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Apple Watch

How to use Apple Watch Mirror on your iPhone

Apple Watch screen mirroring allows you to view your Apple Watch’s screen and control your Apple Watch via your iPhone.

Note: Keep in mind that these controls can be a bit finicky, and if you’re continually failing to engage a specific function, it may be that feature is not yet available for Apple Watch Mirroring.

The first thing you want to do to mirror your Apple Watch on your iPhone is open Settings.

Scroll down to Accessibility.

Select Apple Watch Mirroring.

Toggle on Apple Watch Mirroring. It will be green and to the right when enabled. A live image of your Apple Watch will appear on the screen. read more

How to use Hey Siri

Apple introduced the ability for users to say “Hey Siri” and provide hands-free voice commands to Siri in 2014 with iOS 8. It was limited to basic actions and information queries, but the technology has improved dramatically in the last decade.

How to set up “Hey Siri”

Open the Settings app
Scroll down and select “Siri & Search”
Toggle on “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'”
The procedure is identical for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch and their respective Settings apps.

Macs can also listen for “Hey Siri,” but only in models released in 2018 or later for MacBooks and in 2020 or later for iMacs. The toggle is in the same location, but this time in System Preferences. read more

Fitness app updates with new accessibility features

Gentler Streak has become one of the most popular fitness apps for iPhone and Apple Watch. And to ensure that everyone can use the app to track their health, Gentler Streak has now been updated to fully support iOS accessibility features.

Gentler Streak helps users to monitor their exercise and to better understand their health data. The app was awarded the 2022 App of the Year for Apple Watch by Apple. Gentler Streak has been available for iPhone since 2021 and was released for Apple Watch in 2022. read more

ErgData app update includes new accessibility features

Leading sport and fitness equipment manufacturer Concept2 has released a major new update for their popular ErgData app. The app connects to the Concept2 RowErg, SkiErg or BikeErg to provide additional functionality. During development, Concept2 worked with the American Council of the Blind (ACB) to help ensure the app was accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.

What is ErgData?

ErgData from Concept2 is your personal training partner. Set up workouts from your phone or tablet, view customized stats and information during workouts, track your progress, sync with the Concept2 Online Logbook, take part in the Workout of the Day and much more. read more

Apple announces new accessibility features coming soon to an Apple near you

It’s that time of year, in honour of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple is previewing a number of new accessibility features coming to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac later this year. The company says that these new features will bring additional ways for users with disabilities to “navigate, connect, and get the most out of Apple products.”

What is Door Detection?

One of the new features is called Door Detection, which Apple says can help users locate a door upon arriving at a new destination. Door Detection can help users understand how far they are from a door and describe its attributes, including whether it’s open or closed. If the door is closed, the feature can inform the user whether the door can be opened by pushing, turning a knob, or pulling a handle. read more

How to silence unknown callers in iOS 14

Apple has a feature in Settings called Silence Unknown Callers. If you routinely get a lot of spam calls then this is the feature for you.

If you receive a call from a number that is not in your contacts, iOS will silence the call, send it to voicemail, and display it on the Recents list in the phone app. Incoming calls from your contacts, numbers you recently called, and Siri Suggestions will continue to ring.

How to silence Unknown Callers

Open Settings.
Select Phone.
Select Silence Unknown Callers and turn the toggle on.
If you place an emergency call iOS will disable this feature for 24 hours incase emergency dispatchers and first responders need to contact you. read more

TELUS Tech for Good program expands to help Canadians with disabilities get connected

TELUS has announced the national expansion of their Tech for Good program in partnership with March of Dimes Canada.

What is the Tech for Good program?

First launched in Alberta and British Columbia in 2018, this national expansion will support more Canadians with disabilities who require professional assistance to independently use or control their mobile device. The program offers customized recommendations, training, and support on mobile devices and, based on individual need, the assistive technology required for persons with disabilities to use their mobile device. Tech for Good enables equitable access to mobile devices, empowering people with disabilities to live, work, and play in our digital world. read more

Apple Music adds Saylists to help people with speech-sound disorders

Apple has launched Saylists on Apple Music to help people with speech disabilities. Apple worked with Warner Music to develop the said Apple Music feature that will use algorithms to find songs with challenging lyrics and sounds.

The purpose of “Saylists” would be to offer users songs that would have repeating sounds such as “ch…”, “g…”, “k…”, “z…”, and others. This is because getting people with SSD to repeat hard and challenging sounds is one of the most successful therapeutic strategies to treat the disorder. read more

How to use SOS emergency features on iPhone and Apple Watch

Why would you want to set up emergency SOS location tracking? There’s a variety of scenarios where you may not be able to talk on a phone, but you will be able to find a way to send your location to trusted individuals.

You can also have an easy way to directly call the emergency services through these features too, so they’re worth setting up for when you may need them in the future.

How does it work on iPhone?

Emergency SOS is already available when you take an iPhone out of the box, but there are some ways you can set it up to work better. It works in all countries, but in some places you may only be able to choose one particular emergency service. read more

How to speed up Your Apple Watch

Constant use of your Apple Watch, combined with new and more demanding apps or features, can make it run slow over time. If that’s happening to you, here are a few fixes you can try to make your Apple Watch run as smoothly as a brand new one.

Update Your Apple Watch

Keeping your Apple Watch up to date is important if you want to fix any bug or issue that might make it run slower than usual. Not only that, but software updates often fix security issues as well. So constantly updating your Apple Watch, as well as your iPhone and other devices, should be a top priority. read more

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