[nfbcs] new Windows s release prohibits third party apps from running

[Rasmussen, Lloyd]

You may have read about this from the Top Tech Tidbits weekly e-mail newsletter. The link after that one gives part of the answer. I hope it works out and doesn't cause administrative problems in schools with blind students or teachers. Read
  

Lloyd Rasmussen, Senior Staff Engineer
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542   202-707-0535
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
The preceding opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Library of Congress, NLS.


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Graham Mehl via nfbcs
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 1:26 PM
To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
Cc: Graham Mehl
Subject: [nfbcs] new Windows s release prohibits third party apps from running

Hi All,

I know I am missing a side of this story, meaning from Microsoft accessibility side. So my question is has anyone seen something from Microsoft that addresses specifically accessibility features of the new release of the Windows OS - Windows S and Windows s pro? 

 

What I have seen from two independent sources that:

1.       No third party applications will be able to run on Windows S unless
it is in the Windows app store, including screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA.

2.       Only the Microsoft edge web browser will be allowed to run in
Windows S. So browsers like fire fox and chrome will not work or be allowed to install.

 

My two sources are: 

1.       A security now podcast on all sorts of security issues

2.       An article from a blind newsletter I get


Microsoft recently announced low-cost Windows 10 S, aimed at students, which can only run apps from the Microsoft Store. No third-party screen reader, including free NVDA, can run it. Here's why:


3.
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001wAxLv1x7pg3vSvdPt4A92C9E2W7af6H8GY7fXper9cwZ
Tk9j3oARU-AZVGRimBnCDygPTdb8ne5yYhT7ZmQ2-XWs10rIV_ZQSCv5wAiVuI7yxSwE956VGloc
LFRtAB5gz_kdj-dxkOdvE9mjk9Sp9qs8dCivO3jbVwaobH1Q6Qs=&c=7gjRkAgaY5E2WMM17JMLv
b7rBn3ubTHq0B___Hz_Q9cLK8bHuNGDsg==&ch=9Ls-6YfTdC94FAoLQkDsPgbPdL7LTNLCccPgC
RJVsndoRUS13daMdg==> http://bit.ly/2rBMXuq

 

Should the blind be concerned with this? Does anyone know if someone in the NFB is looking to address these limiting capabilities?

 

--

Graham Mehl

 <mailto:blind at trailstone.com> blind at trailstone.com

NFB Central Maryland Chapter, Vice President

LCB graduate, 2016

 

 <http://www.freedomscientific.com/Certification>