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

[Jim Barbour]

I believe in one of the TWIT podcasts, maybe it was Security Now, they talked about how you can pay to promote windows S to a full version of Windows.  I wonder if Microsoft might just provide a free upgrade as a solution to this accessibility problem?  I suspect that might cause other security related issues, but it seems like to road Microsoft might adopt.

Jim

On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 01:25:34PM -0400, Graham Mehl via nfbcs wrote:
> 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> 
> 
>  
>