AppleVis Extra 109: Interview with Klemens Strasser, Developer of Art of Fauna

Episode Title: AppleVis Extra 109: Interview with Klemens Strasser, Developer of Art of FaunaGuest: Klemens Strasser, Indie iOS Developer and Winner of the 2024 Apple Design AwardHosts: David Nason (Dave) and Thomas Domville(AnonyMouse)Length: \~45 minutesEpisode SummaryIn this inspiring and insightful episode, Dave and Thomas speak with Klemens Strasser, the creative mind behind Art of Fauna, a beautifully designed and highly accessible educational puzzle game for iOS. Klemens shares the journey of his app from concept to being honored with an Apple Design Award for Best Design at WWDC 2025.The discussion touches on accessibility in app development, the importance of inclusive design, how Art of Fauna was built with VoiceOver users in mind, and the motivations that drive Klemens to ensure his apps are usable and enjoyable for everyone.What Is Art of Fauna?A nature-inspired puzzle game that lets players:Solve image-based or text-based puzzles about animalsLearn fun facts from 18th- and 19th-century scientific illustrationsChoose between visual or VoiceOver-friendly game modesExperience soothing soundscapes and educational contentTopics Covered✅ Accessibility and DesignKlemens’ passion for inclusive app designVoiceOver integration in puzzle gameplayImportance of building accessibility from the ground upApple’s new “Accessibility Nutrition Labels” and their potential impact✅ The Apple Design Award ExperienceKlemens shares how he learned he wonInsights from attending WWDC and being nominated multiple timesHow previous apps (Letter Rooms, Ancient Board Game Collection) laid the foundation✅ Development ProcessWhy Klemens chose UIKit and SpriteKit over UnityCollaboration with VoiceOver users and accessibility engineersBeta testing and iterative design for inclusive play✅ Game Structure and Monetization10 free puzzles includedFive themed puzzle packs available for a one-time feeNo subscriptions—premium content is pay-oncePeriodic content updates including: Friends of Fauna: users upload animal photos to receive monthly puzzlesEarth Day Bonus Pack: free bonus for bundle buyersDonations: 20% of proceeds go to wildlife conservationWhat’s Next?Klemens announces his next indie app: Pocket Shelf – a new reading tracker app scheduled for release alongside iOS 26.Connect with KlemensWebsite: strasser.appTwitter / X: @klemensstrasserBlog (coming soon): Posts on Art of Fauna donations and accessibility updatesFinal ThoughtsThis episode is a must-listen for:Indie developers exploring accessibilityVoiceOver users seeking innovative, inclusive gamesEducators and parents looking for meaningful screen time for kidsAnyone curious…

In this podcast episode, host Seamus introduces the SoSecure app by ADT, a free iOS emergency assistance application designed to connect users quickly with ADT agents who can contact emergency services on their behalf. Seamus offers a detailed walkthrough of the app’s features, accessibility, and functionality, highlighting its usefulness—especially for those who rely on VoiceOver or have specific communication needs.Listeners are guided through the app’s setup, key functions, and helpful tips to maximize its effectiveness and accessibility. Whether you are visually impaired, need a silent way to communicate during emergencies, or simply want a reliable safety app, this episode provides a thorough overview to get you started.SoSecure by ADT is a personal emergency response app that offers an emergency button with PIN cancellation, automated guardian text notifications, silent SOS chat, and location tracking groups. It is accessible to VoiceOver users and free to download on iOS devices, making it an essential tool for safety and peace of mind in situations where calling 911 directly isn’t possible.Key Topics Covered:Introduction to ADT and SoSecure Seamus explains ADT’s long history as a home security company and clarifies that the SoSecure app does not require an ADT home security system to be used.App Accessibility The app is about 95% accessible with VoiceOver, with a few minor limitations noted.Account Setup Users are required to create an account that includes providing an email, phone number, and a profile picture. A four-digit PIN must be created to cancel emergency calls.Emergency Button Functionality The app features a large emergency button that, when pressed, initiates a 10-second countdown during which the user can cancel the call by entering their PIN. If not canceled, an ADT agent contacts the user and, if necessary, emergency services.Automated Guardian Contacts Users can add up to five guardians (emergency contacts) who receive automated text alerts in an emergency, sent directly from ADT’s system.SOS Chat Feature Text chat is available within the app to communicate with ADT agents silently, beneficial for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or in situations where verbal communication is unsafe.Location Sharing and Groups The app includes a "My Groups" feature, similar to location tracking apps, allowing users to track and receive notifications about group members' locations, though this feature has limited accessibility.Settings Overview Seamus details the settings menu, including account editing, notification controls, PIN management (which requires a verification text), FAQ access, and legal/contact information.Demonstration of Adding and Removing Guardians The process of adding contacts from the user’s phone and removing them is shown, with accessibility tips for blind users.Emergency Button Demonstration Seamus demonstrates using the emergency button and entering the PIN to cancel a test emergency call.Why Seamus Likes the App Seamus highlights the app’s usefulness, especially when in unfamiliar locations or…

