What kind of apps one uses does not determine what group one is in or a part of

I am a very independent blind person. I have had to be so for years. It wasn't until recently that I received full voc rehab training with getting certain devices I needed to make my life more full.
I am an avid iphone user. In fact I use it more and more in place of my computer.
I have been looking over some very in my opinion really nasty comments from certian people.
I want to say first I don't wish to start anything. I happen to believe people should use what is best for them.
I am referring to the posts on the Via app.
I have not used this app myself. However I think the comments a lot of them were uncalled for. But that really isn't the reason for my post.
The reason for this post is just to get some people to think a little bit.
I myself am not much for joining blindness groups. I currently am a member of a blidness group which I am not sure I am going to renew my membership when the time comes. But it has nothing to do with treating blind people as a special minority.
Let me just for a few minutes describe my views on apps. What you use is totally up to you.
I have a variety of apps on my phone.
The "blindness" ones I have. nfb newsline really useful in a lot of ways if for no other reason you get a wide selection of newspapers in one place. I currently do not have other news apps on my iphone but I am looking to getting some more.
I have read to go. Which really the benefit of this one only really lies in saving money. Or finding books that aren't available for whatever reasons in the ibookstore or other accessible book apps.
I have iblink radio which I use only for podcasts or radio stations that I can't find in tunein or other radio apps.
And I have ariadne which is a huge huge major great app.
I have not tried the new maps app on the iphone ios 6 yet. But for now ariadne is my favorite gps app as I can actually explore the actual area with the touch of my finger tips.
Of course some of these apps were made by individuals and some by organizations.
I have used navigan but turn by turn really is not my thing. It is useful yes. I however want to know exactly what is around me. Ariadne gives me that.
News apps are great. And if I can find a news app for free that includes all nfbnewsline has available and is accessible to voice over I may consider switching. But right now nfb newsline is really the better choice.
ibooks googlebooks (if still accessible) and other accessible book apps are nice but read to go and learning ally app comes in handy if for some reason those services do not have the book you need or are looking for.
On my computer I use system access as my screen reader. I have a windows netbook currently. And I only use SA because I am under contract with them. I really don't know whether I will continue subscribing to their service or not once my contract is up. I wish I had never signed the contract.
NVDA works just as well for me in most cases. And is free.
But NVDA voice is able to give me headaches. And I don't have money for 64 bit voices right now.
Besides I don't use my computer that much anymore to even put much money into it.
The only accessible device I have is a braille note apex which more and more I just simply connect with my iphone through bluetooth and use the braille display. However I find a few things on the apex nice. I only have the apex because voc rehab got it for me.
I sometimes wish I had the money to just get a braille display rather than a braille display notetaker.
Maybe I will some day.
Anyway. As you can see my point should be obvious.
Whether or not an app or a device is from a certain organization people really should use what is best for them..
For me the iphone is replacing my computer for the most part.
For others they may just use the iphone as a phone and nothing else either because they don't know how or because they simply aren't interested in the apps. Although personally I don't see how anyone couldn't be interested in at least some apps.
Some apps I have on my phone that weren't made by blindness organizations. some have voice over accessibility as a development goal others do not.
king of dragon pass. Kingdoms by storm8. Tunein radio pro. twitter. Tweetlist pro. testing all the apps passbook puts me too that are free. Testing all the newsstand apps that are free. ez budget a nice debt control and budget app. ibooks and itunesu and podcasts from apple. goodreads an excellent app for book lovers. And many more.
Negative comments on blindness organization apps really aren't necessary. Even if the app is paid. But especially if it is free.
If you don't find a use for the app remove it from your phone and don't use it. As simple as that.
Organizations for the blind will fall by the wayside in some regards regardless of negative or positive comments. There will always be a use for braille displays unless someone comes up with an idea of building a braille display into an iphone model or ipad model.
Screen readers I believe at least the expensive ones will go by the way side too eventually. Or they will simply have to drop their prices. They were always overpriced. But if they don't drop them they will go by the wayside.
Scanning is still in the iffy zone. However you guys with iphone 4s and 5's Mayy find scanning apps work better. I just have a 3gs and I haven't had luck. So I got a portable scanner again from voc rehab. I rarely use it. But at least it is here for when i need it.
And if I find that the iphone 4s or 5 scans at least good enough for me I will probably return that device to voc rehab so someone else can use it.
Anyway just my money's worth on this whole thing.
Stop bashing companies. They will bash themselves if they don't change policies. I am sure they are aware of the issues they face. And if not they deserve to bash themselves.
If you don't like an app. Or a company the app is from. Don't download it. But commenting bad about something before you used it is really not a good idea. And although I like applevis for the most part. I get tired of reading bad negative comments.
Look at the positives. Everyone will be much happier.
I have not tried the via app from braille institute. That i recall. But if it is an app that gives ideas of any app that is accessible to voice over I am definitely thinking that is an excellent idea. Especially for paid apps. I don't want to put my money down on something if it doesn't work with vo. I have little money to spend and have made that mistake in the past.
Free apps however I download myself and try and if they don't work they don't work.
I have always thought applevis should create an app. Twitter and facebook is nice. But personally I would rather have an app to open and look at applevis rather than having to use my twitter or facebook account to see what is going on there.
I have used many other "apps made for blind people" and apps just apps. I have not kept many of them for various reasons.
The ones I have work for me.
You may find you like different ones. That is totally your choice.
Anyway this is longer than I intended.