Author: Macara

Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

Today’s tutorial of adding email addresses and phone numbers to new or existing contacts was fantastic, have a listen to it at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SoHzK3k28d0y5C2qUTe8x

Show Notes

Main Tutorial: Adding an Email Address to Contacts from the Mail App (iPhone)

The primary workshop content. Siena demonstrated how to add a sender’s email address to iPhone contacts directly from the Mail app using VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated opening an email from Angelo Venditti, navigating to the From field, double-tapping twice to open the contact context menu, selecting “View Contact Card,” and then choosing “Create New Contact.” The first and last name were auto-populated from the email. She then labeled the email address as “Home” and saved the contact.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the same process with Hugo Larson’s email, confirming that a single double-tap (without hold) also opens the contact menu.
  • Ali: Pointed out that a single double-tap on the From field is sufficient — no need to double-tap and hold — to reach the same contact menu.
  • Siena: Acknowledged this shortcut and noted she was unaware of it.
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding an email to an existing contact (Ali Moosa / Aliasgar Moosa) by selecting “Add to Existing Contact,” searching for the contact, and saving.
  • Siena: Also demonstrated editing an existing contact to remove an outdated email address (old work email for Ali).
  • Ali: Noted that the process previously allowed direct access to “Add to Existing Contact” or “Create New Contact” without first going through “View Contact Card,” but this has since changed.
  • Siena: Confirmed the current flow requires going to “View Contact Card” first.
  • Liz: Asked whether tapping the From field places the email on the clipboard — Siena clarified it opens a context menu instead.
  • Liz: Asked whether the first/last name and email address are auto-filled when creating a new contact — Siena confirmed they are auto-populated from the email metadata.
• Conclusion
  • To add a sender’s email to contacts: open the email → navigate to the From field → double-tap (may need to do it twice) → select “View Contact Card” → choose “Create New Contact” or “Add to Existing Contact.”
  • Name fields are auto-populated from the email.
  • The email address is automatically placed in the correct field.
  • No manual switching between apps is required for this process.

Copying an Email Address to Clipboard and Pasting Manually into Contacts

Siena demonstrated an alternative method: copying the email address from the From field and manually pasting it into a new or existing contact.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated double-tapping the From field to access the context menu, selecting “Copy Address” to place the email on the clipboard, then navigating to the Phone app’s Contacts, creating a new contact, navigating to the Add Email field, using the VoiceOver rotor (Edit → Paste swipe) to paste the address.
  • Liz: Asked for clarification on how the email address gets into the email field — Siena explained the rotor-based paste method.
  • Siena: Noted that “Copy Address” is the first option in the context menu when the From field is activated.
• Conclusion
  • Alternative method: From field → double-tap → “Copy Address” → go to Contacts → Add Email field → VoiceOver rotor → Edit → swipe to Paste → double-tap to paste.
  • This method is useful when the user prefers to manually control where the address is placed.

Gmail App vs. Native Mail App for Adding Contacts

Ali raised the question of whether there are advantages to using the native Mail app over the Gmail app, specifically for adding contacts.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked whether there are reasons to use the native Mail app rather than the Gmail app, noting the contact-adding feature as a potential advantage.
  • Siena: Confirmed the native Mail app makes it easy to add contacts directly from an email.
  • Ali: Noted that in the Gmail app, there is no direct way to add a contact from an email; replying and saving a draft is a workaround, or using Gmail on the web.
  • Siena: Agreed and suggested exploring the Gmail app in a future session to see if any method exists.
  • Ali: Noted that Google does not have a standalone Google Contacts app on iOS.
  • Siena: Mentioned that on Android, contacts may sync from Google on the web, and that each Android manufacturer may have its own Contacts app.
  • Ali: Expressed interest in researching how contact management works on a Google Pixel device specifically.
• Conclusion
  • The native iOS Mail app has a clear advantage over the Gmail app for adding contacts directly from emails.
  • No direct method exists in the Gmail iOS app to add a contact from an email without using Gmail Web.
  • Further research on Android/Pixel contact management was noted as a follow-up item.

Tutorial: Adding a Phone Number from an Email to Contacts (iPhone)

Siena demonstrated how to copy a phone number that appears as a link in an email and add it to a contact.

• Details
  • Siena: Composed and sent herself a test email containing her own phone number (with hyphens: to demonstrate the process.
  • Siena: Demonstrated that a single double-tap on a linked phone number in Mail only offers “Call” or “Cancel.” A double-tap-and-hold is required to access the full context menu (Call, WhatsApp, Video, Message, Email, Copy).
  • Siena: Selected “Copy” to place the phone number on the clipboard, then navigated to Contacts, created a new contact, went to the Add Phone field (defaulting to Mobile label), used the VoiceOver rotor (Edit → Paste) to paste the number, and saved.
  • Siena: Sent a second test email with the phone number without hyphens to test whether iOS auto-formats the number.
  • Siena: Confirmed that when pasting a number without hyphens, iOS automatically detected it as a North American number and inserted the hyphens correctly.
  • Liz: Confirmed she observed the auto-formatting behavior.
  • Siena: Noted that for international numbers, adding the contact via WhatsApp allows country selection, which helps with correct formatting.
• Conclusion
  • To copy a phone number from an email: double-tap-and-hold the linked number → select “Copy.”
  • Paste into the Phone field in Contacts using the VoiceOver rotor (Edit → Paste).
  • iOS automatically formats North American numbers with hyphens even if pasted without them.
  • International numbers are better handled via WhatsApp’s contact-adding feature, which allows country code selection.

Navigating Back to the Inbox After Being Redirected to Another App or Website

Liz raised a question about difficulty returning to the Mail inbox after clicking a link that opens Zoom or a website.

• Details
  • Liz: Described the issue of being stuck on a Zoom page or website after clicking a link in Mail, and that closing the app from the app switcher does not always resolve it.
  • Siena: Suggested using the two-finger scrub VoiceOver gesture (scrubbing back and forth) to navigate back.
  • Liz: Was unfamiliar with the two-finger scrub gesture.
  • Siena: Explained the gesture: two fingers scrubbing back and forth on the screen.
  • Siena: Also noted that a Close button is usually present but not always, depending on the app.
  • Liz: Asked about closing Safari tabs when a link opens a webpage.
  • Siena: Explained that on iPhone, the Show Tabs button is at the bottom of Safari; from there, the user can swipe up or down to find the Close option for the tab. On iPad, it is closer to the top.
  • Liz: Noted that rebooting the device is her current fallback.
  • Siena: Confirmed rebooting works and offered to set up a one-on-one session to help further.
• Conclusion
  • Two-finger scrub gesture can navigate back from a redirected app or page.
  • Safari tabs can be closed via the Show Tabs button (bottom of screen on iPhone).
  • Rebooting remains a valid last resort.
  • Siena offered a one-on-one follow-up session with Liz.

