iPhone Voiceover Tips

This page will just be a few tips to anyone blind using an iPhone that’ might be helpful:

This video is a good introduction to iPhone’s Voiceover, on Youtube. It has several chapters.

Here’s one just on the rotor but it sounds like she has other great videos too. Using the rotor is pretty handy so I recommend it.

Apps I’d recommend trying out:

Aira –

Is an on demand sighted assistance service. The first five minutes each day are free, but subscriptions are available for a reasonable fee. I like it because they’re always professional, and wen you need something quick, you can count on it. They can also provide desktop assistance, to work on computer stuff, and it’s honestly worth that if it were the only service they provided. Even when you’re very proficient with computers software or websites can have inaccessible content, so having someone to remote access and click on things can save lots of time.

Be My Eyes -

Is a volunteer sighted assistance service. I like it too, and keep it on my phone in case something ever happens and Aira is down.

Seeing AI -

Made by Microsoft, this app can read short text, using the camera, scan documents, and other helpful things.

Merlin Bird ID –

This app will help you identify birds in your area. It has their audio recordings, and is awesome.

Other Helpful Apps:

All of the apps mentioned are in the app store, which is on your phone. These next ones aren’t so much blind oriented, but are still very useful.

Facebook Messenger is pretty good, and I also like

What’s App. The great thing about What’s app is you can double tap on the screen to hold and record a quick voice message. When you let go it auto sends to the person you’re talking to, so really saves time on texting.

Youtube is great, pretty much a must have.

Uber and Lyft are good. I keep both because sometimes an update will temporarily break an app and who wants to be stranded somewhere?

Insta cart is great. It’s pretty easy to order groceries and have them delivered. Doordash works pretty good too for delivering take out food, or local store purchases.

Blindfold games have several games out there which are accessible.

iBooks comes with the phone as well as other apps. I just mention it because you can read books or listen to audio books. Some are free. There’s probably a manual for iPhone on iBooks that talks about Voiceover, but I haven’t checked in a while.