Welcome to the July 2015 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly series which aims to highlight what's new and noteworthy in the accessible app landscape. Below, you'll find a recap of the best content posted to AppleVis - from new app entries, to app updates, to podcasts and blogs. 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
Blindfold Pong (Free with In-App Purchases)
Blindfold Pong is a fully accessible audio game that's similar to the classic arcade game pong.
In Blindfold Pong, you hear one or two balls, and you must move the phone left and right to hit the ball with your paddle. Using head phones or ear buds, you hear the ball heading towards you, and the ball will bounce off of your paddle when it's sound is in the center of your head.
The ball gets faster each time you hit it with your paddle, and you can change the bounce angle by hitting it at the left or right side of your paddle.
As you move from level to level, your paddle gets smaller and the balls get faster. You can change the ball sounds and many other settings in the game.
Current Version: 1.1.2 (July 1, 2015)
Read Blindfold Pong's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit Blindfold Pong's page on the App Store
Chime (Free)
While waxing nostalgic about my old digital watch, I remembered how much I loved having the passage of time marked by an hourly chime. But then I thought, why should all the chimes be the same? For your pleasure, a simple app that provides unique chimes on the hour, half hour, or quarter hour.
You can choose:
- How often to chime
- Start and stop times
As well as select from a number of distinct tones:
- Speech - a human voice announcing the time.
- Simple beep - for the minimalist.
- Musical chords - for those with perfect pitch.
- Roman numotones - equivalent to roman numerals in audio form. High pitched tones for I, deeper for V, deeper still for X
Current Version: 2.0.0 (July 8, 2015)
Read Chime’s AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit Chime’s page on the App Store
Tappy Menu (Free)
Our simple design and layout provides you with the easiest way to find exactly what you're looking for in every restaurant. Tappy Menu eliminates the need for multiple apps of your favorite eateries and also saves the frustration of a mobile friendly restaurant website.
This easy to use app gives blind and visually impaired people the freedom to read restaurant menus in a whole new way. Not only will visually impaired people be able to read the menu without sighted help, but they will never have to rely on bulky, out-dated, braille menus! Simply tap on the establishment of your choice, and scroll through the detailed menus, nutrition facts, ingredients, etc. Promote this amazing app to all your favorite eateries.
Tappy Menu is designed to not only provide visually impaired people with the full restaurant experience, but its also designed to help restaurant companies cater to visually impaired peoples needs. Tappy Menu also allows restaurant companies to cut costs on braille menus, and have menus updated with latest items, descriptions, prices, and ingredients.
Supported Menus:
- Panda Express
- Tony Roma's Steakhouse
- Taco Cabana Mexican Patio Cafe
- Carvel: America's Freshest Ice Cream
- Orange Leaf Yogurt
- Spicy Pickle
- Happy's Pizza
- Pizza Rustica
Current Version: 1.6 (July 18, 2015)
Read Tappy Menu's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit Tappy Menu's page on the App Store
ViaOpta Nav (Free)
The aim of this app is to allow a blind/low vision person to move independently thanks to the ability to walk to a destination starting from their position and have information useful to facilitate their orientation while moving. This information is provided and adapted taking into consideration the peculiar needs of a blind/low vision pedestrian and the app user interface is simple and easy to use.
The user can enter a destination and get the turn by turn directions from their current position to that destination. Waypoints can be added to improve the effectiveness of the calculated route.
While moving, the app will also give information on next junctions as well as distances and directions.
At any time the user can query the app for their position and get it in terms of street address. A list of junctions around the user, with the corresponding distances and bearings, can also be obtained.
Current Version: 2.0.0 (June 23, 2015)
Read ViaOpta Nav's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit ViaOpta Nav's page on the App Store
Your Story (US$1.99)
Ice crystals form on your fingertips in the short time it takes to tap the Weather app icon on your iPhone. You’re all alone. Your best friend, maybe miles ahead of you by now. You need to catch up. Now.
This is, quite literally, YOUR story — a text-based journey designed entirely around you and your best friend as you track them through an incredible, adapting landscape.
- An interactive story with hundreds of different ways to experience the game.
- 100% accessible / VoiceOver compatible. -* 2 hours of developer commentary unlocked when you complete the game.
Current Version: 2.0.0 (June 23, 2015)
Read Your Story's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit Your Story's page on the App Store
All recent app entries posted to AppleVis can be found at:
Notable App Updates
AccessWorld (Free)
This is the official app of the American Foundation for the Blind's online publication AccessWorld.
AccessWorld is an online magazine dedicated to technology and people with vision loss
This app has been optimized for iOS VoiceOver and Accessibility features.
With this free app you can:
- Browse and read articles from the latest issue of AccessWorld.
- Browse and read any article in AccessWorld's entire archive of back issues.
- Contact any member of the AccessWorld team.
Current Version: 2.0 (July 27, 2015)
Summary of Changes in Version 2.0
- Updated automatically on new issue launch
- Search full AccessWorld archive
- Enhanced table of contents
- Improved article sharing
- Full interface refresh
Read AccessWorld's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit AccessWorld d's page on the App Store
Zany Touch (U.S. $0.99)
An Excellent Bop-It Style Game!