Workshop Recording and Podcast Availability

Ali and Siena informed participants that workshops are recorded and available as podcasts, with a YouTube channel planned.

• Details
  • Ali: Reminded participants that workshops are podcasted and encouraged those who missed the live session to listen to the recording.
  • Ali: Announced that a YouTube channel for the workshops is also being planned.
  • Siena: Confirmed recordings are published the same evening.
• Conclusion
  • All Techstravaganza workshops are recorded and available as podcasts.
  • A YouTube channel is in development for future availability.

Decision to Continue Using Zoom (Not Switch to Google Meet)

A brief discussion confirmed the group’s decision to remain on Zoom for the main workshops.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that there was significant hesitation and concern from participants about switching to Google Meet for the main workshops.
  • Jeroo: Expressed a personal preference for Zoom.
  • Siena: Confirmed the decision to stay with Zoom, acknowledging that Google Meet has made improvements but Zoom remains the better fit for the group.
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza workshops will continue to be hosted on Zoom.
  • No platform migration is planned.

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

Have a listen today’s fantabulous tutorial of navigating the Home Screen, and other odds and ends, at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oBOqnvO4ppCpIvzvRooW1

Show Notes

Navigating the iPhone Home Screen with VoiceOver

Siena demonstrated how to navigate the iPhone home screen, open apps, and work with folders using VoiceOver gestures.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that swiping up from the bottom edge with one finger produces two blips — the first indicating the start of the gesture, and the second (higher-pitched) confirming arrival at the home screen.
  • Siena: Demonstrated opening a folder (e.g., Social Networking folder) and launching an app (Messenger) via double-tap.
  • Siena: Showed how to return to the home screen by sliding a finger up from the bottom edge until hearing the two blips, then lifting.
• Conclusion
  • Beginners are advised to slide up slowly, pause at the second blip, and wait for VoiceOver to confirm “Lift for Home” before lifting their finger.

Using the App Switcher

Siena demonstrated how to access and use the App Switcher to navigate between open apps and close them.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that swiping further up (past the second blip to a third blip) opens the App Switcher.
  • Siena: Demonstrated closing individual apps by swiping up with three fingers on the app in the switcher.
  • Siena: Showed that once all apps are closed, the phone returns to the home screen or the last active folder.
• Conclusion
  • The App Switcher allows users to navigate between open apps and close them individually.
  • After closing all apps, VoiceOver returns the user to the home screen or the last active folder.

Control Center Overview

Siena provided a detailed walkthrough of the Control Center, including its contents and how to navigate it.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Control Center is accessed by swiping down from the top edge until hearing the second blip, then lifting.
  • Siena: Demonstrated available controls including Airplane Mode, AirDrop, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, orientation lock, brightness, volume, flashlight, timer, calculator, camera, alarms, music recognition, stopwatch, screen recording, watch ping, sound recognition, voice memos, screen mirroring, ambient music, and media playback.
  • Siena: Noted that the Control Center has multiple pages (e.g., Page 1: Favorites, Page 2: Now Playing) navigable by swiping up and down.
  • Siena: Mentioned that the Control Center can be customized, though that topic was noted as scope for a separate tutorial.
• Conclusion
  • The Control Center provides quick access to frequently used settings and features.
  • Customization of the Control Center will be covered in a future tutorial.

Notification Center Overview

Siena briefly demonstrated the Notification Center, including how to access and clear notifications.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the Notification Center is accessed by swiping down from the top edge until hearing the third blip.
  • Siena: Noted an anomaly where the Notification Center displayed an incorrect date (Tuesday, January 9) despite the correct date being Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as confirmed by Siri.
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigating notifications (Reminders, Calendar, Messages, Discord, Messenger) and clearing all notifications using the “Clear All Notifications” action.
  • Siena: Showed that the Notification Center heading can be accessed via the VoiceOver rotor using the Headings setting.
• Conclusion
  • The Notification Center is accessible via a downward swipe from the top edge.
  • All notifications can be cleared at once using the available action menu.
  • The incorrect date display in the Notification Center was flagged as an unexplained anomaly.

Moving Apps to Different Locations

Siena demonstrated how to move apps between pages and into folders on the home screen using VoiceOver edit mode.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained the process — navigate to the desired app, swipe down to “Edit Mode,” double-tap to activate, swipe down again to “Drag,” then navigate to the target location and double-tap to drop.
  • Siena: Demonstrated moving Google Keep from page 1 to page 2, and Find My into the Utilities folder in alphabetical order.
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate between home screen pages using three-finger swipes (left to go forward, right to go backward), noting this is the opposite of single-finger navigation.
  • Siena: Demonstrated creating a new folder by dragging one app onto another (e.g., Games folder created from Dirty Mind and Games apps).
  • Siena: Explained the concept of “phantom pages” in edit mode — temporary extra pages that appear to allow app placement but disappear when empty after exiting edit mode.
  • Diane: Asked about moving apps to different locations, which prompted Siena to cover this topic next.
  • Macara: Asked why the drag action times out even while in edit mode.
  • Siena: Responded that it may be intentional VoiceOver behavior, canceling the drag if no movement is detected, and suggested a workaround.
• Conclusion
  • Apps can be moved by entering edit mode, initiating a drag, navigating to the target location quickly, and dropping.
  • The drag action times out if the user takes too long, requiring the process to be restarted.
  • Recommended workaround: explore the target location outside of edit mode first, then re-enter edit mode and execute the drag quickly.
  • Three-finger swipes move between pages in the opposite direction of single-finger swipes.

