Intro If you’re new to or thinking about getting an iOS device, you may be wondering, as I did when I got my first one, “How, exactly, can a person who can’t see a screen use a device whose primary input surface is one?” When I started teaching myself how to use VoiceOver on […]
How to Use Back Tap on iOS
In iOS 14, Apple introduced back tap, a feature that takes advantage of an iPhone’s accelerometer to detect taps on the back of the device. This can be used as a second accessibility shortcut, useful if you rely on more than one accessibility feature and don’t want to go into Settings or use Siri to […]
Identify Banknotes Quickly and Accessibly with Cash Reader: Bill Identifier for iOS
Notice For this review, I received a subscription to use Cash Reader: bill identifier, worth US $17.99 from the developer. The opinions expressed in the review however are my own. I received no other compensation related to this content. Intro Of the numerous ways the iPhone can improve the quality of life for people with […]
iPhone SE (2020) Review: a classic design and state of the art performance gives me the best of both worlds
Intro Since 2016, I had used an iPhone 7 as my daily driver. For me, at the time, the improved water resistance, capacitive home button, faster Touch ID sensor, and strong performance gains were a compelling upgrade from my two-year-old iPhone 6. In the proceeding years, however, I began to feel like the iPhone, […]
My Experience Using a Chromebook as a Blind Mac User for 30 days
Update: At the time of writing, as Google works to discontinue the use of third-party cookies, it is implementing a new ad personalization technology called Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC.) For a description of the technology and some of its problematic aspects, check out this explainer from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. What’s particularly troubling is […]
Running Linux as a Blind Mac User for 30 days; Yes, It is Possible
Intro For some time now, I have wanted to get some familiarity with the Linux world. Not for any particular reason, just from hearing people talk about it and its potential, and thinking, “That sounds fun.” Having no idea where to start my little experiment, I perused the AppleVis forum and came upon a […]
A Guide to App Installation, Removal, and Security on macOS
If you’re coming to the Mac from Windows, you’re probably used to either downloading apps from the Microsoft Store, or downloading an app package from a website and running its included installer. On macOS, there are several ways apps can be installed and uninstalled, which I will give an overview of in this guide. […]
How to Delete Your Siri Audio History and Opt Out of Siri Analytics
To delete your Siri audio history from an iOS or iPadOS device, go to Settings > Siri & Search and tap Siri & Dictation history. Tap delete Siri & Dictation history and tap once again in the confirmation screen.
Learn to Use VoiceOver on Your Mac: a Beginners Guide
Intro If you’re new to the Mac, learning and mastering the VoiceOver screenreader can seem daunting at first. In an attempt to streamline the search for essential getting started information on how to use VoiceOver on Mac, I will provide a series of tips, along with links to more comprehensive guides and audio podcast demonstrations, […]
Simplify Productivity with Text Replacements on iOS, iPadOS and macOS
If you’re like me, you may find that you spend a fair amount of time typing the same block of text over and over again on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. This can be driving directions to your home, birthday or holiday greetings, or anything else that you find yourself typing repeatedly. Luckily, you can […]