Janet Ingber
Although there were some predictions and leaks, Apple did a good job this year of keeping the planned details quiet prior to its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which was held virtually (for the second year in a row) on June 7, 2021.
While waiting for the conference to start, online viewers were given an audio description of what was on the screen. During the conference, audio description was used to introduce the presenter and say where they were located. Sometimes there were brief descriptions of what the presenters were doing on their device.
Unfortunately nothing was mentioned about accessibility during the conference.
Compatible Devices
Some older devices may not be able to run all new features in the upcoming releases. If you are using iOS 14 and/or iPadOS14, you can use iOS15 and iPadOS 15. If you are using watchOS7 and an iPhone running iOS 14, you can use watchOS 8 with an iPhone using iOS 15. In order for watchOS 8 to work, your iPhone must use iOS 15. Not all Macs using macOS Big Sur are compatible with macOS Monterey. These Macs will work with the new operating system.
iOS 15
If you are using iOS 14 on your device, you can use iOS 15 as well.
FaceTime
FaceTime is getting many new features. Spatial audio will allow better audio quality and will let speaker's voices sound as if they are coming from on the screen. There are two new microphone modes: Isolation and Wide Spectrum. Isolation mode reduces ambient noise while Wide Spectrum allows all sounds including background to be heard.
For people who are sighted or are low vision, FaceTime has a new grid. Selecting Portrait mode blurs the background and focuses on the speaker.
FaceTime Link lets people who do not have an Apple device join a FaceTime call using a Web link. This works for Windows and Android. FaceTime calls continue to have end-to-end encryption.
SharePlay is a new feature that allows everyone on a FaceTime call to listen simultaneously to the same music, share a screen, or watch something together. Supported apps include Apple Music, AppleTV+, Hulu, and Disney+. SharePlay is also support on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
Messages
News stories, music recommendations, and photos sent to you in Messages will be located in the new Shared with You folder. Several apps have this folder, including Apple Music, Photos, and News.
Another new feature is Photo Collage. You can share multiple photos within a conversation.
Notifications
You can now schedule a notification summary where non-critical notifications are delivered to you at a specific time. Using on-device intelligence, more important notifications will be at the top of the summary, as will notifications from apps you frequently use. Urgent notifications will be delivered immediately.
Focus
The new Focus feature will let you set parameters for when you may be interrupted. Focus is controlled in the Settings menu. In addition to Do Not Disturb, there are Focuses for sleep, personal, and work. You can also create your own Focus. You choose which people, apps, etc. can interrupt you for each Focus. You have the option of having a Focus across all your devices. If someone messages you while you are using a Focus, they will receive a notice that you are not currently available.
Photos
The new Live Text feature recognizes text in a photo and lets you interact with it. This lets you, for example, photograph a recipe and digitize it. Visual Look Up will allow users to get specific information about what is in the photo. This feature is available on iPadOS and macOS Monterey.
Your device's camera will be able to recognize and copy text.
Intelligent Songs uses Apple Music to go with photos. Songs are based on the beat of the music.
You will be able to use Memory Mixes. Each selected photo is analyzed for appropriate accompanying music and customized recommendations are given.
Safari
Safari Web browser Web extensions will be available on iPhone and iPad. Voice Search will be available in Safari.
Spotlight
According to Apple, Spotlight will have enhanced search abilities. You can now search your photos in Spotlight. You can also get additional contacts information about the contact. There will be more information about actors, musicians, TV shows, and movies.
Wallet
More "keys" are coming to Wallet. For example, a support lock will let you unlock your door with your iPhone. Some Hyatt Hotels will be able to put a room key on your phone.
In some states, you can scan your driver's license or state ID into your Wallet.
Weather
The Weather app will have a new design including offering hourly precipitation information.
Maps
Maps will have enhanced transit details, including a notification when you are near your stop. There will be more information about cities, including landmarks. Drivers can get improved road details.
AirPods
AirPods will have Conversation Boost for people with mild hearing impairments. Microphone focuses on the person in front of you. Ambient noise can be reduced.
Siri will be able to read time-sensitive notifications to you. You can choose which apps to enable. If a focus is in use, AirPods will automatically get those settings.
AirPods Pro and AirPods Max will be part of Find My network. They will send out a Bluetooth beacon that can be detected by other Apple devices. They can send a sound to the network and back to your Find My app. If the AirPods are nearby, select Play Sound in the app. Within a few seconds you will hear a chirping sound. This works whether the AirPods are in or out of the case. You can also receive a proximity alert if you leave your AirPods somewhere.
Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking will be available on tvOS and M1 powered Macs.
iPadOS 15
There will be some new features that are designed specifically for the iPad.
Home Screen
iPadOS 15 brings larger widgets to the Home screen. The App Library is in the dock. You can also hide pages that you could not hide before.