Deleting Apps from the Home Screen and App Library

Siena demonstrated how to remove apps from the home screen and delete them entirely from the device.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed two options when deleting: “Remove from Home Screen” (keeps the app in the App Library) and “Delete App” (removes it from the device entirely).
  • Siena: Demonstrated removing Google Assistant from the home screen (kept in App Library) and fully deleting Studio, Google, Vimeo, Sero, Where Is My Ride, and AquaMail.
  • Siena: Showed how to access the App Library by swiping left past the last home screen page, and how to search or browse apps alphabetically.
  • Siena: Demonstrated deleting AquaMail directly from the App Library, including managing and canceling an associated App Store subscription before deletion.
  • Siena: Noted that iOS will prompt users about active subscriptions when deleting an app that has one.
• Conclusion
  • Apps can be deleted from both the home screen and the App Library.
  • Users are prompted to choose between removing from the home screen or deleting entirely.
  • If an app has an active subscription, iOS will prompt the user to manage or cancel it before deletion.

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Good evening Techstravaganza friends,

Tonight’s tutorial of downloading ringtones and text tones on Zedge was excellent; you can listen to it at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RhCoNbFr4xceDLlX7kPsC

Show Notes

Tutorial: Downloading Ringtones from Zedge on PC Using JAWS

Siena demonstrated how to navigate the Zedge website (zedge.net) on a Windows PC using the JAWS screen reader to find and download ringtones. She walked through bypassing ads, using heading navigation, and using the play audio button to preview ringtones before downloading.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to zedge.net in Google Chrome, used the H key in JAWS to jump between headings, and located the Ringtones section. She searched for specific ringtones by name.
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to close or dismiss ads using “Not Interested in This Ad” buttons, noting that ads do not block the actual download.
  • Siena: Used the B key in JAWS to navigate to the Download button and showed that files download to the Windows Downloads folder as MP3 files.
  • Ali: Noted that the JAWS voice “Richard” sounded a bit tinny; Siena switched to the Eloquence voice profile for better clarity.
  • Rob: Had difficulty with ads interfering with his browsing experience and asked how to send downloaded files to his phone.
  • Siena: Recommended using Google Drive as a shared location between PC and phone, creating a “Ringtones” folder to store and access files across devices.
• Conclusion
  • The Zedge website works significantly better on a PC than on a mobile browser; the PC with JAWS is the recommended method for downloading ringtones.
  • Downloaded ringtones are saved as MP3 files to the Windows Downloads folder and can be transferred to a phone via Google Drive or email.
  • Ringtones downloaded and previewed during the session included: Nokia 6086, Nokia Classic, “Stuck in Your Pocket,” “It’s in Your Pocket,” Skype ringtone, Reading Rainbow theme, Casio VL-1 demo tone, and Super Mario Death sound.

Transferring Ringtones to iPhone via Google Drive and Messages

Siena demonstrated how to move downloaded ringtones from the PC to an iPhone using Google Drive, and then how to set them as ringtones using the iOS share sheet.

• Details
  • Siena: Moved downloaded MP3 files from the Windows Downloads folder into a Google Drive folder called “Sienna’s Ringtones” using cut and paste in File Explorer.
  • Siena: On the iPhone, accessed Google Drive via the Files app and the Google Drive app. Noted that the Files app only displays the first 500 items in Google Drive.
  • Ali: Suggested using the search box within the Google Drive app directly, which is separate from the VoiceOver search.
  • Siena: Demonstrated using “Send a Copy” from the Google Drive actions menu to send a file via iMessage to herself or to another participant (Rob).
  • Ali: Clarified that “Open In” (rather than “Send a Copy”) is the option that triggers the full iOS share sheet, which includes the “Use as Ringtone” option.
  • Siena: Confirmed that using “Open In” from the Google Drive actions menu presents the share sheet with a “Use as Ringtone” option, which opens directly into Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
  • Rob: Confirmed he received the Casio VL-1 ringtone file via iMessage during the session.
• Conclusion
  • The correct workflow to set a ringtone from Google Drive on iPhone is: Google Drive app → long press file → Actions Menu → “Open In” → “Use as Ringtone.”
  • “Send a Copy” is best used for sharing a file with another person, while “Open In” is the correct option for setting a file as a ringtone on the local device.
  • Files under approximately 29 seconds in length are accepted by iOS 26 as valid ringtones.

Google Drive vs. Dropbox for File Storage and Sharing

A brief discussion arose about the merits of Google Drive compared to Dropbox for storing and sharing ringtone files across devices.

• Details
  • Siena: Noted that Google Drive’s free tier offers 15 GB of storage, compared to Dropbox’s free tier of approximately 3 GB, making Google Drive a better value.
  • Siena: Mentioned that upgrading to a Google One plan can provide up to 2 TB of storage.
  • Ali: Added that if a user has a custom domain, Google Workspace is also an option and supports shared drives for organizational use.
• Conclusion
  • Google Drive is recommended over Dropbox for most users due to greater free storage.
  • Google Workspace is the preferred option for users with a custom domain who need branded email and shared organizational drives.

Google Workspace vs. Google One for Branding and Personal Use

Ali raised a question about the difference between Google Workspace and Google One, particularly in the context of using a custom domain for branding.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked whether having a domain (e.g., textravaganza.ca) makes it better to use Google Workspace for a branded email address.
  • Siena: Confirmed that Google Workspace is better suited for branding and business use, while Google One is the go-to for personal use.
  • Ali: Noted that Workspace also allows shared drives, making it easier to collaborate without sharing individual folders.
  • Siena: Agreed that having all work-related files (Docs, Drive, etc.) under a single branded storage is a key advantage of Workspace.
• Conclusion
  • Google Workspace is recommended for users with a custom domain who want branded email and collaborative shared drives.
  • Google One is recommended for personal storage needs.

Platform Discussion: Zoom vs. Google Meet

A broader discussion took place about whether Textravaganza should continue using Zoom or switch to Google Meet, following a previous session where the topic was raised.

• Details
  • Ali: Summarized that the consensus from the previous day’s discussion was to continue with Zoom for Textravaganza, despite it being more complex on the admin side.
  • Siena: Attributed the preference for Zoom to familiarity built during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Zoom became the dominant platform for virtual meetings.
  • Ali: Argued that Zoom’s interface has become significantly more complex and less intuitive since 2020–2021, noting it is now a resource hog on desktop.
  • Lily: Noted a specific accessibility issue where the Record button in the Zoom iOS app is described by VoiceOver as a button, but is actually a menu containing Stop and Pause options — potentially misleading for screen reader users.
  • Ashlyn: Observed that many controls in Zoom are now hidden in side menus where users would not previously have looked.
  • Ali: Reported hearing similar complaints from sighted users about the placement of controls, suggesting the usability issues are not limited to screen reader users.
  • Siena: Shared an example of Zoom’s AI Companion generating tasks (e.g., “Add XYZ song to the playlist”) that had already been completed, indicating the AI was not accurately tracking context.
  • Siena: Stated she intends to use Zoom only for Textravaganza sessions going forward, preferring other platforms for personal one-on-ones.
  • Ali: Noted that Google Meet has prioritized user interface clarity and ease of use on both mobile and desktop, which he considers a decisive advantage.
  • Ashlyn: Mentioned that her college switched from Zoom to Microsoft Teams after their Zoom license expired.
• Conclusion
  • Textravaganza will continue to be hosted on Zoom.
  • Participants acknowledged that Zoom’s usability and accessibility have declined as the platform has added more features.
  • For personal one-on-ones, participants are free to use their preferred platform (Zoom, Google Meet, or phone call).
  • Ali intends to maintain his current setup and may offer tutorials via Google Meet as an alternative.

