How setting up iOS devices with a wired USB keyboard is way more efficient for me

When I bought my first iPhone, an iPhone 3GS the first text message I tried to send got a response from a friend saying they couldn't read it because of so many mistakes in it. It took me 3 weeks before I could type anything mostly legible. I have never liked or been fast at … Continue reading How setting up iOS devices with a wired USB keyboard is way more efficient for me →

How to type to Siri from the macOS terminal command line

I recently wanted a command line based HomeKit app, I don't think any exist. I guess I'll have to learn Swift, and write one. This will take a while, probably a very long while though, so I found a temporary fix that will be useful, even after the app is finished. , typing to … Continue reading How to type to Siri from the macOS terminal command line →

How some features in Apple’s AirPods Max are a huge game changer and seamlessly fit into the workflows of VoiceOver users

Many articles have been written about how the AirPods max sound, good or bad, this post isn't at all about that. Some times there is a feature in a product that flies under most of our radars. For most of us, this feature is either never used or never thought about. For some though, it … Continue reading How some features in Apple’s AirPods Max are a huge game changer and seamlessly fit into the workflows of VoiceOver users →

Live Text, new in iOS 15 is amazing, but it took us 45 years of technical advancements to get there.

Live text is awesome, it just took us a long time, 45 years, to get there. Like many kids, my parents read a lot to me when I was young; but because I am totally blind, they probably read to me way later into my life than most. Even when I was in college, Mom … Continue reading Live Text, new in iOS 15 is amazing, but it took us 45 years of technical advancements to get there. →

Why we should try to use a hammer less, an introduction to automation, how to make custom keyboard shortcuts in macOS

Neal Stephenson, in his essay, , "In The Beginning Was The Command Line" talks about how different interfaces have different strengths, and also weaknesses, a very entertaining and also instructive read. It's only about 100 pages, so I strongly recommend it. In 1966, . Abraham Maslow (who was a key founder of humanistic psychology) said, … Continue reading Why we should try to use a hammer less, an introduction to automation, how to make custom keyboard shortcuts in macOS →

How along with quality sound, Apple’s AirPods Max are the most efficient BlueTooth headset for VoiceOver users

June 15 2021 When Apple released their AirPods Max headset last December, many complained they were way over priced. I can't disagree, even though I did buy a pair with the help of some birthday and Christmas money. Now after 6 months, I have to say I have never regretted buying them. No, they aren't … Continue reading How along with quality sound, Apple’s AirPods Max are the most efficient BlueTooth headset for VoiceOver users →

My thoughts on how productivity is way more portable than in the past, but how annoyingly some non-visual features only appear on products with larger screens

Posted on December 13, 2019 Johan Sebastian Bach probably wished he'd had a better way to work on his "Musikalisches Opfer", "A Musical Offering" when he traveled back home to Leipzig from visiting King Frederick the great of Prussia near Berlin in 1747. Ok, he probably instead really wished for something faster and more comfortable than a … Continue reading My thoughts on how productivity is way more portable than in the past, but how annoyingly some non-visual features only appear on products with larger screens →

A much improved way to spell check documents using VoiceOver on iOS beginning with iOS 12.1

Posted on November 6, 2018 There was a way, reproducible though not very convenient to spellcheck documents in iOS 11 using VoiceOver and at the time I thought it was cool though somewhat difficult to remember, but wrote a blog post about it anyway. A big thank you to Scott Davert, who discovered that in … Continue reading A much improved way to spell check documents using VoiceOver on iOS beginning with iOS 12.1 →

Another post I wrote with additional thoughts about Apple’s Face ID

Posted on October 1, 2018 Two weeks ago, I wrote about how I strongly dislike Apple's Face ID; and although some in the blind community have agreed with my thoughts, there are also some who do not. They say "oh Face ID is just fine and it's accessible," etc. Accessible for sure, but not efficient; … Continue reading Another post I wrote with additional thoughts about Apple’s Face ID →

My thoughts about how as a VoiceOver user, Face ID although accessible is not very efficient

Posted on September 13, 2018On January 9, 2007 Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, but I wasn't sucked into his reality distortion field quite yet. My friend Nathan Klapoetke was ecstatic about it though and told me later that day when reinstalling Windows for me that he couldn't wait to buy one; that was a … Continue reading My thoughts about how as a VoiceOver user, Face ID although accessible is not very efficient →