Now features Apple Game Center integration.
Test your reflexes against faster and faster challenges. Listen for the instruction and do it as fast as you can -- touch, swipe up, swipe down, swipe left, swipe right, shake, pinch, and two finger touch. A pulsing sound track keeps the game moving. How many challenges can you make it past? 10? 20? 30? 40? Insane speed starts at the 50th challenge. Can you make it to 100?
Current Version: 1.4 (July 2015, 2015)
Summary of Changes in Version 1.4
The release notes for this latest version of Zany Touch include VoiceOver accessibility improvements, a plethora of new Game Center achievements, and a new "game pause" feature to temporarily pause gameplay.
Read Zany Touch's AppleVis iOS App Directory entry for more information
Visit Zany Touch's page on the App Store
Recent News and Views
Apple Highlights 25th Anniversary of the ADA with New App Store Collection
By AppleVis | July 23, 2015
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Apple has today launched a special App Store collection of accessibility apps beneficial to users with a variety of disabilities.
Read more: "Apple Highlights 25th Anniversary of the ADA with New App Store Collection"
Apple Releases Updated iPod Touch, Shuffle, and Nano Models
By Mehgcap | July 15, 2015
Today, for the first time since 2012, Apple released updated versions of the iPod line of products. This includes updates to the Touch, Shuffle, and Nano, all of which now come in more colors than before. The Shuffle and Nano have no internal changes, just the new color options, but the Touch has several exciting updates under its hood which you need to know about.
Read more: "Apple Releases Updated iPod Touch, Shuffle, and Nano Models"
My Apple Watch Diary: Apple Pay Arrives in the UK
By David Goodwin | July 14, 2015
Nine months after its launch in the United States, Apple Pay has today finally arrived in the UK. So, geek and early-adopter that I am, I found an excuse first thing this morning to visit my local convenience store to find out if they are among the reported 250,000 UK locations which will support Apple Pay from launch.
The good news is that they are. Even better news is that setting up and using Apple Pay on my Apple Watch really couldn’t have been any easier.
Read more: "My Apple Watch Diary: Apple Pay Arrives in the UK"
This Month in Podcasts
Organize Your Life and Get Things Done With OmniFocus 2 for iOS
In this podcast, Tom Dekker gives us a walk-through and demonstration of OmniFocus 2, a powerful iOS app that brings the in-depth task management features of a desktop app to your fingertips.
With flexible viewing options, location awareness, and on-the-fly task entry from just about anywhere, OmniFocus can help you manage everything in your busy life. Keep track of tasks by project, place, person, or date—with OmniFocus you’ll always have your important information at hand. Whether it’s a shopping list, agenda items to discuss at work, or chores to do at home, whatever you need to do is right there on your iPhone or iPad.
OmniFocus' interface was designed from scratch for iOS and organized around your data—your stuff—to make it easier and more natural for you to quickly get ideas into and out of the app. It's powerful enough to use on its own, and syncs through the cloud with your other devices running OmniFocus (also available for Mac but read its entry on AppleVis for details of possible accessibility issues). Syncs even happen when you’re not actively using OmniFocus, so that your information is ready when you are.
Listen to podcast: "Organize Your Life and Get Things Done With OmniFocus 2 for iOS"
An Introduction and Overview of BlindSquare (updated)
In this podcast, Sandra demonstrates the basic features of BlindSquare and takes us for a short bus ride in London to show off what the app does while in a moving vehicle. Simulation mode, the ability to export what you're doing to 3rd party apps, and several other topics are covered.
Listen to podcast: "An Introduction and Overview of BlindSquare (updated)"
How to Access and Use Apple Music Via iTunes on a Mac
In this podcast, Alex Hall gives us a demonstration of how to access and use Apple Music via iTunes on a Mac.
Listen to podcast: "How to Access and Use Apple Music Via iTunes on a Mac
An Audio Tour of the Apple MacBook, the Lightest and Most Compact Mac Notebook Ever
In this podcast, David Woodbridge gives us an audio tour of Apples recently released MacBook, the lightest and most compact Mac notebook ever.
David gives particular attention to the MacBook's 'butterfly' keyboard. This keyboard is 40% thinner than the traditional "scissor" keyboard, and more evenly distributes the pressure on a single key. This supposedly means a more precise typing experience and less errors.
Quick Tip: Cancelling Your Apple Music Subscription and Removing its Features from the iOS Music App
In this podcast, Scott Davert explains how to cancel your Apple Music subscription if you do not wish it to continue after your 3 month trial period. He also offers some tips on how to remove the Apple Music features from the iOS Music app.
An Introduction to Apple Music on iOS
In this podcast, Scott Davert introduces us to Apple Music, the new streaming service from Apple which offers on demand access to tens of millions of songs.
Scott walks us through the initial setup of Apple Music on an iOS device and shows how it works in the redesigned Music app.
Listen to podcast "An Introduction to Apple Music on iOS"
A complete list of all podcasts posted to the AppleVis website in the past month can be found at www.applevis.com/podcasts