Upcoming Session Coverage and Announcements

The group discussed upcoming Textravaganza sessions and other announcements before closing.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced that the Zedge app on iPad will be covered in an upcoming Techstravaganza Extra session, planned for August.
  • Ali: Confirmed that on Wednesday, July 15, Siena and Ashlyn will co-host Techstravaganza Afternoons, as Ali will be attending the play “Return to Grace.”
  • Ali: Announced an upcoming episode of the Ali Moosa Show (via the Moosa Slobodian Network newsletter) covering the end of 570 News, featuring guest Jim Snyder.
  • Siena: Reminded participants to subscribe to the newsletter and join the WhatsApp group to stay updated on session agendas.
  • Lily: Wished Siena good luck with bug reporting and Ali an enjoyable time at his play.
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza Extra in August will cover the Zedge app on iPad.
  • Siena and Ashlyn will host the July 15 Techstravaganza Afternoons session.
  • The Ali Moosa Show episode on the end of 570 News with Jim Snyder is forthcoming.

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Good afternoon Techstravaganza friends,

listen to this afternoon’s fantastic tutorial of the GoodReads app at the following link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7s0JGePBk4dxEnPDwU2i1v

Show Notes

Techstravaganza Tutorial: Goodreads App Overview

Siena delivered a full tutorial on the Goodreads app using VoiceOver on iPhone 15, walking participants through all major sections of the app.

• Details
  • Siena: Described Goodreads as a social media platform for book lovers, allowing users to track books read, books to read, share reviews, and see what friends are reading.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the tab bar structure: Home, My Books, Discover, Search, and More.
  • Siena: Showed the Home tab feed, including friend activity (e.g., Makara Slobodian, Ashlyn, Tiana Dunkley), Goodreads recommendations, and giveaways.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the Actions menu (swipe down with one finger) for each feed item, allowing users to go to a profile, go to a book, go to an author, add to Want to Read, change shelves, rate a book, like, and comment.
  • Palmer: Asked for clarification on how the Home tab works and how friend activity appears.
  • Siena: Explained that users add friends by email; once connected, their reading activity appears in the Home feed.
  • Liz: Asked whether reviews are visible only from added friends or from all Goodreads users.
  • Siena: Clarified that the Home feed primarily shows activity from added friends, while broader recommendations appear in the Discover tab.
  • Liz: Asked how to add a friend and whether an account is required.
  • Siena: Explained that friends are invited by email; if they do not have an account, they can create one upon receiving the invite.
• Conclusion
  • Participants gained a clear understanding of the Home tab and its social features.
  • The Actions menu was highlighted as a key accessibility feature for VoiceOver users.

Goodreads: My Books Tab

Siena demonstrated the My Books tab, including shelves, tags, and progress tracking.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed the default shelves: Reading (Currently Reading), Want to Read, Read, and Did Not Finish.
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to update reading progress and change a book’s shelf status.
  • Siena: Moved “Stop Saying You’re Fine” by Mel Robbins to the Did Not Finish shelf.
  • Siena: Showed books currently on her Reading shelf, including “Unseen” by Molly Burke and “Music is History” by Amir Thompson.
  • Ali: Clarified that users can create tags (not additional shelves) to further categorize books within their existing shelves.
  • Siena: Confirmed this distinction.
  • Siena: Demonstrated searching for books by author (Adriana Trigiani) and shelving results, including “The Shoemaker’s Wife” (marked as Read) and “Lucia, Lucia” (marked as Want to Read).
  • Ali: Mentioned that “Losing the Signal” (the BlackBerry book) is one he would reread and suggested it as a potential Books Panel selection.
  • Siena: Agreed and noted it would be captured in the meeting notes.
• Conclusion
  • The My Books tab allows users to manage and track their reading across multiple shelves.
  • Tags can be used to further organize books within shelves.
  • “Losing the Signal” was proposed as a future Books Panel book.

Goodreads: Discover Tab

Siena walked through the Discover tab, highlighting trending books and Goodreads recommendations.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed categories including “Dark and Twisty,” “Trending with Goodreads Members,” and “Most Read This Week.”
  • Siena: Read book descriptions for several titles, including “The Calamity Club” by Katherine Stockett, “Theo of Golden” by Alan Levi, “My Husband’s Wife” by Alice Feeney, and “The Nightingale” by Kristen Hanna.
  • Siena: Shelved multiple books as Want to Read during the demonstration.
  • Liz: Confirmed she had read “The Nightingale” and praised “Theo of Golden” as one of her top books of the year.
  • Ashlyn: Confirmed she had read “The Nightingale.”
  • Ali: Confirmed “Theo of Golden” is available on CELA and posted the link in the chat.
  • Siena: Noted that the Discover tab can be navigated efficiently using the Headings rotor option in VoiceOver.
  • Liz: Asked about reading author names character by character using VoiceOver.
  • Siena: Demonstrated reading “Freida McFadden” character by character using the VoiceOver rotor set to Characters, spelling out the name.
  • Ali: Noted this technique could be the basis of a future tutorial.
• Conclusion
  • The Discover tab provides broad book recommendations and trending titles.
  • VoiceOver’s character-by-character reading is useful for confirming author name spellings within any app.
  • “Theo of Golden” is available on CELA; link was shared in the chat.

Goodreads: Notifications Tab

Siena briefly demonstrated the Notifications section of the app.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed three sub-sections: Notifications (activity feed), Messages (direct messages to friends), and Requests (friend requests).
  • Siena: Noted sample notifications including reading challenge reminders, Choice Awards announcements, and friend activity alerts.
• Conclusion
  • The Notifications tab consolidates activity alerts, messages, and friend requests in one place.