In this episode of Apple Crunch, Thomas Domville, John Gassman, Marty Sobo, and Desiree Renae discuss recent Apple news and other topics of interest.Chapters:OpeningAfter thoughts of the Apple WWDC KeynoteHands-on and Thoughts of iOS 26ClosingResources:WWDC 2025 Keynote: The AppleVis RecapApple Previews New Accessibility Features Coming Later This Year: Accessibility Nutrition Labels, Magnifier for Mac, Braille Access Mode, and MoreIf you have feedback or questions for the Apple Crunch team, you can reach them at [email protected]: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Thomas:hello and welcome to apple crunch for June 2025 my name is thomas domville also go by the name of AnonyMouse yes we are back once again guys and here we are with the gang and we got a special new voice for you so a mystery voice i'll introduce that new voice to you in a moment so let's say hello to mr john gassman how are you mr john i'm doing good how are youJohn: Great, great.Thomas: You've been enjoying yourself the past couple months?John:Oh, yeah. Yeah, always stuff going on. I did a nice cruise, and we have a convention coming up shortly before you hear this. And then another cruise in September. So lots of stuff going on this summer.Thomas:Two cruises in a year. You know, I am jealous because you get to go on a Hawaii cruise. That is amazing. Maybe I'll have to join you in a cruise one of these days. That would be fun. We have to go on a Disney cruise. We should do a Disney, yeah, we should do a Disney cruise someday. Exactly. I'm all on board. And then over here, we got Mr. Marty Sobo. How are you, Mr. Marty?Marty:Doing good, doing good. Thank you very much. Glad to be here again.Thomas:Are you busy?Marty:Oh, yeah, always busy.Thomas:Always busy, too?Marty:Yeah.Thomas:Keeping yourself busy with the unmute?Marty: Oh, yeah.Thomas: Excellent. Well, speaking of the unmute, you got a new voiceover on unmute and she is going to be joining us on Apple Crunch from here now. So I am so happy to introduce you to all of you to Desiree Renee. How are you, Desiree?Desiree:I'm good. How are you?Thomas: Wonderful.Desiree: Oh, it's been good. We're finally getting some warmer weather, so that's always nice in Oregon. And although in Texas, when I used to live there, I dreaded the warmer weather, but now I look forward to it.Thomas:Yeah, Texas gets really hot.Desiree:Oh,…

In this episode, Tunmi offers an in-depth review of µBrowser: Watch Web Browser, a lightweight and efficient web browser designed specifically for the Apple Watch. Ideal for quick web searches and browsing simple websites on the go, µBrowser focuses on speed and ease of use rather than heavy browsing tasks like social media or account management.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeIntroduction to µBrowserA minimalistic browser for Apple Watch enabling fast access to basic websites and web searches.Not intended for complex browsing activities such as managing social media or online accounts.App Structure & ComponentsTwo-part system: the Apple Watch app (main browsing) and a companion iPhone app (bookmark management).Breakdown of watch app sections: MicroBrowser (main browser), Bookmarks, Browsing History, and About.Navigating the Watch AppLaunching via the Digital Crown.Using the address/search bar powered by DuckDuckGo for privacy-focused searches.Four key sections for seamless navigation.Bookmarks ManagementEmoji-labeled bookmark folders for quick identification.Add, activate, or delete bookmarks directly on the watch.Search and Navigation FeaturesVoice input to facilitate hands-free searching.Heading-based navigation for quick jumps within websites.Known LimitationsNo back button feature.Simplified browsing experience, with some restrictions on advanced web interactions (e.g., Google services).Companion iPhone AppEdit, add, and reorder bookmarks with an easy-to-use interface on iPhone.Synchronization between the watch and phone for streamlined bookmark management.Step-by-Step Guide to Using µBrowserOpen MicroBrowser Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch and select the MicroBrowser app.Perform a Search Tap the search icon and use voice dictation to input your query.Access and Manage Bookmarks Navigate to Bookmarks, swipe to activate or delete entries.Use the Address Bar Enter a URL manually or via dictation, then tap done to load the page.Manage Bookmarks on iPhone Open the companion app to add, edit, or reorder bookmarks easily.Download µBrowser: Watch Web BrowserTry out µBrowser today to enhance your Apple Watch browsing experience! Download on the App StoreTranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.tunmi: Hello guys, this is tunmi, and welcome to another episode of the AppleVisPodcast. In this one, I'm going to be reviewing the watch app known as MicroBrowser. Now, MicroBrowser is a lightweight web browser that allows you to…

