Apple has recently activated a feature that enables the HomePod and HomePod mini smart speakers to recognize the sound of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and send a notification alert to your iPhone or iPad. In this episode of our podcast, Thomas Domville walks us through the process of setting this up.

The Sound Recognition feature uses the always-on microphone inside the HomePod to listen out for a home's existing smoke and carbon monoxide detector. When it hears the alarm, the HomePod sends a notification to your iPhone or iPad via the Home app. This means you don't need to invest in new internet-connected smoke alarms systems, as the HomePod can simply enhance the utility of your existing "dumb" offline smoke alarms. If you have HomeKit-compatible security cameras in your house, the notification will include a live video feed so you can remotely assess what's happening.

To enable Sound Recognition, follow these simple steps: open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad, then navigate to the Home Settings -> Safety & Security screen. There, you can enable the Sound Recognition feature. In addition, you can manage critical notification alerts from supported safety and security devices in your home, and even allow home members to "check in" and listen to the sounds in the home. It's worth noting that the Sound Recognition settings can also be accessed via a HomePod's dedicated Settings. Simply perform a long press on the HomePod's tile in the Home app to access its settings.

(If the Safety & Security section is dimmed out, ensure your HomePod and all other Apple devices are up-to-date with the latest software.

In this episode, Orinks walks us through Radiant, an iOS app that lets you listen to digital radio with a personal touch. Rad, your digital host, plays music that suits your mood and preferences, thanks to his integration with Apple Music. He also keeps you updated on the weather, traffic, news, and trivia about the artists you love. You can interact with Rad and tell him what you like or dislike, and he will adjust his selections accordingly. Radiant is a fun and smart way to enjoy radio on your iPhone or iPad. All you need is an Apple Music subscription and a sense of adventure!

Radiant Radio on the AppStore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/radiant-radio/id1055402775

In this episode, Tunmi13 walks us through how to activate iOS and iPadOS beta updates.

To do this, first sign in with your Apple ID at either developer.apple.com, to access the developer beta, or beta.apple.com, to access the public beta. Then, once signed up for either program, go to Settings > General > Software update > Beta updates, and select the beta you signed up for. You can then go back one level in Settings, and the beta should appear like any other update that you can download and install.

Important: Beta versions of iOS and iPadOS may contain serious bugs, which is why it's generally advised, if possible, to install them on another device specifically designated for beta testing, or have a full and complete backup of your data in case a downgrade from the beta, which involves a full restore of your device, becomes necessary. For more information, check out this introduction to iOS and iPadOS beta testing.

In this episode, Thomas Domville discusses how to turn off repeated text message alerts on iOS and iPadOS. By default, your device will send a second notification alert two minutes after you receive a text message if you don't check it right away. This feature is designed to help ensure that you don't miss any important messages, but some users find it to be more annoying than helpful.

If you're one of those users, don't worry, it's easy to turn off repeated alerts. Here's how:

1. Open the Settings app and double-tap Notifications.
2. Double-tap Messages, and then double-tap "Customize notifications" at the bottom of the page; note that you can quickly jump to this button by performing a four-finger single-tap near the bottom of the screen.
3. Double-tap "Repeat Alerts," and select "Never" to only be notified of an incoming text message once.

In this episode, Tyler demonstrates how to configure your iPhone or iPad with Touch ID to bypass the Lock Screen and open immediately after authenticating.

By default, after authenticating with Touch ID, you should hear what sounds like a lock opening, at which point you can either press the Home button if the device has one, or slide up from the bottom if it doesn't. However, if you'd rather the device opened immediately once you placed your finger on the Touch ID sensor, you can configure it to do so by going to Settings > Accessibility > Home button, and double-tapping the "Rest finger to open" switch.

In this episode, Thomas Domville will guide you through the process of enabling the Sound Curtain feature. Sound Curtain, an accessibility feature introduced in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, silences all audio on your device, including VoiceOver speech. This is particularly beneficial for Braille users who need to concentrate on their Braille display without any auditory distractions.

