Welcome to the October 2024edition of AppleVis Unlimited, your monthly digest of the latest and most notable content on the AppleVis website. This edition features a curated selection of community-submitted content, including new app entries; updates; news; how-to guides; popular discussions; and podcasts.
An Opening Thought
October 2024 was a busy month here at AppleVis. Below are some highlights:
- We completed our first-ever Community Survey in October, and we received invaluable feedback. In particular, we really enjoyed reading all of the thoughtful and insightful comments that participants included. We greatly appreciate everyone who took the time to complete the survey and will be sharing a summary of the results in the next week.
- Apple released updates for all of its major platforms, as well as new Macs and a new iPad Mini. We have blog posts covering the releases of iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, watchOS 11.1, and the new Mac hardware; as well as podcasts covering some of the new functionality in iOS 18.1.
- On the forums, switching from Windows to Mac proved to be a popular topic of discussion, and multiple developers reached out to engage with the community about their apps.
- Our team has gained a new volunteer, and we have two exciting initiatives that we plan to announce within the next month or so. Looking further ahead, voting for the AppleVis Golden Apples will take place in early December.
We hope you find this month's edition of AppleVis Unlimited to be both helpful and informative. As always, thank you for being part of our community and for your very kind support of AppleVis.
Wishing you every good thing in the month ahead,
The AppleVis Editorial Team
Www.AppleVis.com
A proud member of the Be My Eyes family
New and Noteworthy App Entries
CrossGuide Blind Navigation (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)
CrossGuide helps blind and visually impaired users find accessible pedestrian signals.
Find Signals Easily
Quickly locate nearby accessible pedestrian signals.
Community Input
Contribute to and benefit from a shared database of signal locations.
Accessibility comes first
Designed to be intuitive and straightforward.
Current Version: 1.1.0 (October 21, 2024)
CrossGuide's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry CrossGuide's App Store page
Round Logic (iOS, US$2.99)
Can you win the game with one circle on the board?
Round logic is an accessible take on the classic single-player puzzle game, peg solitaire, that challenges your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. The game takes place on a board filled with circles, except for one empty hole. Your objective is to jump over circles, similar to the movement in checkers, removing them from the board with each move, until only one circle remains. Are you the puzzle expert we have been waiting for?
sound effects to enhance your gameplay experience.
The rules of the game are included in an easily accessible help screen.
Quickly check which circles you can move in case you are stuck.
Accessible for low vision and blind players using the VoiceOver screen reader.
Current Version: 1.0
Round Logic's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Round Logic's App Store page
All recent app entries posted to AppleVis can be found at:
iOS/iPadOS
Mac
Apple Watch
Apple TV
Notable App Updates
Adventure To Fate Lost Island (iOS, US$4.99)
GAME of the WEEK and MONTH by TouchArcade and PocketGamer!
-The best classic RPG on the App Store!
-Offline, Portrait, Turn-Based RPG with 100s of hours of playtime!
Adventure To Fate aims to find a perfect balance between casual turn-based RPG gaming and a deep replayable strategy game. The easy-to-use interface and easy-to-learn skills/combat system make it very approachable. The 12 classes 15 races and 30+ pet combos give Adventure to Fate the depth that allows for 100s of hours of play and replayability.
This game is for EVERYONE! Including the blind/visually impaired! The game is not only fully accessible to the blind/visually impaired but is built on a custom game engine to ensure it is one of the best if not the best full RPGs on the App Store for the blind/visually impaired!
Adventure To Fate – Lost Island is an accessible turn-based RPG dungeon crawler.
Current Version: 1.23 (October 16, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for Version 1.23
The largest Adventure To Fate Update ever! Introducing the Paladin Class (A Roguelike Class and System) and so MUCH more!
Now you can explore the Lost Island as a holy crusader! The new Paladin class allows you to play the game as a Roguelike. The ultimate challenge! Test your skills and see how far you can make it!
-The Paladin a New Mystical Class-
Paladins (a Mystical Class) are designed for Adventure To Fate Experts, they are both more challenging and rewarding! The rewards include new skills, races, pets, and classes! They play like a Roguelike.
Paladins have certain Advantages and Disadvantages that other classes do not. This allows the Paladin to be challenging yet extremely powerful if played with the right strategy.
