AppleVis Podcast

AppleVis Podcast
  • 4.5 (103)
  • TECHNOLOGY

AppleVis is the go-to resource for blind and low vision users of Apple technologies. Our Podcast discusses the latest in Apple vision accessibility. Topics cover OS and accessibility features, apps, interviews with developers, roundtable discussions, and more - centering around accessing the maximum potential of Apple hardware, software, and services. Tune in to learn how you can get the most out of your Apple devices, hear the latest accessibility news, and more.

  1. 4D AGO

    AppleVis Extra#112: Stephen Lovely on Rethinking Visual Accessibility with Vision AI Assistant

    In this episode of the AppleVis Extra podcast, hosts Dave Nason and Thomas Domville speak with StephenLovely, the creator of Vision AI Assistant, a rapidly emerging web-based accessibility tool designed primarily for blind and visually impaired users. Stephen explains the motivation behind the project, rooted in his own lived experience as a person who has been blind since birth, and how that perspective shaped every design decision. The discussion covers the app’s core philosophy of giving users control over what visual information they receive, rather than forcing them to listen to long, generic descriptions. The conversation explores Vision AI Assistant’s major features in depth, including the Photo Explorer, which allows users to explore images by touch and zoom into specific areas for granular detail; Live Camera Mode, which provides near real-time environmental feedback and action detection; object tracking for navigation; sign and text reading via gesture-based interaction; physical book reading with page tracking; and optional voice commands. Stephen explains how the app leverages a progressive web app model to deliver instant updates across platforms, why he chose the Base44 language model, and how careful prompt engineering minimizes hallucinations while allowing medically descriptive output when needed. The hosts and guest also discuss privacy considerations, data handling, accessibility trade-offs between web and native apps, and the financial realities of running AI-driven services. Stephen outlines future plans, including native app wrappers, potential integration with smart glasses, expanded social media accessibility, and a sustainable subscription model. The episode concludes with reflections on community-driven development, responsiveness, and the broader impact of having accessibility tools led by people with lived experience. Guest contact information: Website: https://visionaiassistant.com Phone: 1-866-825-6177 TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content. Dave: Hello there and welcome to another episode of the AppleVis Extra podcast. My name is David Mason and I am once again joined by my good friend Thomas Domville, also known as AnonyMouse. Today we're here to talk about an app that has somewhat exploded on the AppleVis website over the past few weeks called Vision AI Assistant. So yeah, thanks for joining me Thomas, it's going to be a really interesting conversation. Thomas: Right, Dave, and this is going to be kind of an exciting one because this is something a little different than we typically do. Just because it's a web app and not like a native app per se, like we've typically done interviews with other developers, but with this technology, you said it right on. This has exploded. I mean, this has only been out for about a month. And if you haven't been on AppleVis, this is really something that you should take a look at. This is like the next level of things that we can do or AI can do for us visually that others are not doing. So I'm excited to do this interview with Stephen. Dave: Yeah, absolutely. So rather than us trying to describe the app, let's dive in, chat to Stephen and get the lowdown on all of the great ideas…

  2. DEC 5

    Apple Crunch November 2025: Siri Gets a New Brain, iOS Takes a Breather, and the Air Takes a Dive

