AppleVis Unlimited: What's New and Noteworthy for May 2024

Welcome to the May 2024 edition 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 updates, including new app entries, updates, news, and podcasts.

New and Noteworthy App Entries

Hunting the ducks (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Note: Currently only available in a limited number of countries.

“Hunting the ducks”, the accessible hunting game!

You are in the woods on the shore of a pond. Occasionally a duck will fly by, sometimes from left to right, sometimes from right to left, sometimes slow and sometimes fast.

Either you are a hunter and try to shoot the ducks, or you are a nature conservation officer and try to catch the ducks with a net for research.

Try to catch as many ducks as possible to earn points. But listen carefully, because you can only make 20 attempts.

Current Version: 1.3 (May 9, 2024)

Hunting the ducks’ AppleVis App Directory entry

Hunting the ducks’ App Store page

Hyper ship AI (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Hyper Ship AI is a classic space shooter, re-imagined for the hyper casual genre. With the story’s AI at the helm, you must rely on luck. Each level begins with modifiers, determined by a trip through an animated hyper tunnel stage.

You pick up the modifiers in the tunnel, which are spawned by random chance, each favoring either you or the enemy. Each battle can favor one or the other, giving each level of Hyper Ship AI an unpredictable outcome! Many powerful upgrades are available to you for purchase with the currency earned in-game, either by collecting credits during hyper tunnel flight, by completing battles, or through an in-app purchase. All levels are re-playable, where you can earn additional credits. The option to buy credits as an in-app purchase was put in the game to provide a way of upgrading quickly, if you so desire.

Designed from the ground up to be accessible to everyone, Hyper Ship AI’s accessibility features and overall game play have been carefully designed and tested to provide the best experience possible. What happens in game can be heard via positional audio by a custom battle feedback system, designed in-house at Rock Son Games, for the visually impaired and individuals with low vision. The game’s story is both displayed in text and voiced by AI generation. Gameplay is hyper casual, so level play is as simple as holding a touch anywhere on the screen to initiate hyper speed travel or a single tap to start up the battle system. Modifiers, AI, and a good bit of luck control the rest, The starting levels, designed to be an introduction to the modifier and optional accessibility system, are evenly paced and short, allowing everyone to learn the system at an even pace, before the battles get intense!

Current Version: 1.0 (May 1, 2024)

Hyper ship AI’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Hyper ship AI’s App Store page

Intelligent CV: Resume Builder (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Discover CVpop, a groundbreaking app that uses artificial intelligence to create professional resumes and help you land the perfect job.

CVpop – The AI-powered app for creating the perfect resume!

Do you need to create a compelling and professional resume but don’t know where to start? CVpop is the ideal solution for you! Our AI-based app provides you with the tools and resources needed to create a high-quality resume that will help you stand out in the job market.

Here are some of the main features of CVpop:

Automatic resume creation: Enter your job title and let artificial intelligence create the perfect resume for you!

Smart import and recognition: Upload your existing resume, and the app will analyze it to improve and update it with the latest trends.

Evaluation and suggestions: Receive personalized advice from the intelligent assistant to optimize your resume and increase your chances of success.

Interview simulator: Prepare for the big day with our chatbot that simulates real interviews and helps you improve your communication skills.

High-quality templates: Choose from a wide range of professional and creative templates to create a resume that suits your style and personality.

Advanced customization: Edit colors, fonts, and other elements to make your resume unique and eye-catching.

Export in PDF or DOCX: Save your resume in various formats and easily share it with potential employers.

Signature and video presentation: Add a personal touch to your resume with your signature and a brief video presentation.

Current Version: 1.3 (May 29, 2024)

Intelligent CV: Resume Builder’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Intelligent CV: Resume Builder’s App Store page

Monomo Journal (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Monomo, the easiest way to keep track of your life events.

An easy to use journal

The app has been designed to be intuitive and easy to use.