-Redeemed Soul Collection / Meta Progression System
At the end of each run (whether successful or not) you gain redeemed souls. The amount mostly depends on how far you make it, along with some other bonuses along the way.
The Redeemed Souls you collect automatically unlock new more powerful skills, pets, races, and even classes!
Then when you attempt your run again these new bonuses will strengthen your character helping you reach even further!
-Collects Redeemed Souls on each run.
-Redeemed Souls unlock new more powerful skills as well as new pets, races, and even classes!
-Playing as a Mystic Class can unlock features for all the characters in the game!
-New Content-
-New Mystical Class - Paladins are holy crusaders with magical and protective abilities.
Paladins are a Mystical (Roguelike) Class. They only have 5 lives until permadeath. They select a new Skill or Stat each level up. They will have 3 options that appear out of a larger pool of skills or stats.
Each run with the Paladin should be unique based on their options and selections. Once they succeed in saving the Island or Die to fate they are still rewarded with Mystic Souls which are used to unlock new bonuses and features in the game.
-35 new skills of all types
New skills and skill types to make a giant skill pool for the Paladin Class
-New Passives, Profession Passives, Skills, Spells, Morphs and Much More!
2 New Races
-Ogre
Signature Skill - Toughen - A passive skill that grants 1 Block Chance whenever an enemy is killed by Direct Damage.
-Angel
Signature Skill -Redeeming Light - A passive skill that grants you 3 Shadow Resistance and 3 HP Restore whenever an enemy is killed by Direct Damage.
3 New Pets
-Pneuma
-Inferno Dragon
-Tempest Dragon (Ultra Rare)
-Other Additions / Changes-
-Added Indicator for when Paladin, Warrior or Guardian is charged up for 3rd hit attack (in lookover description and image flashes different color)
-New percentage of resource system (uses percent of total resources HP or SP rather than a set amount)
-New sound effects for magic spells. Depending on the dominant element there will be different sounds for Earth, Fire, Water, and Shadow spells.
-New Leaderboards and Achievements-
-A new leaderboard for the Paladin.
-2 New achievements for the Paladin
-Updated older Mystical Class Achievements to include Redeemed Souls as well.
-Bug Fixes and Improvements-
-Fixed combat log for smaller phones to display more info.
-Endless arena shop crash fixed.
-For Voiceover users when you die as a Witch or Paladin the voiceover hint for the directional pad is now on the correct square instead of where you died. The death message has been updated as well.
-Various other minor fixes and changes
-The starting boat story should display properly now.
Version 1.22 & 1.23 updates:
Upped Redeemed Soul Rewards
Added preorder links for upcoming Core Quest GameFixed Voiceover sound type settings that were resetting Redmeed Souls Collection (You may need to re-set your sound settings)
Fixed healing on Bash based attacks.
Upped damage on Lights Judgement and Flash of Fate.
Added 4-5 NEW skills to Paladin pool.
Ogres passive skill Toughen now gives 2 block chance (instead of 1).
Adventure to Fate Lost Island's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Adventure to Fate Lost Island's App Store page
Lost Vault: AFK Retro RPG (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)
Enter the Apocalypse! Join thousands of active players and explore, slay the creatures and collect epic gear!
Lost Vault is a variation of idle and active MMORPG. Prepare for resources optimisation and performing the actions carefully! Portrait mode played with just one hand is the way to play!
Current Version: 2.0.621 (October 7, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for Version 2.0.621
Fix animations during the battles
Improve accessibility
Lost Vault's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Lost Vault's App Store page
Minesweeper Deluxe (iOS, US$0.99)
This version allows the standard board sizes to be played on small devices.
features
choice of tile theme
choice of tile size
voice over comaptible
Current Version: 3.1.5 (October 2, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for Version 3.1.5
Added standard board sizes
Improved menu and help
bugs and fixes
Minesweeper Deluxe' AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Minesweeper Deluxe' App Store page
Soundscape Community (iOS, Free)
Soundscape Community - explore and navigate the world in 3D sound for a heads-up and hands-free experience.
Welcome to Soundscape Community.
We are a diverse consortium of organizations and individuals committed to improving access and inclusion for everyone, in partnership with a global community of users and open source developers.
