[Electronics-Talk] AT&T DirecTV Streaming app

Thu Sep 9 17:23:27 UTC 2021

I would consider a TV with Fire TV built-in perhaps you could go over to a local Best Buy and they could demonstrate how Voice View which is the built-in Screen Reader from Amazon works.  The brand that Best Buy sells is called Insignia.  

You would need to enable Audio Description through Amazon but I don't know how the App you're describing streams their Audio described content to other devices so not sure how to help you there except there should be some settings in your existing TV for AD.

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Rik James via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2021 12:38 PM
To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances' <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Rik James <rixmix2009 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] AT&T DirecTV Streaming app

Elizabeth, and Jim.
Thanks for your information.
I have had the satellite DirecTV for quite some time. As most of you know they have some menu voice, but virtually pretty useless. Thus, I did not know there was a way, as you describe, using the streaming app to give DirecTV have a voice to help out. I might try that.

I have been using an Amazon Fire Stick for several months, using the Voice Assistant. Some of the apps are to my liking. What a big old goofy world for television these days. I am an old duffer. And I almost sigh and long for 3 channels, or maybe 20 when cable first came to my little town.

I have trouble hearing well the voice assistant of Amazon, as to what it is saying often. I tried to get to where I could just use this streaming with the voice assistant. But I found all of it a bit annoying, trying to navigate around, and so much of it trying to tell me what to watch. If that makes sense. I was using the MLB app for baseball for a while, but it was pretty clunky. I went back to the Extra Innings on DirecTV. A superbly efficient option, even though nothing in the menus will talk. I just know the channel numbers and go directly to them. (I guess that it the idea, of DirecTV? Direct?)

DirecTV the satellite service as many know has been experiencing a loss of customer base.  Last week, they called to tell me that HBOMAX has been added to my lineup for a free 3-month promotional  subscription. Well, just to close out. I downloaded the streaming HBO MAX app from Amazon Fire Stick. I also put it on my Android Samsung Galaxy S8 phone. I used the ATT credentials to activate HBO MAX service. I have played with it only a little the past couple of days. I had not known much about it. But it does seem that this service, it has quite a variety of content, not just the HBO stuff. And when I came to a Menu option that said, Audio Description, I shouted, "Well, HOT DOG!" But. Hmm. I can't find where that figures into this thing. There are no Settings I can find to turn ON the audio description, such as one will find in Netflix, or the HBO Prime Video app. I hit play on some of the movies and shows on that page when I hit ENTER on Audio Description. So far, no voice narration of the action I am finding.

Does anyone have any guidance, or experience with this?

I have an older Vizio tv. And I think I might ought to replace it with a Samsung like Jim has. Or another one that has voiced menus.
But, I am starting to feel like, maybe TV is just almost more of a reason to read more books and listen to more music and listen more regularly to live radio.  Smile on, everyone. And stay safe.

Rik James
Host "Americana Backroads" on KGLT-FM, Saturdays 12 to 3 pm Mountain on KGLT.net.

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jim Portillo via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2021 8:41 AM
To: 'Elizabeth Campbell' <batescampbell at gmail.com>; 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances' <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Portillo <portillo.jim at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] AT&T DirecTV Streaming app

Thanks, Liz. Good to know about these options.

I have a Samsung smart TV that actually has its own little screen reader. It generally works OK; although, the screen reader voice is annoying at times. I also have the Apple TV unit hooked up to it, which gives me more options and alternative accessibility.

I’d like to know or see how the app works on the TV itself, so I can use the remote as I would just a regular system, changing channels and entering in numbers to get to certain channels rather than battling with other ways.

We’ll see if this works.

Jim

From: Elizabeth Campbell <batescampbell at gmail.com> 
Sent: Thursday, September 9, 2021 6:35 AM
To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: portillo.jim at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] AT&T DirecTV Streaming app

Hello Jim and others,

I use three versions of the Directv Stream app. I have a box I received from AT&T that plugs into the HDMI port on my tv. It runs on the Android platform, and it includes apps like the Directv stream and the play store.

Once you get accessibility turned on the Talk Back screen reader works well for navigating the Directv Stream app. You can set up cloud DVR recordings, access the guide and so forth.

I also have the app for my iPhone, but it uses direct touch, and I'm still getting the hang of how to use that feature.

Oh, I forgot to mention that the Directv app works on the Amazon Fire stick as well with VoiceView.

On Wed, Sep 8, 2021 at 3:16 PM Jim Portillo via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Howdy,

Once again, I’m looking for the best possible streaming app that will provide me with the most channels for the best price. I’m wondering if anyone has used the DirecTV streaming app with either an iDevice, an Apple TV, or a Smart TV with something else? I just want to know if anyone has found it accessible enough to try. This won’t come with a promotion. 😊 

Thanks for any information.

Jim

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Elizabeth Campbell

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