Apple Unveils New iPad Pro and iPad Air, Alongside Apple Pencil Pro and New Magic Keyboard

The most interesting aspect about this, for me, was the hatpics in the pencil pro and that developers can take advantage of it. I wonder if there is any creative way of turning this wand into something useful for us. It has a gyroscope so, resumibly it can sense certain wand gestures. It's something i've suggested to apple in the past and they did seem interested in making this device more accessible.

If possible, I'd recommend waiting at least until WWDC if I were you before buying an iPad, as while Apple introduced the M4 chip and referenced its AI potential, they haven't yet unveiled features that would benefit specifically from the higher level of computational power it reportedly introduces. Also, when Apple unveils its new AI features next month, they will likely list the system requirements for each feature or capability, which could help inform your decision. I'd guess that as the M4 chip is new and only included in the iPad Pro, it will not be necessary for anything but the most advanced AI features in their current roadmap, meaning that the M2 chip in the new iPad Air could potentially suffice.

Is it bad that i am not even remotely excited about any of the items mentioned in this announcement? My frustration with the current state of Mac/iOS in regards to VoiceOver and overall usability has left me so jaded, that new hardware means nothing to me until they get their proprietary software under control.

not trying to step on toes, just expressing my feelings on the matter at hand. . . 🤷

I feel the same way as the person Abuv

I don’t understand what issues people are having with voiceover on at least iOS on iPhone. I mean, I think there may have been a hiccup here there, but it’s so faint. I can’t even remember what the issue was. I love how people complain about voiceover issues when first and foremost there’s really not many that I’m aware of on an iPhone. jaws, nvda, talkback, Microsoft narrator and other assistive pieces of software have their own specific sets of issues, but for some reason, people really decide to just harp on voiceover on iOS. My only gripe with the iPhone is that bloody dictation which at the end of the day really doesn’t have anything to do with voiceover but what it does do is make me purchase AppleCare so I can throw my phone out of a window in the heat of frustration when trying to dictate a lengthy note or text. In my opinion, voiceover is pretty superior. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never had a MacBook, only iPhone so I can only speak to voiceovers performance on iPhone.
In regards to the iPads, I really don’t see the point unless you need a screen. It’s pretty much a large expensive oversized iPod touch. There isn’t really anything special about them.

Well, I suppose the reason people here harp on Apple products when they have issues while attempting to utilize the technology of their choice that Apple has provided, is because this is AppleVis. A place to discuss Apple products and user experience. 🤷

As for VO issues particularly on iOS, there are quite a few, and some even have workarounds, while others we are depending on Apple to resolve. To name a few:
1. Focus. If you have used VO on iOS, then you know that the VO cursor has its own version of ADHD. As it is litterally all over the place.
2. Keyboard randomly not displaying when entering any given text field.
3. Dictation is a hot mess atm. It is usable, but only just.
4. Siri's new adaptive listening feature makes sending text messages or search inquiries difficult, for if you so much as blink too loudly, Siri will be interupted.
5. VO voices randomly and automagically uninstalling off of devices. Still not sure if anyone has figured out the catalyst for this.
6. I have mentioned this in another thread, but iOS can randomly 'forget' your position in any given multimedia file if you attempt multitasking with anything that utilizes voice input and/or speaker output.

The above is just an example of common issues most of us have experienced since the introduction of iOS 17 (at the very least).

Your mileage may vary. . . .

So let me reiterate, I would be much more excited about the OP information if Apple would also work on their proprietary software.

New hardware, new tech, new toys, are all nice, but are useless if we cannot take advantage of them due to software conflicts. ☹

I've not had many Voiceover issues to be honest, the most persisstent one being the blasted siri voices - that's still going on! However, I'm not sure i was at all arsed about this announcement either. Is that because I'm not really in the market for an iPad? partly, maybe it is, though now there's a new Bingo residence complete with extensive groundbs I do see a use case for an iPad - better than lugging the dear old laptop outside. Partly, however, it comes down to this: all very well having an M4 chip and all that lark, but what the bloody hell does that mean in real life? what features, Cook old lad, does it translate into/ Bingo deals in the currency of practicalities. If the M4 chip means the iPad will go up to the bar for me and get the drinks in, I might just consider it. If it means the AppStore will open a millisecond faster than it did under the ancien regime, if it means that the iPad will spend its time telling me it's not possible to tell me where the photo was taken, etc. I think I'll pass. I haven't forgotten the siri presentation when the 4S came out and that wonderful conversation the presentor had with Siri. All I can say is: I've never got my Siri to do anything like that and I don't imagine any of you has either. So let's wait and see what the M4 can do. will it be useful, or will it be less M4 and more M25? as in: 'you didn't wanna come in on the M25!'