We are delighted to make Soundscape Community available for people around the world. With the Soundscape Community app, you can immerse yourself in your surroundings and navigate effortlessly with its innovative spatial audio. The app calls out points of interest, individual markers that you have created or which have been shared with you, businesses and much more information by using audio placed in the environment around you so that you experience it as 3D sound when you walk or pass through different spaces and places.
Current Version: 1.2 (October 7, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for Version 1.2
Great new features on repeating the last callout, filtering the nearby places list, and adjust the distance to mute the audio beacon.
Soundscape Community's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Soundscape Community's App Store page
Speakaboo (iOS, Free)
Speakaboo is an intuitive app designed to help you interact with your surroundings by providing real-time descriptions and answers to questions about the world around you. If you are visually impaired or simply need extra guidance, Speakaboo makes daily tasks easier and more accessible.
Use Cases:
Speakaboo helps with everyday tasks, making it a handy companion for a variety of situations:
Finding Your Way: In unfamiliar environments, Speakaboo can assist in locating doors, bathrooms, or other important landmarks.
Checking Safety Details: Unsure if the curtains are drawn or if a cabinet is open? Speakaboo can quickly tell you, ensuring you stay on top of your environment.
Identifying Objects: Whether you’re trying to distinguish between different spices on the countertop or figure out which pair of shoes is in front of you, Speakaboo provides quick answers.
Assistance in the Kitchen: From identifying ingredients to understanding appliance controls, Speakaboo helps simplify meal prep.
Exploring New Spaces: When navigating a new place, Speakaboo can describe surroundings, helping you feel more oriented and confident.
Current Version: 0.13 (October 23, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for October 2024 Updates (Versions 0.11, 0.12, and 0.13)
Version 0.11
Adjustable Playback Speed: Now you can change the speed for a more customized experience.
Enhanced Performance: We've squashed some bugs and optimized performance for smoother use and better battery efficiency.
Wider Field of View: Enjoy a broader perspective, covering more of your surroundings than ever before.
Feedback Made Easy: Reach out with feedback or request features via our new support email.
Version 0.12
Enhanced speed selection menu for smoother adjustments
Added speech speed preview with example sentences
Improved screen reader functionality
Fixed bugs causing crashes and freezing
Boosted AI performance for a better experience
Added auto-flash for better results in dark environments
Version 0.13
Resolved several bugs that occurred in specific scenarios while using VoiceOver mode.
Speakaboo's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Speakaboo's App Store page
Weather Gods (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)
Introducing Weather Gods, a unique weather experience where the elements come to life through the divine powers of Fire, Ice, Water, Air, and Moon. Our revolutionary app redefines weather forecasting with stunning visualizations, dynamic graphics, and immersive audio, allowing you to truly see, hear, and feel the weather around you.
Say goodbye to complex weather icons. Weather Gods provides the fastest, most engaging, and enjoyable way to obtain accurate weather information. Our goal is to deliver the most intuitive and visually stunning experience available.
Seamlessly integrating premium hyperlocal weather data, Weather Gods ensures precise forecasts for over a million locations worldwide. Whether you're a casual user or a weather enthusiast, our elegant and user-friendly interface captivates you from the moment you launch the app.
Stay informed and in control with advanced notifications. Set up personalized alerts effortlessly, ensuring you receive the exact information you need, precisely when you need it. No more surprises or being caught off guard by sudden weather changes.
Current Version: 4.8.0 (October 10, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for version 4.8.0
Weather Radio
Listen to over 100 Weather Radio stations from the USA.
Tropical Storms
Now showing error cone on the map.
Access to tropical cyclone products from the Hurricane Weather Centre. These include public advisories, discussions and significant updates.
Weather Gods' AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Weather Gods' App Store page
VoiceVista (iOS, Free with In-App Purchases)
VoiceVista is a critical application for the blind and low vision users' community. It is built upon Microsoft's discontinued and open-source project Soundscape (https://aka.ms/ossblog) and is licensed under the MIT License (https://github.com/microsoft/soundscape/blob/main/LICENSE.txt).
The app leverages advanced iOS audio technology and precise location services to empower individuals in developing a heightened sense of their environment. It offers reassurance in unfamiliar settings, assisting users in forming mental maps and confidently navigating their desired routes.
