[Electronics-Talk] Netflix Update and Lifeboat

Mon Sep 19 20:32:02 UTC 2022

Good afternoon everyone,

	This afternoon I was able to contact Netflix Customer Support and told them of the recent trouble we began having with Amazon's VoiceView, and Google Assistant Screen Readers not working with it as they once did. I also urged them to add support for Microsoft's Narrator on their Xbox Gaming Console. The lady told me that she was aware of the issues and that it was being worked on. When she told me that screen reader access was the concern of the screen reader vendors I explained that there needs to be collaboration between Netflix and screen reader vendors to troubleshoot current issues and to build all aspects of accessibility into the Netflix life cycle to prevent screen reader support from being broken in future releases and to add support for Microsoft Narrator on the Xbox. After hearing her repeatedly say that she understood I responded with " I'll know you understand when I and other blind individuals can access the Netflix App on any and all devices they wish to use, have a consistent experience on whatever device they're using it on, and that screen reader support is added for additional screen readers like NVDA and Microsoft Narrator. It's one thing to say you understand but quite another to prove it!"

	I told her that I appreciated the fact that quite a number of Netflix titles include audio description but went on to say that audio description is only half  of the equasion. The other half is insuring that Netflix screen reader support issues are resolved promptly and evolves as the Netflix App evolves to insure continued accessibility and usability of the Netflix App on all platforms with a consistent interface experience. 

	Mary and I have done our part where Netflix accessibility is concerned. Others who are having issues with it need to follow our lead to insure that something gets done. The various consumer groups of the blind need to stay on top of these folks as well especially in light of the fact that Netflix received awards from both major consumer groups of the blind.

	Fortunately we've used Netflix on our Apple TV with Voiceover and it's still shining there. At least we have a Netflix lifeboat to jump into while the issues with Amazon and Google are being resolved hopefully sooner than later. All the best.

Peter Donahue

d 

-----Original Message-----
From: main at echoing.groups.io <main at echoing.groups.io> On Behalf Of Dave Grossoehme
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2022 3:01 PM
To: main at echoing.groups.io
Subject: Re: [echoing] Netflix Issue

Hi:  I agree with you whole heartily here.  It makes a lot of difference on all facts as far as accessible, when some of the web sites have no information on whether they give CC or AD in their facts as well as testing to see whether a change will work with compatible devices.

Dave

On 9/17/2022 4:55 PM, Peter Donahue wrote:
> Hello Amanda and everyone,
>
> 	I plan to contact them both. Before these app producers push updates 
> to the Internet they need to check the accessibility with all screen 
> readers and PDAs to be sure the accessibility of their apps won't be 
> broken especially when they've received an award for their 
> accessibility as is the case with Netflix.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: main at echoing.groups.io <main at echoing.groups.io> On Behalf Of 
> Amanda Lee
> Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2022 2:23 PM
> To: main at echoing.groups.io
> Subject: Re: [echoing] Netflix Issue
>
> Yes, since the TV is merely an interface to all of these apps, Amazon 
> really is not likely the culprit.  If the way that Netflix with the 
> version they are currently sending to the version of VoiceView that 
> the Toshiba Fire TV has installed but not a different TV which likely 
> has a different version of Netflix and/or Voiceview, this seems more 
> to do with how Netflix is presenting it's content.  It is the same as 
> when a website is changed and one's Screen reader can no longer navigate as easily.
>
> Although Amazon's Technical Support should be aware of this issue, I 
> would say that contacting Netflix is definitely in order.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: main at echoing.groups.io <main at echoing.groups.io> On Behalf Of 
> Rick and Alysia Wells
> Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2022 2:32 PM
> To: main at echoing.groups.io
> Subject: Re: [echoing] Netflix Issue
>
> Us too!  We have a Fire Edition TV and until about a month ago NetFlix 
> was fine, reading categories, titles times etc.
>
>       At least Amazon Prime is still the same.
>
>       Rick, annoyed in NC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: main at echoing.groups.io [mailto:main at echoing.groups.io] On Behalf 
> Of Shea Anker
> Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2022 1:56 PM
> To: main at echoing.groups.io
> Subject: Re: [echoing] Netflix Issue
>
> Hi Peter,
> I'm very glad someone else has noticed this. I'm in Canada, but this 
> has been happening with Netflicks for 4 or 5 months here anyway. I'm 
> using a fire stick, and when I first got it, netflicks was the best of 
> all the apps, even prime. Then, nothing. Like you said, I can get the 
> A-lady to search for stuff on netflicks, but voice view no longer 
> reads the titles or anything at all when in the app.
>
> If you could please let me know who I can contact to bring this issue 
> to attention, I don't mind doing so. I just wasn't sure it would do anything.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: main at echoing.groups.io [mailto:main at echoing.groups.io] On Behalf 
> Of Peter Donahue
> Sent: September-17-22 7:36 AM
> To: main at echoing.groups.io
> Cc: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> Subject: [echoing] Netflix Issue
>
> Good morning everyone,
>
> 	This is for users of Google Assistant, Amazon's VoiceView and 
> Netflix. Recently we began not having Netflix work with Google 
> Assistant or Voiceview. We're able to use it with Alexa but Google 
> Assistant or VoiceView will not access the Netflix screen contents as they have done in the past.
> This began happening earlier this week before and since our issue with 
> the loss of video on our tv last Thursday. We want to know if others 
> have experienced the same behavior with Netflix and these two screen 
> readers. If Netflix released an update and failed to test it 
> thoroughly with these two screen readers this is shameful considering 
> that Netflix was a 2022 Jacob Bolotin Award recipient during the 
> National Federation of the Blind's 2022 National Convention. My hope is that the problem will clear up on its own.
> If not I'll be in touch with Amazon, hopefully Google and Netflix 
> accessibility departments to make them aware of this issue so they can 
> troubleshoot it. If Netflix wants to keep a good reputation among the 
> blind where its accessibility is concerned they had better get on top of this one!
> All the best for a great weekend.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
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