Ariadne GPS | VoiceOver Review (updated to version 3.0.1)

Posted on September 16, 2012 by David

Four stars out of five.

Developer: Giovanni Ciaffoni
Version: 3.0.1
Using iPhone 3Gs, version: 5.1.1

Notable Changes:

  • The GUI changes make for easier browsing with VoiceOver in mind. Although finding what and where the new “rows” of route feedback and information are, the update is not disappointing or a struggle to adapt.
  • Faster performance is seen in street changes, etc., when in “monitor” mode and overall app/VoiceOver feedback.

Possible Improvements Needed:

  • If the “background” option is turned on in Settings, this can cause a flood of notifications to your lock screen (if locked) or constant re-reading/prompting if in background focus (the app being in the app-switcher pane). VoiceOver will respond in kind by attempting to read each notification as it comes in, creating a chaotic stream of activity until it is stopped or stops on its own. .

Reassessment: 

The latest release of Ariadne GPS is solid, and highly recommended for any visually impaired or blind person heading out for adventure. Knowing with a close degree of accuracy where you are at all times with this app can strengthen confidence for new travelers, or renew independence for seasoned commuters.

Download Ariadne GPS ($2.99) in the iTunes App Store.

 

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myAT&T | VoiceOver Review (Updated to version 2.4)

Posted on September 2, 2012 by David

Rated three stars out of five.

Developer: AT&T Inc.
Version: 2.4
Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1.1

Revised Review: September 2, 2012

Notable Changes:

  • Slight change in navigation to accessing individual usage data/minutes.

Possible Improvements Needed:

  • There is a portion of the “Usage” panel which is inaccessible. When trying to view individual data/minutes usage, the telephone numbers displayed (shared account) are not readable by VoiceOver. When VoiceOver is turned off, and navigating past the inaccessible buttons, the following page works fine with VoiceOver.

 

Reassessment: This application originally set the standard in my view when it comes to ease of use with VoiceOver. Unfortunately however, the oversight of just a few buttons significantly decreases the functionality of this app for the time being.

Download myAT&T in the iTunes App Store. (free)

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Facebook | VoiceOver Review (updated to version 5)

Posted on September 2, 2012 by David

 

Rated three stars out of five.
Developer: Facebook, Inc.

Version: 5.0

Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1.1

Notable Changes::

  • The rebuilt user interface makes Facebook much more accessible to VoiceOver than all previous releases. I.E. Each post isread along with how many comments and Likes are present. When double tapping on a post, the comment and Like buttons are distinctlyseparate and visible to VoiceOver.
  • The “Navigation Bar” has changed as well, for the better List items seem easier for VoiceOver to read and access when swipingdown with three fingers to get to more available options.

Possible Improvements Needed:

  • There is a consistent crash when attempting to sort the news feed from “Top Stories” to “Most Recent”.
  • The “Friends” section is not accessible. This makes it somewhat a pain to try and find and message the person you want easily.

Reassessment: Facebook version 5 is possibly the most accessibility improvements in one iOS app I have seen yet. This is not to ignore or exclude the fact that parts of the app are either inaccessible or spotty. While at

one time I nearly wrote off the Facebook app as a clunky, bug prone inconvenience, I am pleasantly surprised with the complete turnaround.

If you have deleted this one from your phone and tried something else, I’d recommend putting it back and giving the Facebook app a second

chance.
Download Facebook in the iTunes Store.

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Decide Shopping and Price Predictor – VoiceOver Review

Posted on August 19, 2012 by David

Rated three stars out of five.

 

Developer: Decide Inc

Version: 1.4.2

Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1.1

Pros:

  • Fairly accessible with VoiceOver using the common swipe gestures.
  • Most content is easily readable with VoiceOver.

Cons:

  • The camera function located on the top-right corner and only labeled as “button” will choke out VoiceOver responsiveness and major latency occurs. There is a cancel button at the bottom.
  • When inside the product selection list, swiping down does not reveal further along the list. However, using single finger swiping gestures will navigate past the visible pane where it is stuck.
  • There is a slight delay or catch up with VoiceOver when navigating to the initial category list results.

Breakdown:
Decide is a minor inconvenience, but handy for making a relevant purchasing decision, or just seeking a time killer. Either way, the issues with VoiceOver accessibility does not detract from downloading this app and trying it out.

Download Decide Shopping and Price Predictor from the iTunes Store

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Vokul | VoiceOver Review

Posted on July 4, 2012 by David

Four stars out of five.