Current Version: 1.7.0 (October 24, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for October 2024 Updates (Versions 1.6.7, 1.6.8, 1.6.9, and 1.7.0)
Version 1.6.7
Dynamically simulate your virtual location using track points from the GPX file
Version 1.6.8
Manually toggling the beacon audio effect disables auto unmuting
Russian translation updated by Danil Kostenkov
Version 1.6.9
Added road name to the estimated address in along-road callouts
Street numbers are now read out digit by digit
Italian translation updated by Simone Dal Maso
Spanish translation updated by Enrique Varela
Version 1.7.0
Added option to callout house numbers digit by digit
Added link to nearby POIs in the markers tab
Added machine-translated Belarusian language support
VoiceVista's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry VoiceVista's App Store page
Zanagrams
Winner of the 2023 Apple Vis and Mobile Accessible Games Game Of The Year Awards.
Exercise your brain during your downtime with this new unique twist on word-puzzles you’ve come to know and love.
Each puzzle contains six clues you’ll aim to find the one-word answers for. Each answer is broken-up into groups of two or three letters, presented as buttons in the lower portion of your screen, and jumbled for your brain-teasing enjoyment. Try to spell out each of the answers in the puzzle by tapping buttons to add them to your spelling.
Zanagrams will automatically detect if you’ve spelled any of the answers in the puzzle you’re working on, and any of the buttons you used to spell that answer will be permanently-disabled to narrow-down your choices. By the time you finish a puzzle, you’ll have used every button once.
Current Version: 2.0.5 (October 23, 2024)
App Store Release Notes for September-October 2024 Updates (Versions 2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.0.3, 2.0.4, and 2.0.5)
Version 2.0.0
The entire game has been rewritten for a smoother experience, and to allow for the introduction of two new game modes in the near future.
-New Puzzle Pack: Leisure: First Edition
Version 2.0.1
Minor bug fixes and performance improvements.
Version 2.0.2
Minor bug fixes and performance improvements.
Version 2.0.3
This is a huge update:
-New puzzle packs in the store
-Fixed bugs occasionally causing progress, scores, and stats to be lost
-Small visual improvements, including new symbols on the active puzzle screen.
Version 2.0.4
Zanagrams got a fresh new do! For those of you who don't know, I'm completely blind-- That means this crisp new look is all thanks to feedback from players like you. Keep the feedback coming!
Version 2.0.5
Bug fixes! Some iOS 18+ users were experiencing issues, and this update not only eradicates the bug, but retroactively corrects the data that was affected.
Zanagrams' AppleVis iOS App Directory entry Zanagrams' App Store page
Recent News and Views
Apple Releases iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1; Bringing New Bugs and Some Fixes for VoiceOver and Braille Users
By AppleVis | October 28, 2024
Apple has today released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, bringing the first set of Apple Intelligence features to compatible devices outside of the European Union and China Mainland.
For VoiceOver and braille users, our testing suggests that iOS 18.1 has both introduced new bugs and resolved some existing issues.
New Bugs Impacting VoiceOver and Braille Users in iOS 18.1
Issues Moving Apps into Folders using Drag-and-Drop
In iOS 18.1, our testing suggests that in some situations, it is not possible to move apps into folders on the Home Screen when using the VoiceOver Rotor's Drag-and-Drop functionality.
When selecting the Rotor option to add an app to a folder, our experience has been that the app is instead placed in the position before the folder.
In some cases, it is possible to open the folder first, then use the Rotor to drop the app into the folder. However, our testing suggests that this workaround is not always reliable. Sometimes, VoiceOver will report that the folder is open, but when swiping or exploring by touch, VoiceOver focus is still on the Home Screen and not inside the folder as it indicates. In these situations, attempting to drop the app inside the folder still places it outside the folder.
While moving apps into folders using Hold-and-Drag is another workaround for some, we have classified this issue as 'Serious' because of the impact for those using braille, or those with difficulties using the touchscreen.
Apple Intelligence Summaries Not Fully Accessible with VoiceOver
One of the new features for Apple Intelligence is the ability to generate summaries of text, such as a message currently in focus in the Mail app, or a block of text you've just written in Notes.
Unfortunately, our testing suggests that results generated by the 'Summarize' feature are currently not accessible with VoiceOver.
At this point, it is worth clarifying that the issue discussed below specifically relates to using Apple Intelligence to summarize text. Notification summaries, as well as summaries in the message lists in Mail and Messages, are not affected.
