In late September 2018, Apple released new operating systems for the Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. All three of these operating systems have already received updates. This article assumes you know how to use VoiceOver on the Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. I used a 2016 MacBook Pro with touchbar, a Series 3 Apple Watch, and an Apple TV. All three were running the latest versions of their operating systems.

Mojave (macOS 10.14.1)

The installation of Mojave is a straightforward process. The upgrade can be accessed through the Mac App Store or through the Software Update in System Preferences. As usual, there is little audio feedback as the installation progresses. You can try using VO plus the Arrow keys to check your progress, but it doesn't always work.

Once Mojave is installed, you will receive prompts to take a tour. There is a button to take the tour now and a button to take it later. I kept getting reminders until I finally took the tour. This is worth doing, as the tour only takes a few minutes and contains useful information. No new VoiceOver accessibility commands have been added in this release, though Mojave has additional apps and new features.

Dark Mode

This new feature received significant attention at the Apple 2018 World Wide Developers Conference. When this feature is activated, background information is darkened while foreground information remains lighter. For people who are sighted, this apparently is an exciting new feature. For people who are low vision, it may be of some benefit. By default, this feature is not enabled. Enable it by going to System Preferences > General > Appearance and select "Dark."

Apple Mail

When you attach a file to an email, VoiceOver now says the name of the file, though there is a VoiceOver bug in Apple Mail. When you send an email, VoiceOver says, "Send again."

iOS Apps on the Mac

To bring iOS apps to the Mac, Apple has added four of their iOS apps with the Mojave release. They are News, Stocks, Voice Memos, and Home. If you use iCloud, these apps will sync with your other Apple devices. By default, News is on the dock. Stocks, Home, and Voice Memos can be found in the Applications folder. If you are not sure how to get there, go to the Finder and type Control + Shift + A. Apple plans to make some third-party iOS apps available on the Mac

News

When you first launch the News app, you will land on a tool bar. Explore it with VO and the Left and Right Arrows. To the right of the tool bar is information about Apple News.

There is a Table of Contents button on the right side of the toolbar. If you have selected media outlets to follow in iOS, they will be in News on your Mac. Go to File > Discover Channels and Topics and select it. On the screen will be a very extensive list of news sources covering an extensive list of categories. Select a channel or category with VO + Spacebar. At the end of the extensive list is a "Done" Button.

While viewing information in the News app, select any media item to learn more about it. The easiest way to navigate the News app is to use VO and the Arrow keys.

Stocks

This app shows top stories related to stock performance, business, and the economy. Select any headline to read the entire story.

You can add stocks to a Watch List. Control + N brings up a search box. Enter the company's name or stock symbol and select the result you want. Although this can be done on the Mac, I found the iOS interface easier to use.

Voice Memos

When Voice Memos is launched for the first time, there is a welcome message and a request for the app to use your location. Location can be added to information about each memo.

The command for starting a recording is Command + N. A problem is that Voice Memos picks up what VoiceOver says when the command is executed. When the app is launched, after the first time, focus is on the Recordings table.

I gave Voice Memos permission to use my location. It thought I was at three different addresses even though I did not move at all during my recording trials.

Home

Since I do not use any items that can be controlled by the Home app, I could not test it myself. However, I checked with friends who informed me that the app works well. Apparently, at this time new devices must be added through iOS.

New Views

Mojave has some new ways to view your files. Here are some that can be used with VoiceOver or for people who have low vision.

Stacks

This new feature lets you place files on your desktop in one Stack rather than scattered on the desktop. When the stack is selected, all files in it will open, making them easier to access. For example, I put five different TextEdit documents in a stack. When I activated the Stack, I was able to quickly Command + Grave Accent through all the files. The command to use Stacks is Command + Control + 0. The Stacks command is also found in the Finder's view menu.

If the files are still on your desktop when Stacks is turned off, they will be placed individually on your desktop.

Gallery View

The Gallery View feature provides a lot of information about a file including file type, date created, and date last opened. You can also read part of the file without opening it. Get to Gallery View through the View menu in Finder or type Command + 4.

The one quirk when looking for the file in a file list is that movement to the next or previous file is done using the Right or Left Arrows respectively, instead of the Up and Down Arrows.

Interact with the file list and once the file is located, stop interacting. VoiceOver will say, "Out of Gallery View." VO + Right Arrow past the vertical splitter and you will hear information about the file. If you VO + Left Arrow from the file, you can read some of its contents.

If you find it confusing to navigate the files list in Gallery View, you can locate the file using another view such as List View and then switch to Gallery View.

Folders on Top

In Finder windows, folders can now be set to appear in alphabetical order at the top of the list. Go to Finder > Preferences or type Command + , (Command + Comma) and check the Advanced tab. Go to Keep Folders on Top. There are two options, "in windows when sorting by name" and "on desktop". Check the appropriate checkbox for the option you would like to select.

