Mantis Q40 and Apple TV

By Travis Roth, 14 October, 2022

Forum
Braille on Apple Products

Hi,
I tried pairing my Mantis Q40 Braille display to an Apple TV 4k 2nd gen (newest model). The Apple TV shows it is paired and even connected under Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille, and the Mantis shows the Apple TV's name in the connections list. However, choosing the Apple TV in the connections list just gives device selection failed error.
Has anyone gotten Braille to work on Apple TV? Is there a solution? On a side note, the Apple support page for Braille on Apple TV indicates Braille should work and connect to any device that iOS connects too. The devices listing page it links to is very dated though with many newer Braille displays that work with iOS are not listed.
Thanks.

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Comments

By David H. Cohen on Friday, October 21, 2022 - 21:07

I've had some weird issues when connecting the Mantis as a braille display through VoiceOver on the iPad. It's supposed to be paired directly through Bluetooth in the Settings as if it was a normal external Bluetooth keyboard. Once it is connected that way, VoiceOver should recognize it when you want to use it as a braille display and keyboard. Not sure if it matters whether or not VOiceOver is turned on when you do this.

Remember to delete the pairing on both the Apple TV & the Mantis before pairing it again. if you don't, you may have issues connecting the Mantis.

By Travis Roth on Friday, October 21, 2022 - 21:07

Hi David, Thanks for the suggestion. You know, I forgot that is how I paired it to the ipad some time ago. I tried it, it does pair, but I end up with the same error, device selection failed on the Mantis. I am forced to conclude Mantis, and possibly HID displays in general, are not supported.
To see if Braille works at all I paired my Focus 14 Blue to the Apple TV. That does pair and show some Braille such as in the Settings menu and home screen. I opened an app, in this case YouTube TV, and nothing was displayed on the display. I also am concluding that Braille on Apple TV is not useful or helpful. Disappointing.