To reproduce this issue, with Apple Intelligence enabled, open a message in the native Mail app. Navigate to the 'Summarize' button at the top middle of the screen. After activating this button, VoiceOver says, "Loading," but does not speak the summary that is generated and displayed onscreen.
When focus is placed on the 'Loading' item and one uses the Rotor to navigate by character, VoiceOver reaches a series of elements that it speaks as "Unpronounceable." It is our best guess that these elements are the AI-generated summary text that is displayed on screen.
Furthermore, if summarizing text in an application such as Notes, the area where one can preview the results before applying them is subject to the same issue. In our testing, this issue occurs when using the 'Summarize' and 'Key Points' options, but that output from the 'List' and 'Table' options can be navigated successfully with VoiceOver.
It is incredibly disappointing that yet another headline feature in a recent Apple software update is not fully accessible to VoiceOver users at launch. As Apple continues the introduction of Apple Intelligence and other new features in the coming year, we call on Apple to prioritize ensuring that all features are accessible to all users upon public release.
Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.1; Bringing both Improvements and New Bugs for VoiceOver Users
By AppleVis | October 28, 2024
Apple has today released macOS Sequoia 15.1, bringing the first set of Apple Intelligence features to Macs with Apple Silicon outside of Mainland China and the European Union. This update also brings accessibility improvements, as well as some new bugs for VoiceOver users.
In macOS 15.0, iPhone Mirroring was completely inaccessible with VoiceOver. Our testing, as well as reports from the community, suggests that Apple has made some progress towards making iPhone Mirroring accessible, but that much more work needs to be done.
Specifically, we are aware of the following issues with this feature:
- When attempting to navigate the App Switcher of a mirrored iPhone using VoiceOver on macOS, the names of open apps are not consistently spoken, with many apps simply reported by VoiceOver as “Active,” with no indication what app is in focus. This makes the App Switcher very difficult, if not impossible, to use with VoiceOver.
- When encountering a picker on a mirrored iPhone using VoiceOver on macOS, it is not possible to interact with or select items in that picker. For example, the page picker on the iOS Home Screen, and others like it throughout iOS, are recognized by VoiceOver on macOS as sliders that can be interacted with; however, no items are visible when attempting to do so, with VoiceOver on macOS simply playing the “Boundary reached” sound. In some cases, you may be able to adjust the picker by focusing on it and choosing "Increment" or "decrement" from the actions menu (accessed by pressing VO-Command-Space).
We strongly encourage Apple to prioritize making this core macOS Sequoia feature both fully accessible and a best-in-class user experience for everyone.
Our experience is that the following accessibility issues have also been addressed in macOS Sequoia 15.1:
- VoiceOver no longer crashes during regular use on Intel-based Macs.
- VoiceOver now speaks the names of shared groups in the Passwords app.
- Pressing VO-J on an account in the Passwords app now reliably works to jump to the scroll area displaying information for that account.
- It is now possible to click the "Page menu" and "show Reader appearance customization options" buttons in Safari using standard VoiceOver commands.
Additionally, while not a bug that our team was actively tracking, community feedback indicates that Apple has also resolved an issue with MathML content when browsing using the "Announce Groups" setting.
We are currently aware of the following new bugs in macOS Sequoia 15.1 not related to iPhone Mirroring:
- When receiving an alert, such as an alarm, timer, or Calendar notification, it is not possible to navigate to it via VoiceOver’s Notifications menu, with VoiceOver reporting “No notifications available” when pressing VO-N, even when the alert is displayed in Notification Center.
- When focusing on a message in the Messages app and pressing VO-Command-Space to reveal the actions menu, there are a number of individual tapback reactions, in addition to the redundant “Tapback” and “Tapback details” actions.
Apple Releases watchOS 11.1; Bringing Changes to System Volume and the Behavior of the VoiceOver Volume Rotor
By AppleVis | October 29, 2024
Apple has today released watchOS 11.1 to the public, bringing bug fixes but also introducing changes to default system volume and the default behavior for the VoiceOver Volume Rotor.
While we are unsure if this is an issue that is specific to VoiceOver, our testing suggests that Apple has made some changes to the default system volume level in watchOS 11.1.