    In this November edition of Apple Crunch, Thomas, John, and Desiree dig into a surprisingly busy month for Apple. We start with the iPhone Air’s underwhelming debut and why Apple may be rethinking its strategy after weak sales and confusing pricing. Next, we explore Apple’s ongoing talks to bring a Gemini-powered core to Siri—what that means for privacy, how it blends with Apple Intelligence, and how it may finally close the gap with today’s leading AI assistants. We also look ahead to iOS 27, which is shaping up to be a major stability-focused update across all Apple platforms—echoing the beloved Snow Leopard era—with an emphasis on fixing long-standing issues including Braille bugs and Personal Voice quirks. From there, we move into Apple’s evolving 2026 roadmap, including new release schedules for iPhones and Macs, the long-rumored foldable iPhone, a next-generation smart home device, and early hints of Apple smart glasses. We also discuss a promising Vision AI web app offering detailed grid-based image exploration and real-time scene updates. Finally, we wrap up with our App Pick of the Month, Ramblio, a social audio platform reminiscent of Clubhouse and Vorail. Hosted By Thomas Domville (AnonyMouse)John GassmanDesiree Renee Crunchy Chapters Air Turbulence — The iPhone Air Stalls on the Runway We examine the disappointing performance of the iPhone Air: weak launch-day demand, pricing too close to the Pro lineup, and confusion around where the device fits. We explore whether the Air should even be a yearly release and what Apple may adjust for the next version. The Siri Shake-Up — Gemini Steps Into the Spotlight We unpack Apple’s potential plan to integrate a Gemini-powered model into Siri. The team discusses privacy protections, how this pairs with Apple Intelligence, and how this hybrid approach may finally bring Siri up to modern AI standards. Stability Surge — iOS 27 Aims to Smooth Out the Rough Edges Reports suggest iOS 27 and all major Apple OS updates next year will focus heavily on stability and bug fixes rather than new features. We discuss the need for accessibility fixes—including Braille reliability and Personal Voice issues—and why a Snow Leopard–style year is long overdue. Future Shock — Apple’s 2026 Roadmap Promises a Wild Ride) Apple is restructuring its entire release calendar. We highlight the new E-series iPhones coming early in the year, delayed base-model iPhones, refreshed MacBook Air and Pro models, the pricey foldable iPhone, and an upcoming smart home display. Early signs of Apple smart glasses also enter the conversation. Eyes Forward — A New Wave of Vision AI Assistance) We explore a powerful new Vision AI web app featuring a 6-grid photo mode, zoomable image analysis, real-time live view with two-second refreshes, and smart duplicate filtering—all designed to give blind and low-vision users richer environmental insights. AnonyMouse App Pick of the Month — Ramblio Ramblio is a simple, audio-based social networking app blending asynchronous rambling with real-time hangouts. Fully accessible and VoiceOver-friendly, it offers a clean, clutter-free…

  3. DEC 2

    How to Customize the Control Center and Menu Bar on macOS

    In this episode, Tyler demonstrates how to customize the Control Center and menu bar on macOS. With macOS Tahoe, the Mac's Control Center and menu bar have become more customizable, with the ability to add, remove, and reorder a greater variety of items. To add an item to the Control Center or menu bar, click the “Edit controls” button at the bottom of the Control Center dialog, focus on the item you want to add either in the list of suggestions or the “More controls” grid, and choose "Add to Control Center" or "add to menu bar" from the Actions menu (accessed by pressing VO-Command-Space). Note that you can use the search field, or click a category in the “Available controls” group to narrow down what’s shown in the “more controls” grid. To remove an item from Control Center, focus on it and choose "Remove" from the context menu (accessed by pressing VO-Shift-M). To remove an item from the menu bar, focus on it and choose "Remove" from the Actions menu. To move an item in Control Center, press VO-Shift-F3 to turn cursor tracking off, focus on the item, route the mouse pointer to it by pressing VO-Command-F5, and mouse down on it by pressing VO-Command-Shift-Space. Then, move to where you want to move the item to, route the mouse pointer by pressing VO-Command-F5, and mouse up by pressing VO-Command-Shift-Space. Note that this may not always work reliably, depending on the positions of controls being reordered. To reset Control Center to its default layout, go to System Settings > Menu bar, and click Reset Control Center. TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content. Tyler: Hey AppleVisors, Tyler here with a quick tip for how to customize the Control Center and Menu Bar on macOS. With macOS Tahoe, the Mac's Control Center and Menu Bar have become much more customizable with the ability to add, remove, and reorder a greater variety of items. To do this, you'd go into the Control Center and hit the Edit Controls button at the bottom of the dialog. You can also find this button in System Settings by selecting the Menu Bar category and clicking the Edit Controls button in the scroll area. To demonstrate, I'm going to go into Control Center on my Mac with VL Shift O. VL Globe Right, jump to the bottom. VoiceOver: Edit controls. System dialogue. In system dialogue, content is empty. Drag the controls to place in the control center or menu bar. System has new system dialogue. Tyler: Okay, so here we are in the edit controls dialog. At the top we have the search field. We can search for a control. VoiceOver: Available controls group Tyler/VoiceOver: this is where you can categorize what you see in this dialog. For some reason it jumps down to vision accessibility at the bottom, so I'm going to jump to the top with VL Globe left. All controls selected. Battery, Connectivity, Desktop and Finder, Display and Brightness, etc. Suggestions will depend on what macOS thinks will be helpful based on how you use your Mac. VoiceOver: Scene or accessory toggle button. Actions available. Alarm…