Tags allow you to keep track of the people you interacted with, the places you’ve been, the sports you’ve played or feelings you’ve experienced. You are free to create as many tags as you like. The app will also help you to automatically assign tags with the “auto tags” feature.

View your tags on a calendar. You will be able to see, for example, when you went for a run, when you met a certain person or when you were particularly happy.

You will also be able to view recurrings tags. This will allow you to find out, for example, who are the people you have interacted with the most in the last few weeks or which places you have frequented most often.

The app is also perfect for keeping track of old memories. You don’t remember the exact day a certain event happened? No problem! You don’t have to specify the exact date, you can indicate only the year and month.

Add images to your journal entries. The app will use the GPS coordinates of the photos to show you where you were when you took them.

Do you want to reread your journal? Reading mode will help you focus on the content.

The app works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. iCloud sync (optional) allows you to keep your journal synced between all your devices.

Current Version: 1.2.2 (January 5, 2024)

Monomo Journal’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Monomo Journal’s App Store page

Tp-link Deco (iOS/iPadOS, Free)

Welcome to the Deco App — the perfect way to set up your mesh WiFi in minutes and control your whole network.

Our simple-to-follow guide walks you through the setup process and even gives you suggestions for whole home coverage.

Once connected, you’ll have instant access to check every connected device, manage your kids’ online activity, and control your home network effortlessly. All from the palm of your hand.

Current Version: 3.7.55 (May 23, 2024)

Tp-link Deco’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Tp-link Deco’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

Anytime Podcast Player (iOS/iPadOS, Free)

Anytime Podcast Player is a free and open-source podcast player that’s designed to be simple and easy to use. Anytime is Podcasting 2.0 ready and will support more features as the app is developed.

Features:

View episode chapters and skip to the part of an episode you’re interested in*

Directly support the show via funding links*

Follow along or search transcripts*

Listen at faster or slower speeds.

Queue episodes with option to rearrange order.

Download episodes for offline listening.

Pause a streamed or downloaded episode and pickup where you left off later on.

Current Version: 1.3.8 (May 26, 2024)

Changes in Version 1.3.8

New episode sort option.

Improvements to accessibility.

Anytime Podcast Player’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Anytime Podcast Player’s App Store page

CerePlay (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Elevate your iPhone & iPad experience with CerePlay: lifelike voices, customization, and seamless integration redefine content engagement.

Step into a world of voice diversity with CereProc’s innovative app for iPhone & iPad.

Whether you’re enhancing productivity or simply indulging in the joy of listening, our app offers a seamless browsing experience of text-to-speech voices in a multitude of languages and accents.

Preview voices before purchase to ensure they match your expectations and needs perfectly. Embrace the future of voice technology with the introduction of CereProc Version 7 voices, presenting CereWave alternatives that deliver remarkably human-like outputs.

Transform your device into a powerhouse of linguistic versatility with CereProc.

Current Version: 3.2.3 (May 2, 2024)

Changes in Version 3.2.3

With the launch of CereProc’s Version 7 voices, our app has been revamped to integrate the new voice engine, delivering faster and higher-quality voices directly to your device.

We’ve completely redesigned the user interface with a modern block-style layout, ensuring an engaging and visually appealing experience. This not only enhances usability but also improves accessibility for screen-reader users, providing seamless interaction.

In addition, we’ve enhanced the in-app help section with more comprehensive information and selectable categories, making navigation and usage of CerePlay a breeze for all users.

CerePlay’s AppleVis App Directory entry

CerePlay’s App Store page

Mona for Mastodon (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Mona is a Mastodon app packed with customization features. Optimized for VoiceOver. Native design.

