Hello All, I am cross-posting this to both V iPhone and Mac Visionaries.
NOTE 1: This document assume that you do not use the automatic app update feature on your iOS device. NOTE 2: The following applies to those who use an iOS device in conjunction with iTunes on a computer, only. As we have all experienced, there are times when updates to an app can break VoiceOver accessibility. In iOS 8.x and earlier, assuming that one had previously synchronized with iTunes on a computer, if an update broke accessibility for a particular app, one could simply delete the newly updated copy of the app from the iOS device and then, connect the device to the computer and install the older version of the app, back to the iOS device. This was possible because in iOS 8.x and earlier, assuming app WiFi syncing was not enabled, the synchronization process included copying any newly downloaded app from the iOS device into the iTunes Library located on the computer. As of iOS 9.x, the synchronization process between the iOS device and the computer, no longer includes copying apps from the device to the computer. For those of us who rely on VoiceOver accessibility, this new process means that should an updated app break VoiceOver access, we can no longer restore an earlier version of the app using the same time-tested method as we have all come to enjoy. Before I continue, I urge all of you to please contact Apple and express how significant this change in the synchronization process affects those of us who are blind or low vision. The good news is that there is a simple workaround, so to speak, available to those of us who want to insure that we always have an accessible copy of an app. Just update the app in iTunes before connecting the iOS device. Updating apps, in iTunes on the computer, actually downloads a full copy of the app in the .IPA format which, just as always, can be copied to any authorized iOS compatible device. Confused? Don't be; the following example should help clarify the process: [BEGIN EXAMPLE] DAY ONE: 1. You're very happy with all of your currently installed apps. Your favorite app is the Candle Shore BLOG.com app and you don't want to lose VoiceOver accessibility to it, should it be updated. 2. You want to make certain that you have a full copy of this accessible version of the app on your computer, just in case any future updates break its accessibility. 3. On your computer, you open iTunes and navigate to the Apps area. You locate the Candle Shore BLOG.com app and, Click the Update button. This will update a full copy of the app on your computer to the same version that is currently on your iOS device. Remember, you will only do this if you like the current version that is on your iOS device. Because you like to plan for worse case scenarios, you decide to perform such an update for all of your mission-critical apps like those having to do with banking, GPS navigation, etc. DAY TWO: 1. Upon checking the App Store, on your iOS device, you discover that there is an update to the Candle Shore BLOG.com app. 2. You update the app and discover, to your dismay, that VoiceOver accessibility has been broken. 3. You immediately delete the app from your iOS device. 4. Now, you connect the iOS device to your computer and, from within iTunes, you install the older, accessible, copy of the app, back to the iOS device, just as you would have done in iOS 8.x. [END EXAMPLE] The bottom line is that if you are currently running iOS 9.x or later, you should manually update any important apps, on your computer, now, before any future updates break them. Mark -- The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