  4. OCT 28

    iPhone Air: Unboxing and First Impressions

    In this episode, David Nason unboxes an iPhone Air and gives his first impressions of the device. Apple’s thinnest phone to date, the iPhone Air was released alongside the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max in September 2025. Our thanks to Apple for providing this device for review. This and future reviews of the device are entirely independent with no editorial input from Apple. Key Points: Despite the coverage I’ve seen and heard, I was still somewhat blown away by just how thin this device is.It is significantly thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro.While the screen is slightly larger, it doesn’t immediately feel like a much larger device due to the thin build.Set up went smoothly, including transfer from physical SIM card on my existing phone to the eSIM on the Air.During set up and initial use, the fact that it has only a single speaker does not appear to be problematic. This is only navigating the phone with VoiceOver, and in a quiet environment however, so more real world use is needed in order to make a full judgement.Seems nice and responsive, but of course it’s only a very first impression. Battery too will be an important aspect to test in the coming weeks.TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content. Dave: Hey there, David Nason here. I hope you are keeping well. I am with you today to take a look at the new iPhone Air which came out in September 2025. Apple have kindly sent me one to review. The one they sent me is the space black model with 512 gigabytes of storage. Dave: The phone I am coming from myself is an iPhone 15 Pro so I'll quickly compare the two as well in terms of their size and weight and that kind of thing so firstly let's take a look at the box that they came in so you can see that the iPhone 15 Pro box is significantly higher um or thicker than the Air so the Air is in a much thinner box the Air is in a slightly longer box but that makes perfect sense as well because it is a bigger screen size as well so that's how the two compare but now I'm going to move the old one aside and open up the iPhone Air box so just do the tabs at the back and off the lid. Dave: And the phone is sitting on top and there are very little things in the box. So we have the phone sitting on top, which I'll come back to in a second. And then we have a USB-C cable and a few little pieces of paper, that kind of thing. As with previous models in recent years, there's no charger, but we do have the USB cable and that is all that is in the box. It's a nice threaded cable as well. Dave: Good so let's move the box aside and the phone as soon as I picked it up I'd say straight away and I it's it's lighter and thinner than I even expected it to be coming from the 15 Pro which you know compared to a Max I can see how with the Pro Max I could see how it'd be significantly thinner and feel significantly smaller but even compared to the regular Pro the regular 15 Pro in my case this really does feel a lighter but just really really thin it's incredible so I'm going…

  5. OCT 27

    How to Opt Out of Offers and Promotions in the Wallet App on iOS

    In this episode, Tyler demonstrates how to opt out of notifications for offers and promotions in the Wallet app on iOS. The Wallet app, responsible for managing payments, orders, passes, and more, often sends important notifications related to users' financial activity. However, notifications from the Wallet app can also be used to deliver ads, like Apple's advertising of discounted "F1: The Movie" tickets. To ensure you don't receive such notifications in the future, open the Wallet app, double-tap the "More" button near the top right of the screen, select "notifications" from the menu, and toggle the "offers & promotions" switch off. TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content. Tyler: Hey Apple visitors, Tyler here, with a quick tip for how to opt out of offers and promotions in the Wallet app on iOS. As the Wallet app is used to manage payments, passes, orders, and other things, you may want to be able to receive notifications from it to stay on top of pertinent activity. However, the Wallet app has also been known to send ads as notifications, like the time Apple used it to promote a discount on tickets to F1 the Movie in early 2025. If you'd rather not receive such notifications, you can turn them off by opening the Wallet app, double-tapping the More button, selecting Notifications, and turning the Offers and Promotions switch off. And I'm going to demonstrate that now on my iPhone. VoiceOver: camera weather camera wallet wallet Tyler: and since the more button is located near the top right of the screen i'm going to put my finger there VoiceOver: more button more orders button Tyler: and touch my finger toward the bottom VoiceOver: dismiss context menu button notifications notifications close button Tyler: and since the setting is the last one on this screen i'm gonna tap with four fingers near the bottom of the screen VoiceOver: offers and promotions switch button off offers and promotions Tyler: this is off for me if it's on for you and you want to turn it off just double tap if you swipe left VoiceOver: new features and updates switch button onTyler: you have new features and updates that's on for me because the wallet app is constantly improving and new features are rolling out as time passes and i like to be aware of when a new feature rolls out to decide whether i want to take advantage of it or not but if you don't want to be alerted of such things just turn that off when you're done changing these settings and making them what you want Double tap the VoiceOver: close button Tyler: near the top left of the screen. And here you are back on the main screen of the Wallet app. So that's a quick tip for opting out of offers and promotions in the Wallet app. It's a very set it and forget it procedure. And I hope you found it helpful. Peace.

