Apple is once again celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) by offering a preview of accessibility features coming later this year.
For VoiceOver users, improvements include new voices, a flexible Voice Rotor, custom volume control, and the ability to customize keyboard shortcuts on Mac.
Braille users…
Apple has today released iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5 to the public.
Based on our testing, below are the key changes and issues for blind and low vision users in these updates.
We are currently aware of two potential fixes in these releases:
Apple has today released macOS Sonoma 14.5, watchOS 10.5, and tvOS 17.5 to the public.
Based on our testing, below are the key changes and issues for blind and low vision users in these updates.
Our testing suggests that a frustrating new bug has been introduced in macOS Sonoma 14.5 that impacts VoiceOver's Quick Nav functionality - single-key Quick Nav and arrow-…
Apple today unveiled its next-generation iPad Pro lineup featuring the powerful new M4 chip, advanced Ultra Retina XDR display technology, and redesigned accessories including the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. The company also announced…
Apple has today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 to the public.
The release notes state that this update provides bug fixes for your Mac, including:
As this update has likely been released to address a small set of specific issues…
Apple has today released iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 to the public.
The release notes simply state that these updates include "important security updates and bug fixes."
As these updates have likely been released to address a small set of specific issues, our expectation is that they do not contain any accessibility changes for blind and low vision users; however, if you notice any changes, improvements or regressions in your own use of these releases, please post a…
Apple has today released macOS Sonoma 14.4, watchOS 10.4, and tvOS 17.4 to the public.
In macOS Sonoma 14.4, Apple has replaced the "Allow toggling of arrow-key Quick Nav using left and right arrow keys" checkbox in VoiceOver Utility > Commanders > Quick Nav with a new popup menu that determines what happens when the left and right arrow keys are pressed together, with options to toggle Arrow-key Quick Nav, single-key Quick Nav, or both. This may be useful for those who prefer…
Apple has today released iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to the public, which include some bug fixes and improvements for VoiceOver and Braille users. Based on our testing, here are the key changes and issues addressed in these updates:
Apple has today released iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1, macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, and watchOS 10.3.1 to the public.
The release notes for iOS 17.3.1, iPadOS 17.3.1, and macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 mention a fix for a bug that could cause text to unexpectedly duplicate or overlap while typing, while the release notes for watchOS 10.3.1 simply state that it includes "Improvements and bug fixes."
As these updates appear to have been released to address a small set of specific issues, our…
Apple has published some information on setting up and using the accessibility features available on their new mixed reality Apple Vision Pro headset. This includes a guide specifically for VoiceOver users and a guide to…
The ChatGPT app has found a place in my iPhone's dock. I use it for many things, both serious and fun. Part of me is convinced that it's going to turn into Marvin the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. There it is, brain the size of a planet, and I'm constantly asking it to answer very simple or repetitive queries. Yet, it always remains eager to assist with any question.
AI is a vast topic, and…
Apple has today released macOS Sonoma 14.3, watchOS 10.3, and tvOS 17.3 to the public.
In addition to unspecified bug fixes and security updates, macOS Sonoma 14.3 introduces the following enhancements:
Apple has today released iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 to the public.
The iOS 17.3 release notes simply state that “this update introduces additional security measures with Stolen Device Protection. This release also includes a new Unity wallpaper to honor Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.”
Stolen Device Protection adds an additional layer of security in the event someone has…
We are thrilled to unveil our 2023 Apple Vision Accessibility Report Card, which provides valuable insights into the experiences and opinions of visually impaired community members who rely on VoiceOver, Braille support, or the low vision features on Apple devices.
To gather the ratings and comments contained in the report card, we conducted a…
Apple has announced the upcoming release of the Apple Vision Pro, the company's newest wearable device offering a three-dimensional user interface and spatial computing capabilities. It will become available on February 2nd with pre-orders beginning January 19th and have a starting price of $3,499 USD. For the initial launch, availability will be limited to the United States via Apple…
We are thrilled to announce our second annual Apple Vision Accessibility Report Card and invite you to participate in the survey that will determine this year's ratings. Our inaugural report card last year received an exceptionally enthusiastic response from the community, with many AppleVis members participating and providing thoughtful feedback. We hope to match or even surpass that outstanding level of engagement this year as we continue our efforts to deliver valuable insights to Apple…
Apple has today released iOS 17.2.1 and macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 to the public.
The release notes for these updates are simply listed as “This update provides important bug fixes and is recommended for all users.”
As these updates appear to have been released to address a small set of specific issues, our expectation is that they do not contain any accessibility changes for blind and low vision users; however, if you notice any changes, improvements or regressions in your own use…
Apple has today released iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 to the public.
Our testing suggests that these updates resolve the following issues:
Apple has today released macOS Sonoma 14.2, watchOS 10.2, and tvOS 17.2 to the public.
Based on positive experiences in the beta cycle, Apple seems to have made a big step towards resolving the underlying WebKit issues triggering the frustrating “Safari not responding” bug that has long plagued many VoiceOver users on macOS, causing temporary system freezes. However, due to the inconsistent reproducibility of the problem and the mixed experiences of users, we cannot yet definitively…
I am thrilled to share some potentially great news - with the upcoming release of macOS Sonoma 14.2, Apple may finally have fixed the longstanding “Safari not responding” bug that causes repeated temporary freezes for many when using VoiceOver on a Mac.
As I outlined in my post in October about why I could no longer recommend Macs to fellow blind computer…