The Google accessibility team released a public beta version of TalkBack 5.2 for people running Android Lollypop or higher. The interesting features now are a new verbosity setting that lets you control the amount of spoken feedback your device relays, and new earcons that are much more pleasant than the extremely annoying sounds in the previous version for some. I might be able to run TalkBack with the sounds on.
If you would like to try out the beta version of TalkBack 5.2, first join the Eyes-Free Google Group, receiving posts from this group is not a requirement. Sign up to become a Talkback beta tester.
From the Developer
What’s new in TalkBack 5.2
- The new Speech Verbosity setting lets you control how much spoken feedback you hear.
- Go to Talkback Settings > Verbosity. and choose Custom, High, or Low.
- Custom (the default setting) lets you adjust all your speech preferences.
- Choose High to quickly turn on speech preferences, or choose Low to quickly turn off speech preferences.
New spoken feedback:
- Hear spoken feedback when you turn magnification on or off by triple-tapping, or when you zoom in or out by pinching.
- Hear the number of characters when you enter passwords in Chrome web views, starting in Chrome 56.
- The word “dismissable” is no longer spoken on dismissable elements, such as notifications in the notification shade. Instead, the usage hint informs you when elements are dismissable.
- “Custom actions” are now simply called “Actions.”
Other improvements:
- Shorter delay before usage hints.
- Updated earcons.
Other minor fixes:
- Introducing Select to Speak Select to Speak is a new
> accessibility service designed for people with print disabilities. With Select to Speak, you can tap items on your screen to hear them read or described aloud. - When you upgrade to TalkBack 5.2, Select to Speak is included automatically.
- To try Select to Speak after upgrading to TalkBack 5.2, go to Accessibility > Select To Speak.
- It is best to use Select To Speak while TalkBack is either not turned on or is in “suspended” mode.