Nothing stood out to me. I won't even consider buying another iPad until some of these focus issues are fixed, and VO stops stuttering. Which, I'll admit, has gotten somewhat better but is still an issue.

Yes. Nothing there. Waisted 30 minutes that I could had been doing something else.

I'm very excited for the things to come with iPadOS 18, so I ordered the 11" iPad Pro yesterday. I hope that Logic Pro for iPad is also accessible because I wanted to try out the iPad version.

His Late Majesty King george VI, of blessed memory, had a stutter. I wonder if, were his voice ported into Voiceover (taking advantage of the glorious M4 chip, perhaps) it would be a bug if Voiceover didn't stutter when using that voice? Interesting one that.

Mind you, perhaps using the M4 chip to port theresa May's voice into Voiceover would be better. at least, then, it would be strong and stable.

Right! No more of this folly elsewise I shall be told orf by the moderators.

To get back on topic, if I'd been there in the audience fo that announcement yesterday (I don't know whether they had an audience or not) I'd have heckled: say something useful, cook old lad!

That Apple Pencil with haptic feedback wants me to feel some kind of excitement. I don't think it would help me draw, and it can't yet be used as a magic, gesturing wand.
If Apple came up with some kind of haptic feed back of lines from explore-by-touch as I scan the screen after I draw something, a larger screen, and an electronic pencil might be useful to me. I can imagine drawing sketches, then running them through one of the AI apps to find out if it actually looks like what I intend...

I can't really understand why any VoiceOver users would want an iPad. Am I missing something?

Compared to a phone, it's got a bigger screen which seems to me more of a problem than a help.

And much as I get irritated with the Mac, the iPad feels like it just can't do anywhere near as much.

So for me it just sits awkwardly between the two things. But maybe someone can enlighten me on what I am missing?

I've only tried an iPad with VoiceOver briefly last year. It all just felt a bit unnecessary.

I must admit I do get a bit fed up with all these product announcements as it just makes me feel more and more obsolete. I only bought an M2 Macbook las year and now we're at M4. And it still doesn't really work properly. I wish Apple would slow down a bit and just make things that actually work.

Having said that I am generally pretty happy with my iPhone, but then I'm not trying to do anything very serious with it.

Sorry what a grumpy old git I am.

I have the 11-inch iPad Pro from, I think, 2020. I got it mainly as a media device. It's got 4 speakers, so listening to books, watching TV shows, even playing music sounds pleasant through those speakers. I had a need for that back in 2020. Now, not so much.

My sighted wife has waited for this iPad 11 Pro for literally years. We don't own a TV, she uses her iPad to watch movies and videos. She's wanted the OLED screen for ages, and finally, Apple has put one on the iPad Pro 11 inch. Her current iPad is the original 11 inch Pro from 2018. I'm sure she'll see an improvement.

Apparently, the new commercial for iPad has caused an uproar. It was described on the radio news as several objects, such as a piano and a bust of a person, being squished between metal plates, then the ultra-thin iPad emerges. People are contrasting it with the 1984 commercial for the Macintosh, liberating people from an Orwellian world.
I suppose this is just a Freudian slip...

I have the iPad mini which, for me, is the perfect on screen brail device and generally works well as a media consumption device too. Do I need it, absolutely not. Do I like it, yes.

It's not just us though that find iPads hard to place. They do little more than an iPhone and a lot less than a laptop. It's messy. Apple is trying to balance it in that place where we buy all three.

Agree with Ollie. Would also take it a step further by saying Microsoft has come the closest with their Surface Pro models, which are essentially a tablet, and a desktop/laptop computer.

Note, I am not referring to the Surface Laptops. . .

