Apple Releases iOS 12 .3 with Redesigned TV App & Some Accessibility
Improvements for Blind & Low Vision Users
Apple has today released iOS 12.3 to the public, bringing with it a
redesigned TV app; a slightly updated design for the Apple TV Remote app;
and enhancements to the Wallet app.
In iOS 12.3, Apple has removed the Accessibility Events switch introduced
with iOS 12.2
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-assistive-technology-ios-macos-news/app
le-shares-information-its-new-accessibility-events> ; saying
<https://developer.apple.com/documentation/ios_release_notes/ios_12_3_beta_4
_release_notes?language=objc> that the feature was removed because "related
aspects of the W3C AOM effort are no longer applicable." It is unknown at
this time whether the removal of this setting is permanent or temporary to
allow Apple to put more in place to support this functionality.
Apple has also made continued progress towards addressing the accessibility
issues in iOS 12 <https://www.applevis.com/bugs/ios/active> . Based on our
testing, we believe the following issues are resolved in iOS 12.3:
* VoiceOver focus no longer spontaneously jumps to the "Back" button
when reading articles in the News app; we believe that the similar focus
issue in Safari
<https://www.applevis.com/forum/ios-ios-app-discussion/vo-skipping-top-after
-ios-1211-update> may also have been resolved. We are less certain about
the status of this behaviour in Safari, as it's a problem which has only
effected some users.
* VoiceOver once again provides audible feedback when re-ordering
tracks in the Now Playing queue - both when initiating re-ordering and when
moving tracks to different positions.
* Deleting songs from playlists using the VoiceOver actions menu now
works as intended.
While the fixes in iOS 12.3 are welcome and appreciated, we are nevertheless
very disappointed that there are a number of serious issues remaining for
braille users in iOS 12. With Apple's focus now likely to be on iOS 13, it
is extremely disheartening and frustrating that bugs which have a
significant impact on the usability and user experience for braille users
may now go unfixed
for at least a year since having been introduced.
At the time of writing, we are only aware of one minor regression for blind
and low vision users in iOS 12.3:
* Users of devices with no physical Home button may find that using
the "Home" gesture to navigate away from the Today View
<https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT207122> is unreliable, and on occasions
your device will 'bounce' straight back to the Today View.
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 12.3
iOS 12.3 includes the revamped Apple TV app that Apple debuted at its
services-focused event in March
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-apple-tv-news/recapping-apples-its-show
-time-keynote> .
The upgraded TV app offers better integration of bundle providers including
Spectrum and PlayStation Vue, and streaming apps like Hulu, and, as a
result, a much improved user experience.
A new feature of the TV app is what Apple calls Channels, which are
third-party video services that you can sign up for and watch content from
without needing to leave the TV app. The channels available include CBS All
Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault,
and Comedy Central Now.
MacStories
<https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-tv-channels-and-the-redesigned-tv-app
-our-complete-overview/> explains how channels differ from how integrated
services worked previously in the TV app:
Channels work differently from how TV app-integrated services currently
operate. Today, for example, if you find an HBO show in the TV app that you
want to watch, you have to download the HBO app and sign up for HBO Now
inside that app, then you can launch HBO content from the TV app and it will
play inside HBO's own app - the TV app's only benefits are initiating
playback and tracking your shows via the Up Next queue. When Channels
launch, things will be much simpler for Channels-partnering services: when
you find that HBO content you want to watch, you'll be able to sign up for
HBO Now quickly and easily from inside the TV app and the video will play
right from TV. There's no need to download or use a separate app at all.
The upgraded TV app uses curation and machine learning to recommend new
shows and movies to you. It also includes a new tab that provides access to
content appropriate for kids.
A Mac version of the TV app is coming this fall. It will also launch this
year on Roku; Amazon video hardware; and selected televisions from Samsung,
Sony, LG, and Vizio.