Goodreads: Account Creation and Sign-In

Siena demonstrated how to create a new Goodreads account and sign in, including logging out to show the process from the beginning.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed sign-up options: Sign Up with Email, Continue with Amazon, and Continue with Apple.
  • Siena: Explained she originally signed up via Amazon due to her existing Audible account.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the email sign-up form, including name, email, and password fields (minimum 6 characters), and the Show Password toggle.
  • Siena: Noted that signing in with Amazon is automatic if already signed into Amazon or Audible on the device.
  • Liz: Confirmed she does not have an Amazon account and will create a new Goodreads account via email.
  • Ali: Noted that having an Amazon account may automatically create a Goodreads profile.
• Conclusion
  • New users can sign up via email, Amazon, or Apple ID.
  • Liz will create her account via the email invite link sent by Siena.

Goodreads: Adding Friends

Siena demonstrated how to invite and add friends on Goodreads.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to More > Friends > Add Friends and showed options to search by name/email, invite via contacts, or invite via email/message.
  • Siena: Sent a friend invite to Liz directly from within the app using her contact information.
  • Ali: Noted that Ashlyn and he are already in Siena’s friends list.
  • Liz: Confirmed receipt of the invite and expressed appreciation.
• Conclusion
  • Liz received a Goodreads friend invite from Siena during the session.
  • Once Liz creates her account, she can accept the friend request.

Platform Decision: Continuing with Zoom

Siena announced the team’s decision to continue using Zoom as the platform for all Textravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that after team discussions, Zoom was chosen over Google Meet due to participant familiarity and ease of use.
  • Ali: Confirmed Zoom will remain the platform, including for office hours.
  • Ashlyn: Suggested informing Tiana, who had expressed a preference for Zoom.
  • Siena: Confirmed Tiana would be re-added to the mailing list and notified.
  • Ali: Noted Zoom may also become the platform of choice for other events beyond Textravaganza.
• Conclusion
  • Zoom is confirmed as the ongoing platform for all Textravaganza sessions and office hours.
  • Tiana will be re-added to the list and informed of the decision.

Techstravaganza Rebranding Announcement

Siena announced the new naming structure for Techstravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced that Wednesday workshops will be called “Techstravaganza Afternoons.”
  • Siena: Announced that the second Thursday of each month will be called “Techstravaganza Evenings.”
  • Siena: Announced that the first Friday of each month will be called “Techstravaganza Extra,” covering topics not addressed in previous tutorials.
  • Jackie: Noted the naming structure makes logical sense.
  • Ashlyn: Expressed amusement and approval of the rebranded names.
• Conclusion
  • The three-tier Techstravaganza branding structure is now in effect: Afternoons (Wednesdays), Evenings (second Thursday), and Extra (first Friday).

Upcoming Event: Techstravaganza Evenings – Zedge App

Siena announced the next Techstravaganza Evenings session scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2026.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced the session will run from 7–9 PM and will cover the Zedge app (zedge.net), which allows users to download ringtones.
  • Siena: Noted that iOS 26 now allows ringtones to be added directly from the share sheet, provided they are under 29 seconds.
  • Siena: Clarified that the Zedge iPhone app only supports wallpaper downloads, so the tutorial will focus on the website and demonstrate how to save files as ringtones and text tones.
• Conclusion
  • Textravaganza Evenings on July 9 will cover the Zedge website and iOS 26 ringtone functionality.

Contact the team:

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Workshop Introduction: Gmail Native App on iPhone

Ali formally opened the Techstravaganza Extra session, introducing the topic as a tutorial on the Gmail native app for iPhone. He outlined the session’s goals.

• Details
  • Ali: Introduced the session date as Friday, July 3, 2026, and outlined the tutorial topics: the purpose of the Gmail app, its advantages over the built-in Mail app, its features, navigating threads, and mail categories.
  • Ali: Noted that the Mail app’s categories feature was originally derived from Gmail.
• Conclusion
  • The session would cover Gmail app settings, thread navigation, attachments, and categories.
  • Questions would be taken after each section.

Gmail App: Navigation Menu and Labels

Ali demonstrated the Gmail app’s navigation menu, walking through the various sections available including inboxes, labels, and settings.

• Details
  • Ali: Showed the navigation menu containing All Inboxes, Inbox, Starred, Snoozed, Important, Sent, Scheduled, Drafts, All Mail, Spam, Trash, and custom labels.
  • Ali: Noted he had multiple accounts set up and had created several custom labels over time.
• Conclusion
  • The Gmail navigation menu provides access to all mailboxes, labels, and settings from a single location.

Gmail App: Settings Overview

Ali navigated through the Gmail app’s Settings, covering notification preferences, inbox type, conversation view, and other configuration options.

• Details
  • Ali: Demonstrated the Email Notifications setting, set to “All New Mail,” with options for High Priority Only or None.
  • Ali: Walked through available notification sounds including Welcome, Nudge, Snappy, Sweet, Whistle, Tones, Coms, Treasure, Piggyback, and Shrink Ray, noting Treasure as his favorite.
  • Ali: Showed Inbox Type options: Default Inbox, Important First, Unread First, Starred First, and Priority Inbox.
  • Ali: Highlighted the Conversation View toggle, which groups emails with the same topic together, noting it is similar to the Mail app’s “Organize by Thread” setting.
  • Ali: Briefly noted settings for Dynamic Emails, Vacation Responder, Signature Settings, Smart Reply, and Siri Shortcuts.
• Conclusion
  • Key settings to configure include notification type, notification sound, inbox type, and conversation view.
  • Conversation View is enabled by default and groups related emails into threads.

Gmail App: Navigating Email Threads

Ali demonstrated how to navigate email threads within the Gmail app, using a WordPress support thread with 67 messages as an example.

• Details
  • Ali: Showed that within a thread, messages are sorted oldest to newest.
  • Ali: Demonstrated that collapsed messages can be expanded by activating (double-tapping) each one individually.
  • Lily: Asked whether messages are sorted oldest or newest first; Ali confirmed oldest first.
  • Ali: Realized and confirmed that the newest message in a thread is always expanded by default when opening a thread.
  • Lily: Noted this is convenient for checking the latest reply, and that you can scroll down to the bottom if needed.
• Conclusion
  • Threads in Gmail app are sorted oldest to newest, with the most recent message expanded by default.
  • Users can expand individual messages by activating each collapsed message while flicking through the thread.