  6. OCT 12

    Bridging Access to Braille: An In-Depth Look at Braille Access on iOS 26

    In this episode, Scott Davert gives us an in-depth demonstration of Braille Access. New in iOS 26, Braille Access aims to offer an experience similar to dedicated braille note takers. TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers' names, voices, or content. An AppleVis Orriginal Thanks for checking out the AppleViz podcast. I'm Scott Davert, and on this podcast, I'm going to cover Braille Access, a brand new set of features available in iOS 26. My apologies, by the way, for getting this out kind of late. I know it's been pretty much a month at this point, but I had a lot of things going on, including being sick twice last month. And the bulk of everything I'm going to talk about here today is available in the article I published on September 13th. So if you're someone who prefers blog posts to podcasts, that is also available to you. What is Braille Access? Braille Access provides access to Braille. That's the podcast. Hope you enjoyed. This podcast was brought to you by the community at AppleBiz.com. No, I'm kidding. Braille Access is A set of tools, I would call them. I don't know if we're supposed to refer to Braille access as a feature and these other things as sub-features or as an app. I don't know. Whatever it is, it has a lot to offer. We have a few functions in it that... We're already available on previous versions of iOS that have been put into this suite of applications or tools, we'll call them. And you have some newcomers. Like anything that is brand new, it does suffer with some challenges, but we'll talk about that as we go along. The idea behind this is to essentially address the needs of Braille users. For a long time, we've, of course, been able to connect Bluetooth displays to iOS devices, but we haven't had any real major features built in specifically for Braille display users, and that changes with iOS 26. If you're familiar with the old note takers like the Braille Lite, the Braille and Speak, the BrailleNote, the BrailleNote Empower, the BrailleNote Apex, The Braille Sense 6 has some of this as well. It's probably the most modern example of this type of environment. But this one brings a lot of these features to your iOS and iPadOS devices. So, for example, you have the ability to take notes. That one's called Braille Notes. I don't know how humanware feels about that, but that's what it's called. And then you have BRF files. So if you have files that you have created on notetakers or things that you have downloaded from Bookshare, NLS barred, CELA, I know, has BRF content, RNIB does, and so on and so forth. You'll be able to read. You can also create and edit BRF documents through Braille access. There's also a calculator application that allows you to use Nemeth code, which is still, I think, what a lot of schools are using here in the States, as well as UEB math. which is starting to spread across the U.S., but who knows how that one will come out. We also have live captions. I can't really demonstrate those. It's kind of difficult to do in a podcast, but I'll definitely talk about that and how they are used and some of the limitations. And we also have the ability to tell the time in…

  7. OCT 2

    Apple Crunch September 2025: The Thin, the Bold, and the Crunchy

    September 2025 Edition Hosted by Thomas Domville, Dave Nason, and John Gassman Welcome to the September 2025 edition of Apple Crunch, where we break down the biggest Apple stories and explore what they mean for the blind and low-vision community. This month, we dive into a wide range of updates—from AppleVis itself getting a major facelift, to a critical VoiceOver bug fix in iOS 26.0.1, to Apple’s highly anticipated September hardware event with its mix of bold moves and controversial compromises. We also take a closer look at rumors of a new budget-friendly MacBook that could redefine Apple’s entry-level lineup, while across the tech landscape Meta is making aggressive plays in AR, VR, and AI that may shape the competition for years to come. Rounding things out, we announce the launch of two exciting new AppleVis series: Gamers Corner, a podcast dedicated to accessible play, and AnonyMouse’s App Pick of the Month, a blog feature highlighting standout apps. There’s a lot happening this fall, and we’re here to make sure you don’t miss the updates that matter most. Mentions in This Show: The Crunchy Chapters A Fresh Look for AppleVis The redesigned AppleVis website brings a cleaner interface, smoother navigation, and a better mobile experience for the accessibility community. Early feedback highlights easier movement across devices, though some longtime users are already looking ahead to future refinements like personalization and faster forums. Apple’s Quick Save: VoiceOver Users Get Relief in iOS 26.0.1 Apple wasted no time releasing iOS 26.0.1, a vital patch that fixed a critical VoiceOver bug. For blind and low-vision users who rely on consistency, the update restores confidence and underlines Apple’s responsiveness when accessibility issues arise. Apple’s Big Reveal: Hits, Misses, and Maybes The September event delivered the lightweight iPhone Air, the redesigned iPhone 17 Pro with its shift from titanium to aluminum, and the upgraded AirPods Pro 3. While innovation was on display, compromises in display, materials, and battery life sparked spirited debates about Apple’s direction. The Ghost MacBook: Hiding in Plain Sight? Rumors of a budget-friendly MacBook powered by Apple’s upcoming A18 chip hint at a big play for students and first-time Mac buyers. History, however, shows Apple’s “affordable” MacBooks often struggle to last. Could this be the one that sticks—or another ghost in the product vault? Meta Moves In: Beyond the Headset At Meta Connect 2025, new Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, expanded AI companions, and mixed reality initiatives showed the company doubling down on mainstream wearables. The contrast with Apple’s high-end Vision Pro is striking: Apple pursues polish, while Meta races for ubiquity. Announcing Gamers Corner: A Podcast for Accessible Play We’re thrilled to introduce Gamers Corner, a new AppleVis podcast dedicated to the world of gaming and accessibility. Hosted by passionate gamers from within the community, this show brings together reviews, insights, and discussions about the latest accessible titles, platforms, and trends. It’s designed as a space for blind and low-vision players to stay informed, share experiences, and celebrate how far accessible…