The 9 does what I need. Along with the slim folio I am able to enjoy it. Do not use it all the time but works well. As the great old movie stated, "Pencil, Do not need no stinking pencil".

I’ve been using iPads since 2010 and also currently have the iPad Air 4th gen from 2020.
Like some others here it’s primarily a media consumption device for me, used for watching YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV, Sky Go etc. Remember too
That many of us who use VoiceOver do have some usable vision too, so like a big screen that we can hold in front of our face for this kind of use.
I sometimes do a bit of web browsing and email management on it, but mostly use the iPhone or laptop for these. I might like to do more but Bluetooth keyboard support with VoiceOver is so restrictive that it’s just not a runner.
The screen is slightly smashed on it, so now I’ve to decide whether to repair this one, which still performs perfectly for my needs, or to get a new one.
Dave

I will not be considering upgrading my Mini 6 to any of those unless I see the giant spec pump reflected in accessibility.

@Ellie: Hmm, I could imagine some form of Harry Potter game with this device, I wish they'd make something like this for IPhones, maybe in the form of a controller, much like the joy-cons for the Nintendo Switch.
@Brian: I can't speak for MacOS as I don't use a Mac, but I'm not having any issues with VoiceOver on IOS, the only exceptions being issues in x.0 versions of IOS, but bugs can be expected there.
@MR Grieves: I agree, that's why I have never and will never use an IPad. BTW, with IPads that big, I don't understand why people don't buy either a Mac or some other notebook. It's only insignificantly larger and can do much more.

That macos accessibility is so bad compared to windows (we visually impaired have been genuinely scammed by apple guys wake up) I really thought buying an ipad just because that I could clame in theory to emancipate from windows but what I see on applevis with keyboard stopped me. Like it can't be as frustrating than snr or VO weirdness on mac can't it?

Dave makes a really good point. I'm not sure what the breakdown is on here of totals and partials. the larger screen, more vivid display is certainly a huge selling point for those with some functional vision though I imagine there are a lot of specifics for such access needs, some need bright, some need contrast, etc.

Again, banging on about the apple pencil pro, sorry, this is me now... Imagine using it across a screen and feeling a bump when it hits a line or a button. I'm not sure if this single point exploration could be useful, you'd probably need a Wolverine/Freddy style claw of several pencils on each finger to make it work, but it does feel the apple pencil needs to be unlocked. And, yes, you could literally have it doing Harry potter style spells along with voice recognition... Just keep the hell away from me when you're doing it!! :)

I'm starting to realize that I'm in the minority, but I love my iPad Pro 2018 11 inch model. I have no vision and rely completely on VoiceOver. When I first got this iPad I mainly used it for media consumption. I now use it for almost everything. I like that it has a desktop class web browser. So I'm not dealing with mobile sites. It's nice to get the whole desktop website experience. It's nice to have 2 apps on the screen at the same time. Sometimes I have 2 Safari windows open at the same time. Very useful when I'm comparing products or specs. I'll probably get a larger iPad next time, just to have that extra screen space. It is so convenient to tap on an email and have it open on the right side of the screen. Then when I'm done reading my list of messages is still on the left. I know the iPad isn't for everyone, but I wouldn't be without one. I hardly ever use my Windows computer. It's mainly used for games. Everything else is done on my phone or iPad.

I didn't know, until I just Googled it, that the iPad has no haptic feedback. I was imagining being able to feel the screen in the same way as a raised-line drawing, except the device twitches when my finger crosses a line. I'm not sure a disability-app developer, such as American Printing House for the Blind, would ever make that happen, but that would be a reason for me to enjoy a larger screen. Oh well, back to the drawing board...

I can't help commenting on the article included in my comments. There are a number of issues I strongly disagree with or they apply not only to Apple but the other vendors.
My comments will follow each point made by Brian.

Well, I suppose the reason people here harp on Apple products when they have issues while attempting to utilize the technology of their choice that Apple has provided, is because this is AppleVis. A place to discuss Apple products and user experience. 🤷

That's where we discuss it. These releases of new products are interesting, but there are not a lot of new ideas or innovations that would cause me to get too excited about them; CPUs that are a little faster, more CPU and GPU cores, neuro processing cores and all that stuff, and they speed up the world a bit. For those reasons my upgrades only happen every few years and I get to save a bit of money as well.

