ATMac

Apple released two updates for Leopard today - first the Mac OS X 10.5.2 update and then a graphics update. They should be available if you select “Software Update…” from the Apple menu. What accessibility improvements are included with the update?

As usual, the size of the update depends a little on what previous updates you have installed (Software Update will only update things that need updating), but mine was in the 180mb range for the 10.5.2 update and then I think another 30-50mb for the graphics update. The graphics update won’t be visible in Software Update until after you’ve installed the first update and rebooted, you need to run Software Update again to make sure you have all the updated bits and pieces.

The good news is there’s some accessability improvements in there for us! The Apple website details about the Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update lists the following:

Desktop

Addresses legibility issues with the menu bar with an option to turn off transparency in Desktop & Screen Saver preferences.
Adjusts menus to be slightly-less translucent overall.

Mail

Adds an option to view large icons in the Mailbox list.

Having more control over the translucency is important for those with low vision or neurological vision issues.

You’ll find the checkbox for menu bar transparency at the bottom of the “Desktop” section of the “Desktop & Screen Saver” preferences. Even with a solid backdrop like I use the difference between checking and unchecking it is significant. There were previously workarounds to get a solid menu bar but not having to install extra software to do the job is a great improvement.

The large icons in the mailbox list can be accessed by control-clicking (right clicking) any mailbox or mailbox icon and unselecting “Use small mailbox icons”. Unfortunately Mail doesn’t also increase the font size when the large mailbox icons are used so the legibility of the mailboxes is not significantly increased.

This is part of my mailbox list with the existing small icons:

… and the same section with the large icons:

It’s a step in the right direction for those with low vision but not very helpful by itself, please can we have a larger font to go with it?

- Ricky Buchanan