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Fall is almost here, and in the year of unpredictability, we have something which remains consistent. iOS 14.0 is out the same week it has been in previous years. It will have a significant number of enhancements for users of the iPhone 6s and newer, as well as the iPod 7th generation. Mainstream changes include the ability to put widgets on the Home screen, an App Library, enhancements to Messages, new privacy settings, and many more. A lot of outlets will be covering these features in…

iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 have been released to the public. This post contains details of the VoiceOver, low vision, and braille bugs which we believe have been introduced in these releases; as well as details of the pre-existing bugs which we believe to be resolved.

As is our routine practice, each new bug has been given a severity rating; these ratings are based upon what we believe to be the implications for accessing and using features and functionality and the level of impact on the…

The "Time Flies" Event

On September 15, Apple held its second all-digital major press event of the year, calling it "Time Flies". Ordinarily, the September event is where we get to see the latest iPhone, among other products. Even Apple isn't immune to the craziness of life in the year 2020, however; it seems we'll have to wait a bit longer for the new iPhone. Instead, today was about Apple Watch and iPad. It wasn't all hardware, though. We also got a new fitness…

Update #2: It's been confirmed that audio description will be available for the event when it airs (rather than a described version being made available later, which is what Apple typically does with live stream events).

The event starts at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. UTC.

How to watch

• Watch the official live stream on Apple’s YouTube channel.
• Watch on…

You tried Google Docs. You approached it like a web page, expecting to find controls with VO+Left and VO+Right, but nothing made sense. Or you approached it like a word processor but couldn’t figure out even simple things like how to open menus. Me too. It was a frustrating experience.

Take a moment with me. Let’s cry and scream together and smash our fists on the keyboard. And after that’s over, let’s teach this beast that we will not surrender. Together, we will learn Google Docs!…

Apple has today released iOS 13.7, bringing a new COVID-19 “Exposure Notifications Express” system, which removes the need to install a separate third-party app.

In a quote provided to The Verge, Apple described this new notification system as:

... the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications,…

Welcome to the August 2020 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly series which highlights what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of the best content posted to AppleVis by members of the community - from new app entries, to app updates, to the latest news and podcasts. For easier navigation, the major sections of this post are at heading level 3, and each individual item is at heading level 4.

New and Noteworthy App Entries

Apple has today released iOS 13.6.1, iPadOS 13.6.1, and a supplemental update to macOS Catalina 10.15.6.

According to Apple's release notes for iOS 13.6.1, via MacRumors this update:

• Addresses an issue where unneeded system data files might not be automatically deleted when available storage is low
• Fixes a thermal management issue that caused some displays to…

I cut my own hair last week. I purchased the Elite Pro electric hair clippers through Amazon, and unpacked the much anticipated and quickly sanitized cardboard box. My overly long, unruly, very silver hair felt yucky and gross. It was time to shed the extra weight. I plugged in the clippers, stripped off my shirt and sat on a low plastic footstool over the tiled kitchen floor. Now, I was poised and personally empowered to do great damage. This was going to be fun! I drove those clippers…

Update 18 August: Apple has today released beta 5 to developers, with the release notes stating that “VoiceOver is now functional.”

Update 10 August: Apple has today released the Public Preview of watchOS 7, and it appears that it does indeed not work with VoiceOver as was the case with last week's developer release.

…

Welcome to the July 2020 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly series which highlights what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of the best content posted to AppleVis by members of the community - from new app entries, to app updates, to the latest news and podcasts. For easier navigation, the major sections of this post are at heading level 3, and each individual item is at heading level 4.

New and Noteworthy App Entries

We are seeking experienced iOS/iPadOS users to join our pilot bug identification and tracking team.

Over the last several years, one of the AppleVis Editorial Team's primary efforts (besides managing the day-to-day operations of the website) has been the identification; reporting; and tracking of bugs with vision accessibility features in Apple software . We do this work with the hopes that fellow blind and low vision users will be able to be better informed about accessibility…

In addition to releasing iOS 13.6 and iPadOS 13.6,, Apple has today released macOS 10.15.6, watchOS 6.2.8, and tvOS 13.4.8. Apple additionally today released new 13.4.8 software for HomePod.

With much of Apple's focus likely being on this fall's software releases, we…

Apple has today released iOS 13.6 and iPadOS 13.6, bringing changes to how software updates are installed, changes to the Health and News apps, and support for Car Key - a feature which allows an iPhone or an Apple Watch to be used to unlock an NFC-enabled vehicle.

We are currently unaware of any changes, fixes or regressions in these releases for blind or low vision users. If you encounter any during your own use of the software, please let us know by posting a comment below.

Introduction

As the number of active Apple devices increases, so too do the different choices that the consumer has. The latest offering from Apple is the new iPhone SE 2020. This iPhone is a mix of the old and new: it retains the build size of the iPhone 8, but has the new A13 Bionic chip offered in the iPhone 11 series. It offers Bluetooth 5.0, but retains the Home…

The Editorial Team and I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you! After a decade of serving our incredible AppleVis community, we are embarking on a significant journey of improvement and transformation for our website.

A decade ago, I created AppleVis with little more than a vision and a dream. Never did I imagine that it would evolve into the vibrant and valuable resource it has become, all thanks to the incredible support and engagement of our community.

Over the…

Welcome to the June 2020 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly series which highlights what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of the best content posted to AppleVis by members of the community - from new app entries, to app updates, to the latest news and podcasts. For easier navigation, the major sections of this post are at heading level 3, and each individual item is at heading level 4.

New and Noteworthy App Entries

BBC…

WWDC 2020: New Software and Fresh Chips

As usual in June, Apple has recently concluded the opening presentation of WWDC. This year brought us version 14 of iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, as well as watchOS 7 and macOS 11. Yes, macOS 11, not 10.16. The final announcement wasn't just about software, though, but hardware: Apple is moving its entire Mac lineup to custom chips it will be designing itself, and it's starting the process this year. Maybe that's why macOS got a whole new number?…

We are pleased to announce that members of the AppleVis Community have chosen Aira and Envision AI to be the next two inductees into the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame.

First opened in 2011, the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame is one of the ways in which the AppleVis community seeks to recognize…

We are pleased to announce that voting for the 2020 inductees into the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame is now open.

Now in its ninth year, the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame is one of the ways in which the AppleVis community seeks to recognize developers of accessible iOS applications. Apps in the Hall of Fame can be liberating; empowering; life-changing; provide access to information that sighted users take for granted; or, in…