As for VO issues particularly on iOS, there are quite a few, and some even have workarounds, while others we are depending on Apple to resolve. To name a few:
1. Focus. If you have used VO on iOS, then you know that the VO cursor has its own version of ADHD. As it is litterally all over the place.

The focus issue is not so big a problem as it is in JAWS and in that case that problem has afflicted JAWS since I started using it on Windows version 3.3 or maybe 3.5 and the amazing thing is that it still happens on a regular basis.
I've not experienced the cursor/focus problem (I think) not at all on iPhone iPads and somewhat on the Mac. There are a number of reasons why this appears to be a very hard nut to crack:
The complexity of windows, how the various applications work in them, the number of them you might have happening influences screen-reading software behavior. Web sites are notarious screen-reader mess-uppers, because some of them have prioritized good looks over real functionality and certainly accessiblity is not something many of them seem to take seriously. When you have style-sheets, and tiled virtual windows and the foolishness of continuous advertising happening it gives sighted people a problem (I ask them at work every once in a while when things feel bad on my computer, and they find a lot of the crazy stuff done on websites to be a major downer) so getting screen-reading software to make that fully accessible is not an easy task for anyone.
The cursor might stay where you last left it; sometimes that's a good thing or it might move with what is happening on the screen; use your finger to move it where you want and I'll simpathize with those that sometimes can't find the cursor on a sparsely populated screen.

2. Keyboard randomly not displaying when entering any given text field.
Once again a problem with Windows software as well, but on the iDevices you must often tap the field into which you want to enter data; I've never considered this to be a problem and it also appears to be a result of how the various applications or websites do input. It's a thing one gets used to when your familiar with what you're using.

3. Dictation is a hot mess atm. It is usable, but only just.

I'd say overall it works well, but there does seem to be a bit of degradation over the past few IOS releases; however, I use it all the time for messages and other simpler tasks and it works well enough. Perfection is somewhere off in the future and that goes for all dictation.

4. Siri's new adaptive listening feature makes sending text messages or search inquiries difficult, for if you so much as blink too loudly, Siri will be interupted.
That is one feature that needs to be capable of being disabled; it is a big problem and if you're in a noisy environment it's pretty much a unusable. That change is a fine example of a backwards step. I can't imagine how it could make working with siri any better for anyone.

5. VO voices randomly and automagically uninstalling off of devices. Still not sure if anyone has figured out the catalyst for this.

Never had this problem and have been using IOS since 3.1 on iPod gen3 since 2009. To some extent though, this depends on people using other voices and that is a thing I've avoided because I like the Samantha voice so much I've stuck with it, but I've not had any of my friends have the problem either and most of them use other voices.
On the Mac I used Alex but in my iMac M2 machine have gone back to Samantha because it sounds good and for some reason Alex does not sound right on that machine. I think the larger (download/file size) voices are slower and because of their larger size may require more processing to give us what we want.

6. I have mentioned this in another thread, but iOS can randomly 'forget' your position in any given multimedia file if you attempt multitasking with anything that utilizes voice input and/or speaker output.

Have not had this, but then I do this in very limited ways.

The above is just an example of common issues most of us have experienced since the introduction of iOS 17 (at the very least).

For me and my friends we find that IOS-17 is a step forward; there are some good new features that are useful, but we all complain about siri.

So let me reiterate, I would be much more excited about the OP information if Apple would also work on their proprietary software.

There's a lot of proprietary software out there that could use some work
Apple has done a very good job when compared to the very few others and most things get fixed if the information is submitted to accessibility; that has been my experience and I've been interacting with them for close to fifteen years.

New hardware, new tech, new toys, are all nice, but are useless if we cannot take advantage of them due to software conflicts. ☹
A personal matter/decision.

Brian Borowski

Ouch. . . You are going to get some negativity for that reply. None from me, though, I must ask one question.

You, do, realize my original post in this thread was in no way, shape, or form, my own thoughts, ideas, or experiences, right?! 😕

Great hardware and OK OS. That would be like getting a sport car and getting the engine to work only half of the power. That is what the OS does. Also there are not enough apps that will make it better than a PC or laptop.