Accessibility/Android: Difference between revisions
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Firefox 15 introduces screen reader | Firefox Accessibility in Android is new, and rapidly improving. This page should clarify any confusion or outstanding questions users and early adopters may have. | ||
= Frequently Asked Question = | |||
== What version of Firefox is accessible? == | |||
Firefox version 15 introduces basic Android accessibility. This is currently the version available in Google Play Store. If you download that version, and periodically check for updates, you should have the most stable experience, and new features in future updates. If you are impatient and would like to help us test more advanced accessibility features you could try installing a pre-release version. See below for more information. | |||
== What is Firefox Nightly? == | |||
Firefox Nightly is the raw nightly build of the development version of Firefox. It has not been tested at all, and should be regarded as extremely unstable. To see features being added real-time, it might be worth trying it, although no new accessibility features are planned for the near future. | |||
== I want to try Firefox Nightly, which version do I want, regular or ARMv6? == | |||
The ARMv6 package is meant for lower end phones that don't support our other APK. If you don't know what your phone supports, first try installing the regular APK, if that does not work, try the ARMv6. | |||
== Is there any way to quickly navigate the contents of a page by item type, like list or heading? == | |||
Yes, in Firefox 16 we introduced quick navigation keys that could be used with a hardware keyboard or Eyes-Free keyboard. See Marco's post about [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/06/13/quick-navigation-keys-now-in-nightly-builds-of-firefox-native-for-android/ quick nav keys]. | |||
== How can I have Firefox continuously read a page's contents? == | |||
Since Firefox relies on the platform and screen reader, it cannot directly control speech. Continuous reading is supported in Jelly Bean and Talkback 3.1.4. | |||
= Release and Feature Schedule = | |||
The stable release of Firefox, as of this writing, is Firefox 15. Along with the stable release, there are three other unstable release channels: Beta, Aurora (ie. alpha), and Nightly. Every 6 weeks a new stable release is cut, and the version numbers on all these channels get bumped. We call this the "release train". So, for example after Firefox 16 will be released, Firefox 17 will be in Beta, and will be released as "Firefox 17" six weeks later. You could read more about it [http://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2011/07/19/every-six-weeks/ here]. We have accessibility features spread out on all of these channels, the list below should help you figure out what to expect from each release, and how to get your hands on a preview version. | |||
== Firefox 15 == | == Firefox 15 == | ||
; Release Date : August 28 2012 | ; Final Release Date : August 28 2012 | ||
; Current Availability : Firefox in Google Play Store | ; Current Availability : [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox Firefox in Google Play Store] | ||
Firefox 15 introduces basic accessibility through D-Pad navigation. The behavior is similar to other native Android applications. Once in the content, simply arrow left or right. Press enter or d-pad center to activate items. For more information, see [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/05/08/first-round-of-accessibility-support-for-android-in-mobile-firefox/ Marco's initial announcement]. | Firefox 15 introduces basic accessibility through D-Pad navigation. The behavior is similar to other native Android applications. Once in the content, simply arrow left or right. Press enter or d-pad center to activate items. For more information, see [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/05/08/first-round-of-accessibility-support-for-android-in-mobile-firefox/ Marco's initial announcement]. | ||
== Firefox 16 (dubbed "Firefox Beta") == | == Firefox 16 (dubbed "Firefox Beta") == | ||
; Release Date : October 10 2012 | ; Final Release Date : October 10 2012 | ||
; Current Availability : Firefox Beta in Google Play Store | ; Current Availability : [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox_beta Firefox Beta in Google Play Store] | ||
Firefox 16 brings quick navigation keys to reach certain document elements like links and headers, and Ice Cream Sandwich explore by touch support. For more information, see Marco's post about [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/06/13/quick-navigation-keys-now-in-nightly-builds-of-firefox-native-for-android/ quick nav keys], and [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/06/28/firefox-for-android-nightly-builds-now-with-explore-by-touch/ explore by touch]. | Firefox 16 brings quick navigation keys to reach certain document elements like links and headers, and Ice Cream Sandwich explore by touch support. For more information, see Marco's post about [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/06/13/quick-navigation-keys-now-in-nightly-builds-of-firefox-native-for-android/ quick nav keys], and [http://www.marcozehe.de/2012/06/28/firefox-for-android-nightly-builds-now-with-explore-by-touch/ explore by touch]. | ||
