[nabs-l] MusicDock: an accessible alternative to the Sirius XM app for iOS (fun)

[Laurel]

Hey Chris! This sounds amazing! I used to be a XM subscriber a long
time ago. I have a question, are all the channels that you can get on
your standard XM receiver also available in an online package or are
there only certain channels you can get online. I don't remember. I
really wanna subscribe to XM radio again, and if I do I'll remember
this and get this app for sure.
Thanks for telling us about it! That's really helpful info.
Laurel

On 9/28/12, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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