[gui-talk] Updating Adobe Flash Player

[Lloyd Rasmussen]

I didn't have a reader handy when I ran into this situation.  So after the 
Flash update was completed, I used Add/Remove Programs to remove the Google 
toolbar and Google Chrome before they had a chance to run.  In each 
instance, they popped up a survey asking why I was uninstalling those Google 
programs.  I told them that it was because their programs had become a 
default installation with Adobe Flash updates, and that there didn't seem to 
be an accessible way of preventing those defaults from taking effect.  The 
technology exists, and even a few weeks ago you could uncheck those 
programs.  I don't feel kindly to Adobe these days, in addition to Oracle.
I am concerned about this situation also, because when my wife gets rehab to 
buy a PC for someone, they will inevitably make their systems less useable 
when these security upgrades come along, or they will expose their 
state-bought equipment to security problems that could be prevented.  A lot 
of people are getting computers but have minimal training in the level of 
problem-solving we are discussing.



Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD
http://lras.home.sprynet.com
-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike Freeman
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 1:12 PM
To: 'Discussion of the Graphical User Interface,GUI Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Updating Adobe Flash Player

And here's where a reader comes in handy.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Levy
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 3:47 AM
To: Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Updating Adobe Flash Player


For your information, Adobe Flash Player has not been available for download

on the Ninite site for a few months, so the only option is to download it
from the Adobe site.

Gerald


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jude DaShiell" <jdashiel at shellworld.net>
To: "Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI Talk Mailing List"
<gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2013 7:00 PM
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Updating Adobe Flash Player


> It's never a good idea to use the adobe website to update software.
> Your better option is to use http://www.ninite.com/ and that will
> download an appropriate installer for your hardware and software.  You
> run the installer and ninite.com installs the adobe products for you
> without all that extra garbage.  That's how ninite.com installs
> everything that's available on ninite.com and if you buy the pro
> version, ninite.com will check the manufacturer's sites for you and let
> you know when it's time to install the next updates.  I'm surprised
> ninite.com isn't known about and used more widely on those other blind
> tech lists.  I don't even want to write about adobe reader with jaws 10,
> but that ninite.com site is well worth a visit.
>
> On Sun, 8 Dec 2013, David Andrews wrote:
>
>> I have forwarded your message to several influencial people within the
>> NFB.
>> Adobe, in my opinion is one of the worst main-line companies out there,
>> in my
>> opinion.  In addition to the kinds of things you mention below, many of
>> their
>> tools for producing PDF's do a terrible job at producing accessible
>> documents.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> At 04:59 PM 12/5/2013, you wrote:
>>
>> >There has been a lot of discussion over the past few days on a few blind
>> >tech-related mailing lists about the difficulty of updating Adobe Flash
>> >Player without also installing unwanted software such as Google Chrome
>> >and
>> >Tool Bar as well as McAfee Security Scan Plus.  A lot of people have
>> >been
>> >complaining that the check boxes on the Flash Player download page to
>> >unselect the installation of Google Chrome or McAfee Security Scan Plus,
>> >which are checked by default are either totally inaccessible  or
>> >uncheckable
>> >, regardless of which screen reader is used.  Other people have reported

>> >that
>> >the Adobe web site is so inaccessible, that they can't install Flash
>> >Player
>> >at all without sighted help.  This is not an insignificant problem, in
>> >view
>> >of the fact that updates to Flash Player are released pretty frequently
>> >and
>> >need to be installed to patch security flaws in this highly-vulnerable
>> >program, which is used by many web sites, including the popular
>> >Youtube.com.
>> >Can anything be done to force Adobe to make the download page for Flash
>> >Player more accessible for us blind computer users.  Must we be forced
>> >to
>> >install unwanted software because there is no accessible means of
>> >unselecting
>> >it?  Is there anything the NFB can do , such as taking legal action
>> >against
>> >Adobe to force it to make its Flash Player web site more blind friendly?
>> >Thanks for any feedback.
>> >
>> >Gerald
>>