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iOS 18: The Ultimate Upgrade

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Apple has unveiled iOS 18, a major update packed with new features, enhancements, and improvements that redefine the iPhone experience.  This release introduces Apple Intelligence, a suite of personalized features that make your iPhone more intuitive and helpful. Here’s an in-depth look at everything iOS 18 has to offer.

Apple Intelligence: Your Personalized Assistant

Apple Intelligence is the highlight of iOS 18, offering a new level of customization and smart capabilities across the entire operating system. Designed to understand your personal context, Apple Intelligence suggests actions, assists with writing, and offers tailored recommendations. This feature brings a smarter, more context-aware Siri, new writing tools, and more precise notifications, making your iPhone experience more seamless and intuitive. I currently use the iPhone 14 and look forward to upgrading to take full advantage of these features—this is the highlight for me.

Enhanced Siri Experience

Siri has received a significant upgrade in iOS 18, featuring improved language understanding and contextual awareness. Siri now anticipates your needs, offers real-time suggestions, and understands commands based on your current activity, integrating even more closely into your daily routine. A potential application I am exploring is whether Siri’s screen-aware feature can read unlabeled buttons on the screen, which would greatly enhance usability.

Customization at Your Fingertips

iOS 18 allows you to personalize your iPhone like never before:

– Rearrange Apps and Widgets: Easily customize your Home Screen layout by rearranging apps and widgets.

– New App Icon Look: Choose a Dark mode look, tint app icons with any color, or let iOS suggest a color based on your wallpaper.

– Locked and Hidden Apps: Secure sensitive apps with Face ID, keeping your data safe when sharing your device.

Redesigned Control Center

The Control Center receives a complete overhaul with new groups of controls that are accessible with a single swipe. You can customize controls, resize them, and group them as you like. The new Controls Gallery allows you to add your favorite controls from various apps, enhancing personalization.

Photos App: A New Way to Relive Memories

The Photos app has been completely redesigned, making it easier to organize and access your library:

– Browse by Topic: Collections organize your photos by recent days, people, pets, and trips, providing a more intuitive browsing experience.

– Customize Collections: Pin your favorite collections, ensuring your most cherished photos are always easy to find.

Messages: More Fun and Functional

iOS 18 brings exciting new ways to communicate in Messages:

– Text Effects: Apply animated effects to text, words, or emojis, with suggestions appearing as you type.

– Tapback with Any Emoji or Sticker: Express yourself with a wider variety of emojis and stickers in your responses.

– Messages via Satellite: Stay connected without Wi-Fi or cellular, using satellite technology on supported iPhones.

– Schedule Messages: Use the Send Later feature to schedule messages for a specific time, ensuring you never forget to send an important text. This feature is a welcome addition as it allows scheduling communications at the most appropriate times.

Mail: Coming Soon with New Features

Later this year, iOS 18 will introduce Mail improvements with automatic categorization and a focus on important messages. The new Primary category will help users manage their inbox more effectively, prioritizing time-sensitive and significant emails. With the volume of emails I receive, this enhancement will be transformative in streamlining my communication management.

Safari: Smarter Browsing

Safari in iOS 18 introduces Highlights, automatically detecting relevant information on a page and making it easily accessible. A redesigned Reader mode now includes a table of contents and high-level summaries, allowing users to get a quick overview of articles before diving in.

Maps: Explore Like Never Before

iOS 18 brings new topographic maps and trail networks, making it easy to plan hikes and outdoor activities. Users can create custom routes, download maps for offline use, and access detailed hiking information, including trail length and elevation. I am particularly interested in exploring whether the custom route’s function can work like waypoints, enhancing navigation similar to Good Maps.

Game Mode: Elevate Your Gaming Experience

Game Mode minimizes background activity to maintain high frame rates and reduce audio latency, especially when using AirPods and wireless game controllers. This ensures smooth gameplay and an immersive gaming experience.

New Wallet Features

The Wallet app now supports Tap to Cash, allowing iPhone users to complete transactions by simply bringing their devices together. This new capability will make Apple Cash transactions even more convenient. Additionally, users can now pay with rewards and set up installment payments for Apple Pay, offering greater flexibility in managing payments.