Multi-Tasking
There is a new control for multi-tasking. Selecting the control brings up the multi-tasking menu. A new App Shelf will appear when multi-tasking. There are new keyboard shortcuts.
Notes
The iPadÆs Notes app has some new features such as Mentions, Activity View, and Tags. If you just want to write a short note to yourself, the Quick Note feature is available from anywhere on your iPad or Mac.
Translate
In addition to iOS, Translate will be available on the iPad and Mac. When in split view, the app can translate a document that is on the screen. The new Auto Translate feature lets you start speaking and the Translate app will recognize the language.
Swift Playgrounds
You can now build apps for iPhone and iPad. The newly created app can then be sent to the App Store right from the iPad.
Privacy
Mail Privacy Protection hides your IP address. This will prevent marketers and other unwanted users from knowing your location and online activity. Senders will not be able to see when you opened their email.
In Safari, your IP is hidden so trackers can't see your activity on different sites or learn your location. The Safari Privacy Report can tell which trackers have tried to follow you.
The App Privacy Report will show you how many times an app has accessed your location, photos, microphone, location and more, within the last seven days. You can also see all the domains your app has contacted.
Siri
Because speech recognition is now on your device instead of Apple's server, Siri's response time will be improved. Siri will be able to perform many new tasks on your device rather than having to use Apple's server. This means an internet connection will not be necessary in order to perform many tasks that formerly required it. Any Siri audio will remain on the device.
iCloud
If you forget your iCloud password or get locked out, you can now recover your password more easily. Create a list of trusted people who can receive an access code from Apple. The recipient can then send the code to you.
You can set up legacy contacts. This will give trusted people access to your account if you pass away.
Apple announced its new iCloud Plus (iCloud+) service. If you have a paid subscription to iCloud, there is no price increase for the additional features.
When on the Web, Apple will use two different internet relays to hide your location and identity. Nobody will be able to see your browsing data.
The Hide My Email feature will let you create a single-use email address that is then forwarded to your inbox. This will prevent your receiving additional emails from the sender.
You will get unlimited video storage for HomeKit enabled security cameras.
Health
The Health app has some significant changes. For example, the new Walking Steadiness feature uses balance, stability, and coordination to measure walking steadiness. Results can be viewed in the Health app. The Health app has new exercises to improve steadiness.
The Health App will have detailed descriptions to help you better understand lab results. The app will show trends such as resting heart rate, steps, and blood glucose.
You can choose which health info to share with your doctor or your family.
watchOS 8
Many of the new watchOS 8 features are related to health and wellness.
Mindfulness
The Breathe app has been enhanced and renamed Mindfulness. It has a new Reflect feature. The Sleep app will measure respiratory rate. You will receive a notification if there is a trend change.
Workout
The Workout app will have support for Tai Chi and Pilates.
Apple Fitness+ will have workouts featuring one artist for the workout's playlist. Artists include Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Lady Gaga. Nothing was mentioned about the inaccessibility of Apple Fitness+ for VoiceOver users.
Photos
In watchOS 8 you can put photos on your watch face. The Photos app will be updated to have memory highlights and featured photos. Share photos by message or email directly from the watch.
HomeKit
HomeKit has some new capabilities.
Ask Siri on the HomePod Mini to play something on the Apple TV. The HomePod Mini can be used for Apple TV audio. Voice recognition will come to HomePod Mini. Home Kit will have Siri on third-party devices. Home Kit has new features on Apple Watch including the ability to broadcast a message by tapping Intercom. The watch can access many accessories.
MacOS Monterey
The Mac's newest operating system is macOS Monterey. Not all Macs currently in use support it. Check the list linked near the top of this article.
The enhanced version of FaceTime is supported in macOS Monterey. Both Focus and Quick Note can also run on this operating system.
Universal Control
Universal Control will allow users the flexibility of going between the Mac and iPad using a single mouse or keyboard.
AirPlay
The Mac can now be used as an AirPlay speaker.
Siri Shortcuts
Siri Shortcuts will be available in macOS Monterey. Some pre-made shortcuts will be in the operating system and you can create your own. Automator will still be supported and you can import your Automator workflow into Shortcuts.
Tab Groups
In Safari, tabs can be saved in groups. You can keep related groups together. Tab groups will be available on iPad and iPhone.
Extensions
Safari extensions will be available on iPad and iPhone.
Conclusion
This year's WWDC introduced many new features. Hopefully, they will all work with VoiceOver. No date was given for release of the new operating systems, but they will be coming this fall. If you are interested in trying beta versions of these operating systems, they should be available in July. During the entire WWDC Keynote, nothing was said about accessibility. This is not uncommon and doesn't necessarily mean that Apple will not provide accessibility improvements in the year to come.
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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