Apple Releases OS X Mavericks 10.9.3

This update seems to have fixed an ongoing issue with VMWare Fusion causing a sleep/wake failure on intel-based MacBooks. I consistently would put my MacBook Air to sleep, and wake up the next day with a system error/forced restart because of neglecting to close VMWare. Not a voiceover fix, but nice all the same.

I had a rather unusual experience updating to 10.9.3, and I hope this is the only time I have something like this happen.

I decided to update manually instead of waiting for it to happen automatically. After hitting the Restart button, I left the computer and assumed the update would happen as it usually does. When I returned a few hours later, I found that the computer was not back to normal. Instead, a single dialog was on screen, which evidently informed me that the download for the update was corrupt and to try again after restarting. Unfortunately, VoiceOver would not recognize this dialog as being on screen and claimed that there were no windows, even though I could tell with my limited vision that one was definitely there. Since I was logged out, I could not use the zoom tool to view the dialog, so I needed to ask for sighted help, the first time I ever had to do this since learning how to use VoiceOver.

In the end, I needed the helper to press the Restart button in the dialog for me, since I could not activate it in any way with the keyboard. The computer then restarted, and I was then presented with a dialog indicating that the installation was finishing, which was curious since nothing actually installed. A minute later, things were back to normal, and I tried to install the update a second time. This time, it ran flawlessly, without any corrupted download.

I had no problems so far with the installation, but my Users folder was hidden after restarting. I needed to use the terminal for it to appear again. For those who have the same problem type the following on the terminal

sudo chflags nohidden /Users

So far, I am enjoying the update. It installed floorlessly for me. The one thing I'm only disappointed with and I'd be interested to know what others think about this. I was hoping we would of gotten the newer compact voices in this update of the OS and for Voiceover. As we did in 7.1.1 for IOS.

I know this is subjective so what I may like will differ from someone else but what do you all think?

Since this update, Apple I believe is to be working on 10.9.4 so I've already emailed accessibility@apple.com mentioning this too them in the hope they can add it into the next up-coming update to Mavericks. I emailed them now, while the newer update is in its early stages just to make them aware of it but I'd suggest to everyone, that if you like the newer compact voices of English Daniel, Samantha, and Karen, that you email them with the above address provided because one email isn't going to be read and acted upon by one person who wants something. So if most people like the newer compact voices of the three names mentioned well just let them know but if you don't, then of course, you don't have to let them know. I am by no means forcing or employing people to go and do this. Just simply ask and the choice is up to you and yours alone.

Apart from this though, loving the update! :)

Loving the update. Hope it stays like this. Ibooks is fixed and voiceover is just better.

When the error happened to me, I could not get VoiceOver to acknowledge there was anything on the screen. Every method I know of to switch windows failed, and VoiceOver kept telling me there were no windows whenever I tried to do anything. This was despite the fact that I could very clearly see the window on the screen with my limited vision. Furthermore, since I couldn't bring the keyboard focus into the window, I couldn't hit the Restart button in any fashion, including pressing Return, which usually works with dialogs, but not this time. This is why I ultimately needed assistance to get beyond this dialog.

It was indeed the iTunes update that was corrupted, which the dialog informed me. This, however, prevented the full package from installing, not just the iTunes portion, which by itself did not require a restart. When I saw the finishing installation dialog, I thought the other parts of the update went through, but the App Store made it clear that nothing was installed.

Haven't had any of those problems you mentioned above all.
One thing I mentioned during the testing phase of this version that wasn't fixed in the final revision for some reason is that the Vocalizer voices will always say capital when arrowing past an upper case letter. Another thing I noticed: System Preferences still says updates are available, then clicking the "Show Updates" button reveals none.

Hi. he update went smooth from this Mac. I'll check out the iBooks accessibility.

Pray tell, what are the improvements you are seeing on iBooks for Mac? Is it in how the book is displayed or read? I ask because when I opened iBooks this morning, it is still a bunch of unlabeled buttons. Sure, I could get to the list of books, and sure I can *technically* read the book. But it is still a poor substitute when it comes to accessible reading compared to its iOS counterpart.

Hello Jasmine - Could you please provide some details of what you are finding to be fixed in iBooks? On my system I am finding little or no improvement in iBooks since installing the 10.9.3 update.

Not seeing any changes in iBooks here either.

There are still many unlabeled buttons, nothing people haven't mentioned before.

Have any of you reported any ibooks issues to apple using the accessibility hot line, or the email? I already did and got no response, but I know the bug has been filed.

This really hinders my supplemental materials as I h had high hopes that ibooks would be accessible.

So far so good on my end, but I do have a question about Safari. The release notes for this update said that it includes Safari version 7.03, but I thought we already got that update. Is this another Safari fix, or what's going on with that? Having said that though, Safari seems to be loading even faster for me than previously. I haven't had much time with this update due to volunteer job commitments, but I'm liking it thus far.

I made sure to make a note of this before it was put out publicly, including the Feedack Assistant. There was absolutely no change between the seed and the final version.
Only improvement poster might be seeing above is the text of a book can now be read in this update, as it couldn't be in 9.2: almost. Would be helpful if the text was in the right order.

My computer has been considerably slower under mavrics. However, since this update things are running much better. Specifically before this update if I closed my mac book or left it alone long enough to go to sleep it would take forever for voice over to start talking. I believe it is almost as quick as it was under mountain lion now.