Enhanced Accessibility Features

iOS 18 introduces revolutionary accessibility updates:

– Eye Tracking: Control your iPhone using just your eyes.

– Music Haptics: Sync the iPhone Taptic Engine with the rhythm of songs, enhancing the music experience for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.

– Vocal Shortcuts: Record specific sounds to trigger actions on iPhone, assisting those with atypical speech in communicating more effectively.

Privacy and Security Enhancements

Privacy remains a priority with redesigned Privacy and Security settings, offering easier ways to manage what information you share with apps. New contact-sharing controls and improved Bluetooth privacy provide users with more control over their data.

Additional Updates

iOS 18 brings a host of other features, including:

– Live Call Transcription: Record and transcribe phone calls directly from the Phone app. This feature is invaluable for capturing discussions and sharing notes within my team.

– New Calculator Features: Access the Math Notes calculator and explore unit conversion and history features in a new portrait mode, potentially revolutionizing accessibility in math.

– Freeform Updates: New diagramming modes, alignment tools, and improved sharing options make Freeform boards even more versatile.

iOS 18 Release Date and Compatibility

iOS 18 is set to be released on September 16th and will be compatible with a wide range of iPhone models, from the iPhone 11 up to the latest iPhone 16 series. With so many new features, iOS 18 promises to be the most powerful and personalized iPhone experience yet.

iOS vs Android: Unraveling the Digital Dilemma.

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Deciding between iOS and Android is a significant tech decision. Both platforms have their merits, and the optimal choice often hinges on individual needs and preferences. Here’s an in-depth comparison.

iOS: The Elegance of Integration

Ease of Use:

1. It just works!

Renowned for its straightforward interface, iOS is especially beginner-friendly. Apple designs its interface with simplicity in mind, ensuring that even those new to smartphones find it easy to navigate.

2. Seamless connection

The seamless connectivity across Apple devices enhances its user experience. Devices like the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch work together effortlessly, sharing data and allowing users to switch between them with ease.

Accessibility:

1. Accessibility takes full priority!

Apple consistently prioritizes accessibility. Apple believes technology should be accessible to everyone, and this principle is reflected in their products.

2. It comes in the box.

Tools like VoiceOver and Magnifier make the experience inclusive for all. VoiceOver reads out loud what’s on the screen, while Magnifier uses the device’s camera to magnify small text or objects.

Customization:

You get what you get, but you’ll be happy with it.

Polished in appearance, iOS offers limited customization, primarily to wallpapers and app icon arrangements. While iOS ensures a consistent and sleek user experience, it does restrict deeper system-level customizations.

Features:

1. Exclusivity

With its robust App Store, iOS often gets exclusive apps and early releases. Developers frequently prioritize iOS for new apps, leading to earlier or exclusive releases on the platform.

2. Seemless communication between other iPhones

Integrated features like iMessage and AirDrop create a cohesive user experience. iMessage allows seamless messaging between Apple devices, while AirDrop provides quick and easy file sharing.

Cost:

1. You’ll be paying the Apple tax.

Apple devices come with a higher price tag. Apple’s commitment to quality materials, design, and user experience often means a premium price.

2. Price insures premium quality.

This reflects their consistent quality and premium experience. While more expensive, Apple devices offer a refined, reliable, and cohesive user experience.

Android: The Versatility of Choice

Ease of Use:

1. Major learning curve.

Android’s diverse device range can be a bit challenging for newcomers. With a multitude of manufacturers and interfaces, there can be variability in user experience.

2. Your settings will never stay the same… because you’ll keep playing with them.

With time, it unveils a multitude of functionalities. As users become familiar with Android, they discover a wide range of features and settings to enhance their experience.

Accessibility:

1. Accessibility is included.

Android ensures its accessibility with features such as TalkBack. TalkBack provides spoken feedback for everything users do on their devices, assisting those with visual impairments. The one thing about TalkBack is not all Android devices allow it to be turned on during setup, so it’s not as easy as Apple makes it.

2. Accessibility can be improved through development.

Its open-source nature allows developers to introduce specialized accessibility apps. Developers can create and share apps specifically tailored to assist users with various needs.

