Welcome to the February 2019 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly series which aims to highlight 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
Clew (iOS, Free)
Clew is an AR indoor navigation app designed for visually impaired users to help them retrace their steps in unfamiliar environments.
Current Version: 1.0.4 (February 17, 2019)
Read Clew's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
‎GoldGun (iOS, Free)
GoldGun is an audio game – no visual content – where you play the adventures of Soren, a police officer investigating cybercriminal activity in the deep web.
The game is presented in a cinematic like experience and it is delivered through seven episodes, in a format similar to TV series. Each episode is launched every two or three months. The first episode (launch date 31st January 2019) is completely free, so everybody can play and enjoy it. The sounds in the game are implemented using 3D-audio in order to provide an immersive experience and playing with headphones is highly recommended. The game mechanics include the use of the gyroscope (tilt the phone to move) and tactile interface (swipe and tap actions to interact with objects).
The story is presented like a single-player narrative, with extensive voice acting and no use of voice-over software. Each episode includes a series of minigames, which grow in length and complexity as the story deepens and progresses in the future episodes.
Current Version: 1.0 (February 1, 2019)
Read ‎GoldGun's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit ‎GoldGun's App Store page
Note: the developer of Gold Gun has decided to discontinue further development of the game due to some negative responses from players. More on this decision can be found at “Future of GoldGun: Production discontinued”
LetSeeApp (iOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
LetSee is an app for vision.
As of now, it has three functions, a money reader, a card recognizer, and light intensity. Point your camera at the target and wait until you hear the recognition result. The banknote recognizer feature works with US Dollars, Euros, Chinese Yuan, Hungarian Forints and South Korean Won and we are adding new currencies continuously. You might need some practice first. We advise you to place the camera of your smartphone onto the object you want to recognize and slowly start pulling it upwards. Once you reach a proper distance the recognition result will be announced. It can also be helpful to slightly and slowly tilt, pan, and turn your device.
Current Version: 3.4.0 (February 1, 2019)
Read LetSeeApp's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit LetSeeApp's App Store page
MiniWiki (watchOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
MiniWiki is the best way to browse Wikipedia™ on your Apple Watch with ease.
From searching across 40 million articles, to downloading article for offline reading, MiniWiki has you covered!
MiniWiki was designed from the ground up to compliment the Apple Watch's unique screen size, resulting in a smooth and intutive Wikipedia experience.
Read MiniWiki's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit MiniWiki's App Store page
Ready to Roll - RPG Dice (iOS, US$1.99)
Ready to Roll - RPG Dice is a blind and low vision accessible RPG dice manager. Also suitable for sighted players.
Features include:
- Designed specifically for blind and low vision players
- Easy to navigate and use
- Roll multiple dice and dice types - including d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, roll for advantage and percentile - quickly and efficiently
- Save custom rolls
- Add or subtract a modifier
- Full voice acting
- Adjustable VO speeds: Normal, Moderate, Fast and Off
- Adjustable VO types: Brief, Verbose and Individual (where each individual dice roll is read out)
- Save VO setting preferences
- Review the results of the last three rolls
- Original dice foley: roll 3d4 + 1d6 and that's exactly what you will hear
Read Ready to Roll - RPG Dice's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit Ready to Roll - RPG Dice's App Store page
All recent app entries posted to AppleVis can be found at:
Notable App Updates
1Password 7 - Password Manager (macOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
Welcome to 1Password 7.0, the greatest password manager ever created. 1Password remembers all your passwords for you, and keeps them safe and secure behind the one password that only you know. Sign up for a 1Password membership and try it free for 30 days.
Current Version: 7.25 (February 23, 2019)
Changes in Version 7.25
- Improved unlock speed when Touch ID is configured.
- Improved unlock time in some cases on slower computers. {apple-issues#2929}
- Improved the speed that 1Password will lock. {apple-issues#2857}
- Added support for QuickBooks. Your QuickBooks logins will show up in 1Password mini when QuickBooks is the frontmost app. {apple-issues#3148}
- Improved the display of type information for Documents. {apple-issues#2887}
- VoiceOver users can now interact with the button to show the vault list view.