Current Version: 6.4 (May 30, 2024)

Changes in Version 6.3–6.4

Keyboard shortcuts for post composers: streamline your posting experience with new keyboard shortcuts, allowing for faster and more efficient post creation

Language settings on macOS: you can now change the app language from the in-app settings window on macOS, making it easier to use the app in your preferred language

Blurring effect for sensitive media: by default, sensitive media on timelines will now be displayed with a blurring effect

Introducing the Explore tab, a replacement of the Communities and Trending tabs

With the Explore tab, you can explore trending posts and news, people suggestions, and local/remote/federated timelines on supported Mastodon servers

Adds a new mute option on the profile menu, allowing you to quickly mute a profile’s server domain

Supports removing people from your follower list

Supports adding multiple following people or followers to your lists at once

Supports unfollowing multiple people at once (on your Following list)

Adds back the macOS text substitution option Text Replacement (turned off by default, applied across multiple text editing sessions)

When Mona is running, it can now automatically recover push notifications with errors

Optimizes post composers for VoiceOver

Fixes a crash when you mute or add user notes via the Share extension

Resolves an issue where the auto-threading feature may unexpectedly replace some hashtags you wrote with random characters

Additional improvements and bug fixes

Mona for Mastodon’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Mona for Mastodon’s App Store page

OKO - Accessible Navigation (iOS/iPadOS, Free)

Oko is a AI driven navigation app that helps you navigate and explore your environment with confidence. Simply search your destination to receive detailed, turn-by-turn directions. When approaching an intersection, oko will inform you about intersection information. If you need visual assistance just raise your phone, and oko will notify you when the walk sign is on. Start discovering places and remember to go with oko.

Current Version: 4.0.5 (May 29, 2024)

Changes in Version 4.0

Introducing Maps to Oko enabling you to navigate using AI and discover places in the most accessible way. Enjoy exploring with Oko.

OKO - Accessible Navigation’s AppleVis App Directory entry

OKO - Accessible Navigation’s App Store page

PiccyBot (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Use PiccyBot to convert photos into spoken descriptions, pose questions in the text field, and zoom in for specific details. PiccyBot answers any image-related query with a clear calm voice.

Key Features:

Photo to Voice: Instantly convert your photos into vivid spoken descriptions with a single tap.

Voice-Activated Queries: Use your microphone to ask anything about your picture.

Ask Anything, Anytime: Pose questions about your pictures in the new text field and receive insightful answers.

Zoom and Inquire: Delve into specific details by zooming into parts of the image and asking questions about particular aspects.

Current Version: 1.18 (May 27, 2024)

Changes in Version 1.18

PiccyBot now processes videos as well as images.

VIdeos can be taken live or selected from gallery

Videos can be upto 30s

The settings (voice, personality, language) will reflect in the video processing

Updated main PiccyBot interface

Fixed the function to turn personality on and off

Adjusted framework to use GPT4o capabilities

Added feedback and contact screen

Fixed dark/light mode

Resolved sharing of larger images to PiccyBot

PiccyBot’s AppleVis App Directory entry

PiccyBot’s App Store page

Tape It: Pro Audio Recorder (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

The professional songwriting app that helps musicians record, organize & share song ideas. We are frustrated musicians that always wanted a straightforward app that gets how we artists work— so we created Tape It. And thousands of professional musicians love it!

Never lose song memos, never spend time with songwriting headaches again; Focus on what really matters for your music, record many ideas, don’t think too much and unmess your songwriting!

20+ FREE FEATURES — NO ADS, NO BULLS**T

Current Version: 3.11.5 (May 20, 2024)

Changes in May

This update includes small accessibility improvements in the help section.

This update fixes two rare crashes.

This update adds more voice over improvements: sounds to indicate starting and stopping a recording, two new rotor actions for navigating long recorders and markers, and several small accessibility fixes.

Tape It: Pro Audio Recorder’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Tape It: Pro Audio Recorder’s App Store page

Voice Dream - Read Aloud (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Text-to-Speech

36 built-in iOS voices in 27 languages are also available for free.

200+ additional premium voices in 30 languages from Acapela, NeoSpeech and Ivona available.

Correct pronunciation with your own pronunciation dictionary.