Customization:

1. You can make it your own.

Android is a haven for those who love personalizing their devices. Beyond basic customizations, users can change everything from fonts to system behaviors.

2. Too many options!

Everything from widgets to launchers can be customized. Widgets provide at-a-glance information on the home screen, while launchers offer entirely new interface designs.

Features:

1. Unlimited apps, unlimited possibilities.

The Android Play Store is expansive and varied. With millions of apps available, users have a vast selection to suit their needs.

2. A multitasker’s dream.

Unique features like split-screen apps and a flexible file system cater to diverse user needs. Split-screen allows two apps to run side by side, while the file system offers more direct access to stored data.

Cost:

1. For the budget conscious.

Android caters to a wide range of budgets. From entry-level to high-end, there’s an Android device for every price point.

2. Different brands have different prices.

It offers devices from budget-friendly to luxury. Whether you’re looking for a basic phone or a flagship with all the bells and whistles, Android has options.

Navigating the world of operating systems can be complex. Whether you’re attracted to iOS’s integrated elegance or Android’s boundless versatility, the choice is deeply personal. As you weigh your options, consider your priorities and how you envision using your device. The optimal operating system is the one that best complements your digital lifestyle.

SafetyCast 2 Calling For Help

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Leslie, George and Meaghan discuss setting up the fastest ways to contact people in the event of an emergency and providing medical information for first responders. Leslie demonstrates setting up Emergency SOS settings in iOS and talks about the settings for the Apple Watch app. George demonstrates adding emergency contacts for android users. The team also discusses setting up medical ID information, fall detection on the Apple Watch and third-party apps. Some of them listed as the Top 5 apps to keep you safe. For more details about the apps discussed, read Meaghan’s review.

Providing Feedback

We want to hear from you, so please send an email to feedback@handsonsafety.net. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . Soon, you will also be able to find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.

#iAGameCast 17 – Audio Rush

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On this episode, Aleeha and Jason demo a fun little game called Audio Rush.

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We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our PayPal and Patreon pages. If you wish to interact with us during our podcasts live then please do join us on our Slack channel.

#iACast 140 – Staying Productive In The New Year

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On this episode, Michael, Aleeha, Leslie, and Jason discuss apps that help them stay fit, productive, and safe online, as we enter the new decade. To that end, if you’re interested to see if any accounts have been hacked, you can visit Have I been pwned. Just enter your email address, and hit the “Powned?” Button.

News

The coronavirus is upending the tech industry’s supply chain, affecting the ability of companies such as Apple, to keep up with consumer demand.

Picks

Aleeha: AirPods Pro

Leslie: A Blight of Blackwings by Kevin Hearne

Jason: Locke And Key

Michael: [Incase compact nylon sleeve](https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HNQ32ZM/A/incase-compact-sleeve-in-flight-nylon-for-16-macbook-pro-and-15-macbook-pro?fnode=9e&fs=fh%3D4598%252B4c0f)
Providing Feedback

We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our PayPal and Patreon pages. If you wish to interact with us during our podcasts live then please do join us on our Slack channel.

#iACast 131 – What’s New In iOS 13

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On this episode, Aleeha, Jason, Meaghan and Michael talk about and demonstrate some of the new Voiceover improvements and bugs in IOS 13.

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News

New iPhones are out.
The release for IOS 13.1 has been pushed up to Sept. 24.
Apple Care is now subscription based.
Apple Care is now available for AirPods and Beats headphones.

Picks

Meaghan: IOS 13
Jason: Focus 40 Blue Braille Display
Aleeha: Telegram Messenger
Michael: iPhone 11 Pro Max

Providing Feedback

We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our PayPal and Patreon pages. If you wish to interact with us during our podcasts live then please do join us on our Slack channel.

#iACast 129 – What Is An App

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On this episode, Michael and Jason discuss the fundamental definition of an app. They also discuss some of the differences between Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android apps, and the methods for developing them.

News

Android 10 has been released.
Apple’s September 10th event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater.

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Picks

Jason: The Big Bang Theory
Michael: The Powerbeats Pro

Providing Feedback

We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our PayPal and Patreon pages. If you wish to interact with us during our podcasts live then please do join us on our Slack channel.