- VoiceOver users can now interact with the more button when interacting with a vault in the vault list view.
- The headers in the vault list view and category list view are now VoiceOver accessible.
- The "Open URLs" setting is now available in the Browsers tab of the 1Password Preferences window. {apple-issues#2646}
- Better wording for the "Open URLs" preference. {apple-issues#2915}
- Updated our translations with the latest from our incredible translators on Crowdin.
- Opening a URL in Safari while configured for Open in Current tab will now open a new tab if the available Safari tab is open to an empty page. {apple-issues#2884}
- Updated the logo used for credit cards. {apple-issues#2948}
- The Delete Vault command in the vault contextual menu is now separated from less dangerous commands. {apple-issues#3070}
- Added a link to the CSV format instructions on the import window. {apple-issues#1964}
- 1Password now warns you when it detects another copy running on your system.
- 1Password will no longer falsely tell you that it is not enabled in Safari when fast user switching. {apple-issues#2901}
- Fixed the formatting of numeric passwords. {apple-issues#3078, apple-issues#3079}
- Fixed a possible issue with slowdowns when viewing item details. {apple-issues#3034}
- Fixed an issue where the Chrome and Firefox extension wouldn't work after a 1Password update until they were relaunched. {apple-issues#2908}
- Fixed an issue where the menu showing items with duplicate passwords could be incorrect. {apple-issues#2738}
- Fixed an issue where a vault could be created with an empty Master Password. {apple-issues#3019}
- Fixed an issue where documents that were being uploaded during the upgrade from version 6 to version 7 would not be uploaded once the upgrade was complete. {apple-issues#3006}
- Resolved an issue that could cause certain settings to not be saved after doing a Reset all 1Password Data.
- Holding down the return key on the lock screen no longer causes the window to shake its way completely off screen. {apple-issues#2446}
- Importing from 1Password 6 now defaults the file chooser to the correct location. {apple-issues#1715}
- Fixed a bug that could make it difficult to add 1Password accounts from certain domains to the app. {apple-issues#2971}
- Fixed a bug that could prevent the full 1Password account sign-in address from being displayed. {apple-issue#976}
- Fixed a layout issue in the sidebar. {apple-issues#2772}
- Item icons in the detail view now update immediately if changed on another device, instead of requiring re-selection. {apple-issues#2894}
- Fixed an issue where editing an item in a detached window also made changes to the item displayed in the main/mini windows. {apple-issues#2768}
- Fixed several right-to-left language rendering issues. {apple-issues#2585, apple-issues#2540}
- One-time password codes and numbers like phone, CV code, credit card numbers, should maintain left-to-right layout in right-to-left languages. {apple-issues#2636}
- Fixed an issue that prevented printing an invoice from the billing window. {apple-issues#1837}
- Fixed an issue that caused changing field types to sometimes fail while editing an item. {apple-issues#2769}
- Fixed an issue that caused the warning shown when deleting a vault to be hard to read in dark mode. {apple-issues#2639}
- Fixed an issue that caused the Saved Form Details key icon to be cut off. {apple-issues#2833}
- Fixed a crash exporting to CSV or TXT files. {apple-issues#2634}
- Fixed instances where the 1Password window would unnecessarily deminiaturize from the dock when activating 1Password. {apple-issues#2588}
- Removed the redundant "Remove Redundant" contextual menu that could appear. {apple-issues#1218}
- Fixed a behavior that would cause users to not to be prompted to save a login if there was a copy of that particular set of credentials in the trash. {apple-issues#2651}
- Fixed an issue that prevented renaming tags. {apple-issues#2708}
- Fixed an issue that prevented titles from being copied. {apple-issues#2744}
- Fixed an issue where the Firefox and Chrome extensions would not come back up after restart or an upgrade. {apple-issues#2832}
- Fixed an issue where an incorrect icon for dark mode or light mode was used in the Code Scanner window.
Read 1Password 7 - Password Manager's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit 1Password 7 - Password Manager's website
Chirp for Twitter (watchOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
Chirp for Twitter is the best way to use Twitter on your Apple Watch.