Gmail App: Handling Single Attachments

Hans asked about saving attachments from the Gmail app on iPhone. Ali demonstrated using a recipe file (Aaron’s Jambalaya.RTF) sent by Lily as an example.

• Details
  • Hans: Asked whether it is easy to save attachments, particularly multiple attachments, from a single message in the Gmail iPhone app.
  • Ali: Demonstrated that attachments can be accessed directly from the inbox message list without opening the full message.
  • Ali: Showed that once inside a message, activating an attachment opens it and presents options to Save to Drive or Share to another app.
  • Ali: Noted that Google Drive integration allows direct saving from within the Gmail app.
• Conclusion
  • Single attachments can be saved to Google Drive or shared to other apps directly from the Gmail iPhone app.
  • Attachments are accessible both from the inbox list view and from within the open message.

Gmail App: Handling Multiple Attachments (iPhone vs. Web)

Ali and Hans explored how the Gmail iPhone app handles emails with multiple attachments, and whether they can be saved simultaneously.

• Details
  • Hans: Specifically asked whether multiple attachments can be saved simultaneously rather than one at a time.
  • Ali: Tested with a two-attachment email sent by Lily and found that on the iPhone app, attachments must be saved individually.
  • Ali: Suggested that the Gmail web version likely offers a “Save All to Drive” or “Download All” option and proposed checking it live.
• Conclusion
  • The Gmail iPhone app requires saving multiple attachments one at a time.
  • The Gmail web version was identified as the better option for downloading or saving multiple attachments simultaneously.

Gmail Web (Mac): Downloading Multiple Attachments

Ali switched to demonstrating Gmail on the Mac (Google Chrome) to show how multiple attachments can be downloaded at once.

• Details
  • Ali: Opened the email with two attachments in Gmail on the Mac and found both “Download All Attachments” and “Add All to Drive” buttons.
  • Ali: Activated “Download All Attachments,” which created a zip file called “Attachments.zip” in the Downloads folder.
  • Ali: Opened the zip file in Finder, revealing both files: Notes from LinkedIn Workshop.RTF and RU Testimonial.RTF.
  • Hans: Confirmed this answered his question about saving multiple attachments.
• Conclusion
  • Gmail web provides “Download All Attachments” and “Add All to Drive” options for bulk attachment handling.
  • Downloaded attachments are packaged into a zip file saved to the Downloads folder.

Gmail Web (Windows): Downloading and Extracting Multiple Attachments

Siena took over to demonstrate the same process on Windows using JAWS, providing a Windows-specific walkthrough for participants.

• Details
  • Siena: Opened the forwarded email with two attachments in Gmail on Windows using Google Chrome.
  • Siena: Used Insert+Z in JAWS to enable the virtual PC cursor to navigate the message body.
  • Siena: Identified the “Download All Attachments” and “Add All to Drive” buttons, as well as individual attachment preview and download options.
  • Siena: Activated “Download All Attachments,” which created a zip file named after the email subject (FWDAttachments.zip) in the Downloads folder.
  • Siena: Demonstrated extracting the zip file using Shift+F10 to open the context menu and selecting “Extract All,” which created a folder containing both attachment files.
  • Siena: Noted that pressing Enter on a zip file in Windows opens it without extracting, and that “Extract All” is needed to fully unzip.
  • Hans: Asked for clarification on the unzipping process; Siena walked through it again.
• Conclusion
  • On Windows, Gmail web allows downloading all attachments as a zip file via “Download All Attachments.”
  • The zip file must be extracted using the “Extract All” option from the context menu (Shift+F10) to access individual files.
  • JAWS users should use Insert+Z to enable the virtual PC cursor when navigating Gmail messages in the browser.

Threaded vs. Non-Threaded Email View: Participant Preferences

Ali opened a discussion asking participants whether they prefer threaded (conversation) view or non-threaded (individual message) view in their email apps.

• Details
  • Ashlyn: Uses the Mail app with the default threaded view, finding it acceptable though sometimes annoying.
  • Lily: Prefers the Mail app with threaded view (Organize by Thread), but noted a minor frustration when the app expands the other person’s message rather than her own sent message. She discovered the rotor’s “Messages” option in the Mail app allows flicking up/down to navigate between messages in a thread.
  • Ali: Confirmed that in the Mail app’s rotor, selecting “Messages” and flicking up/down navigates between individual messages in a thread, and that the Actions menu allows replying to a specific message within the thread.
  • Siena: Praised the Mail app’s Actions menu feature for replying to specific messages, but noted she is gravitating toward the Gmail app for its consistent interface across platforms. On Gmail web, she uses the semicolon key to expand threads and N to navigate to the next message.
  • Macara: Prefers Gmail and threaded view, finding it cleaner than individual messages despite occasional navigation complexity.
  • Jackie: Has been using non-threaded view in the Gmail app but expressed openness to trying threaded view after Ali explained its benefits.
  • Ali: Explained the benefit of threaded view to Jackie using a “coffee time” conversation analogy — grouping related messages together like a book so users don’t have to hunt for individual messages on the same topic.
  • Hans: Did not explicitly state a preference during this segment.
• Conclusion
  • Most participants prefer or are open to threaded/conversation view.
  • The Mail app’s rotor “Messages” option and Actions menu provide useful navigation within threads.
  • Gmail app’s threaded navigation (flick left/right to find messages, activate to expand) works consistently across platforms.
  • Jackie was encouraged to enable conversation view and explore mail categories.

Mail Categories Discussion

Ali briefly raised the topic of Gmail/Mail categories, noting he had previously disabled them but was reconsidering their value.

• Details
  • Ali: Mentioned that mail categories separate emails into different labels/tabs and could be useful for organization, though he currently has them disabled.
  • Siena: Enthusiastically agreed to demonstrate navigating Gmail with mail categories enabled in a future tutorial.
• Conclusion
  • A future Techstravaganza session will be dedicated to demonstrating Gmail mail categories navigation.

Feedback on Potential Switch from Zoom to Google Meet

Lily introduced a discussion to gather participant feedback on potentially switching Techstravaganza workshops from Zoom to Google Meet, citing issues with Zoom including file management and app glitches.