 

 

 

Developer: Kul Tek LLC

Version: 1.2.3

Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1.1

Pros:

  • Very intuitive interface, easy to setup and use with VoiceOver. The controls are simple and well-spaced out for quick reference
  • Voice activation works simultaneously with VoiceOver running, which was surprising. The optimal use for Vokul is with a microphone headset, or in a quiet area.

Cons:

  • There is some redundancy, delay, and loopback when VoiceOver is repeating all that Vokul confirms.

Breakdown:

With the wonders of Siri still out of reach on an iPhone 3Gs, Vokul is excellent for composing text messages, emails, and social updates. In full disclosure, I did request and receive a promotion code, but it expired by the time I reviewed this app. It is well worth $2.99 and would recommend it to any visually impaired person with an iPhone 3Gs or possibly later.

Download Vokul from the iTunes Store ($2.99)

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NatureSpace | VoiceOver Review (updated to version 3.1)

Posted on May 27, 2012 by David

Four stars out of five.

Developer: Holographic Audio Theater
Version: 3.1
Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1.1
Revised Review: May 19, 2012

Notable Changes:

  • Improved navigation to the main pane of buttons, title of track and button are presented as one item.
  • There is a more user-friendly interaction with the settings menu.

Possible Improvements Needed:

  • The same “button” issue exists within the Nature Space store, but this somewhat confusing navigation can be kind of fixed with a triple two-finger tap to bring up the item chooser menu. This will present the listing in an easier to browse format, but not directly navigate you to the destination (next page).

Reassessment:

This is the same great program with some evident changes to improve usability with VoiceOver. Although some small inconvenience type issues still exist; the benefits of experiencing high quality audio with this app is reason enough to stick with it.

Download NatureSpace (free) in the iTunes App Store.

Originally Reviewed: July 16, 2011
Version: 2.5
Using iPhone 3Gs, version 4.3.4

Pros:

  • These are incredible soundscape environments created by the publisher. Navigation throughout the application is easy enough, using single finger swipe left and right gestures. No significant gaps or dead ends.
  • There are two distinct versions of each audio track on the player. One labeled “headphones small button” and “earbuds small button” The icon that is displayed indicates which track is currently playing. Switching between these modes displays a short fade in message stating “Earbud Optimization Enabled or “Disabled”. The difference between earbud “optimization” on or off is spectrum and frequency (hrz) of sound.

Cons:

  • While the menu on the main panel is stable with VoiceOver, navigation in the NatureSpace Store is a journey of itself. At first the buttons work normally, however, when swiping down to access more menu options the labels disappear. All that remains are a list of “button” labels. Using the single finger left and right swipe gestures fixes this issue.
  • While making a track selection in the NatureSpace Store, the price and name are labeled. Tapping on this results in no response. Instead, there are two buttons directly below labeled, well, “button” which point to the same location which is description, reviews, and option to purchase the track.

Breakdown:

An essential app for those who commute using public transportation. Although there are a few flukes in getting around, the utility and overwhelming amount of selection overrides these small gripes.

 

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Down Cast | VoiceOver Review

Posted on May 27, 2012 by David

Graphic of a five star ranking system.

Developer: Jamawkimaw Enterprises
Version: 2.7.1
Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1.1
Originally Reviewed: May 27, 2012

Pros:

  • Easy to use navigation with VoiceOver. All buttons are properly labeled and podcast feeds are easy to maintain/manage.

Cons:

  • Some slight latency issues with program navigation, but this is probably due to using an older iPhone model with less available processing power and memory.
  • From what I can see, there is no ability to delete individual episodes, instead a “delete all” option is offered. This has no real effect on the overall application experience though.

Breakdown:

Though I was reluctant at first to transition all my podcasts from iTunes management to a third-party application, Down Cast takes away the need for constant manual upkeep and transferring content back and forth. The very smooth accessibility experience makes for a very small learning curve. Be careful when playing around with global settings, as all podcasts not played will still reside on your iPhone, filling up available space quickly. It is well worth the small price tag.

Download Down Cast from the iTunes Store. ($1.99)

 

 

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SayHi Translate | VoiceOver Review

Posted on March 11, 2012 by David

Rated three stars out of five.