You can browse your, timeline, lists, like and retweet things, and even post your own tweets.
Sent and view direct messages, catch up on the latest trends in "Trending", or search for your favourite hashtag.
Chirp lets you see quotes, pictures, hashtags, mentions, and so much more.
Current Version: 1.2 (February 28, 2019)
Changes in Version 1.2
This update adds support for the award-winning FlickType keyboard!
Read Chirp for Twitter's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit Chirp for Twitter's App Store page
Dice World: Fun with Friends (iOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
Dice World™ is always completely accessible to the visually impaired, allowing EVERYONE to play on a level playing field! #everyoneplays!
Dice World is going viral around the globe! Join the fun and meet new people while playing great dice games!
The only dice game with 6 different games. Play your favorites, or learn a new game!
Includes Farkle, Yatzy, Pig, Threes, Balut and 1-4-24! Easy tutorials for all games!
Current Version: 15.04 (February 28, 2019)
Changes in Versions 15.02-15.04
Major performance and battery saving fixes!
Lots of awesome accessibility upgrades!
- Yatzy Accessibility fix.
- Stability fixes.
- Free gold fixes.
Read Dice World: Fun with Friends' AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit Dice World: Fun with Friends' App Store page
Dolphin EasyReader (iOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
EasyReader is a FREE accessible reading app for readers with dyslexia, low vision or blindness. Browse & download from the World's largest collection of talking book and newspaper libraries. Open your own DAISY, Epub or text books. Or copy text from anywhere on your phone & hear EasyReader read it back to you. Experience perfectly synchronized text & audio. Or for text only titles, EasyReader can add a human sounding voice of your choice. Boost comfort or contrast - choose colours, text size and highlights to suit your visual needs.
Make your books' text as big as your eyes require. Unlike other mainstream reading apps, there's no restriction with EasyReader. Zoom in with a standard 2 finger pinch or make fine adjustments with the simple sliders. There's never any blurry text or fuzzy fonts - your books' words are always crystal clear and always easy on the eye.
Navigate your books or newspapers by skipping directly to specific pages or headings. Search your book for words or phrases. Add text bookmarks or record your own audio bookmarks and return to them with ease.
EasyReader is fully optimized for use with iOS VoiceOver and iOS supported Braille displays.
EasyReader connects directly to World's largest collection of accessible book libraries with 100,000s of titles:
- Bookshare® (US)
- CAMI (US)
- RNIB Overdrive (UK)
- RNIB Bookshare (previously known as Load2Learn) (UK)
- CELA (Canada)
- Libro Parlato (Italy)
- DZB Leipzig (Germany)
- Legimus (Sweden)
- Inläsningstjänst AB (Sweden)
- NCBI OverDrive (Ireland)
- AVH Éole (France)
- NLB (Norway)
- Nota (Denmark)
- Vision Australia (Australia)
- Passend Lezen (The Netherlands)
- CBB (Netherlands)
- Anderslezen (Belgium)
- NBH Hamburg (Germany)
- SBS (Switzerland)
- KDD (Czech Republic)
- DZDN (Poland)
- LKF (Russia)
- ePubBooks (All languages, no login required)
- Project Gutenberg (All languages, no login required)
Or access newspaper services from:
- MTM Taltidningar (Sweden)
- NKL (Finland)
- Bookshare® Periodicals (US)
- NFB-NEWSLINE® (US)
- RNIB Newsagent (UK)
- Passend Lezen (The Netherlands)
- ATZ newspapers (German)
Current Version: 2.4 (February 25, 2019)
Changes in Version 2.4
- Exclusive for RNIB Bookshare – new reading support for PDF titles downloaded from RNIB Bookshare. Read in the PDF view (with original textbook layout & diagrams) or switch to the simpler text only view.
- Reading position is now stored to the Dolphin Account. If you have the same title on 2 devices & switch between them, EasyReader starts reading your book, exactly where you left off.
- Download & read from AVH Éole (France).
- Improvements for iPhone X users to make full use of their display.
