MacOS 14.2 + Apple Notes App

By Murphey Law, 9 January, 2024

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

After purchasing a new MacBook Air M2, I find myself struggling with the latest version of MACOS (Version 14.2.1). When using the built-in notes app, especially in a list. Voiceover does not navigate lines or list items properly, often times reading previous lines, and partial of the next line.

I must admit that I am very new to using voiceover as I only lost my sight a few months ago. And as a Network / Software engineer I am struggling with this , such a basic task.

I have played with most of the voiceover settings, reseting in between attempts to debug this issue. But alas I have made no meaningful success.

Has anyone else experienced this issue, and were you able to resolve?

If not I have already sent a bug report to Apple accessibility team.

SMH Ventura at least was predictable...

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Comments

By Kevin Shaw on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 09:01

Thanks for raising this as it's on my backlog of gripes to bring here. Not sure how an app like Notes gets messed up, but you're correct, VoiceOver fails ot read lines correctly in lists on Notes. This goes for ordered, unordered and check lists.

I'll submit a bug report to Apple Accessibility as well. Hopefully this gets traction.

By Murphey Law on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 09:01

Well, I guess it’s good that it’s not just me then, for what that’s worth

By Brian on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 09:01

What steps do you perform to read by lines, sentences and lists?

By Murphey Law on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 09:01

Well after entering the note, I would just down arrow through the note. On Ventura this worked flawlessly. If you zoom in you can see that voiceover is actively highlighting the wrong sections as it is reading. I can use VO+s to force it to the correct spot, however once that sentence is over all bets are off.

By Brian on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 09:01

The TrackPad Commander may be a work-around for you, in regards to macOS Sonoma. I cannot say if this will work or not as I am still on Ventura myself.

Nevertheless, do the following:

1. Hold VO keys (CapsLock or Control + Option).
2. While holding the VO keys, perform a 2 finger rotation clockwise on your TrackPad or MagicPad.
3. Release the VO keys.
4. Perform another 2 finger rotation gesture clockwise or counter clockwise on the trackpad.
5. Stop when you hear "Sentence".
6. Swipe up or down with 1 finger to navigate by Sentence.

HTH. 👍🏼

By Stuart Duncan on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 09:01

I've used Notes with Voiceover for years, usually on very long notes. I can no longer read these notes because Voiceover will only read the first paragraph. I can't get Voiceover to stay within the text. It revers to the app interface after reading the first paragraph.

By Murphey Law on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - 09:01

IT APPEARS THAT IN 14.3 THE TEXT APP IS NOW AFFECTED BY THIS BUG AS WELL. PAGES STILL CAN DO LISTS, HOWEVER THAT MEANS COPYING THE NOTE INTO PAGES AND THEN BACK AGAIN WHEN DONE. FRUSTRATING. COME ON APPLE..... UPDATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING PROGRESS, NOT REGRESSION