In this episode of the AppleVis Extra podcast, host David Mason is joined by Thomas Domville, Tyler Stephen, and newcomer Levi Gobin to unpack everything announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The team dives deep into the new features coming to iOS, watchOS, macOS, and iPadOS, sharing their first impressions and early experiences with the latest developer betas.Highlights from the Episode:1. Unified OS Versions:Apple aligns iOS, watchOS, and macOS under version 26, marking a more cohesive update cycle across platforms. The panel discusses the reasoning behind this and what it might mean for users and developers.2. iOS 26 Key Features:A bold new “liquid glass” aesthetic refreshes the visual design.Versioning now reflects the year, simplifying future updates.Groundbreaking features like Hold Assist and on-device live translation redefine accessibility and daily use.Shortcuts receive a major boost from Apple Intelligence, making automations more powerful and customizable.3. Beta Testing Stories & Insights:Thomas recounts a rocky iOS 26 beta install on the iPhone 15 Pro and the steps it took to recover.The team examines current beta performance—discussing AI-driven screenshot analysis, enhanced screen calling, and improved battery status alerts.4. watchOS 26 Updates:Smart Stack and Workout Buddy add new layers of personalization to workouts.Lively debate ensues on the practicality of motivational workout prompts.5. macOS 26 "Tahoe":Spotlight becomes smarter with Quick Key integration.More control for users through revamped menu bar and control center customization.Discussion around Rosetta’s eventual phase-out and what it means for app compatibility.Subtle but meaningful accessibility improvements, including customizable toolbars via the Actions menu.6. iPadOS 26 Enhancements:Continues its convergence with macOS, introducing menu customizations and better file handling.A new Phone app brings calling functionality to non-iPhone devices.7. VoiceOver Improvements:Notable accessibility gains, including enhanced Braille input and toolbar customization for VoiceOver users.8. Looking Ahead:The team reflects on the implications of Apple’s AI roadmap and the growing synergy across platforms.They offer thoughts on what this year’s updates signal about Apple’s broader strategy moving forward.TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Dave: Hello there and welcome to another episode of the Apple Viz Extra podcast. My name is David Mason and really exciting time of year. It is WWDC. We had all of the announcements on Monday and we are gathered to chat through them. what Apple told…

In this episode, Gaurav continues his deep dive into the Alfred app for Mac, focusing on the Features pane within the settings. He provides a detailed walkthrough on customizing Alfred to boost productivity and usability, with special attention to voiceover users.Gaurav explores various powerful features of Alfred, including Universal Actions, hotkey configuration, web search customization, and clipboard history management. Through practical demonstrations, he shows how to create shortened URLs, compress files, and streamline workflows—all without leaving Alfred.Highlights include:Features Pane Overview: Customize default search results, specify file and folder searches, and set fallbacks for unmatched queries.Universal Actions: Learn how to configure hotkeys and perform contextual actions on selected text, URLs, and files, like searching, snippet saving, dictionary lookups, and QR code generation.Web Search Shortcuts: Set personalized shortcuts for quick access to Google Images, Amazon, YouTube, and more.Clipboard History: Enable and manage clipboard content for easy retrieval and searching.Additional Tools: Brief introductions to snippets, calculator, dictionary, contacts viewer, music mini player, and OnePassword integration.System Commands: Assign commands for system tasks such as restart, shutdown, and emptying trash.Step-by-step Universal Actions setup:Open Alfred’s Features tab and set a hotkey for Universal Actions (e.g., Option + Command + A).Select text, URLs, or files and activate the hotkey.Choose from available actions like search, snippet creation, or file compression.Through these tips and demonstrations, Gaurav aims to help listeners harness Alfred’s full potential, making Mac navigation smoother and more accessible—especially for voiceover users.TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Gaurav: Hello everyone. So today we shall continue our series on the Alfred 5 application for the Mac. And today we are going to dive into the Alfred settings once again and doing an even deeper dive on an aspect of the settings pane called the features pane. So if you might remember in one of my previous episodes, I had done a general walkthrough of the Alfred settings. And today we're going to get a deeper dive under the hood of Alfred and really see how to make this app really useful for us via the features tab. So I'm going to invoke Alfred now by pressing my Alfred keyboard shortcut, which is command plus space. application Alfred system dialog and I'm going to go into settings command comma finder mac alfred preferences alfred preferences search I'm going to go to the left most part of the screen with vo fn left arrow search preferences blank search I'm going to vo right arrow alfred sidebar I'm going to sidebar and I'm going to use the up and down arrows once I'm in the alfred sidebar to navigate features…