Read Dolphin EasyReader's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit Dolphin EasyReader's App Store page
HomePass for HomeKit (iOS, US$2.99)
HomePass allows you to get rid of that old notebook and store your HomeKit device's codes right on your iPhone or iPad.
Featured on 9to5Mac, MacStories, iDownloadBlog, iCulture.nl, appgefahren.de and more.
- HomeKit codes anywhere, synced to iCloud
- Import Existing Accessories
- Custom Accessories
- Dark Mode
- Apple Watch
- Export and Backup
Note: HomePass cannot import a device's setup code as this is not stored by HomeKit, you will need to manually enter it or scan its code tag.
Current Version: 1.4.1 (February 23, 2019)
Changes in Version 1.4.1
Fixes VoiceOver support on the iOS app.
Visit HomePass for HomeKit's App Store page
Kickstarter (iOS, Free)
Kickstarter is a place where independent creators and passionate backers come together to bring new ideas to life. Explore creative projects in art, design, film, games, music, and more, and pledge to your favorites right from the app. Creators can even keep up with their own projects on the go.
With the Kickstarter app, you can:
- Back projects to help make new ideas a reality.
- Stay in the know with updates from projects you’ve backed.
- Save your favorites and get reminders before projects end.
- Share projects with friends via email, messaging, and more.
Project creators can stay up to date from anywhere:
- Easily track your funding progress.
- Keep up with comments and pledges.
- Post updates and respond to backer messages.
Current Version: 3.12.0 (February 19, 2019)
Changes in Version 3.12.0
We’ve been working to make it easier to update your account settings from the iOS app. Next up is the ability to view, edit, and add new payment methods. We’ve also made a ton of improvements to Voice Over accessibility within Settings.
Other notable features & bug fixes include:
- creators can now opt in to the new pledge activity summary email from their notification settings.
Read Kickstarter's AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit Kickstarter's App Store page
Spotify - Music and Podcasts (watchOS, Free With In-App Purchases)
Spotify is the best way to listen to music and podcasts, free on mobile or tablet.
Search for any track, artist or album and listen for free. Create and share playlists, or find curated lists for every genre, mood and activity. Discover new music, videos and podcasts that you’ll love. Tune in to hundreds of personalised radio stations with favourite and up-and-coming artists.
Spotify also offers thousands of Podcasts, including originals that you can't find anywhere else.
Spotify for your Apple Watch gives you the ability to seamlessly access and control your favorite music and podcasts from your wrist.
Current Version: 8.4.93 (February 11, 2019)
Changes in Version 8.4.92-8.4.93
- Apple Watch: Improved VoiceOver support
- Apple Watch: Added Dynamic Type support
- Apple Watch: Improved reliability for volume control
- Fixed stability and performance issues
Read Spotify - Music and Podcasts' AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
Visit Spotify - Music and Podcasts' App Store page
Tesco Groceries for iPhone (iOS, Free)
Order food shopping & get your groceries delivered or collect from store.
The Tesco groceries app puts a supermarket straight into your pocket. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, tap the app now to shop, order and check out.
Here’s just a few of the reasons you’ll love the easy and accessible Tesco groceries app...
- Shop your favourite products in a few seconds
- Make changes to your order wherever you are
- Restock your kitchen cupboards with our handy barcode scanner
- No endless password entering – stay signed in for 30 days
- Add products fast from previous orders for easier repeat shopping
- Tap and add from our huge selection of special offers
- Arrange delivery 7 days a week or select Click+Collect
- Choose from 50,000+ great quality products picked and packed with care
- Collect Clubcard points for days out, travel and more
Current Version: 11.0.0 (February 11, 2019)
Changes in Version 11.0.0
Over the past few months our team have been working really hard to modernise the app whilst making sure we keep the features you love. In this new release, you’ll see that the app’s design looks quite different and behind the scenes we’ve also updated the technology.
