Year: 2021

Apple removes Siri features used by visually impaired users

CompuScoop Staff September 30, 2021 1

Apple device users who rely on the company's accessibility features are complaining about recent changes to Siri that remove commands for voice call, voicemail message and email management.

The most up-to-date versions of iOS 15 and iOS 14 no longer include Siri integrations for certain functions that were leveraged as accessibility shortcuts for visually impaired users.

A total of seven commands covering voice calls, call history, voicemails and email creation that were previously available to Siri users are no longer legitimate queries in iOS 15 or iOS 14. Other commands might also be affected.

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The list of now-removed commands:

Querying Siri about call history illicits the response, "I can't help with that, but you can ask me to open the Phone app." Similar messages are provided for voicemail and email requests.

It is unclear when or if Apple deprecated the Siri terms, but MacRumors, which reported on the development on Wednesday, said it received multiple reports on the matter dating back at least two weeks. The change might have occurred when Apple was readying a public launch of iOS 15.

Today's report notes that users can still access some data through Siri including most recent calls and voicemails.

It is not known if the removal can be traced back to a bug or is an intentional decision by Apple.

Forum users on AppleVis, a website that serves as a resource for blind and low vision users of Apple's products, noted the removal of certain Siri commands earlier this month. One person contacted Apple support and was told that the company is aware of the email issue, suggesting a fix is incoming for that particular problem.

Via: AppleInsider.com

YouTubeTV to drop NBC TV Network Thursday

Dan Uff September 29, 2021 1

YouTube TV has sent an email to all of its subscribers stating it will be dropping the NBC Television Network and all related channels including Oxygen, CNBC, and others over an argument between the network and YouTube TV about carrier rates for the service. They will be offering a $5.00 discount off the monthly bill during this interruption in service.

YouTube TV is running ads with more information about this situation plus a website with more information.

With ‘Hide My Email,’ Apple iCloud+ users can now create burner email addresses

CompuScoop Staff September 28, 2021 1

Hide My Email is a service that lets you keep your personal email address private whether you’re creating a new account with an app, signing up for a newsletter online, or sending an email to someone you don’t know well.

There are two key ways to use Hide My Email:

• With Sign in with Apple, which lets you create an account using a randomly-generated email address directly within a supported third-party app or website

• With iCloud+, which lets you generate as many random email addresses as you need on your device, in Safari, or on iCloud.com, which you can use for whatever site or purpose you choose.

How Hide My Email works

Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to your personal inbox. Each address is unique to you. You can read and respond directly to emails sent to these addresses and your personal email address is kept private.

If you create an account with an app or visit a website that supports Sign in with Apple, you can choose to share your email address, if you’re familiar with the app or website, or hide your email address, if you’d prefer more privacy. If you choose the Hide my Email option, only the app or website you created the account with can use this random email address to communicate with you.

With an iCloud+ subscription, you can generate unique, random addresses from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 or later in any email field in Safari. You can also generate email addresses on-demand in the Settings app or on iCloud.com.

Apple doesn’t read or process any of the content in the email messages that pass through Hide My Email, except to perform standard spam filtering that’s required to maintain the compan’s status as a trusted email provider. All email messages are deleted from our relay servers after they’re delivered to you, usually within seconds.

At any time, you can change the email address that receives forwarded messages. Or you can choose to turn off email forwarding to stop receiving messages. You can manage your addresses created with Hide My Email in Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or on iCloud.com.

Via: MacDailyNews.com

iPhone 13 orders slip even further

Dan Uff September 28, 2021 1

We are getting various reports that customers who order the newest iPhone are experiencing even further delays, sometimes up to a month in some situations.

Even though this is a common problem for the iPhone maker, there are usually signs that the company is catching up with orders after 4-5 weeks after launch.