Transferring files between Mac and iPhone via Airdrop

I will demonstrate today how to send a file via Airdrop between your Mac and your iPhone.
The process is quite simple.
You must have your Bluetooth connection turned on for each device. Both devices must be in range.

Sending from Mac to iPhone

I have selected my file on my Mac mini using Finder.
On the file prepared for transfer I have pressed VO shift M, which is the shortkey for contextual menu.
VO is the Voiceover key, or ctrl and option pressed together.
All this demonstration was made for screen reader users.
Blind and visually impaired people know Voiceover, and possible are familiar with this short key mentioned above. It is a Finder short key, not necessary a Voiceover command.
When shift VO M is pressed a list of options are displayed, but we need to go down to share.
There is another list displayed for share, where one of the options is Airdrop.
Press VO spacebar on Airdrop and wait a moment.
It is very possible to hear a notification saying:
“Not found the contact what you are looking for?”
When this screen appears do not press escape or cancel button, but navigate with tab until hear a table displayed.
If that table do not appear check your iPhone to not be locked.
For some reasons when the iPhone is password locked the connection is not possible to be completed.
When the iPhone is unlocked, just go around with tab on your Mac, until the table where the devices are listed appear. Some time Voiceover will read a username, or an iCloud account, or a name of devices found. Also. If the contact has a picture attached, you can see that picture, in case of any sight rest is left.
Press VO spacebar on that result displayed in table, and wait for the ding notification on your iPhone. Also, a little dialog come up to ask if you wish to accept or decline the file.

When file is accepted an option called “open with” will be displayed.
This window allows you to choose an app or place where that file will be saved.
Job done.

Sending from iPhone to Mac

For sending files from iPhone to Mac the procedure is quite similar.
Go to that file what you wish to transfer to your Mac and double tap on it.
Depending where that file is a share button must be present.
Choose Airdrop from the share list and wait to see a list of
recipients displayed.
When the username or name of the device appear double tap on it and leave your iPhone aside.
A notification will come up on your Mac asking to decline or accept the file.
If file is accepted, you can choose a place where that file will be saved or opened.

Check this thing in case of transfer failure:

Check if all devices involved in transfer have the Bluetooth turned on.
Perhaps you can use Siri to turn Bluetooth on.
Check Settings in your iPhone to see what kind of receiving files settings you have.
For this, go to settings/general/airdrop and double check what is selected there.
You can choose 1 of 3 options:
1. Off
2. Contact only
3. everyone.

Just in case of first option is selected, you need to alter this setting, other way leave as it is.
Warning! If everyone is selected, you can receive files from any Apple device found in range. Use this option only when desired contacts are not found, but do not forget to change after to option number 2 which is the default one.
For any other issue, check share settings in Mac, under your System Preferences.
Keep in mind, if your iPhone and Mac are registered under same iCloud account probably is worth using iCloud for easier sharing.
But for family members or sharing with friends the Airdrop sharing is probably the best and easiest way.

Listen an audio demonstration step by step in the podcast episode below.
For any questions or comments about this, leave a comment, or contact us.
Don’t forget about our training offer, if you wish to learn one to one about Voiceover in Mac and iPhone as a screen reader user!

How tu update your Apple Watch OS as a blind person

In this podcast episode I will show how to update your Apple Watch OS as a blind person.
I am my self a blind user of Apple Watch and iPhone, and the whole process was recorded just to show you how to perform this task.
In order to update your Apple Watch you need the following:
• Your Apple Watch must sit on its charger
• Your Watch’s battery level must be at list 50%.
• Your Apple Watch and your iPhone must be in range and connected to same wireless network.
The update process must be started from Watch app on your iPhone.
Ask Siri to open Watch app and swipe right until all watch faces are past, then continue until general. Double tap on general and go to the right until software update. If a new version of Watch OS is available Voiceover will mention that.
If yes, proceed to update.
Will be 3 rounds of waiting time required: one for download, second for preparation and third for installing.
The whole process will take about 15 minutes, depending by your internet connection speed.
Two things are very important:
1. Do not remove your Apple Watch from its charger until the update is complete.
2. . Do not take your iPhone out of range of your watch and wi-fi network.
A short time, during the installation, your Watch will not speak.

Hope the audio demonstration below will help you to understand how simple is to update your Watch OS when a new version is available.
For any question or comment around Apple Watch and iPhone fill free to write us, using the comments form below, or the contact form.
Finally, I wish only to remind you, Accessible Computer offer training courses for blind people, one to one, face to face or at distance, in topics like iPhone and Apple Watch, but other as well.

Check out here the all list of available training courses.

Borrow Box app accessibility for Voiceover users

Borrow Box app is an app used by local libraries in UK for e-books and e-audio-bookx.
In this audio demonstration I will show you how to borrow a book from Poole and Cristchurch Library.
Also, an overview of the main tabs in the menu will inform you what you can do in this app, as a blind user.
The app is 100% accessible with Voiceover screen reader in iPhone.
Eventually, the only step where a problem may aquire is the signup process. There is a barcode which must be scanned from your library card and a pin code required.
I remember, this first step, for me at list, has been done by a library emploee. I can’t remember if is possible to pair manually the app with your library card, avoiding that barcode scann.

Appearance

The first page when you open the app is My Loans, where you can see an overview of your borrowed/reserved books.
In the app you can borrow books, but also to rezerv books, if they are not available at the visit time. Some of the titles are limited in terms of licences offered to your local libraries. When that maximum is reached you have to wait in the queue untill that title is returned by others. The returns are made manually, or automaticaly, when the borrow term expire.
The second tab is e-audio-books where you can see a list of available books . A filter is available is well, if you wish to sort books after category, age target, etc.
Each title is followed by a date when is available for download, in case of all copyed owned by the local library are taken. If the title does not display any availability date, that mean that title is available for download straight on.

When a double tap with one finger is performed on book title you open the book details.
In this page are buttons available for preview, borrow, or rezerv.

The third tab is search.
With search box I was unsuccessful, probably because my search term was unusual. Probably if you search for a book title about you know for sure is available , the results are relevant.
For my trials the results were not relevant.
I have inserted the terms “learn social media” and “Living forward” which is a book title.
Also, the little popup with suggestions under the search box always suggested funny terms.
The forth tab is settings where you can adjust some details like downloading books on wi-fi only, account details with personal data, and few others.
All together I am pleased about Borrow Box accessibility for screen reader users.
Do you have a similar experience?
Let me know if you checked this app in Android or iPad.

Listen the audio demonstration in the podcast episode below.
For any questions leave a comment or drop me an e-mail using the contact form.