Some updates in this new app:
- A refresh to the entire look and feel of the app
- Support for larger screen sizes
- Navigation updates with “Search” and “Basket” moving to the bottom tab bar
- Accessibility improvements to create a better experience for more of our users
Visit Tesco Groceries for iPhone's App Store page
Recent News and Views
Apple Releases iOS 12.1.4 and Updated Version of macOS Mojave 10.14.3 with Fix for Major FaceTime Bug
By AppleVis | February 7, 2019
Apple has today released iOS 12.1.4 and an updated version of macOS Mojave 10.14.3 to the public. These releases address a recently discovered bug with the group messaging feature of FaceTime that allowed a user to hear the audio of the person they are calling before the receiving party accepted the call.
The Verge reports that this bug may have been introduced in iOS 12.1 when the Group FaceTime feature was initially launched, and that it has potentially allowed anyone to call a phone or Mac and listen in before the other person picks up:
The flaw works by adding yourself to a FaceTime call before the recipient picks up, tricking FaceTime into thinking it’s an active call and forcing the person you’re actually calling to start transmitting audio.
Apple disabled Group FaceTime completely last week as a temporary solution for preventing people from exploiting this vulnerability. Today's releases now address this bug and will allow Apple to reactivate Group FaceTime for users who are not running an affected version of iOS or macOS.
This Month in Podcasts
This Month's Podcasts by Thomas Domville
- How to Check a Battery Status of All of your iPhone Bluetooth Accessories
- How to Contact Apple for Accessibility Inquiries
- How to Customize the Music App's Equalizer
- Get Your Pooch Attention with the Dog Whistler - The Original for iOS
- Immerse Yourself in the Deep Web to Investigate Cyber Crime in GoldGun for iOS *How to Change Your AppleID Email Address
- Getting Around Indoors with the Clew for iOS
AppleVis Unleashed February 2019: Thick as a Brick
In this month's edition of AppleVis Unleashed, Thomas Domville, Randy Rusnak, and Mike Malarsie discuss recent Apple news and other topics of interest. Topics featured in this podcast include:
- Apple Issues iPhone FaceTime Security Warning
- iOS 12.1.4 Now Available with Group FaceTime Bug Fix
- Apple plans star-studded March 25th event to unveil video and news subscription services
- Apple Plans to Have Streaming TV Service Ready to Launch by Mid-April
- Apple's 2019 hardware roadmap calls for at least 11 new products
- Apple plans to merge iOS and macOS apps by 2021
- iPhone Upgrade Cycle Now Estimated at Four Years, Up from Three Years in 2018
- Questionable Rumor Suggests iOS 13 Will Drop Compatibility for iPhone 5s Through iPhone 6s
- Notes of interest from Apple's Q4 2018 earnings report and conference call
- Clew
- Podcast: Getting Around Indoors with the Clew for iOS
- MiniWiki
- Future of GoldGun: Production discontinued
- GoldGun
- Dot to Dot: A daily 5min Echo demo from Alexa by Robin Christopherson on Apple Podcasts
- Samsung's foldable phone is the Galaxy Fold, available April 26th starting at $1,980
- Tip: How to Monitor the Battery Levels of All Your iPhone Bluetooth Accessories
- Podcast: How to Check a Battery Status of All of your iPhone Bluetooth Accessories
You can contact the Unleashed Team with feedback or questions at unleashed@applevis.com
Listen to “AppleVis Unleashed February 2019: Thick as a Brick”
AppleVis Extra 64: An Interview with John Sturt of Woodside Apps
In this episode, Dave Nason and Thomas Domville are joined by John Sturt, the man behind such hit games as Super Tile Smash, Wordfinder, Knight Commander and Minesweeper Deluxe, with yet more fun games to come it seems.
Listen to “AppleVis Extra 64: An Interview with John Sturt of Woodside Apps”
A complete list of all podcasts posted to the AppleVis website can be found at www.applevis.com/podcasts
Club AppleVis
Club AppleVis offers members and friends of our community a means of directly contributing towards the financial costs of operating AppleVis—thus ensuring that we can continue to deliver the information, help, and support that so many people have come to value and rely on over the past 9 years.
To learn more about Club AppleVis; the perks of membership; and how you can join, please visit www.applevis.com/club-applevis
The AppleVis Editorial Team
www.applevis.com