I’m so sick of the problems with iOS 16.x so I won’t even waste my emotional energy saying how disappointed rejected and disabled its bugs are making me feel but I would like to ask a question. Does iOS 17 at least address the focus bug? Does focus stay where you put it in iOS 17? If anyone could let me know that and ideally if other 16.x bugs have gone away I’d really appreciate it. Does it look like it might be a good release? I’m hoping so because it doesn’t have massive new features but I’ve lost so much faith in Apples commitment to accessibility recently that I’m not even giving the benefit of the doubt anymore. Only stable VO performance will stop my currently inevitable move away at my next contract renewal.
By Andy Lane, 25 July, 2023
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Apple Beta Releases
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Comments
No improvement here
I've been testing iOS 17 since the first developer release and have noticed zero improvement in regard to VoiceOver focus spontaneously jumping. It's as horrible and frustrating as ever!
Well
iPhone SE 2022 here, no more focus issues on my end, iOS 17, latest
no focus issues
No focus issues
Ok so thats 1 no and 2 yes’s.
Maybe it would help to know of those who say the bug isn’t there, were you having problems with focus before the iOS17 beta update?
Thanks Dominic.
Thanks for your email too.
Yes, Andy.
I was and am having problems with VoiceOver focus.
Hahahaha was hoping the ones who said no problem.
I was hoping the ones who said no problem would say they were having problems before the iOS17 update. The fact that you are now and were before, like cobbler. Doesn’t sound too promising. Thanks though.
I also had the focus issue
I also had to focus on iOS 16, and as I said in my email to you and, it’s still kind of happening in iOS 17 on this website
My Feedback is Unimportant to Improving
According to the email I received from Apple after I reported the focus issue, my Feedback Was Not Important to Improving Accessibility in the Apple Ecosystem. I was told Apple had already received enough screen videos, phone logs etc. and they didn't want more. Mine was not wanted.
I have an iPhone 10s, and the focus issue is making me think pretty seriously about looking for a phone I can use without wanting to smash it with a sledge hammer. My phone's function is very seriously impaired by this focus bug, a bug that all too often triggers every few seconds. Yes, I said every few seconds.
I have been considering purchasing an iPhone 15 Pro in September, but from what I just read about beta 4 of IOS 17, I'm really not sure I want to spend that much money for something that's going to end up being just as useless as the iPhone I have now. I know Android is both good and bad. Is there some other better alternative out there somewhere?
If I do buy an iPhone 15 Pro, I swear, I'm going to first ask the Apple Store salesperson a lot of questions before I make the purchase, starting with, "does it work well for blind people?" If the salesperson says "yes" and it turns out that it doesn't work well, I'll take it back for a refund, and if I don't get that refund, I'll take Apple to Small Claims Court for breach of expressed warranty, among other things. Do I expect to win? Yes, I do. I served one Friday a month as a Judge Pro Tem for 15 years on the Jackson County Circuit Court Small Claims Division, Oregon.
Bruce
Do you expect that salesperson to be technically informed enough
And (s)he might just say yes, claiming it relatively works well and better than devices running other operating systems in many aspects. Standing against Apple may just not work or result in the way we want...
Bruce Harrell
Well when you go to the Apple store to get the 15, test it. Drive it and see if is what you want. Do not have issues with focus in my 13 pro. Did not have issues with my 12 pro. Lucky me. If you still have the email from apple, and use social media, paste it and share it with all. Maybe apple be ashame of that. Not. Beta is a beta, like people say here.
Expressed Warranties
are created whenever the seller says a product can do something. Look it up. This isn't legal advice; I gave up my law license when I retired. Information on what an expressed warranty is and how it is created is readily available. Similarly, warranties of Fitness for A Particular Purpose is a subset of expressed warranties. It always makes sense to ask a lot of questions before purchasing.
The smart seller trains its employees with these realities in mind.
As for test driving, of course! Smile. Unfortunately for me, the nearest Apple Store is around 5 and a half hours away by car from where I live in rural Southern Oregon, so I'll be purchasing by phone and test driving by mail.
I learned a long time ago, back in law school in fact, that the organized blind can be an effective force in politics or business. However, I have no desire to give Apple a black eye, nor do I need to. Apple is presently doing a fine job of that all by itself. I sincerely hope with all my heart Apple p[painfully sees the difference between its claims for the blind and its realities. And, my hat's off in salute to any blind person who has a phone that works. Smile. Don't forget to give thanks.
Focus issue isn’t fixed, and I feel like there’s going to be
I hate to break it to you all on iOS 16, but iOS 17 be four, is, to say the least, probably the most accessible iOS update I have since iOS 13
Websites are basically in accessible, the mute switch is playing up, like really horrible playing up, Personal voice is absolutely trash, the mute bug also is beside people, they’ve messed up the design for the Messages app, overall, iOS 17 beta four is probably the worst iOS 17 beta I have tested, so hold your horses if any of these bugs are in the gold master or RC release
But this is absolutely horrifying