and whistles. However I am open to having my mind changed, and exploring any other alternatives offered. Networking is a big part of what I do.
fastfinge 3 points 4y ago
In a business context, zoom is excellent. Though I admit you don't really just call someone the way you would on Skype. Instead, you schedule a meeting with them, and send them a link to join the meeting.
sw4400 2 points 4y ago
Honestly, there really isn't anything better access wise than skype, that does what skype does. There are a lot more iOS options than there once was, but many of these don't even have web app or other reliable desktop solutions, that give you all the apps features.
You could mess around with Facebook messenger, though I don't know how feature complete it is as a web app. I've never used it for calls.
Hangoutsis a little buggy on the web, but it mostly works. To get best results, you'll need to download its addon from the chrome store.
Sadly, the future is basically web apps, no matter what direction you go. While some are better than others, they all seem to be an undeniable step back for quick comfortable accessibility.
You could mess around with Facebook messenger, though I don't know how feature complete it is as a web app. I've never used it for calls.
Hangoutsis a little buggy on the web, but it mostly works. To get best results, you'll need to download its addon from the chrome store.
Sadly, the future is basically web apps, no matter what direction you go. While some are better than others, they all seem to be an undeniable step back for quick comfortable accessibility.
quanin 4 points 4y ago
I don't use Messenger for calls largely because that's what I have a phone for, but website-wise the rest appears usable. Personally there are so freaking many social networks these days that you need a dedicated social folder on your phone just to keep up. God but I miss the days when if you couldn't find them on MSN they were usually on AIM. Yes, dating myself. No, don't care.
AmAsabat 1 points 4y ago
As a family we use wildix because of dads business, it pretty amazing as a unified voip/caht platform that is open.
Raf_AL 0 points 4y ago
I don't know if you want phone app suggestions, but I think Kik was pretty accessible a couple of years ago, when I used it.
The apps I currently use are whatsapp, facebook messenger and Discord, (which has come a long way on accessibility since a couple of years ago, even if it still has a long way to go).
I don't know how accessible hangouts is accessible, but you could perhaps give that one a try.
The apps I currently use are whatsapp, facebook messenger and Discord, (which has come a long way on accessibility since a couple of years ago, even if it still has a long way to go).
I don't know how accessible hangouts is accessible, but you could perhaps give that one a try.
sw4400 2 points 4y ago
Shockingly, either of the new Skype apps are still more usable than discord. Though it has slowly improved over the past few years, true.
ginsenshi 1 points 4y ago
The last time I tried GW connect or Skype still works downloadable at this link
https://thea11yfiles.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/gwconnect-returns-thanks-to-patched-skypekit/
https://thea11yfiles.wordpress.com/2014/09/17/gwconnect-returns-thanks-to-patched-skypekit/
ginsenshi 1 points 4y ago
The annoying thing is it still has the old commercials for using window wise
ginsenshi 1 points 4y ago
The seven space link in the article no longer works here is a dropbox link
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/13toqckv7d6k3ta/AABlZyG0tPYpm9ZRPjzjee6ja?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/13toqckv7d6k3ta/AABlZyG0tPYpm9ZRPjzjee6ja?dl=0
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