Differences between iOS and Android App Development

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Picture of Xcode app icon and the app icon for Android Studio

Becoming a developer for any platform requires a lot of time, dedication, and will, but sometimes it helps to have resources out there to just read and learn from. iOS and Android are two platforms that dominate the industry, so lets take a look at these platforms, and what it takes to develop for them.

iOS Development

To develop for iOS, you MUST have a Mac. Once you have one, you will need to download Xcode, Apple’s development platform. This application lets you develop applications for both iOS and macOS. You will then need to learn a coding language supported by these operating systems. The most popular of these is Swift, but developers can still use Objective-C if that is what they are more interested in. Here are some great resources to get you started with these languages.

  1. The Swift Programming Guide for Swift 5 on Apple Books
  2. The Objective-C Programming Language – Apple Developer

iOS development is based on writing code around the user interface and user events. To help with this, Apple has created what are called Storyboards, where you can create each screen of your app graphically. If graphical design isn’t your thing, then you can create all of your app’s user interface objects through code. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses.

Once your app has been written, your assets are ready, and you are ready to test,  you should sign up for an Apple Developer account. This account will use your Apple ID, and it will cost you $100 in the US each year.

Once this is done, login to App Store Connect, and set up TestFlight testing which supports public testing now.

If your app is how you like it,  send it up to Apple for review. This can take up to 24 to 48 hours. Once this is done,  your app will be live in the App Store for anyone to download.

Android App Development

Android app development is very similar to iOS development in some ways but drastically different in others. Here is the process for building an app for Android.

To develop apps on Android, you will first need a program called Android Studio. Android Studio is an Integrated Developer environment similar to Apple’s Xcode. It allows you to build Android apps on multiple platforms. This means that you can build the same app on a Windows computer or on a Mac.

To start developing for Android, you first need to learn an Android supported programming language. There are ways you can build Android apps in Python and or with other programming languages, but Java and Kotlin is the preferred way to go, and is the supported language by Google and Android Studio at this time. Here are some resources to get you started.

  1. Documentation for Android Developers

With Android Studio, an app is built by programming around user interface elements and events, which is similar to iOS, but Android does not have anything like Storyboards. Instead, you will have to design each screen separately. These screens are called Activities, and the best way to think of this is that each activity is a separate app from other activities in your containing app. You basically just connect each activity together and send data back and forth.

Android Activities are basically a few files. The code files which are written in Java or Kotlin, and the layout files which are written in XML. You can write the layout files by hand, or you can use Android Studio’s visual designer. You will definitely find though that the Android studio visual designer will only get you so far in the process, and some hand writing of the user interface layout files will be needed. You can also opt out of layout files, and just write all of your user interfaces out of Java or Kotlin, but this will take longer unlike iOS development.

Once you write your app its time to test and begin the publication process. You will need to register as an Android developer at developer.android.com which has an initial cost of $20. Once you pay this then you are forever an Android Developer!

Publishing your app is very similar to the App Store Connect portal for iOS. This time, you will use the Google Play Developer console. You will have to have screenshots of your app and a description, and you will need to upload your app with Android Studio.

What Are The Differences?

iOS development and Android development have several things that are similar, but they have some very major differences. Many of these were outlined above, but lets look at everything now.

  • iOS development requires you to pay $100 a year to keep your apps in the App Store, whereas Google requires you to pay $20 up front to become an Android Developer for life.
  • Apple uses Xcode to build apps, whereas Android uses Android Studio to build apps and services.
  • Apple keeps their apps as a walled garden, meaning their access to other apps is limited,  where as Android lets your app talk to and see other apps on a device.
  • iOS developers use Swift or Objective-C to build apps, whereas Android developers use Java or Kotlin.
  • iOS app simulators are bare-bones versions of iOS that run effectively on macOS, where Android simulators are full versions of Android that may tax your machine a bit while debugging apps. This allows you to run Talkback while testing your apps, however. The iOS simulator is unable to run VoiceOver.
  • iOS apps may run in the background for certain reasons for a certain amount of time, but Android apps can install services to run indefinitely or until the app is closed.
  • iOS apps use storyboards or NIB files to build user interfaces, where Android apps use layout files which are written in pure XML. Android files are easier to edit by hand.

