Apple Inc. AAPL is reportedly integrating advanced accessibility features into its upcoming iOS 18 and macOS 15 updates. These updates are designed to make the tech giant’s devices more inclusive and user-friendly.
What Happened: Apple is focusing on new accessibility functionalities for the impending releases of iOS 18 and macOS 15, MacRumors reported on Thursday. The updates are poised to make the applications more accommodating for all users.
The expected enhancements include Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, which allow users to associate spoken phrases with specific accessibility settings. The Live Speech function is also set to receive an upgrade, enabling customizable categories with distinct names and icons.
Apple plans to expand the adjustable Text Size feature within macOS 15 to additional apps, potentially including Books, News, and Stocks. This feature is already supported in Calendar, Finder, Mail, Messages, and Notes.
There is also speculation about Apple testing the waters with adjustable font size for the macOS menu bar. Additionally, rumors suggest the development of an on-device eye-tracking feature, though details are currently limited.
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While these features are in development, their inclusion in the final release is not certain, as Apple often discards projects that don’t meet their high standards. More information is anticipated as development continues, with updates expected at the WWDC 2024 event.
Why It Matters: Apple’s aim to improve accessibility in its software updates follows a strategic pause in iOS 18 development. This pause, led by Apple’s head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, aimed to refine the software to address quality concerns and integrate generative AI capabilities, positioning Apple to compete with tech giants like Google and OpenAI.
Moreover, Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman suggested it could be the most consequential update in iPhone history. The update is expected to include RCS support in the Message app and enhanced Siri functionality, among other features.
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