In this episode, Gaurav offers a hands-on walkthrough of PDFgear: PDF Editor & Reader for Mac OS — a free PDF reader available on the Mac App Store — spotlighting its AI-powered OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capabilities. This feature is especially handy for transforming PDFs composed mainly of images into editable, searchable text. The demo is performed on an M1 MacBook Air running the latest Mac OS Sonoma.Key Highlights:About PDFgear:A free PDF reader app available on the Mac App Store.Stands out with its AI-driven OCR functionality.Demo Setup:Conducted on a MacBook Air with Mac OS Sonoma.Uses a PDF titled Malaysia Wildlife Document, mostly image-based.Step-by-Step Walkthrough:Opening the PDF: Launch the document in PDFgear via the ‘Open with PDF Gear’ option.Navigating the App: Use VoiceOver (VO) commands to explore the window spots menu and locate pages heavy with images.Running OCR: With VO, select the OCR button and choose ‘Current file OCR’ to begin processing. The OCR completes quickly — about 15 to 20 seconds for 134 pages.Exporting Text: Export options include ‘Export to one file’ or ‘Export to separated files.’ Due to accessibility challenges with the save dialog, it’s best to stick with default directories.Accessing Converted Text: Find the output text file in the ‘Downloads’ folder and open it with TextEdit to review the OCR results.This detailed guide empowers listeners to easily convert image-based PDFs into accessible, searchable text, improving document usability across devices.Try PDFgear on the Mac App Store:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pdfgear-pdf-editor-reader/id6469021132?mt=12TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Gaurav: Okay, guys, so today I'm doing a brief audio demonstration on the PDF gear application. This is a free PDF reader on the Mac App Store, and its unique point is that it can use AI to convert or to OCR documents. So that basically means if you have a document, a PDF document, which is mainly in the form of images, you can use the AI-powered features in this application to convert it into text, which you can then read. So I'm going to demonstrate that feature for you today. I'm using M1-powered MacBook Air using the latest version of Mac OS Sonoma. I'm going to navigate to a PDF document on my Mac, which was sent to me by someone called the Malaysia Wildlife Document.Gaurav/VoiceOver: I'm going to V-O-Shift-M to open the context menu. Open with. Open with. Steam app. PDF expert app. PDF gear app.Gaurav: So I'm going to open with PDF gear.VoiceOver: With PDF gear. Malaysia wildlife. PDF window.Gaurav…

In this AppleVis Extra episode, David Nason and Thomas Domville (AnonyMouse) interview Sarah Herrlinger, senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives at Apple. They explore Apple’s ongoing dedication to accessibility, spotlighting exciting new features designed to better support users with disabilities. The conversation covers several highlights, including Accessibility Nutrition Labels, Braille Access Mode, Magnifier for Mac, and the role of AI in accessibility enhancements.Key Highlights:Accessibility Nutrition LabelA new initiative that provides standardized accessibility info for apps.Developers will showcase features like VoiceOver and captions.Designed to increase awareness and help users easily find accessibility details.Braille Access ModeAvailable on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro.Enables quick note-taking, calculations, and BRF file access with Braille displays.Supports live captioning for DeafBlind users to improve communication.Magnifier for MacTurns your iPhone into a magnifier for Mac users.Uses a secondary camera to enlarge physical objects.Includes zoom, color filters, brightness controls, and OCR with text-to-speech via Accessibility Reader.AI and AccessibilityAI remains a vital tool in accessibility advancements.Enhances image recognition and descriptive capabilities.Continues to be integrated to improve experiences for visually impaired users.User Engagement and FeedbackHighlights the value of user feedback in shaping accessibility features.Encourages users to send suggestions to [email protected] Accessibility SettingsA new feature lets users temporarily transfer their accessibility settings to another device.Makes it easier for family members to help with troubleshooting and tech support.Listeners are invited to share their thoughts on these features and suggest any other accessibility needs they’d like Apple to consider.TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Dave: Hello there, and welcome to another episode of the AppleVis Extra. My name is David Mason, and I am delighted to be joined once again by Thomas Domville, also known as AnonyMouse, of course. And this is an exciting episode that we, I want to say, annually, semi-annually do, and that is an interview with Apple's Global Head of Accessibility, Sarah Herrlinger. So, looking forward to this one, Thomas.Thomas: Right. I mean, you're right. That is a mouthful. What is your, I had to look that up. Director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. I'm like, wow. I wonder if that actually fits on her business card in one line. There's no way. They only respond so small.…