In iOS 12.3, Apple has continued with its upgrading of the Wallet app as it
prepares for the release of Apple Card <https://www.apple.com/apple-card/>
later this year.
Changes in this update include more detailed transaction history.
The only other notable changes in iOS 12.3 currently appear to be a slight
design makeover to the Apple TV Remote app and adding support for AirPlay
2-enabled TVs.
We will update this post if further notable changes surface when full
release notes become available.
How to Update to iOS 12.3
iOS 12.3 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 Mojave 10.14.5, watchOS 5.2.1, & tvOS 12.3
Today has seen another round of software updates from Apple. In addition to
iOS 12.3
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-ios-news/apple-releases-ios-123-redesig
ned-tv-app-and-some-accessibility-improvements> , Apple has released macOS
Mojave 10.14.5, watchOS 5.2.1, and tvOS 12.3.
The macOS Mojave 10.14.5 update appears to focus on under-the-hood bug fixes
and performance improvements, with the only notable change being adding
support for the Reiwa era <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa> of the
Japanese calendar.
tvOS 12.3 includes the revamped Apple TV app that Apple debuted at its
services-focused event in March
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-apple-tv-news/recapping-apples-its-show
-time-keynote> .
The upgraded TV app offers better integration of bundle providers including
Spectrum and PlayStation Vue, and streaming apps like Hulu, and, as a
result, a much improved user experience.
A new feature of the TV app is what Apple calls Channels, which are
third-party video services that you can sign up for and watch content from
without needing to leave the TV app. The channels available include CBS All
Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault,
and Comedy Central Now.
MacStories
<https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-tv-channels-and-the-redesigned-tv-app
-our-complete-overview/> explains how channels differ from how integrated
services worked previously in the TV app:
Channels work differently from how TV app-integrated services currently
operate. Today, for example, if you find an HBO show in the TV app that you
want to watch, you have to download the HBO app and sign up for HBO Now
inside that app, then you can launch HBO content from the TV app and it will
play inside HBO's own app - the TV app's only benefits are initiating
playback and tracking your shows via the Up Next queue. When Channels
launch, things will be much simpler for Channels-partnering services: when
you find that HBO content you want to watch, you'll be able to sign up for
HBO Now quickly and easily from inside the TV app and the video will play
right from TV. There's no need to download or use a separate app at all.
The upgraded TV app uses curation and machine learning to recommend new
shows and movies to you. It also includes a new tab that provides access to
content appropriate for kids.
A Mac version of the TV app is coming this fall. It will also launch this
year on Roku; Amazon video hardware; and selected televisions from Samsung,
Sony, LG, and Vizio.
MacRumors
<https://www.macrumors.com/2019/04/29/apple-seeds-watchos-5-2-1-beta-4-to-de
velopers/> previously reported that no changes were found in the early
watchOS 5.2.1 beta releases, suggesting that as a double dot release the
focus is on bug fixes and other under-the-hood performance improvements.
9to5Mac <https://9to5mac.com/2019/05/13/apple-watch-pride-2019-update/> has
since reported that watchOS 5.2.1 gives the Pride watch face introduced last
year a new design. There's also a new Pride Analog watch face, with full
screen and circular versions.
At the time of posting, the only accessibility-related change that we are
aware of in these releases is the removal of the Accessibility Events switch
introduced with macOS Mojave 10.14.4
<https://www.applevis.com/blog/apple-assistive-technology-ios-macos-news/app
le-shares-information-its-new-accessibility-events> , with Apple saying
<https://developer.apple.com/documentation/macos_release_notes/macos_mojave_
10_14_5_beta_4_release_notes> that this is because "related aspects of the
W3C AOM effort are no longer applicable." It is unknown at this time whether
the removal of this setting is permanent or temporary to allow Apple to put
more in place to support this functionality.
How to Update
To install macOS 10.14.5, 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.
watchOS 5.2.1 is available by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and
navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch
must be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.
To install tvOS 12.3 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.
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