Hello AppleVisers,
I know it's not time yet, but we're getting closer and closer to iOS 27. It is expected to be Apple's biggest update, focusing on bug fixes and stability improvements. Now focusing on accessibility features, here is what I want to see inplemented for VoiceOver users.
1. Image Descriptions through Apple Intelligence. It would be really cool to see Apple Intelligence expand to VoiceOver by providing more smart image descriptions for all users. Instead of hearing VoiceOver say, "a blue object against a white background", Apple Intelligence could automatically detect the image and provide a more descriptive description. This could also be very useful instead of creating shortcuts or opening other apps to describe the image.
2. Navigation by line. Currently, VoiceOver groups the information in one, single element. Instead, VoiceOver should navigate line by line, just like Windows. This also eleminates the need of using the rotor and choosing lines.
3. Rotor Activities. Ever found yourself having to set your VoiceOver rotor to the specific navigation type you want? Yes. I know you all have. I wished there was like a rotor activities setting that could let you safe your rotor settings for each app. For example, if you navigate by lines on Notes, you could set your rotor to lines. Now when you open another app, VoiceOver should safe that rotor setting when you open the app again, your rotor should automatically switch to that specific setting. This eliminates the need of setting your rotor every time you open that application again.
Now what is your opinion on this? I'd like to know!!!. please post comments here!
Thank you for reading and hope to see your comments!
Comments
VO definitely needs something like Gemini descriptions.
I recently pulled out my old LG android phone, and once everything was updated, I could do a three finger single tap and whatever talk back was on would get described, just like how ChatGPT might describe something with VOCR on the Mac with command control shift V. You could also assign another command to describe the whole entire screen. I do have a shortcut which can describe the screen via Apple Intelligence including the private cloud compute model, but it would be nice for descriptions of the particular user interface item you are focused on.
Does sound like great ideas?
Those sound like really good ideas. I really can’t make the road to work because my hands don’t really allow me to do that from my CP. But I can see how it could be a really useful feature. I think we should be able to do a lot more operating the phone with our voices versus the tapping and swiping that we have to do now. I would also like to see some more phone kind of ringtones. I know that’s not really an Accessibility feature, but they’re just aren’t enough of them. It’s really only two. Just the old phone in Hillside. I suppose maybe you Presto but that’s it. I would also like the option for more premium voices for vocalizer. I would eventually like a completely hands-free operation to control my phone 100% with my voice and not just certain things. I guess you can use voice control, but that doesn’t always work so great with Voice. It’s been much better than it used to be though so maybe that will change. But there’s nothing wrong with saying what we want OS 27, even though it’s a bit early to be talking about it. Great topic though.
Definetlly
VoiceOver needs something like that.
Bugs
Want apple to call the exterminator and kill the bugs in VO. Is that to much ask? Do not want new features that will distract. Just kill the bugs. Long live cats.
Software Update Progress Announcements
So on Windows when doing an update, JAWS or NVDA will give me progress indicators that updates on the way. Why Apple do that with VoiceOver?
VoiceOver profiles
The feature where the VoiceOver rotor can save settings per application, I'm calling that VoiceOver profiles, I think this would be highly beneficial. However, I agree with Holger that Apple really needs to focus on bug squashing.
P. S. Apple hates Holger. True story. 🤨
My thoughts about stability
For me, the bugs I have noticed with voiceover do not prevent me from getting what I need to get done, except for maybe the bug that will prevent web content from being readable until you turn off and back on voiceover or reload the webpage, or the real famous one on iOS, VO not being able to make up it's mind as to where the focus lands when you open an app, or keeping it consistent. Those are kind of annoying.
not to start an iOS Vs Android debate, but when I was using an older LG phone someone gave me with android 13 and talkback 16, the focus stayed exactly where I put it. I felt confident that I could double tap when going back a screen it would activate the option I want.
to be honest, if bugs like that would be fixed, that would make it all the better, but these bugs have workarounds.
If a bug is negatively affecting a user, I genuinely hope apple fixes it in iOS 27.
From what I’ve heard, it's roomered that iOS 27 will be like snow leopard (hardly any new features, tons of bug fixes and stability and reliability fixes). If that’s the case, I would highly expect voiceover to get a lot of improvements under the hood that will make it feel even more snappy and bug free. Remember iOS 12? Let's hope all os's get that type of stability improvement.
rotor settings saved
The saving rotor settings per app would be such an awesome idea!
Personally, I'm waiting for the great iOS Mac Os merger.
We've been told this is happening any day now for years. I was just playing around with a keyboard and the phone and while cmd-w worked to close an email, cmd-q didn't do a thing. I understand some of this is happening, e.g. I think VO-q and VO-shift-q now work on iOS like they do on Mac, although I can't run iOS 26 to find out.
Give me Mac OS in my pocket already!