== Firefox 17 (dubbed "Aurora") == | == Firefox 17 (dubbed "Aurora") == | ||
; Release Date : November 20 2012 | ; Final Release Date : November 20 2012 | ||
; Current Availability : [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/aurora/ Aurora download page] | ; Current Availability : [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/aurora/ Aurora download page] | ||
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== Firefox 18 (dubbed "Nightly") == | == Firefox 18 (dubbed "Nightly") == | ||
; Release Date : January 2013 | ; Final Release Date : January 2013 | ||
; Current Availability : [http://nightly.mozilla.org/ Nightly download page] | ; Current Availability : [http://nightly.mozilla.org/ Nightly download page] | ||
Firefox 18 will probably not introduce any major feature for Android Accessibility. There is currently experimentation with supporting lower end devices that use ARMv6 processors. If other versions of Firefox are not supported on your device, you can try downloading and installing the ARMv6 APK available on the nightly download page. | Firefox 18 will probably not introduce any major feature for Android Accessibility. There is currently experimentation with supporting lower end devices that use ARMv6 processors. If other versions of Firefox are not supported on your device, you can try downloading and installing the ARMv6 APK available on the nightly download page. | ||
Revision as of 19:08, 4 September 2012
Firefox Accessibility in Android is new, and rapidly improving. This page should clarify any confusion or outstanding questions users and early adopters may have.
Frequently Asked Question
What version of Firefox is accessible?
Firefox version 15 introduces basic Android accessibility. This is currently the version available in Google Play Store. If you download that version, and periodically check for updates, you should have the most stable experience, and new features in future updates. If you are impatient and would like to help us test more advanced accessibility features you could try installing a pre-release version. See below for more information.
What is Firefox Nightly?
Firefox Nightly is the raw nightly build of the development version of Firefox. It has not been tested at all, and should be regarded as extremely unstable. To see features being added real-time, it might be worth trying it, although no new accessibility features are planned for the near future.
I want to try Firefox Nightly, which version do I want, regular or ARMv6?
The ARMv6 package is meant for lower end phones that don't support our other APK. If you don't know what your phone supports, first try installing the regular APK, if that does not work, try the ARMv6.
Yes, in Firefox 16 we introduced quick navigation keys that could be used with a hardware keyboard or Eyes-Free keyboard. See Marco's post about quick nav keys.
How can I have Firefox continuously read a page's contents?
Since Firefox relies on the platform and screen reader, it cannot directly control speech. Continuous reading is supported in Jelly Bean and Talkback 3.1.4.
Release and Feature Schedule
The stable release of Firefox, as of this writing, is Firefox 15. Along with the stable release, there are three other unstable release channels: Beta, Aurora (ie. alpha), and Nightly. Every 6 weeks a new stable release is cut, and the version numbers on all these channels get bumped. We call this the "release train". So, for example after Firefox 16 will be released, Firefox 17 will be in Beta, and will be released as "Firefox 17" six weeks later. You could read more about it here. We have accessibility features spread out on all of these channels, the list below should help you figure out what to expect from each release, and how to get your hands on a preview version.
Firefox 15
- Final Release Date
- August 28 2012
- Current Availability
- Firefox in Google Play Store
Firefox 15 introduces basic accessibility through D-Pad navigation. The behavior is similar to other native Android applications. Once in the content, simply arrow left or right. Press enter or d-pad center to activate items. For more information, see Marco's initial announcement.
Firefox 16 (dubbed "Firefox Beta")
- Final Release Date
- October 10 2012
- Current Availability
- Firefox Beta in Google Play Store
Firefox 16 brings quick navigation keys to reach certain document elements like links and headers, and Ice Cream Sandwich explore by touch support. For more information, see Marco's post about quick nav keys, and explore by touch.
Firefox 17 (dubbed "Aurora")
- Final Release Date
- November 20 2012
- Current Availability
- Aurora download page
Firefox 17 introduces support for Talkback in Jelly Bean. Explore by touch and flicking left or right should work just like any other Android application in Jelly Bean. See Marco's post about it.
Firefox 18 (dubbed "Nightly")
- Final Release Date
- January 2013
- Current Availability
- Nightly download page
Firefox 18 will probably not introduce any major feature for Android Accessibility. There is currently experimentation with supporting lower end devices that use ARMv6 processors. If other versions of Firefox are not supported on your device, you can try downloading and installing the ARMv6 APK available on the nightly download page.