[fb-exchange] Apple Software Updates
- From: "Dominique Farrell" <hollyandopal@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <iphone_newbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2019 16:17:54 -0000
Yesterday saw the release of iOS 12.2 to the public, following its event
that saw the launches of new video, news, and gaming services, and a new
Apple credit card.
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-apple-tv-news/recapping-apples-its-show
-time-keynote>
In addition to some new features and enhancements, iOS 12.2 brings one fix
for braille users.
When placing a Real-Time Text (RTT) call, the display will automatically
refresh to show text typed by the other party. Previous to this release,
braille users had to scroll back and forth to get any new text typed by the
other party to show up. This now works as expected, and scrolling back and
forth between the text area and other parts of the screen to get newly-added
text is no longer necessary.
Disappointingly, we do not believe the problem with VoiceOver focus in apps
such as Safari and News that many have been experiencing in recent iOS
releases
<https://www.applevis.com/forum/ios-ios-app-discussion/vo-skipping-top-after
-ios-1211-update> has been completely resolved in iOS 12.2. Our own
experience has been mixed, so our expectation is that some users will find
this behavior to be improved, whilst for others it will be as prevalent as
before.
Also of great disappointment is that many of the bugs for braille users
still remain unresolved. Some of these bugs, such aslack of braille output
support of VoiceOver
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/when-voiceover-speaks-possible-detected-t
ext-it-not-displayed-braille-braille-display> 's auto-detected text feature
and issues with erroneous text insertion after using cursor routing buttons
in the Messages app
<https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/when-using-braille-display-messages-app-i
f-one-presses-cursor-routing-button-and-then> are bugs that have been
around since iOS 11; to see these bugs still active near what has
historically been the end of the current iOS release life-cycle is
incredibly frustrating and disheartening.
In addition to the braille bugs, other issues still remain unresolved for
all VoiceOver users. As of iOS 12.2, we have documented seven moderate bugs
and four minor bugs <https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/active> which remain
to be fixed. It is our sincere hope that blind and low vision users will not
have to wait for this fall's iOS release to see fixes for these out-standing
bugs, especially as issues such as the focus problems in Safari are a
significant degradation of the user experience that - were they to affect
non-VoiceOver users - would be fixed in very short order.
There is, however, one new feature for VoiceOver users: a new option called
'Accessibility Events' located at Settings > General > Accessibility >
VoiceOver > Web. This option is enabled by default, with Apple saying that
Accessibility Events:
... allow websites to customize their behaviour for assistive technologies,
like VoiceOver. Enabling Accessibility Events may reveal whether an
assistive technology is active on your iPhone.
We're currently unaware of any websites which take advantage of this
facility.
At the time of posting, we are unaware of any new regressions for blind or
low vision users in iOS 12.2. However, as we always stress, it is impossible
for us to test all devices; configurations; and use cases-so there may be
improvements or regressions that we did not identify during the beta cycle.
Some General Changes in iOS 12.2
* iOS 12.2 expands Apple News to Canada, where news stories will be
available to read in English, French, or both.
* There are four new Animoji included in iOS 12.2 - a boar, a shark,
a giraffe, and an owl.
* In Screen Time, you can now set Downtime options on a day by day
basis.
* HomeKit gains initial support for AirPlay for compatible
televisions.
* AirPlay destinations are now grouped by content type, which makes
it faster to find a destination device.
* Apple has improved the quality of the audio messages sent in the
Messages app - it has reportedly switched to using a new Opus codec at 24000
Hz, up from the previously used AMR codec at 8000 Hz.
<https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/13/ios-12-2-improved-audio-message-qualit
y/>
* There's a new "Motion & Orientation" option located under Settings
Safari > Privacy >Security, which controls whether websites can display
content that relies on motion data from your device's accelerometer and
gyroscope. This option is disabled by default.
* Warnings now appear in Safari when loading unencrypted webpages.
* The information available at Settings > General > About has been
rearranged to be grouped more logically. There is also a new item here which
allows you to check the warranty status of your device.
* There have been some minor tweaks to the Wallet app - when viewing
a stored card, the "Info" button has been relocated to the top of the
screen, , and there's now a ""Done"" button instead of double tapping "Other
Cards" at the bottom of the screen. The number of recent transactions
displayed in the Wallet app has also increased.
* Adds support for new 2nd-generation AirPods.
iOS 12.2 also adds support for Apple's News and Magazines subscription
service, which was launched by Apple for US and Canadian users at its
service-focused event.
<
https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-apple-tv-news/recapping-apples-its-show
-time-keynote>
How to Update to iOS 12.2
iOS 12.2 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software
Update) or via iTunes on a Mac or PC.
Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of
your device (either in iTunes or iCloud, depending on personal preference).
This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong
during the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a
device restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend
plugging your device into a power source for the duration of the
download/installation process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your
battery going dead during the update
More information on how to update the software on your iOS device is
available on this Apple Support page
<
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204204> .
Apple Releases macOS 10.14.4, tvOS 12.2, & New 12.2 Software for the HomePod
Also yesterday Apple released macOS Mojave 10.14.4, tvOS 12.2, & version
12.2 of the HomePod software.
At the time of posting, we are unaware of any changes for blind and low
vision users in these releases.
It is particularly disappointing that we are once again unable to report
fixes for any of the longstanding and wide-ranging accessibility-related
bugs in macOS.
When you consider that many of the bugs appear on the surface to be 'low
hanging', it's hard not to view Apple's apparent zero priority towards these
as evidence that it has effectively abandoned the Mac in regard to
addressing issues faced by its blind and low vision customers. Given that we
are nearing what has historically been the end of the current software
release life-cycle, this is all the more discouraging; it is our sincere
hope that blind and low vision users will not have to wait until this fall's
software releases to see fixes for the outstanding issues in macOS.
Some General Changes in macOS Mojave 10.14.4, tvOS 12.2 and the New HomePod
Software
macOS Mojave 10.14.4 expands Apple News to Canada, where news stories will
be available to read in English, French, or both.
The macOS 10.14.4 update includes support for Safari AutoFill using Touch ID
and automatic dark mode themes in Safari when visiting websites that offer a
dark theme option. It also adds support for Apple's News and Magazines
subscription service, which was launched at "the company's show time" event.
According to MacRumors
<
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/18/apple-seeds-tvos-12-2-beta-6-to-develo
pers/> , tvOS 12.2 expands Siri capabilities on the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV
4th generation:
tvOS 12.2, paired with iOS 12.2, lets users ask Siri to play specific media
on an Apple TV from an iOS device. You can, for example, ask Siri to play
Modern Family on the TV in the living room, or Pitch Perfect on the TV in
the bedroom. This works for music and TV shows, and movies.
According to the release notes via MacRumors
<
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/25/apple-releases-12-2-software-for-homep
od/> , the updated HomePod software is minor in scale and designed
specifically for university or enterprise users.
How to Update
To install macOS 10.14.4, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu,
then click the Software Update preference pane to check for updates. If any
updates are available, click the Update Now button to install them. Or click
"More info" to see details about each update and select specific updates to
install.
To install tvOS 12.2 on Apple TV 4K or Apple TV 4th generation, go to
Settings > System > Software Updates and Select Update Software. If there's
an update, select Download and Install. Wait for your Apple TV to download
the update. Don't disconnect or unplug your Apple TV until the update
completes.
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod
after you update to iOS 12.2 on your iPhone.
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