Miscellaneous

Several miscellaneous improvements were introduced in this update. Siri has an expanded knowledge base and Safari has improved tracking blockers. If you have some vision and like wallpapers, they now can be changed according to the time of day. With the release of macOS Mojave 10.14.1 as well as iOS 12.1 and watchOS 5.1, it is now possible to make FaceTime calls with up to 32 people on the call at once.

Conclusion

MacOS 10.14 Mojave is a stable update with new features and improved security and is worth installing. Remember to back up your Mac before beginning the installation process.

watchOS 5.1

The update for your Apple Watch is in the Watch app on your iPhone. Select the My Watch tab and then select General > Software Update. Note that if you do not have an Apple Watch Series 4, you cannot use the new Electrocardiogram and Fall Detector features.

Workout Reminders

You can now set your watch to give you a reminder in the event you start a workout and did not tell the Workout app to start logging it. You can likewise get a reminder if you have forgotten to turn off the Workout app when you finish.

On your watch, go to Settings > General > Workout. There are options to add reminders for when the watch thinks you have begun a workout and a reminder for when the watch thinks you have ended your workout. The first option is "Start Workout Reminder." The second is "End Workout Reminder." I have found that I appreciate these new features!

Siri

With the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4, Siri will be ready to hear your command just by raising your wrist. On your watch, go to Settings > General > Siri. Select the "Raise to Speak" button. Just raise your wrist, bring your watch close to your mouth, and give Siri your command. In practice, I found that using "Hey Siri" worked better than Raise to Speak.

Control Center

You can now organize the Control Center and you can do so directly on your watch. There are two ways to get started. Go down to the bottom of the Control Center and activate the "Edit" button. Alternatively, find the widget you want to move and do a one-finger flick up or down until you hear VoiceOver say, "Edit." Double tap. No matter which method you choose, do a one finger flick up or down. There are four options: Move Left, Move Right, Stop Editing, and Activate. When the widget is moved, VoiceOver will announce its new location. When done, select Stop Editing or activate the "Done" button at the bottom of the Control Center.

Weather

You can now add cities directly from the Weather app onto your watch without using your iPhone.

At the bottom left of the main screen of the Weather app is an "Add City" button. When activated, a new screen will load with a "Dictation" button near the upper left corner. Activate the button and speak the name of the city you want to add. Double tap the button when done. A list of options will appear. Select the result you want. On the main screen, do a one finger flick up or down to activate or delete the city.

Information on air quality, ultraviolet index, and wind speed are now available in the Weather app. Select the city, and go to the bottom of the screen. You may need to tap or slide your finger around to get the information.

Notifications

As with the iPhone, notifications on the Apple Watch are grouped by default. Double tap on the group to expand it. When finished, select the "Done" button in the upper left. As on the iPhone, there is a Manage option that gives choices including deliver quietly and remove from Apple Watch.

Walkie-Talkie

This new feature allows your watch to work as a walkie-talkie. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and go to Walkie-Talkie. Make sure Allow Notifications is selected. FaceTime also needs to be active.

Go to Walkie-Talkie on your watch. If you cannot flick down to your contacts from within the app, try flicking up with two fingers. You can use the digital crown to scroll through your contacts. To use the walkie-talkie feature with someone, either you must send an invitation to them or they must send one to you. Send an invitation by selecting a contact. If you receive an invitation, you will get a notification on your watch.

Conclusion

This update is worth installing. It is stable and has some very useful features including workout reminders and the ability to organize the Control Center.

tvOS 12.1

This new software update is available for the Apple TV 4th and 5th generations. It can be found by going to Settings > System > Maintenance > Software Update. The update has two main new features: support for Dolby Atmos and zero sign-in.

Dolby Atmos

Dolby Atmos is a surround-sound technology. It is available on the Apple TV 4K and newer generations. You will need an Atmos-enabled sound system to take advantage of this feature. If you are using Dolby Atmos and have previously purchased an iTunes movie, Apple will upgrade your movie to Atmos if it is available.

Zero Sign-In and Password Autofill

The second new feature is zero sign-in. The first cable company to get this feature will be Charter Spectrum, sometime after December 2018. Apple indicated at its WWDC that other companies will be added later. This feature lets your TV automatically authenticate your user name and password, so you do not need to sign in on apps available with your cable subscription. You will need to subscribe to both Internet and cable with the same company for this to work.

Password AutoFill is also now on the Apple TV and provides an easier way to sign into apps.

Conclusion

Zero sign-in is a nice feature if your cable company supports it. I have never heard Dolby Atmos, but Apple states it is superior to Dolby 5.1.

The Bottom Line

All three of these operating system updates are worth installing. I usually install one operating system and then spend a couple of days learning it before going on to another. Though the mainstream features included in these updates are helpful, it would be very nice to have some VoiceOver improvements in Apple's next operating systems.

This article is made possible in part by generous funding from the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust, Huntington, West Virginia.

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Author
Janet Ingber
Article Topic
Product Reviews and Guides