To enable Sound Curtain, Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Braille, and switch on the Sound Curtain toggle. Alternatively, Sound Curtain can be toggled on and off from VoiceOver Quick Settings, accessed by performing a two-finger quadruple-tap from anywhere in iOS and iPadOS.

In this episode, Thomas Domville shows us how to change the speaking rate for Siri on iOS and iPadOS. This feature allows you to adjust the speed at which Siri speaks, which can be helpful if you find Siri's default speaking rate too fast or too slow.

To change the speaking rate for Siri, Go to Settings > Accessibility > Siri, and adjust the slider under the "Speaking rate" heading to your desired speed.

Once you have changed the speaking rate for Siri, you can test it out by asking a question or giving it a command. Siri will now speak at the speed that you have set.

In this episode, Thomas Domville teaches you how to use Screen Recording on iOS and iPadOS.

Screen Recording is a feature that allows you to capture what's happening on your screen. This can be useful for creating tutorials, demos, or simply sharing something interesting with your friends and family.

To set up this feature, go to Settings > Control Center and double-tap the "Insert Screen Recording" button under the "more controls" heading. To create a recording, open Control Center by placing your finger on the top edge of the device until you hear a tone, and sliding it straight down until you hear the second tone (devices without a Home button) or placing your finger on the status bar and swiping up with three fingers (devices with a Home button). Double-tap the Screen Recording button; there will be a three-second countdown before recording starts.

To stop recording, either press the Side button to lock the device, double-tap the Screen Recording button in Control Center again, or double-tap the screen recording button in the status bar. By default, the recording will be saved to your Photos library, however this can be changed if you wish by focusing on the "Screen recording" button in Control Center and choosing the "open controls" rotor action.

In this episode, Tyler demonstrates how to change Safari's default search engine on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

To do this on iOS and iPadOS, go to Settings > Safari and double-tap "Search engine" to specify the search engine for standard browsing windows, or "private search engine" if you want to specify a different search engine to be used in private browsing windows. On macOS, in Safari, choose Safari > Settings (or press Command-Comma) click the Search button in the toolbar, and choose from the "Search engine" or "private browsing search engine" popup menus.

In this episode, Thomas Domville takes us on a journey through the world of FruitPot 2, a fun-filled slot machine game for iOS. FruitPot 2 is a game that will take you back to the 80s with its retro graphics and sounds. The game features an ever-changing fruit machine slot, as well as more than 15 mini-games that appear as you progress through the game. With the Bucks you earn, you can purchase items from stores at the mall. FruitPot 2 is a great game to play when you're looking for something to relax and have fun with.

FruitPot 2 is available for free on the App Store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fruitpot-2/id6444378324?l=en

Do you ever get the sense that you’re being monitored on the internet? In this episode, Thomas Domville will demonstrate Apple’s Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection, a fresh addition to the privacy tools in iOS 17.

Picture this: You click on a link, and all of a sudden, advertisements for that exact product begin to appear everywhere. It’s unsettling, isn’t it? This is the effect of cross-site tracking, powered by concealed IDs within links.

However, there’s no need to worry! Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection is designed to protect you. It accomplishes this by:

Removing tracking IDs from links: Those crafty “tags” that track your every click? They’re history! Preventing fingerprinting scripts: Advertisers employ cunning code to fingerprint your device and create a unique profile. This feature disrupts their scheme. The greatest aspect? It’s integrated and automatically turned on for private browsing. But if you wish to have more control, here’s how to enable it for all browsing:

Navigate to Settings > Safari. Select Advanced > Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection. Opt for “All Browsing”. Now, you can browse with assurance. Say goodbye to intrusive ads and the sensation of being scrutinized digitally. It’s just you, the web, and the liberty to discover.

Join us in our newest episode as we delve into the captivating realm of iOS gaming. In this episode, Thomas Domville introduces us to an intriguing game named “Voice of the Ancients”. This game is a voice-controlled adventure where players set off on a journey in search of a long-lost treasure, all while evading a malevolent group called the Society of the Ancients. The game is fully voice-activated and currently offers support for both English and Hungarian languages.

