***Note: This post was written in 2012. Unfortunately American Heritage Dictionary 5th Edition became totally inaccessible in July 2016. So what you read below is no longer valid and only reflects history. To see what happened to this invaluable app and how it became inaccessible again, please visit this page. Thanks.
If the new…
Apple have just rolled out further accessibility improvements to the App Store in iOS 6.
Firstly, the rating of an app is now read by VoiceOver.
Secondly, the app screenshots now have a clear label for VoiceOver users.
Lastly, and this is a real nice one, when on the Search or Genius tabs you will now find a picker control that allows you to move quickly through the listed apps. As I said, this is really nice, and makes browsing search results quicker than it…
As with the previous release of a major iOS upgrade (from version 4 to 5), there are many enhancements to iOS 6 not directly related to accessibility. In this release, they include FaceTime over cellular networks, a redesigned App Store, a revamped settings menu, direct Facebook integration, a do not disturb feature—among many others. Please see the link at the end of this article for a list from Apple about changes not directly related to accessibility. To list and discuss all…
I am pleased to say that the major problems we reported with the App Store in the Gold Master release of iOS 6 have now been fixed by Apple.
This is great news, and our thanks go to everybody at Apple who has been busy working on these last minute fixes.
Those who said that this would happen have been proved correct, and I have no problem in saying…
We are proud to announce our two winners for the August 2012 AppleVis iTunes Gift Card giveaway. Warm congratulations go out to Cherokee Eagle and Bahzad, who will both receive a $20 iTunes gift card!
We are pleased and excited to announce that members of the AppleVis community have very kindly offered to donate a $20 iTunes Gift Card for September for us to give away to one lucky user of the site.
To be included for a chance of winning the Gift Card, you simply need to…
If you didn't know that Apple was supposed to unveil its latest iPhone a couple of hours ago or in case you had no clue about the new features in its accompanying iOS 6, perhaps you belong to a different planet! Seriously, now that Apple has introduced its 4-inch iPhone 5 with much fanfare, it wouldn't be odd to argue that it'll be remembered in the history of cell phones many years from now. As cynical as you might be, you might contend that it can be said about each and every iPhone.…
Each month the AppleVis Editorial Team take a look at all the apps that have been posted to the AppleVis website during that month and decide which is our pick - the one app that stood out from all the rest.
Quite frankly, August was a lean month for noteworthy apps. Unlike some recent months, when the decision was made hard by the number of high quality apps that were in the mix, the choice this month was difficult because so many of the apps were mediocre at best.
…
The app chosen this month for induction into our iOS App Hall of Fame is Light Detector.
Gaining double the number of votes of its nearest challenger, this would seem to be a very popular choice among the AppleVis community.
Light Detector is easy to use. Just run the application and point your iDevice camera in any direction. Light Detector will transform any natural or…
If you're into words, you're always on the lookout for the best and the most decent vocabulary titles, word games, puzzles, and, last but not least, dictionaries. And you might want to take your treasury of words with you -- regardless of the OS you use. A good dictionary is the bread and butter of every logophile and having access to what many scholars deem authoritative is of utmost importance.
Ever since I purchased my iPhone 4S, I started looking for an accessible dictionary.…
Back in March when I took a stab at comparing iOS and Android from the perspective of a blind user, Android 4.1 (a.k.a. Jelly Bean) was nonexistent and no one knew what access features it would offer. Having tested Google Nexus 7 for more than two weeks and having seen blind users' opinions of Android 4.1, I'm now in a better position to compare iOS and Android yet again. So tighten your belt as I…
The moment I purchased my iPhone 4S more than six months ago, my first thought was oddly focused on getting a great radio application for it -- I'm a radio maniac. I spent a few days researching here and there, trying to sift through the App Store, AppleVis and a couple of more relevant websites. At the time I came to the conclusion that ooTunes Radio was the best app of its ilk despite its $4.99…
Hi all,
It's with great pleasure that I'm with David and the rest of the editorial team yet again! Also, it's gratifying to be writing for such an exciting audience. So, without any fuss, let's get the ball rolling.
Interpreting peoples’ body language—particularly facial expressions—is one of those challenges that almost all blind people face. But soon, there will be an app for that.
Yes, you read correctly. Canada’s Metro News reported yesterday that a group of engineering students at the University of Windsor are developing an iPhone app that can recognize peoples…
Syntellia have just released a new update to Fleksy, which includes a number of significant changes and new features.
We're particularly pleased to see that you can now try the app for free. Although you will need to pay to unlock the full functionality of the app, you can now at least experience what it is like typing with Fleksy before parting with any money.
Here is the press release from Syntellia:
A major update of Fleksy hit the App Store today…
Each month the AppleVis Editorial Team sit down at our virtual conference table and decide which of the apps submitted to the site during that month should be our monthly pick ... and boy, was it a tough decision this month!
Lots of great apps were featured on AppleVis in July, and a number of those stimulated a lot of discussion, some of which was quite heated.
We tried hard not to be predictable with our choice, but we ultimately had to accept that Fleksy was without…
The CNN App for iPhone has traditionally been very accessible. However, a recent update has introduced significant issues for both VoiceOver and Braille users.
Considering CNN's position as one of the leading global news sources, and the fact that people from around the world will be looking to them for coverage of the forthcoming US Presidential election, we're hoping that you…
After the closest vote to date, Vokul has become the latest inductee into our iOS App Hall of Fame.
Vokul narrowly edged out its two closest challengers by just a single vote, highlighting how important it is to cast your vote each month, as yours might be the one that makes the difference!
When you go to…