Upon updating to watchOS 11.1, users may find that the volume of their device has decreased relative to its level in watchOS 11.0 or 11.0.1. For our team, this was most noticeable on the Apple Watch Series 10, a device which has seen noticeable improvements to the speakers.
In our testing, it appears that the new default volume level in watchOS 11.1 is 50%, whereas in earlier versions of watchOS it was 80%.
To further complicate things, it also appears to us that Apple has changed the default behavior of the VoiceOver volume rotor in watchOS 11.1. It now appears that the default behavior is for the Volume rotor to only adjust the level of VoiceOver speech relative to other sounds, whereas in the past the Volume Rotor adjusted all sounds--VoiceOver and otherwise.
If this issue impacts you, the easiest workaround is to tell Siri to turn the volume to the desired level. For example, "Set volume to 80%." As stated previously, we suspect that 80% was the default volume level prior to watchOS 11.1.
Apple Introduces Redesigned Mac Mini, Updates iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac Accessories
By Tyler | October 29, 2024
Apple this week updated several of its Mac product lines, as well as the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad accessories. These Macs have been updated with variants of the M4 chip, the same chip that was introduced with the 2024 iPad Pro. In addition, the base configurations of these updated Macs now include 16GB of ram.
These updates come against the backdrop of the release of the first set of Apple intelligence features, and Apple’s marketing materials accompanying the updates make that clear. However, it’s worth noting that all Macs with the M1 or later support Apple Intelligence, although it’s safe to surmise that more powerful chips will offer improved AI performance, as well as support for future Apple Intelligence capabilities yet to be announced. More details about each product update are provided below:
Read More: "Apple Introduces Redesigned Mac Mini, Updates iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac Accessories"
Apple Introduces New iPad Mini with A17 Pro chip, Faster Connectivity, an upgraded camera, and More
By Tyler | October 15, 2024
Apple today introduced the new 7th generation iPad Mini, refreshing the tablet with the A17 Pro chip, (the same chip that powers the iPhone 15 Pro) as well as faster USB-C data transfer, Wi-Fi 6E support, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and an upgraded camera.
With the A17 Pro chip, the new iPad Mini features a 30% increase in CPU performance, a 25% increase in GPU performance, and a 2X faster neural engine in comparison to the previous generation iPad Mini with A15 Bionic, according to Apple's press release. The upgraded chip also means that the new iPad Mini will support Apple Intelligence, Apple's suite of AI tools coming to iPadOS and other Apple platforms later this month.
Geovanni Bahena Joins the AppleVis Editorial Team
By AppleVis | October 23, 2024
We are pleased to announce that Geovanni Bahena has joined the AppleVis Editorial Team.
In September 2024, Geovanni approached us and volunteered to use his talents to serve the AppleVis community. Geovanni is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), and he brings a wealth of both personal and professional experience with accessibility testing to the team.
Read More: "Geovanni Bahena Joins the AppleVis Editorial Team"
iPhone 16 Pro Max: A Review and Some Thoughts on Which Model to Buy
By Michael Hansen | October 15, 2024
The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the largest iPhone Apple has ever made, and it offers the longest ever battery life on an iPhone. It also has the highest starting price tag of any iPhone (it starts at $1,199 and goes up very quickly from there). Some would never consider a Pro Max model because of the size alone; and that was before Apple increased the screen size this year. But for me, after spending a year with a smaller iPhone, I have returned once again to the largest iPhone model and have not looked back.
Read More: "iPhone 16 Pro Max: A Review and Some Thoughts on Which Model to Buy"
This Month in Podcasts
How to Use Audio Ducking on iOS for Clearer VoiceOver
In this podcast, Thomas Domville showcases the Audio Ducking feature on iOS. Audio Ducking automatically reduces the volume of background audio when a foreground sound, such as a notification or VoiceOver, is played. This feature is particularly beneficial for accessibility, ensuring that important sounds or speech are clearly audible without being overshadowed by other audio.
To adjust the Audio Ducking settings on iOS, follow these steps:
- Open Settings: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Access Accessibility Options: Scroll down and double tap on "Accessibility."
- VoiceOver Settings: Scroll down and double tap on "VoiceOver."
- Audio Settings: Within the VoiceOver settings, double tap on "Audio."
