AppleVis Unlimited: What's New and Noteworthy for December 2025

By AppleVis, 31 December, 2025

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Welcome to the December 2025 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, your monthly digest of the latest and most notable content on the AppleVis website. This newsletter features a curated selection of community-submitted content, including new app entries, updates, news, and popular discussions. We hope that you find this publication to be both helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback about this newsletter, please feel free to reach out using our Contact Form.

New Apps

AudioBooth: Audiobooks Player

Your personal audiobook companion for Audiobookshelf.

AudioBooth is a streamlined iOS client designed exclusively for Audiobookshelf users who value simplicity and performance. Built with a focus on essential audiobook listening features, AudioBooth delivers a clean, distraction-free experience for your self-hosted audiobook library.

Additional Details:

AudioRoids: Audio Shooter App

A Sci-Fi audio shooter where blind heroes save humanity. Play with sound – not sight!

Additional Details:

Black Lens

Black Lens is an eyes-free, fully automated selfie camera with voice control, face tracking, haptics, and AutoCapture. Designed for low-vision users, loved by everyone.

Additional Details:

Dungeon Scoundrel

Enter the dungeon in Dungeon Scoundrel, a fast tactical card crawler where every move matters. Seven heroes, brutal Hard Mode, deep stats, and pure offline play.

Additional Details:

Mona 7 for Mastodon

Meet Mona 7, the default Mastodon app for everyone. Enjoy buttery smooth scrolling, native design, and powerful customization options. It delivers a truly personal Mastodon experience and is fully optimized for VoiceOver.

Additional Details:

Readify: AI Natural Read Aloud

Transform any eBook into a premium audiobook with Readify - the revolutionary AI ebook reader that sounds truly human.
Readify is your all-in-one eBook reader and AI audiobook creator, powered by advanced large language model technology. Our advanced AI narrator provides a seamless text-to-speech experience, making it easy to listen to your favorite books, documents, and articles. Say goodbye to robotic voices and enjoy a truly immersive listening experience.

Additional Details:

SudokuBlind

SudokuBlind, the accessible number puzzle that is fun for everyone!

All recent app entries posted to AppleVis may be found at:

Notable App Updates

Adventure to Fate: Dungeons

Accessible Turn-Based Roguelite Dungeon Crawler for ALL. 2025 AppleVis Golden Apple Nominee: Accessible Game of the YEAR, Accessibility Developer & David Goodwin Award.

A Turn-based Roguelite Dungeon Crawler unlike any other. Built on over a decade of handcrafted systems and content, now expanded with new roguelike mechanics, dungeons, quests, and deeper progression than ever before.

App Store Release Notes for December 2025 Updates (Versions 1.9-2.0):

Introducing the Monk Class! A unique class where each consecutive attack strengthens the next, unlocking devastating finishers and unique build paths.
Specialize in rapid-strike combo chains, sustain yourself with healing arts, or turn enemy strength against them with reflect and poison-focused builds.

This New Version Also Includes:

  • New Races as well as balance upgrades on previous races.
  • New Spirits to find in each dungeon
  • New Runes and Equipment drops.
  • New Prefixes (including new Ultra Rare Prefixes) that further expand item diversity.
  • Shop updates to support a wider range of builds.
  • UI and accessibility improvements, including better equipment slot indicators and enhanced text-log readability.
  • Various Bug Fixes and Adjustments

Thanks for supporting Indie and Accessible gaming!

Additional Details:

ElevenReader - Read Text Aloud

Read aloud with ElevenReader — the most natural text to speech (TTS) reader app powered by advanced AI audio. Whether you want to read books, PDFs, docs, news, or blogs, ElevenReader transforms any text into stunning realistic voice narration.

App Store Release Notes for December 2025 Updates (Versions 1.4.69-1.4.70):

  • Improved player menu and accessibility
  • Allow long press on Continue reading items on home page to access Archive and other actions
  • Queue multiple listens from the library and home page using the audio queue
  • Access your audio queue using the bottom controls in the player

Additional Details:

OOrion

Are you blind or visually impaired ? Discover OOrion, the app that will enable you to easily identify and find the objects and texts around you.

OOrion will help you find the keys you dropped on the floor, find the product you're looking for in your closet or fridge, find the electrical sockets in a hotel room, find the right door in the street or the right name on an intercom. The uses are endless.