There are still many more differences between these two platforms that we have not had the chance to cover, but this should help any new developer know what they are getting into if they want to transition between either of these platforms.

Reach out to us on our Slack community if you would like to learn more, or email us at feedback@iaccessibility.net if you have any developer questions.

#iACast DemoCast 18 – Seeing AI New Features

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On this episode, Jason gives a brief overview of the Seeing AI app for iOS, and then he demonstrates some of the newer features of the app. These include person recognition, exploring photos, and reordering/hiding channels. You can find Seeing AI on the App Store. For a more in-depth look, check out or original DemoCast.

Providing Feedback

We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our Paypal and Patreon pages.

#iACast 108 – Accessibility Versus Inclusive Design

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On this episode of the iACast, Michael, Aleeha, Jason, and Lauren discuss accessibility versus inclusive design.

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Picks

Jason: Garage Band

Lauren: Instacart

Aleeha: Clock In/Out iOS Shortcut

Michael: iMovie

Providing Feedback

We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our Paypal and Patreon pages.

 

New Features in macOS 10.14 Mojave

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MacOS 10.14 Mojave has been in the wild for quite some time, but we felt that it still bears discussion, as it comes with a few changes that will change how we view the Mac ecosystem.

Features

There are several features in macOS Mojave; however, only a few of these will be discussed. In this article, we will focus on the significant features that will keep changing in the future.

Dark Mode

MacOS 10.14 brings dark mode to the Mac, which allows applications to show content with a dark theme. This is different from smart invert for iOS as it only changes the interface and text colors. The one drawback to this is that developers must enable dark mode in their applications and it does not work out of the box.

Dynamic Desktops

One feature worth mentioning is Dynamic Desktops. Dynamic Desktops are modified desktops that can change based on certain conditions. Right now, this means that the desktop can change based on the time of day, so you can have a lighter background and skin while it is bright outside, or you may have a darker background with dark mode enabled at night. This is really useful if you would like to adjust your working environment based on the time of day.

Desktop Stacks

So, wouldn’t it be amazing if you could make a stack of items on your desktop instead of just in the Dock? Well, you can now! Mojave supports the ability to make stacks on your desktop.

Continuity Camera

macOS Mojave allows you to take pictures with your iPhone or iPad and have that picture go directly to your Mac. One issue that users have found is that the phone can not have personal hotspot enabled when this is used.

Mac App Store

The Mac App store received a full redesign this year, with an all new interface.

iOS Apps On The Mac

An ongoing project was started in 2018 to allow iOS apps work on the Mac. This is a huge change for the Mac, as it allows iOS developers to run their apps on the Mac. Unfortunately, this feature is only enabled in certain apps from Apple like Home, News, Stocks, and Voice Memos. Apple has stated that they would be bringing more support to iOS apps on the Mac in 2019.

Accessibility Improvements

VoiceOver and Zoom did not receive much of a noticeable update this year, but there have been obvious under the hood changes to VoiceOver to support the new iOS apps that have been added to the Mac. We noticed these changes throughout the Mojave beta process.

Conclusion

While Mojave has not seen the most accessibility updates, it surely has several updates to pay attention to, and lets be honest, Dark Mode is a great feature for low vision users if the brightness of the screen is too much or if the added contrast helps you read the interface easier.

MacOS Mojave has set the stage for future versions of macOS, but we will definately see even more changes to the OS later this year when we receive macOS 10.15.

 

Let us know what your thoughts are about macOS by emailing us at feedback@iaccessibility.net

#iACast 106: iOS Access for All

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Michael, Aleeha and Jason bring a guest to the iAccessibility network. Shelly talks with them all about her new iOS Access for All book that covers iOS 12. There are a few surprises as well. This is one you don’t want to miss!

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Providing Feedback

We love hearing from you, so feel free to send an email to feedback@iaccessibility.net. You can follow us on Facebook, and Twitter. You can also find us on Reddit, and all around the web. Also, don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, and for all things iACast, check out our iACast page. If you’d like to help support us, you can do so via our Paypal and Patreon pages.

 

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