We're almost done revealing the top stories of 2012 in our Blind Bargains top 10. This year's panel included participants from across the assistive technology scene: Darren Burton, Jason Meddaugh, Wayne Merritt, Jamie Pauls and Joe Steinkamp. We'll post a new story every day until we reach number one, which will be revealed on SeroTalk live on Thursday at 2 PM Eastern. In case you missed them, you can read our earlier stories on our countdown. Number 3 takes us back to Infinite Loop.
Just like last year, Apple scores near the top of our list with their latest iteration of the iPhone. This time saw just as much hype though perhaps a bit more of a let-down as there wasn't a lot of convincing reasons to upgrade from a 4S, especially if said 4S was still under contract. But still, the retail frenzy and talk that surrounds a new phone release which just happens to be accessible usually scores as news. There was almost a major trip-up on the days leading up to release when a website decided to break Apple's NDA and post information about some VoiceOver bugs, a decision that perhaps was talked about more than the phone itself. For those who were due for an upgrade, this phone was a welcome treat. But as Apple's stock price suggests, enthusiasm may be wearing a bit thin. This'll be an interesting story to watch in 2013.
Joe adds, "The lighter, thinner and new dock connector sporting iPhone 5 is more of the same. The A6 chip makes voiceOver and Siri run faster or better. But many of the phone’s improvements matter more to those who have low vision. Where the story gets interesting is that the form factor of the phone had to change in order to compete with Android, whose market is now bigger outside the U.S. market, and Apple for the first time in a while is playing defense to its rivals. Apple isn’t in trouble by any measurement of where it was in 1999, however, Apple is now facing the fact that it has lost the “Wow” factor with phone buyers to breakout hits from Samsung like the Galaxy S 3 and honking big phablets like the Galaxy note. At the end of the day, if you had an iphone and you are at the end of your contract, chances are you’ll get whatever the current gen iPhone offers. Even if it detracts from the experience you just had with loss of features and new $30 accessories along the way. Acceptance of this kind, along with the Roach motel nature of the ecosystem, is a dangerous thing for users. With that said, they sold a lot of them. Does that continue with a 5s, 6 or beyond in 2013? Only time and sales will tell."
For much more on iOS check out Triple Click Home, your podcast for all things Apple.
So if the iPhone 5 isn't the number one story for 2012 according to our panel, what will it be? We'll reveal the top story on the SeroTalk year-end show on Thursday at 2 PM Eastern.
Category: ArticlesWouldn't it have been more appropriate to put iOS 6 here instead of the actual iPhone 5 device? Things like accessible map view controls and improvements to the touch typing mode would make more sense here. The device is more of the same, but the operating system's updates are, I think, far more relevant to us.
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J.J. Meddaugh is an experienced technology writer and computer enthusiast. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in telecommunications management and a minor in business. When not writing for Blind Bargains, he enjoys travel, playing the keyboard, and meeting new people.