App Store Release Notes for December 2025 Updates (Versions 7.2.0-7.2.3):

This new version includes:

  • New Gesture for Nearby Objects and Nearby Text features, tap (or double-tap with VoiceOver) to request newer, fresher detections.
  • Customization: Go to settings to hide text instructions in the various features.
  • Stability: General bug fixes, especially regarding accessibility and performance.
  • Partner Pages: Several new features and improvements.
  • This new version fixes a bug related to OOrion's assistant and its compatibility with VoiceOver
  • This new version improves the OOrion assistant for better understanding of the objects to be searched for and enhances certain partner features.
  • Fixes a bug introduced by the latest update concerning the assistant and its connection to the app's features.

Additional Details:

Perspective Intelligence

Perspective Intelligence now includes tools for contact search, points of interest in maps, and the ability to research reminders.

Perspective Intelligence brings fast, creative, private, and personal AI to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Perspective Intelligence includes a suite of on-device capabilities to help you describe images, recognize text, and stay productive. The app uses Apple’s Foundation Models framework along with other built in on-device AI technologies to process requests locally, keeping your information securely on your device.

App Store Release Notes for December 2025 Update (Version 1.2):

Welcome to the latest version of Perspective Intelligence! This version of the app contains the following new features

  • Accessibility improvements for VoiceOver users
  • Fonts throughout the app have been set to use dynamic type
  • The ability to search for conversations
  • The ability to enable or disable emoji in chat

All Access Features

  • Search contacts for specific information
  • Look up points of interest from Maps
  • Get inspiration from your reminders
  • Memories have been improved for better retrieval

Additional Details:

Slack

Companies in every industry around the world grow their business in Slack because it gets busywork off their plates and wasteful meetings off their calendars.

Slack brings everyone from coworkers, customers, and contractors into one secure place, so you don’t have to chase approvals or wait around on emails.
Slack even has AI that can search to find the information you need instantly and summarize conversations to catch you up with a click.

App Store Release Notes for December 2025 Updates (Versions 25.12.10-25.12.20):

Bug Fixes

  • Apple VoiceOver was not able to select buttons anywhere in Slack outside of threads. Like your favorite cardigan, buttons and threads will, at times, be in need of repair. Here's a cozy thought: This bug has been all sewn up and tied off.
  • We dropped the ball on dropdown arrows, which were hovering awkwardly in the center of the screen instead of sitting politely on the side. The next time you need to expand a menu, you'll find the tappable button right where you expect it to be.
  • Dropdown menus were also not selecting the default value if you just pressed "Submit" without choosing anything. Perhaps it's a good reminder to always be intentional in our individual choices? Eh, probably just a bug. Our bad.

Bug Fixes

  • We tuned up the engine and gave the interiors a thorough clean. Everything is now running smoothly again.

Additional Details:

Recent News and Views

Apple Releases "I'm Not Remarkable" Film in Celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities

By AppleVis | December 2, 2025

Ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, Apple has today released a new film sharing how accessibility features empower students with disabilities in college.

The film, "I'm Not Remarkable," showcases several students and how they use the accessibility features built into Apple's products to get the full college experience--both in and outside the classroom. Highlighted accessibility features include VoiceOver, Magnifier on Mac, Braille Access, AssistiveTouch on Apple Watch and iPad, Accessibility Reader, Sound & Name Recognition, and Live Captions.

Art of Fauna and Be My Eyes Win 2025 Apple App Store Awards for Their Cultural Impact

By AppleVis | December 4, 2025

Art of Fauna and Be My Eyes have both been selected by Apple as winners of a 2025 App Store Award for their cultural impact. (Editor's Note: Be My Eyes is the parent company of AppleVis.)

Chosen from a list of 45 finalists by Apple's Editors, the 2025 App Store Awards recognize 17 apps and games for demonstrating exceptional innovation, user experience, and design. Award categories include App of the Year for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and Apple TV; Game of the Year for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Arcade; and Cultural Impact.

"I'm Not Remarkable. And Neither Are You": Why Apple's New Disability Film Does not Resonate with Me

By Michael Hansen | December 5, 2025

I’ve been thinking about something for the last couple days, and I admit at the outset that I have gone back and forth on whether or not to write about it.

Earlier this week, Apple released a new film, “I’m Not Remarkable,” in honor of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. While I think the film is a groundbreaking work of creative disability expression, I have some concerns about its use as corporate messaging from a company with Apple’s influence and reach.

Apple releases iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 with new AirDrop feature, Reminders alarms, AirPods Live Translation expansion, and more

By AppleVis | December 12, 2025

Apple has today released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to the public, bringing a new way to share files via AirDrop to people not in your contacts, the ability to set alarms for reminders,AirPods Live Translation support to the European Union, and more.