• Details
  • Lily: Explained the motivation for considering Google Meet — issues with finding recording files, uploading to podcasts, and app glitches in Zoom.
  • Hans: Expressed flexibility, noting Zoom’s familiarity (same meeting ID and password, history in client) but acknowledged Google Meet is usable. Raised concerns about different keyboard shortcuts and the need to tab back to buttons when focus moves.
  • Siena: Addressed Hans’s concerns, providing Google Meet keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+D (mute/unmute mic), Ctrl+E (camera), Ctrl+Alt+C (chat), Ctrl+Alt+P (participants), Ctrl+Alt+H (raise/lower hand), and spacebar for push-to-talk. Confirmed shortcuts work without disabling the virtual PC cursor in JAWS/NVDA.
  • Hans: Asked whether shortcuts work in Brave browser; Siena confirmed they are not browser-specific and work across Chrome, Brave, Firefox, and Edge, though Chrome offers the best experience.
  • Jackie: Said she has no strong preference and is comfortable with either platform, having used Google Meet before.
  • Siena: Offered to set up individual one-on-one Google Meet orientation sessions for Hans and Jackie.
  • Hans: Accepted the offer.
  • Jackie: Agreed to try Google Meet on her next one-on-one with Siena on Wednesday.
  • Ali: Noted that both platforms offer similar features and controls.
  • Jackie: Asked about a shortcut to view participants in Meet; Ali confirmed Command+Control+P on Mac and Ctrl+Alt+P on PC.
• Conclusion
  • Participants showed general willingness to try Google Meet but some hesitancy due to unfamiliarity with shortcuts.
  • Siena will conduct individual Google Meet orientation sessions with Hans and Jackie.
  • A future Techstravaganza Extra session in August will cover Google Meet keyboard shortcuts.
  • The recurring Google Meet link will remain the same for each workshop, mirroring the Zoom setup.

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Libby App Tutorial — Obtaining a Library Card Online

Siena demonstrated how to obtain a library card directly through the Libby app using the Hamilton Public Library as an example. She walked through the full online registration form, including selecting a home branch, entering personal details, choosing a PIN, and accepting the statement of responsibility.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that the Libby app links directly to the library’s website registration page. The process took approximately 2 minutes and resulted in an immediate card number being issued via email. She used her own newly obtained Hamilton Public Library e-card as a live example.
  • Siena: Noted that the Hamilton Public Library’s registration form included well-labeled alt text on images, which she highlighted as a positive accessibility practice.
• Conclusion
  • Users can apply for a library card directly within the Libby app by navigating to their local library and selecting “I would like a card.”
  • The process is quick (approximately 2 minutes) and the card number is issued immediately upon submission.
  • Physical library card holders can also use their existing card number to sign into Libby.

Libby App Tutorial — Signing In with a Library Card

Siena demonstrated how to sign into the Libby app using the newly obtained Hamilton Public Library card number and PIN.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the Hamilton Public Library within Libby, selected “Sign in with my card,” entered the card number (copied from a Google Keep note), and entered her PIN to authenticate successfully.
  • Siena: Noted that the account showed 0 of 10 loans and 0 of 10 holds available.
• Conclusion
  • Signing in requires the library card number and a PIN. Users who have a physical card but do not know their PIN should contact or visit their local library branch to obtain it.

Libby App — Partner Libraries Feature

Lily raised a question about the partner libraries feature after noticing it during the sign-in process. Siena attempted a live test to determine whether her Hamilton Public Library card could be used to access the Burlington Public Library as a partner library.

• Details
  • Lily: Asked whether the partner libraries feature allows users to access books from multiple libraries with a single card, referencing her grandmother’s experience borrowing books across Kitchener and Waterloo.
  • Siena: Attempted to sign into the Burlington Public Library using her Hamilton card. The app returned an “Invalid library card” error, indicating a separate Burlington card is required.
  • Lily: Clarified that her grandmother’s experience likely involved physical interlibrary loans (books sent between branches), not the Libby app feature.
  • Siena: Noted she has not personally used the partner libraries feature and suggested asking team member Ashlyn, who has more experience with the app.
• Conclusion
  • A separate library card is required for each library, even if it is listed as a partner library.
  • The partner libraries feature may have limitations that require further exploration.
  • Users in areas with small library catalogs (such as Lily’s local library with only a few thousand books) may benefit from registering with multiple libraries to expand their available titles.

Libby App Tutorial — Searching for and Borrowing a Book

Siena searched for the upcoming Books Panel title, Living Disability edited by Emily McRae, and demonstrated the borrowing process using another available title, Living Brave by Shannon Ingle.

• Details
  • Macara: Confirmed the next books panel title is Living Disability, edited by Emily McRae.
  • Siena: Searched the Hamilton Public Library catalog and found Living Disability as an ebook with an approximately 2-week waitlist (1 copy available). Placed a hold on the title.
  • Siena: Borrowed Living Brave by Shannon Ingle, which was immediately available. Selected a 14-day lending period.
  • Siena: Set up Libby notifications for loan expiring, loan expired, hold ready, hold lapsing, hold lapsed, “Notify me” title alerts, and author/series alerts.
• Conclusion
  • Books with holds work similarly to physical library loans — only one patron can borrow a copy at a time, unlike CELA where multiple users can access the same title simultaneously.
  • Libby automatically returns books on the due date, eliminating late fees.
  • Users can set up notifications to be alerted about loan expiry, hold availability, and new titles.

Libby App Tutorial — Reading a Book

Siena opened Living Brave within the Libby app and demonstrated the in-app reading experience using VoiceOver and a Mantis Q40 braille display.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed navigation through the table of contents, dedication, and introduction of the book. Read aloud a portion of the introduction describing the author’s personal loss.
  • Siena: Explained that books can be opened directly in Libby (recommended) or downloaded as a DRM-protected EPUB for use in Adobe Digital Editions or compatible devices.
• Conclusion
  • The Libby in-app reader is accessible with VoiceOver and does not require additional software.
  • DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection is used by libraries to prevent unauthorized copying or modification of borrowed titles.

Libby App Tutorial — Returning a Book Early

Siena demonstrated how to return a borrowed book before the due date.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the Shelf, then Loans, selected “Manage Loan” for Living Brave, and chose “Return Early.” Confirmed the return by tapping the “Return Loan” button.
  • Siena: Noted that after returning, the app displayed a reading journey summary and offered options to find similar titles or share the title.
• Conclusion
  • Books can be returned early at any time through the Manage Loan option on the Shelf.
  • Loans are also automatically returned on the due date if not renewed or returned manually.

