I feel that the way text mesages are handled in iOS 16 has taken us a step backward. I am using Voiceover on an iPhone XR.
1. First the good. Nice that when one is in the Messages app in the list of messages, one of the context menu items (flicking up/down with one finger) is "mark as read" or "mark as unread". I've waited for this feature for a long time.
2. Unfortunately, when reading a mesage on the locked screen, there is no context menu item for "mark as read". Thus, after reading a text mesage on the locked screen, the only way to mark the message as "read" is to get into the Messages app itself, find the read mesage in the list of messages, and then finally mark it as "read" or open the message so that it will be marked as "read". too many steps. The problem is that if one can't easily mark a message "read", the Messages app on the home screen still notifies one that there are unread mesages even if all messages have been already read from the locked screen. Please add such a context menu item on the locked screen to "mark as read"!!!
3. In iOS 15, it used to be possible to have a message on the locked screen marked as "read" by activating the mesage and then hitting the "dismiss context menu" item. Now the mesage is marked as "read" and you don't see a reminder that you have unread mesages in the Messages app on the home screen. Anyway, this functionality seems to have been lost in iOS 16. See my item #2 above for a suggestion on how to rectify this.
3. A long standing issue with using Voiceover in the Messages app is that, when flicking through a list of messages, Voiceover announces the "unread" status of messages only after vocalizing all of the names of the recipient. Thus, if one has mesages in the list with many recipients it takes some time to flick through the list of mesages and figure out which of the messages in the list is the "unread" message that you want to read. My suggestion here is that Voiceover announce the "read/unread" status of mesages in the list prior to speaking any recipients or mesage contents when flicking through the list of messages. This would make it a lot more efficient to find "unread" messages in the list.
In designing UI's, one must not only think of "accessibility" (i.e., can one find and read all elements on the screen), but the designer must also think of how productive the interface is when used by a Voiceover user. Yes, the Messages app is "accessible", but it is not productive and efficient to use with Voiceover.
--Pete
Comments
audio message
Sending a voice message is a headache. Is hard, does not work well all the time. Whoever worked on it on apple developer probably did not even tested with VO. Now I have to use siri to send a voice message. This is not acceptable to me.
I can't figure out the audio…
I can't figure out the audio thing either. I go under someones name, double tap on the apps button and nothing happens. Am I missing something?
I personally never was a fan of doing audio messages but I have a friend who prefers we communicate that way because personally I think he's just lazy. I'll just tell him I can't do audio messages right now do to accessibility and he'll just have to get over it.
audio messages
OK. I actually figured this out last night. I don't like the new way, but it's doable if needed. Personally, I just do the raise to talk thing and then I can send audio messages very easily. If you can't or don't want to do that, though, double tap on apps. Then, look for audio. Double tap on that. If you do a bit of exploring, you'll find a record button. Double tap on that. Then, there will be a stop button. Double tap that when you're done and then there should be an option to send. If you're like me and don't like all the various apps cluttering the messages screen, you can double tap on apps again to hide them until they're needed again. Good luck, and I hope this helps.
Audio messages
Hi,
The new audio message thing is alsohated by various sighted users as I was told. But there is a way to make it easier to locate the audio button and get rid of the messed up apps area:
1. Open a conversation
2. Double-tap on apps (if it's not expanded already)
3. Locate the expand button in the apps area and double-tap on it
4. double-tap on the edit button on the now visible screen
5. Remove all favorites expect audio by locating the elements, swiping down with one finger until hearing "remove" or "delete" and then double-tap.
6. Lastly, flick through the other elements on the screen and turn off all toggles you don't want to come up when the apps area is visible and then hit the "done" button. You can now close the screen by hit the now visible "done" button and the messed up apps area should be tied up. You now can locate the audio button very easily, double-tap on it and then at the bottom of the screen there is the record button. It's not as simple as it was with iOS 15, but the interface is no longer messed up I find.
Audio recording
One word. Nuts.
Like
I really like the new quieter sounds for activating Siri!
Re: Like
When I first heard the new sounds notifying me when SIRI was listening or not, I thought something was broken and tried looking for a setting that would switch it back to the old sounds.
Although the new sound is less intrusive, it can sometimes get lost in a noisey environment.
Perhaps I'll get used to it. I'm surprised Apple doesn't offer a choice here.
--Pete
Also, the record button for…
Also, the record button for recording an audio message appears to be gone so one now has to raise to talk which is fine but I know some people have trouble with getting that to work.
filter by unread messages.
Hi, using an iPhone 13 Pro Max but assume this will work on all devices running IOS 16. you can now filter unread messages. First navigate to settings/messages. under the "message filtering" heading toggle the "filter unknown senders" option toggle to on. then go into the messages app and on the upper left corner you should see/hear a "filters" back button. double tap and you should then see an option to show your unread messages. hope this helps.
Re: Filter by unread messages
Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't know about that setting. Would be nice if that just appeared as a tab in the Messages app itself as it does in the Mail app for filtering e-mail messages. Who would have thought to turn on that setting in the Setting / Messages dialog in order to see those options in the Messages app?
Anyway, great tip. Very handy.
--Pete
Audio recording
For those who have issues with it, apple send me to get more info. Report
We’d like to gather a screen recording of the functionality issues with the current voice message process occurring, followed by a log file from your device that is generated after the behavior is reproduced again. Please review the following steps, and let us know if you have any questions:
Log capture process:
1. Start a Screen Recording (https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/take-a-screenshot-or-screen-recording-iphc872c0115/ios)
2. Reproduce the issue, and make a note of the exact hour and minute.
3. End Screen Recording
4. Activate this link on the device used to reproduce the behavior or the companion iPhone: diags://965504654
5. Open the diagnostic app from the pop up that occurs and then follow the on-screen prompts for terms of service and initiation of log collection.
6. While the device is the collecting the logs, you can continue using your device as your normally would. Uploading will continue in the background when connected to Wi-Fi.