- Audio Ducking Settings: Within the Audio settings, double tap on "Audio Ducking."
- Choose Your Preference: In the Audio Ducking settings, you can select from Off, When Speaking, or Always based on your personal preference. Make sure to adjust the VoiceOver Speech Volume to your liking.
Listen to "How to Use Audio Ducking on iOS for Clearer VoiceOver"
Get More Out of Your iPhone: Recording and Transcription on iOS
In this episode, Thomas Domville demonstrates the call recording and transcription feature in iOS 18.1. This update brings an exciting built-in call recording capability to iPhones. Recording a call is straightforward: just double-tap the Record button in the top left corner during a call (note that you might need to hide the keypad to see the button). A voice message will notify all participants that the call is being recorded. These recordings are saved directly in the Notes app, which uses end-to-end encryption to keep your conversations private. To review a call, simply go to the Notes app, and you'll find your recordings securely stored there. Additionally, iOS 18.1 offers automatic transcription, generating real-time captions and notes during your call. This feature makes it easy to reference important points later, with transcriptions handled entirely on your device to ensure privacy, with no data sent to external servers. Furthermore, supported iPhone models can provide summaries of these recordings, making it even easier to keep track of your conversations.
Listen to "Get More Out of Your iPhone: Recording and Transcription on iOS"
From Friendly to Professional: The Power of iOS Writing Tools
In this episode, Thomas Domville demonstrates how to use Writing Tools in iOS 18.1. Writing Tools, released as part of the first set of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 is an impressive feature that allows users to rewrite text in different tones, such as friendly, professional, and concise, with an added proofread option.
To use this feature, open the text you want to edit and highlight it. Within the Edit section of your Rotor, you'll find the Writing Tools option. Different tone options will appear for you to choose from. Select the desired tone, and iOS will automatically adjust the text accordingly. If you opt for the proofread option, it will check for grammatical and stylistic errors, providing suggestions for improvement. This feature makes it easier to tailor your writing for different contexts and ensure it's polished and effective.
Listen to "From Friendly to Professional: The Power of iOS Writing Tools"
AppleVis Extra 101: Future Echoes - In conversation with the team behind Echo Vision smart glasses
Welcome to AppleVis Extra 101, where Dave Nason is joined by Xiaoran Wang and Huasong Cao from Agiga, the team behind the upcoming Echo Vision smart glasses.
Helpful How-Tos
iCloud Explained [For iOS 18, macOS Sequoia]
By Tyler | Updated October, 2024
If you have multiple Apple devices, you may know that there are many features that allow them to integrate with each other to keep content up-to-date across all of them. In this guide, I will give an overview of how iCloud, the service that facilitates this interconnection, can help you manage and sync your content, as well as how it can help protect your privacy and security. The good thing about it is once you have a few things set up, features largely work automatically with very little additional interaction required from you, the user.
Managing Credentials and Securing Accounts with Apple Passwords on iOS [For iOS 18]
By Tyler | Updated October, 2024
If you’re like most people, you likely have many online accounts with usernames and passwords. In this guide, I will describe how Apple Passwords, the password manager built into iOS, iPadOS, and other Apple platforms, can help you create, use, and manage strong credentials for your online accounts.
While Apple Passwords is also available on macOS, as well as Chromium-based browsers on other operating systems, this guide will focus primarily on how to use it with iOS and iPadOS, in an effort to limit information overload. However, once you become familiar with Apple Passwords on iOS and iPadOS, you’ll likely find that it works similarly on other platforms.
Read More: "Managing Credentials and Securing Accounts with Apple Passwords on iOS"
Managing Credentials and Securing Accounts with Apple Passwords on macOS [For macOS Sequoia]
By Tyler | Updated October, 2024
If you’re like most people, you likely have many online accounts with usernames and passwords. In this guide, I will describe how Apple Passwords, the password manager built into macOS and other Apple platforms, can help you create, use, and manage strong credentials for your online accounts.
While Apple Passwords is also available on iOS and iPadOS, as well as Chromium-based browsers, this guide will focus primarily on how to use it with Safari on macOS, in an effort to limit information overload. However, once you become familiar with Apple Passwords on macOS, you’ll likely find that it works similarly on other platforms.
Read More: "Managing Credentials and Securing Accounts with Apple Passwords on macOS"
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