New Features and Changes for Blind, Deaf Blind, and Low Vision Users:

iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 include the following new features for blind, deaf blind, and low vision users:

  • Toggles for Arrow Key and Single Letter Quick Nav have been added in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Typing.
  • The transparency of the Lock Screen clock can now be adjusted by double-tapping the Clock widget in the Lock Screen customization interface to reveal a new slider, which we believe may improve its legibility for low vision users.

Resolved Accessibility Bugs

Our experience is that the following accessibility bugs have been resolved or meaningfully improved in iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2:

New Accessibility Bugs

We are currently aware of two new accessibility bugs in these releases:

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and HomePod Software 26.2

Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, watchOS 26.2, tvOS 26.2, and HomePod Software 26.2.

Our experience is that the following accessibility bug has been resolved in macOS Tahoe 26.2:

We are additionally aware of the following accessibility change in macOS Tahoe 26.2:

  • In the Messages app, the search field and "Conversations" collection have been moved to the right of the message text field.

This Month on the AppleVis Podcast

How to Customize the Control Center and Menu Bar on macOS

In this episode, Tyler demonstrates how to customize the Control Center and menu bar on macOS. With macOS Tahoe, the Mac's Control Center and menu bar have become more customizable, with the ability to add, remove, and reorder a greater variety of items. How to Customize the Control Center and Menu Bar on macOS (MP3)

Apple Crunch November 2025: Siri Gets a New Brain, iOS Takes a Breather, and the Air Takes a Dive

In this November edition of Apple Crunch, Thomas, John, and Desiree dig into a surprisingly busy month for Apple. We start with the iPhone Air’s underwhelming debut and why Apple may be rethinking its strategy after weak sales and confusing pricing. Next, we explore Apple’s ongoing talks to bring a Gemini-powered core to Siri—what that means for privacy, how it blends with Apple Intelligence, and how it may finally close the gap with today’s leading AI assistants.

We also look ahead to iOS 27, which is shaping up to be a major stability-focused update across all Apple platforms—echoing the beloved Snow Leopard era—with an emphasis on fixing long-standing issues including Braille bugs and Personal Voice quirks.

From there, we move into Apple’s evolving 2026 roadmap, including new release schedules for iPhones and Macs, the long-rumored foldable iPhone, a next-generation smart home device, and early hints of Apple smart glasses. We also discuss a promising Vision AI web app offering detailed grid-based image exploration and real-time scene updates. Finally, we wrap up with our App Pick of the Month, Ramblio, a social audio platform reminiscent of Clubhouse and Vorail. Apple Crunch November 2025: Siri Gets a New Brain, iOS Takes a Breather, and the Air Takes a Dive (MP3)

AppleVis Extra#112: Stephen Lovely on Rethinking Visual Accessibility with Vision AI Assistant

In this episode of the AppleVis Extra podcast, hosts Dave Nason and Thomas Domville speak with StephenLovely, the creator of Vision AI Assistant, a rapidly emerging web-based accessibility tool designed primarily for blind and visually impaired users. Stephen explains the motivation behind the project, rooted in his own lived experience as a person who has been blind since birth, and how that perspective shaped every design decision. The discussion covers the app’s core philosophy of giving users control over what visual information they receive, rather than forcing them to listen to long, generic descriptions.

The conversation explores Vision AI Assistant’s major features in depth, including the Photo Explorer, which allows users to explore images by touch and zoom into specific areas for granular detail; Live Camera Mode, which provides near real-time environmental feedback and action detection; object tracking for navigation; sign and text reading via gesture-based interaction; physical book reading with page tracking; and optional voice commands. Stephen explains how the app leverages a progressive web app model to deliver instant updates across platforms, why he chose the Base44 language model, and how careful prompt engineering minimizes hallucinations while allowing medically descriptive output when needed.

The hosts and guest also discuss privacy considerations, data handling, accessibility trade-offs between web and native apps, and the financial realities of running AI-driven services. Stephen outlines future plans, including native app wrappers, potential integration with smart glasses, expanded social media accessibility, and a sustainable subscription model. The episode concludes with reflections on community-driven development, responsiveness, and the broader impact of having accessibility tools led by people with lived experience. AppleVis Extra#112: Stephen Lovely on Rethinking Visual Accessibility with Vision AI Assistant (MP3)

Popular Topics

Below is a selection of popular topics on the AppleVis Forum during December 2025:

All recent forum topics on AppleVis may be found at:

Connect with Us

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Wishing you the best and every good thing in 2026,

The AppleVis Editorial Team

A Be My Eyes Company

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