In this practical tutorial episode, Siddarth Mahajan demonstrates how to turn a folder into an encrypted disk image (.dmg) file on your Mac, useful if you, for example, need to temporarily share your Mac with someone else and want to protect particularly sensitive data on it. To do this:Open Disk Utility (located in the Utilities folder).Choose File > New image > image from folder (or press Command-Shift-N), and select the folder using the standard open dialog.In the resulting dialog, choose the level of encryption you want for the image in the "Encryption" popup menu (a higher level is slower but more secure) and enter a password that will be used to access it.Click Save, and once Disk Utility reports that the operation is successful, click Done. The image will be saved to the location you specified, which is by default the location of the original folder. Be sure to delete the original folder at this point, so that the data can only be accessed through the password-protected, encrypted disk image.To access the image, open it and enter the password you chose. The folder will then be mounted like a volume on your desktop, where you can add, modify, and delete its contents. When you're done, be sure to eject it so that it can't be accessed without a password by selecting it on your Desktop and choosing File > Eject (or pressing Command-E).Useful Links:macOS Disk Utility: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250Email Siddarth: [email protected]: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Siddarth: Are you in that situation where you need to give your Mac to someone for maybe a few hours or a few days, but worried about what if they might access my private files, my private folders? Of course, everyone has their own privacy, right? You might have private documents or messages or pictures, videos, whatever.Siddarth: Do you know that we can lock or we can encrypt the folder on Mac with a password? Well, if you don't know that, yes, we can actually do that. How can we do that? That's what I'm here for. I'm Siddharth Mahajan. In this episode, I'll be demonstrating that. How can we encrypt a folder with a password on our Mac? So let's get started.Siddarth: I'm on my desktop here.VoiceOver: Siddharth Private Files folder.Siddarth: This is my folder, Siddharth Private Files.VoiceOver: Siddharth Private Files folder.Siddarth: Let me press Vivo space to open.VoiceOver: Finder has new window.Siddarth: Okay, let me interact.VoiceOver: In list view, table.Siddarth: What are the files here?VoiceOver: CFP underscore green humanities dot PDF.Siddarth: One of my CFP files.VoiceOver: conference PDF.…

In this episode, Levi Gobin demonstrates how to prepare your Mac for beta testing by creating a second volume on your Mac's internal disk to install and run beta versions of the operating system. This way, you can run the beta when you want, but continue to use your Mac with the current shipping version of macOS. To create a volume to install macOS betas on:Open Disk Utility (located in the Utilities folder).Select your startup disk (usually called Macintosh HD) in the table, and choose “Add APFS volume” from the context menu (accessed by pressing VO-Shift-M).Name the volume (it can be any name) and if you want to specify a minimum and maximum amount of storage space for it, click size options, define your parameters, and click OK. Otherwise, click Add to create the volume, which will share space with your startup disk.Once the volume has been created, download the current shipping version of macOS from the App Store, and follow the onscreen instructions to install it, a process that is demonstrated in the episode. At the point where the installer confirms that macOS will be installed on your current startup disk, click show all disks, and select your newly created volume. Once the installation completes, your new copy of macOS will start as if the Mac was new from the factory; follow the onscreen instructions in the Setup Assistant, a process that is also demonstrated.To obtain a macOS beta, if you haven't already, sign up for either the developer or public beta program. Once you've signed up, an option will appear in System Settings > General > Software update to install updates from that channel. Once a beta is seeded, you should be able to install it like any other update.To switch between the two volumes, you can either go to System Settings > General > Startup disk to select a default volume that the Mac will start from each time it is restarted or turned on, or select a different volume as your Mac starts. To do this, shut your Mac down, press and hold the Power button until the startup options dialog appears, interact with the volume you want to start up from, and click Continue.If you no longer want to run the beta on your Mac, you can remove the volume by starting up from your primary volume, opening Disk Utility, selecting your secondary volume in the table, and choosing “Delete APFS volume” from the context menu (accessed by pressing VO-Shift-M).TranscriptDisclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI Note Taker – VoicePen, an AI-powered transcription app. It is not edited or formatted, and it may not accurately capture the speakers’ names, voices, or content.Levi: Hello, everyone. In today's recording, I'm going to show you how to dual boot macOS. This might be useful for when you want to beta test a new version, such as macOS 16, which is coming out here in June 2025. I'm going to show you how to dual boot macOS and how you can test the new beta without messing up your current operating system. So first, what we need to do is create an APFS volume.Levi: And the way we do that is by going to Disk Utility. Disk Utility is located in your Applications folder, then under Utilities, Disk Utility. But an…