What is J-Tunes?

J-Tunes Logo

Apple has recently released iTunes version 8.2. Unfortunately, JAWS and J-Tunes are not currently compatible with this version of iTunes. T&T Consultancy is actively working on a solution to this problem, however in the meantime, we are recommending customers do not upgrade to iTunes 8.2 but instead remain with version 8.1.1.

Access to iTunes with JAWS for Windows

iTunes from Apple is software which offers music lovers who either own or do not own one of the iPod products a vast variety of features and facilities which turn the computer into an incredible music management system.

J-Tunes is an interface to iTunes which using JAWS For Windows brings this amazing piece of software to life for visually impaired computer users. Our latest release of J-Tunes, version 4.1, allows people to use the very latest releases of both iTunes and JAWS seamlessly. Through the use of easy to remember keystrokes using the combination of the iTunes software with J-Tunes you can:

Import individual music tracks, complete CD's, or Audio Books into the iTunes Library.
Have CD album names and track titles automatically identified and announced.
Easily transfer music or audio books to an iPod, such as the iPod Shuffle or Nano. Important information about an iPod is presented using the JAWS Virtual Viewer, such as the amount of space remaining and serial number.
Activate iPod specific facilities which have previously been inaccessible through an easy to use list.
Organize music into "playlists" enabling sequences of tracks to be played from the computer or iPod. If you do not like the order in which the tracks are arranged in the "Playlist", you can change them.
Have tracks played randomly from the computer. The playback can be paused or re-started, with the adjustable music volume control being independent of the JAWS speech system. You can skim forward or backward through the tracks and hear the audio playing, much like you can with a CD player!
Impress your friends by organizing music mixes in a variety of ways and play them at parties or other family type get togethers.
Listen to and browse through radio stations on the Internet.
Access other facilities within the iTunes software through easy to remember keystrokes and sequences.
Purchase individual music tracks, entire albums or movies easily from the iTunes Store.
Subscribe to and manage podcasts, either by subscribing to them through the iTunes Store or manually. Individual episodes can be downloaded.
Take advantage of the Help System which groups together keystrokes according to tasks.
Benefit from documentation to accompany J-Tunes which has been written in an easy-to-understand manner.

To learn more, you'll want to read about the new functions and features in J-Tunes 4.1. You can also listen our Audio Introduction to J-Tunes.

Trying out the J-Tunes Demo

You may well want to sample J-Tunes to get a feel for what it does and how it makes iTunes visually impaired friendly.

Download iTunes

You will require the latest release of iTunes, in this case 8.1.

Download J-Tunes Demo

Version 4.1 of J-Tunes requires you to download just one program to serve JAWS for Windows 7 through 10. It must be emphasized that there are some significant limitations when using J-Tunes with JAWS 7. Most notably:

You will not be able to access any of the web pages within the iTunes Store. You will therefore not be able to read reviews of albums/movies or purchase albums. You will not be able to purchase individual music tracks, subscribe to podcasts if you know their names and use the iTunes Browser to browse by genre or artist.
You may find that the responsiveness when using JAWS version 7, J-Tunes and iTunes is a little slower than with a later JAWS version. In summary, the higher the version of JAWS being used, the more responsive the J-Tunes product will be.

However if you need very high quality screen-reading access to iTunes allowing you to import music from your CD collection, copy material to your iPod, create playlists, listen to and manage podcasts, hear radio stations and have some access to the iTunes Store with many useful keystrokes and help, J-Tunes for Jaws is definitely for you.

The J-Tunes Demonstration Mode file is automatically installed with the interface. The restrictions of Demonstration Mode are as follows:

You are able to use J-Tunes in Demonstration Mode for 15 computing sessions. In other words, if you re-start the computer and then launch iTunes, or alternatively you close down JAWS and re-start it, this will count against your 15 computing sessions. Each time you enter a new computing session, JAWS will announce the number of times you have started the computer with J-Tunes being used in Demonstration Mode.
While within the 15 computing sessions, periodically messages will be spoken giving you useful information concerning the use of J-Tunes. In addition while each message is spoken, the keyboard will “freeze” and will be unusable for approximately 10 seconds while you listen to the message.
You can close down iTunes and then re-start it during the same computing session, or alternatively move away from the program and then back to it by pressing ALT+Tab. However once you have done this 50 times within the same computing session, the computing session count is incremented by a value of 1. Once you have done this 49 times, you are warned that the next time you set focus to the iTunes program, the computing session count is incremented by 1.

This trial period should give you the opportunity to evaluate J-Tunes to ensure you are comfortable using it prior to purchase. You'll want to download the J-Tunes User Guide and review it, especially the installation instructions, before you download J-Tunes and install it.

Customers, who've already purchased an authorization for using J-Tunes 3 or older versions of 4, should, after reading the current users guide, checking their JAWS compatibility and upgrading to iTunes 8.1, upgrade to the J-Tunes 4.1.

Purchase a full authorization file

If after experiencing the J-Tunes demo, you wish to purchase it, from the US or Canada, you can order by way of our online store. Or please call (425)744-1100, extension 17 between 8:30AM and 12PM Pacific time. Finally you can also fax us a purchase order (425) 778-5547 at any time. In your phone or fax order please have ready the following information:

Your JAWS serial number. This is critical.
Tell us your credit card information--type of card, number, expiration date and v-code.
A permanent authorization and invoice will be sent to you via e-mail.
It's as simple as that!

The iTunes Accessible Interface is priced at 75.00 $US. All upgrades are chargeable and are priced at $35.00.

Technical Support

Given the low cost of this product, all technical support will only be provided via e-mail. You may also want to subscribe to the J-Tunes Support List.

What Our Customers Are Saying About J-Tunes 4

"I have purchased J-Tunes and am especially pleased with the way it works in the iTunes browser. It is lightning fast!"
"I have just listened to the September podcast from Freedom Scientific and they fully endorse the use of J tunes even with version 10 of Jaws and talk about how J tunes enhances the control of I tunes."
"Access to the iTunes Store Browser alone makes J-tunes a great great product and a worthwhile purchase."
"I love the fact that when copying material to my iPod Nano. I can press the J-Tunes Key then the letter U and JAWS will announce information about the copying process. Awesome!"
"The documentation which comes with J-Tunes is really well explained and easy to understand. I have never used iTunes before I got the J-Tunes program and using the tutorial you have produced makes learning everything about it really easy!"

Page Last Updated: Monday, April 12, 2009

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