 

 

 

Developer:  SayHi
Version: 1.5

Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.1

Pros:

  • Basic functions are very accessible to VoiceOver and easy to use. Tap English to dictate, and the server will come back with a vocal output in the foreign language as well as a conversation balloon style text of what was processed.
  • Navigation through the app is best experienced through single finger left and right swipe gestures.

 

Cons:

  • Getting used to the app’s navigation is tricky. While it may seem easy enough at first, only trying to navigate using traditional single touch around the screen for button hunting will leave you groping. Visually, from what little I can see, the button layout makes sense. However, VoiceOver deals with the button layout differently, and will actually show up in a different order than what is presented on the screen. So a full exploration of swiping single finger left and right is needed to ensure all elements are the screen have been displayed.
  • Reviewing the conversation history can be intimidating. If you’re looking for an easy conversation flow and ability to quickly reference back to it, this is going to take a lot of practice. Visually, the screen is divided into two halves. One side is for your primary language (likely English) and the other side is for the foreign output language. Navigating this with VoiceOver is challenging at first, and downright hair-pulling if you intend to hear each vocal translation with the text.  There are two buttons labeled “button” that are alongside the text processed translation.  The first “button” is the English (or primary) translation. The second “button” is the second translation text language. There is a third button labeled “drawer handle” which does nothing when pressed. I am guessing this is a holder for each text balloon style window.

Breakdown:

If you’re interested in learning about or playing around with different languages, this is a must have. However for practical, intentional, or actual business oriented use this remains as a large question mark in my mind. I could see how this would be a great utility to have when traveling internationally, and need a phrase or a simple statement to communicate a sentence or two. Although all major European and Asian languages are supported, there are no Middle East languages available. Despite the initial navigation learning curve, the purchase of this app currently at $2.99 is definitely worth it.

 

Download SayHi Translate from the iTunes Store. ($2.99)

 

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Gesture Dial | VoiceOver Review

Posted on March 11, 2012 by David

Rated three stars out of five.

 

 

 

Developer: Smallrock Software Inc.
Version:  1.0.4

Using iPhone 3Gs, version 5.01

Pros:

  • Easy to use controls, very usable with VoiceOver.

VoiceOver actually works using the gesture area. Hovering over the “Perform Gesture to Dial” text, followed by double tapping and holding down on the gesture pad area while performing the assigned gesture does work in most cases.

  • Changing details about a previous contact or command within a contact is easy to follow.

Cons: 

  • Setting up a new gesture, as in creating the initial gesture to perform the action, for some reason does not work with VoiceOver enabled. VoiceOver must first be shut off in order to perform the gesture and have the app recognize it. This is kind of odd, but not a deal-breaker. Also, shutting off VoiceOver in the main Gesture Dial window does make gesture commands and recognition easier but may be inconvenient for some.
  • There are some occasions where a gesture was either misread or poorly done, and ended up calling a different number than expected. When this happens either prepare for an awkward conversation, or change the delay time in which Gesture Dial performs the action to cancel it out.

 

Breakdown:

This time saving and convenient app has replaced the built-in Phone program and its place on my iPhone frequently used apps dock.

 

Download Gesture Dial from the iTunes Store. (free)

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Bloomberg | VoiceOver Review (Updated to version 2.11.3)

Posted on February 4, 2012 by David

Five star rating out of five stars.

Developer: Bloomberg LP
Version: 2.11.3

Using iPhone 3Gs version 5.0.1
Revised Review: February 3, 2012

Notable Changes:

  • None to really point out. This is not a bad thing, just an indicator of solid performance and dependability of the app itself.

Possible Improvements Needed:

  • The one issue preventing complete VoiceOver compatibility are the non-labeled images within the articles of the news section. While only a minor issue, but the BBC News app seems to do an excellent job of annotating all images within their content with no problems.

Reassessment:

If you haven’t already, download this app if you have any interest in knowing financial markets, related stories, and the wider global economy.

Download Bloomberg from the iTunes App Store. (free)

Originally Reviewed: June 22, 2011
Version: 2.10.12
Using iPhone 3Gs, version 4.3.3

Pros:

  • Very smooth and accessible interface. No delays or hiccups with VoiceOver.
  • All functions of this app appear within reach. The audio section works well, and play button when content is loaded is easily identified.

Cons:

  • One small gripe; whenever a picture is presented within the article, VoiceOver will announce the picture container and the filename.

Breakdown: The ease of use, reliability, and voluminous content will make you throw the Yahoo stock app into the dark recesses of your iPhone. Good riddance.

 

 

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