Voice of the Ancients on the AppStore: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voice-of-the-ancients/id114209979

Join Thomas Domville in learning how to use Carrot Weather for iOS with VoiceOver.

Carrot Weather for iOS is a feature-rich weather application that offers a unique blend of humor and functionality. It provides accurate and detailed forecasts, including current, hourly, and daily predictions. The app is known for its distinctive personality, featuring hilarious dialogue and delightful animations.

Key features include:

Apple Watch App: An award-winning app that allows you to check the weather from your wrist.
Widgets: Offers a variety of customizable widgets for your Home and Lock Screen.
Customization: Allows you to build the weather app of your dreams by changing layouts, adding data points, and more.
Notifications: Provides rain, lightning strike, severe weather alert, and daily summary notifications.
Data Sources: Allows you to switch between sources like AccuWeather, Apple Weather, and Foreca for better forecast accuracy.
Weather Maps: Features super-advanced radar to track incoming storms.
Fun Stuff: Offers secret locations, achievements, augmented reality, and bonding with the Carrot AI.

The app is available for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. It is a paid download with in-app purchases to unlock premium features. The app was created by Brian Mueller, who codes, designs, illustrates, and writes the real-time gags himself. The app’s unique blend of humor and functionality has made it a popular choice among users.

CARROT Weather: Alerts and Radar on the app store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/carrot-weather-alerts-radar/id961390574

In this delightful episode, Ida Grace revisits Baby Adopter Dress Up for iOS. This charming game combines babysitting, fashion costume dress-up, and nursery care for those who adore looking after little ones.

As a player, you have the opportunity to adopt and nurture a cute son or daughter. You can dress up, feed, care for, and acquire various costumes, shoes, and hats for your baby. Keep in mind that certain costumes become available as your baby grows. Some game features include:

• Game Locations: Venture into different interior rooms and external settings, including the Summer Beach and Winter House.
• Growth: Your baby will mature after 20 days, unlocking additional costume options. Dress your little one in playful outfits and share their adorable looks on social media.
• Karma: Reflects your overall gameplay progress and experience.

Embrace the joy of tending to your virtual baby and creating charming outfits! ????????

Baby Adopter Dress Up on the App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/baby-adopter-dress-up/id875064928

transcription:

Disclaimer: This transcript is generated by AIKO, an automated transcription service. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.

Hello AppleViz.

This is Ida Grace and I am here today with a podcast on the baby adopter dress up app.

I want to go through a couple of quick disclaimers before I start.

First of all, I want to say that I did a podcast for this app years ago.

However, it was called Milky Baby at the time and now it is baby adopter dress up and my podcast for that is no longer available on AppleViz at least as far as I've been able to tell.

417 PM.

Ah, I wanted to tell you a disclaimer about the voice I'm using too, but the app has gone through a couple of changes anyway, so I was given the green light to go ahead and make a new podcast.

And the second disclaimer is involving the voice I am using.

I am using American Siri voice 5 because it is pride season and if you all were able to read the article that Apple put out, this voice was recorded by somebody in the LGBT community.

So I thought with pride month approaching fast, I would keep this voice on through pride season.

However, as you'll notice as I demonstrate this app, it does have some delays.

There is a little bit of delay between voiceover speech and voiceover sound.

So you will notice that comma 418 PM and it is 418 PM.

I am on the clock widget right now.

So the first thing I want to let you know is when you first open the baby adopter dress up app, it's going to ask you if you want the app to send you notifications.

I always turn that on, but all they do is notify you every 24 hours if you forget to feed the baby.

So if you don't want the notifications turned on, you don't have to do it.

Just know that if you're using this on an iPad like I am, the baby will cry and you won't get a vibration.

You'll just get because iPads don't have haptics.

So you're just going to get the baby crying if you forget to feed the baby in 24 hours.

I'm also using iPadOS 16 because the Siri voices do not auto delete for voiceover as they do in iOS 17.

They seem to be…

In this episode, Mark Sarch provides a follow-up to his previous introduction of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. He demonstrates several new features including music integration with Apple Music and Spotify, multilingual support for messaging services like WhatsApp, the new Meta AI visual assistance capabilities, and hands-free video calling with WhatsApp and Messenger.