All voices work offline and play in the background even with the screen locked.

Supported Document Formats

PDF, Plain text, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, RTF, and Google Docs.

Textbooks

Web articles.

Bookshare Books.

EPUB eBooks. (DRM-free books only. Kindle, iBooks and most commercial eBook platforms are not supported.)

DAISY text-based books and audiobook.

Audiobooks in MP3, MP4 or zipped MP3 format.

Rich text and image support for all documents.

Current Version: 4.35.0 (May 30, 2024)

Selected Changes in May

We’ve added support for chapters in your m4b audiobooks. If you add a new book, you’ll see the chapters, and be able to start from any of them.

Restore previous VoiceOver navigation

Fix bug with downloading Bookshare files on iOS 16

Fix issues with playing mp3 files

Support key commands for VoiceOver users

Fix some articles not loading when you import them

Fixed skipping chapters in some books

Fixed an issue where audio playback could change speeds

Fixed the text editor not loading some files

Fix bug skipping bug for zipped books

Fix speed adjustment bug for audio files

Improvements to rewinding when end of file is reached

Improvements to importing content from web

Several fixes for Bookshare

Add sections to zipped audio files

Fix bug where cursor would randomly jump in document

Fix occasional crash when playing a document

Voice Dream - Read Aloud’s AppleVis App Directory entry

Voice Dream - Read Aloud’s App Store page

Voice of the Ancients (iOS/iPadOS, Free With In-App Purchases)

Let me tell you a story! Meanwhile, you can sit at the fireplace, close your eyes, and listen to the tale about ancient hidden treasures and secret societies. This time, you won’t just listen. You will be the hero of the story. It will be your adventure. Your voice guides the way. Can you solve the mystery just with your voice?

VOTA is highly optimized for blind and visually impaired people (thanks to the extensive testing by the Applevis forum members). Still, the game is also for other kinds of users:

For intermediate and advanced English learners, this game offers an unparalleled opportunity to enhance your spoken English skills. And for all adventure enthusiasts, this game rekindles the power of imagination, often stifled by the graphical grandeur of modern video games.
Unleash your inner detective and unravel the mysteries that lie ahead, solely using your voice as your compass. With the first episode available for free, what are you waiting for? Embark on this extraordinary journey today and discover the magic of storytelling through voice.

Current Version: 1.1.1 (May 22, 2024)

Changes in Version 1.1.0

Functional improvements:

You can skip text by double-tapping on the screen during speech or with a magic tap if the voiceover is active.

Improved command interpreter using two new techniques:

Last chance recognition: use more flexible patterns to categorize commands just before giving up and returning an error message.

Ignored words: Ignore some common words.

Bugfixes:

Hopefully, the final bug fix for the rare crash when a phone call arrives during the game.

Voice of the Ancients’ AppleVis App Directory entry

Voice of the Ancients’ App Store page

VoiceVista (iOS/iPadOS, Free)

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: 1.4.9 (May 31, 2024)

Notable changes in May

Disclose how supercategories are derived from OpenStreetMap tags

Match sound effects to different supercategories

Fix automatic callouts issue for bus stops and intersections

Customize the trigger ranges for automatic callouts of POIs by supercategories

Customize the trigger distance for the next waypoint in route guidance mode

Customization of POI super categories for the ‘What’s around me’ and ‘What’s ahead’ commands

A new super category ‘Bus Stop’ split from the ‘Mobility’ super category

Customization of automatic callouts tailored for walking, driving, and monitoring scenarios

Standalone WatchOS App for providing callouts about the surrounding environment

Restructured export/import and backup/restore functionalities

Display relative directions when listing places, markers, and intersections

Sort places and markers by distance in surroundings and virtual location explorer

Show a “clear all” button when editing marker name and annotation

Fix issues with marker annotations

VoiceVista’s AppleVis App Directory entry

VoiceVista’s App Store page

Recent News and Views

Apple Previews Upcoming Accessibility Features and Enhancements, Including New VoiceOver Voices, Braille Upgrades, and Magnifier Reader Mode

By AppleVis | May 15, 2024

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 will benefit from a new way to start and stay in Braille Screen Input for faster control and text editing, Japanese language availability, support for multi-line braille with Dot Pad, and the option to choose different input and output tables.