  8. SEP 29

    Gamers Corner: May to August 2025 Edition

    Welcome to Gamers Corner Welcome to the very first edition of Gamers Corner, a brand-new show from AppleVis hosted by Thomas Domville (AnonyMouse), with co-hosts Aaron Spelker and Jesse Anderson. This inaugural episode marks the beginning of a seasonal series that will run three or four times a year, depending on the pace of major game releases. Gamers Corner was created to provide blind and low vision gamers with a dedicated space to discover new titles, revisit hidden gems, and explore accessibility in mainstream and indie games alike. Each edition will highlight standout iOS games, feature community-driven insights, and showcase accessible titles across other platforms. Our goal is to capture the excitement of gaming while maintaining a critical eye on design, accessibility, and overall player experience. In this debut issue, we dive into two ambitious iOS games that generated plenty of discussion, explore Aaron’s “Vault Treasure” pick from the past, and finish with Jesse’s console recommendation that proves accessibility is expanding beyond mobile platforms. Glory Frontline Platform: iOS (Free, with in-app purchases) Genre: Strategy and Action Hybrid Glory Frontline isn’t content to play it safe. Instead, it pushes the boundaries of what blind-accessible iOS gaming can be, throwing players headfirst into the chaos of battle. In single-player mode, it feels like a tower defense game where enemies swarm down lanes, demanding that you shift quickly between positions to survive. Switch to multiplayer, however, and the world opens up into a full 360-degree battlefield more reminiscent of mainstream first-person shooters. The ambition is undeniable, and the sound design is equally striking, immersing players in frantic combat with clear audio cues for threats at every range. Yet with great ambition comes some missteps. The lack of a proper tutorial makes onboarding overwhelming, leaving many players confused about mechanics and progression. Microtransactions and skill regressions can also frustrate those unwilling to commit daily playtime. Still, for the dedicated gamer, Glory Frontline represents one of the boldest and most console-like experiences available on iOS. It’s complex, sometimes punishing, but undeniably groundbreaking. Joker Poker: Texas Frenzy Platform: iOS (Free, optional in-app purchase to remove ads) Genre: Roguelike Poker At first glance, Joker Poker: Texas Frenzy might sound like just another card game. But this clever roguelike flips expectations on their head. Here, poker hands become puzzles, shaped by modifiers, celestial cards, and relentless boss battles. It’s not about chasing the perfect flush — it’s about leveraging multipliers and bending the rules of poker to survive another round. The replay value is immense. Every run feels different, and every choice carries weight, from what jokers to buy in the shop to how you approach the final boss’s brutal debuffs. What looks like a familiar round of poker quickly turns into a strategic tug-of-war, where two pairs may outperform a full house thanks to well-stacked modifiers. Accessibility is generally solid, though a few unlabeled elements and interface quirks make the learning curve steeper than it should be. Fortunately,…

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4.5
out of 5
103 Ratings

About

AppleVis is the go-to resource for blind and low vision users of Apple technologies. Our Podcast discusses the latest in Apple vision accessibility. Topics cover OS and accessibility features, apps, interviews with developers, roundtable discussions, and more - centering around accessing the maximum potential of Apple hardware, software, and services. Tune in to learn how you can get the most out of your Apple devices, hear the latest accessibility news, and more.

Information

  • Creator
    AppleVis Podcast
  • Years Active
    2011 - 2025
  • Episodes
    616
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright AppleVis. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    AppleVis Podcast

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