Voice memos no longer too accessible in iOS

By rdfreak, 16 June, 2014

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi all,
apologies if this has been discussed before and I missed it.
I use to use Voice Memos (the default app within the utilities folder) in IOS quite a bit but hadn't for probably about a year. Sometime since, the app has become quite hard to use with VO. I went into it over the weekend and it took me simply ages to find out what file I wanted to listen too and then, how to play it.
Anyone else amazed at the change in this app now we're up to 7.1.1? Quite disappointing I must say.
I'll try and write to apple accessibility about it but I'd be surprised if no-one has done so already.
Thanks guys.

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Comments

By Michael Hansen on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Hi Rdfreak,

I, too, have been very disappointed by the redesign of Voice Memos in iOS 7. While it works and is accessible, it is by no means easy to use.

I remember reading about the redesign of Voice Memos in iOS 7, and that many users wanted the app to have more features. Unfortunately, in my opinion at least, the simplicity of the Voice Memos app decreased with the addition of all the new features.

By Serena on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

i don't actually mind it. it's a little confusing at first, but once i got my head around the change, i got used to it, and i'm ok with it now. but i think, don't quote me on it, but it might be changing back a little in iOS 8, due to people's comments about the one in 7.

By Jeffry Miller on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

Haven't had any problems with it. I do admit I use other apps more but the few times I have played files recorded files and even shared them it was ok.

By Tree on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

I don't use it very much so I am all for being educated, but I think I might like the new voice memos app more then the old one. Don't get me wrong I don't think either of them have been perfect. But when I do use the new app it seems to work fine for me. What makes it less accessible then the old one?

By Unregistered User (not verified) on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

How does taking a while to learn a revision make something inaccessible? It is still completely accessible as I have used it since IOS 7 for professional requirements, and totally accessible.

DA little difficult to use at first, yes, but once you learn it and its changes, its just as easy as everything that is accessible in ios 7.

By LaBoheme on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

In reply to by Serena

"but i think, don't quote me on it, but it might be changing back a little in iOS 8, due to people's comments about the one in 7."

i know you tried to be politically correct, but what are those comments about the new voice memos?
i have a 3gs lying around, so i went checking what vm was like in iOS 6. i must say the new vm is a huge improvement. the most obvious one is the ability to name the memo, simply have a time stamp doesn't really help much. also the saved memos are now listed on the same screen where you record new memos, maybe that's what confuses some people? one simply need to lear the new layout.

to the original poster, since you complained about it 8 months after the change, was this the first time you tried the new vm? that might explain why.

By KE7ZUM on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

Actually I liek the design better and it's easier for me to use. Remember once you double tap the memo to expand all you need to is explore the top of the screen.t he share button will always be at the top left side above the romemos that are not beeing modified. Not sure if the trip thing is accessible anymire, but I jut edit on my computer. I love the new design and hope that ios8 will remain unchanged as it is more stream line and I can just click up and double tap to delete memos. It really could not be any simplar.

Take care to all.

By Serena on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

i agree. it's not inaccessible, and i like it now. took me a little bit of playing, but once i learned it, i like it over the old one. the old one is annoying, actually. having to press a button to even see your recordings. lol. as for the person asking what comments, i could go on and on here. but i don't just mean on here. there are a lot of people who don't like the new design. i myself, like it, and i hope they don't go back to the old one. i am used to this newer one now, and find it much better to work with then the one in iOS 6.

By KLove on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

I'm Able to play recordings and start recordings, what gets me is the two finger double tap doesn't start and stop recording. You have to find the done button and all the clicking ends up in your recording. Is this just me? Am I doing something wrong or does it really not work anymore?

By rdfreak on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

Vash, I do not like the tone of your messages in this and all the other threads you've posted in; if you don't know how to be polite, don't post at all.
Thank you Michael for understanding what I was saying. Did I say it was inaccessible? no; I was simply stating how disappointed I was that it had changed. Will I write to apple? Yes I will; it's my right if i don't like it; majority rules anyway.
You others seem to be a lot more patient than I. All you had to do with the app prev version, is double tap on the file and would play. Now you double tap and then have to find the play button which mostly loses focus and jumps you around the app. If anyone wants to explain where I'm going wrong instead of being rude, I would appreciate it. Mary came the closest to such a message.
Thank you.

By KE7ZUM on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

In reply to by KLove

Actually the magic tap does stop the recording. Just do the magic tap then use the done button to actually stop the recording and if you want and name it.

By KE7ZUM on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 - 06:40

It's actually quite easy to playt he file. simply double tap it and in teh center of the top row above the saved memos is play. The button in my pxperience is pretty big and I get no jumping around whenplaying these as I play them all the time.