Mark walks through enabling music services in the MetaView app and using voice commands to control playback. He shows how to send multilingual WhatsApp messages by voice. For the Meta AI visual assistance, Mark showcases its ability to describe objects, read text, identify colors, and more - highlighting its limitations as a mainstream device not optimized for comprehensive document reading.

He compares the Meta AI's output to a live video call demonstration with a human assistant reading details from a business card. Mark also explains the process for hands-free video calling on WhatsApp and Messenger by using the capture button and touchpad.

While not a dedicated assistive device, Mark highlights some potentially useful features for visual assistance and hands-free operation.

transcription:

Disclaimer: This transcript is generated by AIKO, an automated transcription service. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.

Hello everybody, my name is Mark and I'm back once again to talk about Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses latest feature available only for US and Canada.

If you haven't heard before about this pair of smart glasses, I highly recommend listening to the episode I made, review of Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, where I talk about unboxing, hardware description and basic tasks that you can do with the voice assistant.

In this episode, I will show 4 of the latest features available for hardware, V4.0, music integration, multilingual support for messenger services, Meta AI available for US and Canada only, and WhatsApp and Facebook messenger video call.

Let's talk first about music integration.

Now, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses support Apple Music and Spotify completely hands-free.

To do this, you have to activate Apple Music or Spotify directly from the MetaView app.

I will show you how to do it.

MetaView Open MetaView MetaView From the bottom you have a few tabs, click on settings, and then from here you have to see Apple Music Button Spotify Button If you listen to my voice not too loud, it's because I have placed the microphone really close to my ear, where you will be able to listen to the music completely hands-free.

Using only your voice, where you can request commands as resume the music, change to the next song, change to the previous song, and also pause.

Just you have to say the magic phrase and it will sound like this.

Hey Meta, resume music.

Hey Meta, next.

Hey Meta, previous.

Hey Meta, pause.

Great, I think you get some idea how this thing works.

Now, I'm going to show you something, but in order to do this request, you have to place the finger on the touchpad.

It's to change to the next radio station.

Press and hold using one finger on the touchpad for two seconds, will change to the next radio station.

Resuming, this is…

In this episode, Kushal Solanki revisits NaadSadhana for iOS. This Apple Design Award-winning app is a comprehensive musical companion that offers a suite of features for both practice and performance. Musicians can hone their skills with Note and Ear Workouts, and explore a multi-octave keyboard and various essential instruments for free. The app allows users to perform alongside a Live Orchestra, featuring an extensive collection of 27 instruments, 262 Ragas, and 54 Taals across 10 Styles/Genres. Additionally, users can create professional-quality audio and video recordings with automatic mixing and microphone enhancements. The app’s rich instrument library includes the Tanpura, Surpeti, Metronome, Swarmandal, and more, catering to a wide range of musical tastes and styles. With features like Note and Beat guidance, Karaoke with pitch shifting, In-Ear Monitoring, and iCloud sync, the app is designed to be an all-in-one solution for music creation and practice, making it easier for artists to share their work and manage their repertoire.

Note: The free and paid subscription versions of the NaadSadhana iOS app are:
Free Version
Provides access to basic features like note and ear workouts, pitch detection, multi-octave keyboard, and essential instruments like tanpura, metronome, and swarmandal. Allows practicing with a limited set of instruments and ragas.

Paid Subscription (NaadSadhana Pro)
Unlocks the full "Live Orchestra" feature with 27 instruments across 10 world music styles, 262 ragas, 54+ taals/rhythms. Enables creating audio and video recordings that are automatically mixed, with microphone enhancements. Provides additional features like note/beat guidance, song presets with lyrics and tuning, karaoke mode with pitch shifting and looping, in-ear monitoring with reverb and EQ, iCloud sync for songs/playlists, and smart song suggestions.

The subscription is available as monthly ($4.99), quarterly ($12.49), or annual ($39.99) plans.

So in essence, the free version is focused on practice tools, while the paid subscription unlocks the full performance capabilities with the virtual orchestra, multi-track recording studio, and additional utilities for serious musicians and learners.

