By Nicholas Parsons, 28 September, 2013
Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Initially when iOS 7 came out with a number of bugs, I optimistically thought it wouldn't be a problem as they would soon fix them in an update. Now I've changed my mind. Not because they haven't yet fixed the problems – it's far too soon for that, even though they have already released two updates. I'm less optimistic now because I remembered there's still bugs from iOS 6 which haven't been fixed, so what evidence do we have that Apple will fix these bugs?
I also can't help thinking that fixing these bugs was really something that should've happened during the beta testing phase. I know there were VoiceOver users beta testing iOS 7, and I'm pretty sure they would have sent bug reports to the relevant people. So I can only conclude that the issues are too complicated or that Apple isn't dedicated enough resources to fixing accessibility bugs. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Apple seems great at bringing out new features which respond to accessibility issues which have been reported or even some we never knew we had. But they don't really seem all that good at fixing weird annoying bugs. This would be a good place for people to comment with examples of past bugs which Apple has fixed. I only started using iOS with iOS 5, so I've only experienced two major updates. Each time they seemed to introduce many new features and a few new bugs, but didn't seem to fix many bugs, if any.
I suppose I'm not surprised by this. Most of Apple's resources during beta testing are probably dedicated to responding to bugs sighted people encounter, as most of Apple's customers are sighted. Moreover, it's probably easier to develop new features than it is to identify and correct VoiceOver bugs, and it's probably more rewarding to show off cool new accessibility features than it is to announce improved focus with VoiceOver.
I really hope I'm wrong, but I can't help thinking that iOS 8 will be released and we'll still have 95% of the existing bugs, a handful of new bugs and a few cool new flashy features. I like some of the additions in iOS 7, but I'd happily trade handwriting and greater prominence in the Settings app for improved VoiceOver stability and focus reliability. I appreciate what a fantastic job Apple does with accessibility in general, I just wish they'd alter their priorities a bit, and at least focus on eliminating VoiceOver bugs before developing new VoiceOver features.
Comments
iOS 7 bugs will they be fixed
stuff that was fixed
A lack of patience is one
facing facts
HI. Sure there are bugs, but
The "patience" concept is inappropriate
Some comments on Android
Fixing Bugs or Adding Features
my two cents
Android Vs. iPhone
Apple and IOS8
IOS 7
Quote
My thoughts on this matter
settle down people
My thoughts on all this...
well tunehead, have you ever
my response...
Let's Move this Along...
Personally I think we should be contacting Apple
contacting apple
How does it help to only voice issues on Applevis?
If you want to go to Android
Enough and MoveOn people!
Correct! It's all about choice
The Applevis home page.
summing everything up
the team is working on it
a sense of perspective
...
agreed greg
Kyle… You make some very
speaker phone issue
Don't get me wrong I love
Disillusioned
setting up an iPhone with vo from scratch requires a computer:
With iOS 7, though, you can
griping
bringing this topic back on topic
Kyle
First thing's first.. to
siri has to be set up before use:
Ah, okay. Thanks for the
Voice Over or Talk Back
samsung's android skinning
start a new thread or find one more appropriate?
It would be good to have a
responsibility, I don't see android in the name of apple vis:
Chill out
yeah chill