Blog

Welcome to the July 2022 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly summary of what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of 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

Accessible Sudoku (iOS/…

Apple has today released macOS Monterey 12.5, watchOS 8.7, tvOS 15.6, and HomePod Software 15.6 to the public, each of which appear to focus on bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements.

The macOS Monterey 12.5 release notes say that it includes enhancements, bug fixes and security updates, with the following mentioned:

• TV app adds the option to restart a live sports game already in-progress and pause, rewind, or fast-forward
• Fixes an issue in Safari…

Apple has today released iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 to the public, both of which appear to focus on bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements.

Amongst the fixes is the following for Braille users:

• When editing an email in the Mail app using a braille display, after inserting a line break focus will no longer jump to the top of the…

We periodically review the guidelines that we ask members of our community to respect in their use of the AppleVis website. This involves evaluating whether existing guidelines remain necessary and appropriate; are in the best interests of our community; and that they also reflect the current wishes of the majority of our community.

With public betas for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, tvOS 16, HomePod software version 16, and watchOS 9 coming soon, we decided that it was timely…

Welcome to the June 2022 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly summary of what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of 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

Beyond the Chiron Gate (iOS…

Discord is a discussion forum tool that connects a network of participants. Discussions are grouped by servers that you create, so the topics and membership are up to you. My writing group recently decided to start using Discord as a replacement for discussing by email, which had become impractical.

Discord was designed by gamers. On the bright side, gamers like to keep their hands on the keyboard. Consequently, all Discord’s features are designed for keyboard access. On the down…

The 2022 WWDC Keynote

Today, Apple kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). As it always does, it started the conference with a presentation of what's in the works for all its major platforms, sharing highlights of the iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates set to be released in the fall. There was also a surprise MacBook Air refresh, which we'll get to in a bit.

iOS and iPad OS

Let's begin with the iPhone and iPad. The below features are…

Welcome to the May 2022 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly summary of what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of 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

Ancient Board Game…

Intro

Since 2005, I have used a variety of Macs, and have regularly used every version of macOS from Tiger to Monterey since then. Over that time, I’ve witnessed the various changes to VoiceOver, both major and minor, as well as how VoiceOver on macOS helped usher in a whole new world of mobile accessibility on iOS and iPadOS.

Today, with the Mac’s transition to Apple Silicon and the performance potential that it’s helped to unleash, it can be argued that the Mac is…

We are pleased to announce that our Community has chosen Blind Drive and Dolphin EasyReader to be this year's inductees into the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame.

First opened in 2011, the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame showcases and acknowledges the passion and hard work that app developers put into creating great iOS apps that are fully accessible to VoiceOver users. These apps place powerful tools and inclusive experiences into the palms of our hands, and give access to services,…

Apple has today released tvOS 15.5.1 and HomePod software 15.5.1.

While we do not currently know what's included in tvOS 15.5.1, Apple's release notes for HomePod software 15.5.1, via MacRumors mentions a fix for an issue that caused music to stop playing after a short time.

As these updates appear to have been released to address a small number of specific issues, our expectation is that they…

We are pleased to announce that voting for the 2022 inductees into the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame is now open.

Now in its eleventh year, our 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 some cases, they can just be good fun.

To be eligible for…

Ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on Thursday 19 May, Apple has previewed new accessibility features that will be coming to its platforms later this year.

Of particular note for blind and low vision users is Door Detection on supported iPhones and iPads, which will enable you to navigate the last few feet to your destination…

Apple has today released iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, and HomePod Software 15.5.

Apple says that iOS 15.5 includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

• Wallet now enables Apple Cash customers to send and request money from their Apple Cash card
• Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your iPhone and automatically delete older ones
• Fixes an issue where home automations, triggered by…

Welcome to the April 2022 edition of AppleVis Unlimited, our monthly summary of what's new and noteworthy on the AppleVis website. Below, you'll find a selection of 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

Ballyland Stay Still,…

Welcome to the March 2022 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 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

DDHeroes -…

This review was completed after 10 days of use. Most of my comparison will be with the iPhone SE 2, since that was the phone I had been using previously. For the sake of clarity, when referring to the previous generation of iPhone SE released in 2020, it will be referred to as the iPhone SE 2. Apple refers to the current model of iPhone SE simply by that name. This was also true of the first and second generation.

The iPhone SE 3 is a…

Apple has today released iOS 15.4.1, iPadOS 15.4.1, macOS Monterey 12.3.1, watchOS 8.5.1, tvOS 15.4.1, and HomePod Software 15.4.1.

Apple says that iOS 15.4.1 includes the following bug fixes:

• Battery may drain more quickly than expected after updating to iOS 15.4
• Braille devices may become unresponsive while navigating text or displaying an alert
• Made for iPhone hearing devices may lose connection within some third-party apps…

Apple has today released macOS Monterey 12.3, watchOS 8.5, tvOS 15.4, and HomePod software 15.4 to the public.

Our testing suggests that the following issues have been addressed in macOS Monterey 12.3:

• It is now possible to select text in the Photos app using VoiceOver by focusing on a block of text and choosing "Select" from the Actions menu.
• …

Apple has today released iOS 15.4 and iPadOS 15.4, bringing a slew of new features and enhancements.

Our experience is that the following bugs specific to VoiceOver and braille users have been resolved or significantly addressed in these releases:

• When speaking a notification on the Lock Screen or Notification Center, VoiceOver will no…