NaadSadhana on the App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naadsadhana/id1348181386

transcription:
Disclaimer: This transcript is generated by AIKO, an automated transcription service. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.

Good day AppleVis, and today on this podcast I'll be demonstrating the NAD Sadhana app.

Now I did do a podcast on this in 2021.

So today is going to be about revisiting the app, because since my podcast in 2021, the app has undergone major changes when it comes to accessibility, like when it comes to features as well as accessibility improvements, simply user interface and all that great stuff.

And the developers really committed when it comes to accessibility, which is really great to see.

And what this app basically does, it basically listens to you and according to your singing, it will improvise.

The app is primarily based for Indian classical musicians, but the cool thing is that it also has styles for Western music as well.

And so you can say it's not…

In this episode, Thomas Domville provides a detailed walkthrough of the ElevenLabs Reader for iOS. This versatile app transforms any text content into natural, expressive speech using advanced AI-generated voices. Perfect for articles, ePubs, PDFs, and more, it enables users to enjoy their favorite content on the go. With an extensive and ever-growing library of voices, the app offers a personalized listening experience tailored to any mood or occasion.

ElevenLabs Reader: AI Audio on the App Store
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/elevenlabs-reader-ai-audio/id6479373050

transcription:
Disclaimer: This transcript is generated by AIKO, an automated transcription service. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.

Hello and welcome.

My name is Thomas Domville, also known as AnonyMouse.

I'm going to introduce you to an app called 11 Labs Reader, and it's spelled just as it sounds like.

So 11 Labs is one word, E-L-E-V-E-N-L-A-B-S, 11 Labs, space, reader.

This is an amazing app that you definitely want to check out if there's something that interests you, of course.

So I'm going to do a nice little review and walk through and show you a demonstration how to use 11 Labs Reader.

Now before I do that, 11 Labs should sound familiar for most of you out there.

If you haven't heard of 11 Labs, no problem.

11 Labs has been around for some time now, and what they're known for is being able to take any text and convert it into audio for you to listen.

It's incredible technology.

It sounds marvelous, and it's trying to do its best to sound as natural as possible.

And I personally think they're getting really close to that moment where we will be able to say, wow, this is definitely a hit on their hands.

And I think this app is no doubt going to be something that's going to be popular by some of you out there.

Now I have used other apps.

I won't mention those names.

They will take various files like text files or probably PDFs or EPUBs and try to read it out using whatever voice over voices that we have now.

And as you know, well, for myself, I'm not a big fan of those things.

And it's really kind of hard to read books or listen to articles with those voices, especially when I come back in a background where I'm not used to using older voices such as eloquence and such things like that.

It just sounds very unnatural, very robotic.

So I'm really more into more natural sounding speech.

So this is no doubt one of the big app that I definitely going to keep on my main home screen from now on.

Now it's saying that there are some quirks and issues with this app.

Yeah, for the most part, it is accessible and usable.

Now there are some things that if you need to do, it can be difficult.

So I won't be pointing that out.

But I'm hoping that there's definitely going to be some update to this app and to making things more efficient for voice over users.

Overall, I think this app definitely has potential and it definitely is going to be something I'm going to be using a lot.

So let's go ahead and…

In this podcast, Thomas Domville reviews and demonstrates the Voices feature, which allows you to customize multiple VoiceOver voices to suit your needs. You can quickly access these voices using the Rotor Actions or the VoiceOver Quick Settings.

How to Add VoiceOver Voices to the Voices Feature on iOS

1. Open Settings: Start by opening the Settings app with a double tap on your iOS device.
2. Go to Accessibility: Scroll down and double tap on "Accessibility."
3. Select VoiceOver: Under the Vision section, double tap on "VoiceOver."
4. Tap on Speech: In the VoiceOver settings, double tap on "Speech."
5. Add a New Voice: double Tap on "Add Rotor Voice..." to see a list of available voices.
6. Choose a Voice: Browse through the list and select the voice you want to add. You can swipe up on a voice to hear a sample.
7. Download the Voice: After selecting a voice, double tap "Download" to add it to your device.
8. Set Up Rotor Actions: Go back to the VoiceOver settings and double tap on "Rotor." Ensure that "Voices" is selected so you can quickly switch between voices using the Rotor.
9. Quick Settings Access: You can also access the new voices through the VoiceOver Quick Settings by two finger quadruple tap and selecting "Voice."

