A new story has emerged that details how Steve Jobs reportedly helped make the iPhone more accessible for deaf people.
While speaking at the Tampa Bay Business 100 awards last night, Sean Belanger, CEO of visual relay service ZVRS, detailed how he originally reached out to Jobs with a shot-in-the-dark email.
ZVRS is an online service that uses an interpreter to relay calls between hearing and deaf people, and Belanger was interested in using the communication service with Apple's FaceTime video calling.
Belanger, unsure of how to reach out to Apple, simply emailed Steve Jobs at his "[email protected]" email address, explaining who he was, what ZVRS did, and how he hoped FaceTime could help.
"In four days, I get a call from a guy who said 'I've been told to help you, I don't know why, I don't know who you are, I work for Apple, and I can't tell you who told me to call you,'" Belanger said during the Tampa Bay Business 100, according to CultofMac.
After the call, Apple reportedly flew three Apple engineers out to meet with Belanger in Clearwater, Fla. After a week of working with Belanger and the ZVRS team, the new communications service was up and running in time for launch on the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In the past, Apple has tried to ensure its services are as accessible as possible for those with disabilities.
For example, Apple's accessibility options in its current mobile operating system for iPhones, iPads, and iPods features VoiceOver, which reads on-screen text that's below your finger, and "Speak Screen," which reads the entirety of your emails, iMessages, books, and web pages aloud to you.
Apple also offers font adjustments and inverted colors and grayscale for the color blind who require a higher contrast. Apple has also worked with hearing aid manufactures for its "Made for iPhone" hearing aids.
Apple's introduction of FaceTime back in 2010, however, offered an easy way for deaf people to communicate through signing during video calls. Apple even highlighted that specific use-case in one of its FaceTime TV spots, which you can see below.
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When Apple unleashed iOS 8 on the world, it didn't exactly break down the boundaries of its walled garden—but it did put in one or two windows. Apps can now share with each other more easily, and there's improved integration for third-party tools in Safari thanks to the new extension support. Here are 8 of the best compatible apps currently available, and what they can do for you.
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Apple will shut down Beats Music and relaunch it next year under the iTunes brand, according to The Wall Street Journal's Hannah Karp.
Last month, Apple denied rumors that it would be shutting down Beats Music, but it was widely understood that the streaming service would somehow be incorporated into iTunes.
Also related: Apple SVP Eddy Cue has been in talks with record labels to lower the cost of Beats Music, which currently sits at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, according to Peter Kafka of Re/code.
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When Apple unveiled its new iPads last week, it also quietly announced a new technology that will enable you to switch between wireless carriers at your own will.
The cellular version of Apple's new tablets will come with the company's own SIM card rather than a pre-programmed carrier SIM card.
This means you would be able to switch between networks whenever you want without having to commit to a specific carrier.
AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile are all on board, but AT&T's offering will work a little differently than the others.
When you buy a new iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 from the Apple Store, you will not be able to switch to a different carrier on the same SIM card once you start using the tablet on AT&T's network. MacRumors received this tip in its user forums on Friday, and Business Insider has independently confirmed it with AT&T.
You'll still be able to switch carriers, but you would need to get a new SIM card. Sprint and T-Mobile, however, allow you to switch between carriers when you're using an Apple SIM card that comes with the tablet.
There's also another catch that's worth noting: Apple SIM only works this way if you purchase the tablet from an Apple Store. If you were to buy a new iPad Air 2 from T-Mobile, for instance, you wouldn't be able to switch from T-Mobile's network using that same SIM card either.
AT&T's policy differs in that once you choose AT&T, even if you bought the tablet directly from Apple, you still wouldn't be able to switch without buying a new SIM card.
It's not too surprising to see that one carrier is already placing restrictions on Apple's universal SIM card. If such a system were to ever roll out to the iPhone, it could create problems for carriers. For example, customers might be inclined to purchase a phone directly from Apple so that they could switch data plans without committing to a specific carrier. Essentially, this would give consumers less motivation to buy phones from carriers and it could make it harder for carriers to keep customers on their networks.
On the other hand, it could force carriers to offer better pricing for consumers in order to remain competitive.
With a device like the iPad, the effect on carriers likely won't be that significant. Many -- For more information read the original article here.