Apple has announced the launch of new Apple Intelligence backed accessibility features and new capabilities to features including VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader. Also, the company announced the expansion of the Apple Sports app to 90 new regions and countries.
New Apple Intelligence-backed Accessibility Features
With Apple Intelligence, VoiceOver and Magnifier tools have become even more powerful. The Image Explorer in VoiceOver uses Apple Intelligence to give more detailed descriptions of images systemwide, including what’s in photographs, scanned bills, personal records, and other visual content.
With updates to Live Recognition, VoiceOver users can press the Action button on iPhone to quickly ask a question about what’s in the camera viewfinder and get a detailed response. Users can also ask follow-up questions in their own words to get more visual information.
Magnifier uses Apple Intelligence to bring the same assistive exploration and visual description to a high-contrast interface designed for users who have low vision. Magnifier also works with the Action button so users can quickly ask questions and get answers. And users can control the app itself with spoken requests, such as “zoom in” or “turn on flashlight.”
Next, Voice Control can now use natural language to help users with a range of physical disabilities navigate iPhone and iPad entirely by voice. With a new flexible input, users can describe onscreen buttons and controls with natural language instead of memorising exact labels or numbers. The option to “say what you see” is great for navigating any app, including those with visual layouts such as Apple Maps or Files, using intuitive language like “tap the guide about best restaurants” or “tap the purple folder.” This can also help users overcome barriers when elements aren’t properly labeled for accessibility.
Next, Accessibility Reader is getting a boost with Apple Intelligence. Accessibility Reader now works on more complex source material like scientific articles, handling text with multiple columns, images, and tables. On-demand summaries provide readers the option to get an overview of the article before diving into the details. And with new built-in translation, users can read text in their native language while retaining custom formatting, font, and colours.
A new feature called Generated Subtitles for videos is being introduced as well. With new generated subtitles, videos can display transcriptions of spoken audio automatically when captions or subtitles are not already provided, including in clips recorded on iPhone, received from friends and family, or streamed online. With on-device speech recognition, subtitles are generated privately and appear automatically for uncaptioned videos on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. The appearance of subtitles can be customised in the video playback menu or in Settings.
For Apple Vision Pro users, Apple is introducing a new and more powerful wheelchair control feature that can serve as an alternative to the traditional joystick based controls. Leveraging the precision eye-tracking system on Apple Vision Pro, a new power wheelchair control feature offers users a responsive input method for compatible alternative drive systems. With Vision Pro, eye tracking doesn’t require frequent recalibration and works in a variety of lighting conditions.
The feature launches with Tolt and LUCI alternative drive systems in the U.S., with accessory support for both Bluetooth and wired connections.
Additionally, Apple is launching Vehicle Motion Cues in visionOS face gestures for performing taps and system actions, plus a new way to select elements with one’s eyes while using Dwell Control. Other features include Touch accommodations in iOS and iPadOS, improved setup experience for Made for iPhone hearing aids, larger text support in tvOS, Name recognition in 50+ languages and a new API developers can use to support users in adding a human interpreter to an ongoing FaceTime video call.
Finally, users can now also connect the Sony Access controller as a game controller with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Users can configure the thumbstick, nine built-in buttons, and up to four additional external buttons or specialty switches to personalise layout. They can also combine two controllers for a deeply personalised gaming experience.
Also Read: Google, Apple Roll Out End-to-end Encrypted RCS Messaging in Beta for Android and iPhone Users
Apple Sports app now available in more countries
Apple Sports – the free app for iPhone that gives fans access to real-time scores, stats, and more – is now available to download on the App Store in more than 170 countries and regions around the world, including more than 90 newly added markets.
Aside from that, the company has added three new features to the app as well, including:
- Tournament bracket view: The clean, scrollable view of matchups and results for each round allows fans to easily track a team’s progression from the group stage through their final match.
- Visual formations: Enhanced game cards feature visual formations for each team’s starting lineup to provide deeper tactical insight ahead of each match.
- One tap to Apple News: Apple News connects fans directly to comprehensive editorial coverage, including the latest headlines.
Author: Abhishek Malhotra
Source: The Mobile Indian
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