Now, you can easily switch between your customized VoiceOver voices to enhance your accessibility experience on iOS 18.

Transcript

Disclaimer: This transcript is generated by AIKO, an automated transcription service. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.

Hello and welcome.

My name is Thomas Domville, also known as Anonymouse.

I'm going to be talking about a feature called Voices.

So as you know, we have our primary voice over voice that we use each and every day on our device.

Wouldn't it be great that you are able to access various voices more than just one voice over on the fly?

Yep, you can do that.

It lives right in your rotor, if that's where you would like it to be.

In my case, I have it in my rotor itself.

You can also put that in the voice over quick settings if you wish to.

And I'll be showing you how to add that to your rotor and quick setting if that's something you want to do.

But in my case, whenever I do a podcast, you probably always hear that I use Siri number 4 voice, in short is Noel.

And this is what I use when I do podcasting, but every so often I like to change things up and here's some other voice and that would be Tom and Hans.

So those are my top two voices.

And so in order to access it so quickly and easily, I place the voices in within my rotor.

So let me give you an example of what it sounds like and what it looks like.

So I'm going to access my rotor and I'm going to go to Voices.

Voices, Siri voice 4, default, selected.

So if I swipe up, Tom, primary voice.

I have the Tom primary voice.

Or if I could just swipe up again, Siri voice 4, default.

I'm back to Siri voice number 4.

So this is when I'm talking about how you are able to access voices so easily from your rotor or your quick settings, if that's what you choose to do.

So let me show you how I got that set up.

But before we can do anything, we need to add voices so you can…

Richard Lutz takes his pew at the Royal Shakespeare Theatrefor that most famous of revenge plays.

Iconic studios honoured by local heroes.

Pet lovers advised to be prepared for fireworks season.

Making sure the new addition arrives without tears.

“Maximising your Return on Investment from a Good Idea”

Leaders from some of Europe’s largest companies will be gathering in Birmingham to discuss the role that open innovation and collaboration can play in boosting the economy

Madin walking tour led by Alan Clawley Starting at Five Ways Station, 10.30 am, 22nd June 2013

Walter the Whale takes up residence in Balsall Heath's Living Room.

An evening with one of Brum’s finest, Lewis Goodall.

50 reasons why the region is a global centre of innovation.

Change of meeting "prevents council change" - claim.

International sports legacy experts will convene at the University of Birmingham this week to discuss the rationale behind hosting global mega-events and their lasting impact.

Swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds OBE was guest of honour when she went back to her old school in Aldridge to meet marathon readers.

Dave Woodhall sees Villa win at Wycombe in the Carabao Cup.

Security roadshow heads to Snow Hill.

Cost of controversial police deputy revealed.

Andy Goff has an admission to make.

A Good Hope consultant has won international recognition for leading a new treatment study

England wicket keeper Sarah Taylor is arguably one of the best female cricketers in the history of the ladies game and she could make history this summer by becoming the first woman to play men's second XI county cricket.

A Birmingham-based donkey riding charity is calling on the fun loving public to adopt a donkey this Valentine's Day to help raise vital funds

Ticket offers released for the 2020 tennis season.

Employment and training opportunities for local people.

"Inspirational" Birmingham logistics boss helps community rugby club secure national award.

"Help us to help you get the treatment you need across Birmingham and Solihull."

City centre location for Police Bill protest.

Black Sabbath’s heavy metal bench used by global debt-climate protesters.

Mark Selwood writes of a local sporting success.

Design aims to monitor driver mood and energy levels.

Road users urged to think safety as nights draw in.

Immersive dining experience aims to showcase Birmingham's Pakistani and Bangladeshi culture.

Sheilagh Matheson raises a glass or two.

West Midlands candidates urged to stand up for pedestrians.