#lazyWeb Friends on macOS, what is your favorite tool for testing your work using a Windows screen reader?
Do you use a Virtual Machine (VM)? If so, what do you use to run it? Do you use an online tool like @AssistivLabs ? Bonus points for free tools
I use Parallels Desktop & it's honestly well worth the investment. But I'm looking for a variety of accessible options to recommend to workshop attendees who don't yet test on Windows & who want a way to start quickly & preferably not costly.
@hdv
For forced-color testing, I don't use a VM anymore, I use Microsoft Edge's Page Colors feature. The feature is available in Edge for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
The one "gotcha" is unlike Windows Contrast Themes, it doesn't automatically switch prefers-color-scheme based on the theme, you have to remember to also change that setting in the browser.
Page Colors doesn't let you create custom themes but I don't need that for testing.
@Lukew
I used to use that but I find going into the rendering tab in DevTools more of a hassle and it can only do black-on-white and white-on-black. Page Colors has the same options as Windows Contrast Themes, plus White.
@SaraSoueidan @AssistivLabs I read this article in this week’s #A11yWeekly newsletter, maybe it helps?
https://tatanotes.com/blog/accessibility-testing-on-windows-on-mac/
PS: I’m also using Parallels, following your tutorial 🙂
@SaraSoueidan @AssistivLabs ideally, I would prefer paying a person with disabilities to test using their own setup, because me pretending to be a user is a clutch and will never really catch all the issues. I can also not know how accessibility tech gets used in real life, unless I work with someone who uses it in real life.
During development, I use my Mac’s Voice Over to test, which is less than ideal, but better than not even trying. I guess.
@SaraSoueidan
BTW, an alternative to using a PC keyboard or remapping keys to have an Insert key in the VM is to use a full-size Mac keyboard, the zero key on the number pad defaults to being an Insert key.
Of course, using an external keyboard can be inconvenient when you normally use a laptop's keyboard.
@AssistivLabs
@SaraSoueidan I used UTM before but had difficulty with keyboard shortcuts even with something like Karabiner Elements. I ended up needing to use PowerToys on the VM for remapping and I’d have to enable it after starting NVDA. I imagine it could be better, but I gave up out of frustration.
I’m using Parallels now and it’s fantastic. Especially Coherence mode and knowing the shortcuts for starting and stopping. It’s just as easy to test NVDA as it is VoiceOver.
@SaraSoueidan @AssistivLabs i like Parallels for what it does. my only major complaint is that it often loses network connection and requires a restart.
i've also used UTM in the past and it was acceptable for a free tool (though i remember having similar issues). i might try VMWare next
Sara Soueidan
Hidde
Curtis Wilcox
Luke
Steve Frenzel
Wenzel Massag
Vadim Makeev
Nathan Knowler
Mayank
Naiyer