IQbuds | AppleVis

Submitted by Faerie, 23 June, 2017

Last updated on 4 October, 2017

Description of App

HEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR
Control how you hear the world around you and connect to your digital devices with IQbuds™ – the world’s most intelligent, truly wireless earbuds.

AUGMENTED HEARING
Nuheara IQbuds™ include two beautifully designed truly wireless earbuds and the IQbuds™ App that gives you the control to hear what you want to hear in the world around you and control your Bluetooth device. It also allows you to blend the sounds of the world around you with your Bluetooth streaming – what Nuheara calls augmented hearing.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR LISTENING EXPERIENCE
The IQbuds™ App allows you to customize your listening experience based on your location/situation as well as allowing you to personalize your own listening profile. A simple tap touch on the IQbuds™ allows you to orchestrate your listening experience, moving from your physical world to digital world and visa versa.

GET STARTED
Pair IQbuds™ to your Bluetooth device, then download and open your IQbuds™ App and enjoy the amazing IQbuds™ experience.

Version

1.2.2

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

iOS Version

10.3.2

Accessibility Comments

So close...but so far! Most buttons are labeled oddly, but I can tell what they do. I can see the battery level, register, and select sound filters, but the functionality that lets you adjust how much noise you here on the fly is completely inaccessible. Visually, from the manuals it is meant to be a wheel. With VoiceOver, it is an unlabeled button. Pushing it will mute the real world sound, but I can do no more adjusting on any filter, or norm, than that. I have tried the pass through gesture with no results, and tried turning off VO and swiping around that area of the screen with mixed results.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads all page elements.

Button Labeling

Few buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

Some parts of the app are accessible with VoiceOver, but not enough to make it usable.

Other Comments

I have reached out to the developers, and it looks as though my feedback will be past on, but it doesn't sound like they are very eager to help. Maybe if more interest is shone this will change?

App Store Link

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iqbuds/id1152891936?mt=8

Developer's Website

http://www.nuheara.com/

Developer's Twitter Username

(@nuheara)

Options

Comments

It's a pity the app is problematic

Hi music fairy,
First and foremost, thanks bunches for reviewing the accompanying iOS app for the Nuheara IQbuds headphone.
The headphone sounds promising and I was even about to order it, but the issue with the app is a true barrier.
Unfortunately the accompanying app for Bragi Dash/Dash Pro has even more serious accessibility issues.
It seems the only headphone of that sort whose app is accessible is, as I'm sure you know, is Here One by Doppler Labs. Wish it just had better battery life, though.
Finally, if you've tried both Here One and Nuheara IQbuds, please let us know which one you prefer.
Thanks again.

Here one

Hello. As soon as I manage to resell the IQBuds on Ebay, I will be trying the here ones, as I really could use a product that does what these try to do. I am sorry the Bragi app was so problematic. From what I've heard, the here ones are a good product and a few critics who tested them found the noise cancellation and situational tuning to be a little better...but that battery life is painful! That's why I wanted to try the IQ buds first. I will review here one as soon as I can. Thank you for looking at this review.

Looking forward to your review and comments

I'm sure your Here One review and comments will be informative.
I've also heard that Here One is better over-all -- without its battery life issue of course.

Support says: there are no plans for accessibility

I reached out to and asked IQBuds if the app will be VoiceOver accessible, and the response is: “At this stage there are no plans to develop the app to be voiceover accessible.”