[Blindtlk] MusicDock: an accessible alternative to the Sirius XMapp for iOS (fun)

Sun Sep 30 15:55:38 UTC 2012

Send an email to accessible-iOS+subscribe at googlegroups.com.

Chris Nusbaum

Sent from my iPod

On Sep 30, 2012, at 1:28 AM, Jasmine Kotsay <jasmine.kotsay at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>    How do you get on the Accessible IOS device list?
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
> To: <accessible-ios at googlegroups.com>,"'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>, <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>, <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
> Date sent: Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:17:58 -0400
> Subject: [Blindtlk] MusicDock: an accessible alternative to the Sirius XMapp for iOS (fun)
>
> Hi everyone,
>
>
>
> Those of us who are on the Accessible iOS list and the NFB NABS list have
> recently been talking about apps that we find to be especially useful, fun,
> interesting and (most importantly) accessible.  So, I thought I would add to
> the discussion by describing one of my favorite iOS apps, which I think is
> largely not known in the community of blind iOS users.  As some of you know,
> I have been a subscriber to Sirius XM Satelite Radio for about 3 years now,
> and have always wanted a way to listen to my favorite channels when I'm away
> from home and my Sirius receiver.  Although I still haven't found an
> accessible way to do this on the PC, I have found a way to do it on my iPod
> Touch! The app is called MusicDock, and it is an accessible alternative to
> the Sirius XM app for iOS, which (at least in the US) is inaccessible with
> VoiceOver.
>
>
>
> The app can be downloaded for free in the app store and is very easy to set
> up.  Once you have downloaded and installed the app, a log-in screen will
> appear the first time you open the app.  On this screen, you are required to
> type in the username and password for your Sirius XM account.  Please note
> here that you must have a current Sirius XM subscription with Internet radio
> enabled in order for MusicDock to work.  Otherwise, you can't access the
> streams of the channels and MusicDock will not let you log into and use it.
> Once you have entered your Sirius XM username and password, a one-finger
> flick right will bring you to a login button.  Double tap on this button and
> (assuming your username and password are valid) you will be logged into the
> app and can now listen to all Sirius XM channels on your iOS device.
>
>
>
> It is also very easy to find and listen to a channel using MusicDock.  When
> you first log into the app, if you scroll down the screen you will hear a
> list of categories; pop, rock, country, news/talk, sports, etc.  These are
> the categories that Sirius XM channels are grouped into.  Double tapping on
> one of these categories will bring up a list of channels that are in that
> category.  Scroll down the screen by either touching or flicking to the right
> to find the channel you want to listen to, then double tap on the name of
> the channel to tell MusicDock to load the stream.  Within seconds, the stream
> will load and you will hear what is on the channel you selectet.  For those
> of you who use the TuneIn Radio app to listen to terrestrial (local) radio
> stations, finding a channel with MusicDock is very similar to finding a
> station on TuneIn.
>
>
>
> If you don't want to list your channels by category, there are other options
> as well.  Like a lot of iOS apps, MusicDock has 5 tabs at the bottom of the
> screen where you can change what you are viewing or which part of the app
> you are in.  Here are the 5 tabs in order from left to right, with
> descriptions of what each one does in parentheses: categories tab (lists
> channels by category; double tapping on a category will bring up a list of
> channels,) channels tab (brings up a list of all the channels; double tap on
> the name of a channel to listen to it,) favorites tab (shows your favorites,
> or presets; double tap as always on a channel to listen to it,) play tab
> (shows channels you have recently played,) and settings tab (shows your
> settings for MusicDock; you can change these if you'd like, but I have mine
> at the defaults and it's working very well for me.) Below the play tab,
> there is a button that VoiceOver will read as "tab bar play (or stop if you
> are currently listening to a channel) button.  Double tapping on this button
> will play or pause the selected channel.  A two-finger double tap will also
> work for this.
>
>
>
>               I mentioned the favorites tab earlier.  Another nice feature
> of MusicDock is the "favorites" feature, which allows you to put all the
> channels you listen to the most in one easy-to-get-to list, like setting
> presets on a radio.  To add a channel to your favorites, scroll down the
> screen while you are listening to the channel you want to add until you come
> to what VoiceOver will read as the "favorite off" button.  If you double tap
> on this button, the button label will change and VoiceOver will say
> "favorite selected button." Once you have done this, all you have to do to
> access a channel you've added to your favorites is to double tap on the
> favorites tab at the bottom of the screen, scroll until you find the channel
> you want, and double tap to listen to it.
>
>
>
>               I hope this description and tutorial help some of you who
> might be interested.  MusicDock is certainly one of my favorite apps and one
> that I use regularly.  If you have any questions about this app, please let
> me know.  I hope you enjoy MusicDock if you choose to download it.  Happy
> listening!
>
>
>
> Chris Nusbaum
>
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