Low vision accessibility sees the introduction of Reader Mode in Magnifier and the option to launch Detection Mode with the Action button; Hover Typing shows larger text when typing in a text field, and in a user’s preferred font and color; and features like Reduce Transparency, Smart Invert, and Dim Flashing Lights on visionOS.

Also coming to visionOS is Live Captions, which will transcribe audio in real-time during spoken conversations and in audio from apps, benefiting deaf/hard of hearing users. Apple Vision Pro will gain support for additional Made for iPhone hearing devices and cochlear hearing processors.

AppleVis Community Inducts Mona for Mastodon and VoiceVista Into Its iOS App Hall of Fame

By AppleVis | May 24, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the induction of Mona for Mastodon and VoiceVista into the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame.

First opened in 2011, the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame is a way for our community to honor developers who are committed to making their apps fully accessible to blind and low vision users. The inductees transform lives, empower individuals, provide invaluable information, and bring joy and entertainment to users. They represent the very best in accessible iOS applications, and the AppleVis community has selected Mona for Mastodon and VoiceVista as the next two apps to gain this prestigious recognition.

To be eligible for induction, apps must demonstrate excellence in design, functionality, and operation, and be fully accessible to blind and low vision users. They must have been available in the App Store for a significant period of time, under active development, and come from developers who have shown a long-term commitment to full accessibility. In short, the Hall of Fame showcases the best of the best in accessible iOS applications, as decided by the AppleVis community.

Other Apple News

This Month in Podcasts

Exploring the Latest Feature Additions to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

In this episode, Mark Sarch provides a follow-up to his previous introduction of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. He demonstrates several new features including music integration with Apple Music and Spotify, multilingual support for messaging services like WhatsApp, the new Meta AI visual assistance capabilities, and hands-free video calling with WhatsApp and Messenger.

Listen to “Exploring the Latest Feature Additions to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses”

Beyond the Woods: Red Riding Hood’s for iOS Innovative Journey in Literacy and Fun

In this episode, Kushal Solanki showcases the “Red Riding Hood” app from the Twisted Tales series, designed for iOS. This app reinvents the traditional storytelling method by providing a pick-a-path adventure, making reading a dynamic and captivating activity for kids.
Listen to “Beyond the Woods: Red Riding Hood’s for iOS Innovative Journey in Literacy and Fun”

From Onesies to Runway: Inside Baby Adopter Dress Up for iOS

In this delightful episode, Ida Grace revisits Baby Adopter Dress Up for iOS. This charming game combines babysitting, fashion costume dress-up, and nursery care for those who adore looking after little ones.

As a player, you have the opportunity to adopt and nurture a cute son or daughter. You can dress up, feed, care for, and acquire various costumes, shoes, and hats for your baby. Keep in mind that certain costumes become available as your baby grows.

Listen to “From Onesies to Runway: Inside Baby Adopter Dress Up for iOS”

Podcasts by Thomas Domville

Hot AppleVis Content

Here are some of the most talked-about posts from the past month:

Club AppleVis

By joining Club AppleVis, members and friends of our community can directly support the financial costs of operating AppleVis, ensuring that we can continue to provide valuable information, help, and support. Your contribution will support our mission and help ensure the success of AppleVis. Become a part of our special donor community today!

To learn more about Club AppleVis and how you can join, please visit www.applevis.com/club-applevis

Wishing you good health and happiness.

The AppleVis Editorial Team
www.applevis.com

Follow AppleVis on X
Follow AppleVis on Mastodon
Visit and like the AppleVis Facebook Page