Participant Q&A — Using an Existing Physical Library Card with Libby

Liz asked whether she needed a new online library card or could use her existing physical library card to access Libby.

• Details
  • Liz: Confirmed she already has a physical library card but has never registered with Libby and does not use a PIN.
  • Siena: Confirmed that an existing physical library card number can be used. However, a PIN is required and may need to be set up by contacting or visiting the local library branch.
  • Liz: Expressed interest in trying Libby and asked about the catalog size compared to CELA.
  • Siena: Noted that catalog size depends on the library, but registering with multiple libraries can expand available titles. Libby offers both ebooks and audiobooks.
  • Liz: Mentioned a specific book, Best Kept Secrets for Travelers with Sight Loss, which is not available on CELA and wondered if it might be on Libby.
• Conclusion
  • Existing physical library card holders can use their card number to sign into Libby after setting up a PIN with their library.
  • Siena offered one-on-one assistance to anyone who needs help setting up Libby.
  • The Libby app is available on the App Store by searching “Libby” (L-I-B-B-Y).

Platform Transition Announcement — Zoom to Google Meet

Lily announced that Techstravaganza plans to transition from Zoom to Google Meet starting in September, citing ongoing technical difficulties experienced by the team on the administrative side of Zoom, particularly with accessing recordings.

• Details
  • Lily: Explained that Siena, Allie, and Macara have been dealing with issues related to screen sharing, recording access, and other backend Zoom problems.
  • Siena: Elaborated that navigating the Zoom admin panel with a screen reader (VoiceOver or JAWS) to find recordings is increasingly difficult, especially without the notification email. Emphasized that participant feedback will determine whether the transition proceeds or Zoom is retained.
  • Liz: Noted that the group had used Google Meet previously and recalled it being manageable. Asked about phone dial-in (one-tap mobile), which will not be available on Google Meet.
  • Siena: Confirmed that Google Meet has improved significantly since the group last used it, particularly for users without Gmail accounts, who can now join by simply entering their name and clicking join.
  • Liz: Expressed that she does not see the transition as a major concern and suggested the team simply teach participants how to use it.
  • Macara: Highlighted the challenge of balancing backend issues with participant comfort.
  • Lily: Suggested conducting a test session on Google Meet to identify who has difficulty signing in before the September transition.
  • Macara: Agreed that a test run would provide more actionable data than office hours alone.
  • Siena: Proposed hosting a Techstravaganza Extra in August on Google Meet with a regular topic, using it simultaneously as a test run to identify participants who need additional support.
  • Liz: Suggested office hours alone may be sufficient and that a separate test session may not be necessary.
• Conclusion
  • The transition to Google Meet is planned for September.
  • A Techstravaganza Extra session in August on Google Meet is being considered as a test run.
  • Group and individual office hours will be offered to help participants prepare for the transition.
  • Final decision on whether to proceed with Google Meet or remain on Zoom will be informed by participant feedback gathered over the coming weeks, including at the Friday Techstravaganza Extra session.
  • Techstravaganza has approximately 70 members on its mailing list, though typical live attendance is around 6–7 participants.

Upcoming Sessions and Announcements

Siena outlined the schedule for upcoming Techstravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced a Techstravaganza Extra on Friday, July 3rd, from 7–9 PM Eastern, featuring Ali continuing his Gmail tutorial focused on the native Gmail app on iPhone. The session will use a different Zoom link than the regular Wednesday sessions, with details to be shared via newsletter.
  • Siena: Announced a Goodreads tutorial on Wednesday, July 8th.
  • Siena: Announced a Techstravaganza Evenings session on Thursday, July 9th, from 7–9 PM Eastern.
• Conclusion
  • Participants were encouraged to attend the Friday session and watch for the newsletter with the meeting link.

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

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Session Introduction and Workshop Format

Ali formally opened the Techstravaganza workshop and outlined the session structure and ground rules.

• Details
  • Ali: Introduced the session for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, noting it was being recorded and would be available as a podcast afterward.
  • Ali: Outlined the two-part tutorial: (1) Gmail on the web using a Mac, and (2) threaded/conversation view in the Gmail iPhone app.
  • Ali: Explained the format — 5-minute tutorial segments followed by a pause for questions.
  • Ali: Reminded participants to speak one at a time and raise hands using Option+Y (Mac), Alt+Y (PC), or via the Reactions/More menu on mobile.
  • Siena: Assisted with co-host assignment, countdown for recording, and screen share setup.
• Conclusion
  • Session structure established; recording resumed after setup.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Navigating the Inbox and Selecting Messages

Ali demonstrated how to navigate through the Gmail inbox and select/deselect messages using keyboard commands in Chrome on a Mac with VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Ali: Explained that Gmail on the web has its own set of keyboard shortcuts distinct from VoiceOver-specific commands, and that Chrome provides the best experience for Gmail on the web (Safari works but is less optimal).
  • Ali: Demonstrated using the Up and Down Arrow keys to move between messages in the inbox table.
  • Ali: Demonstrated using the letter X to select and deselect individual messages, with VoiceOver announcing the selection count.
  • Siena: Added that Gmail shows 20 messages per page by default, and users can navigate to the next set via a “See more messages” option.
  • Ivy: Asked why multiple messages would be selected simultaneously and what the benefit was beyond deletion.
  • Ali: Clarified that selecting multiple messages allows bulk actions such as deleting, moving, and archiving, and that opening messages would be covered in the next section.
  • Siena: Confirmed that bulk selection can be used to move, archive, or delete multiple messages at once.
  • Jeroo: Asked about a prompt in Safari suggesting she switch to Chrome, and whether doing so would affect all applications.
  • Ali: Noted that the question was somewhat beyond the scope of the session and that he was unsure of the exact impact, especially given Jeroo’s older Mac.
  • Siena: Clarified that if Chrome is already installed, the prompt would simply open Gmail in Chrome; if not, it would direct to the Chrome installation page. She also confirmed that Gmail works in Safari and the prompt can be ignored.
• Conclusion
  • Up/Down Arrow navigates between messages; X selects/deselects messages for bulk actions.
  • Chrome is recommended for the best Gmail web experience, but Safari is functional.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Deleting, Opening, and Reading a Message

Ali demonstrated how to delete selected messages and open and read a single email, including navigating the message thread.

• Details
  • Ali: Demonstrated deleting selected messages using Shift+3 (the # key).
  • Ali: Opened a Techstravaganza reminder email by pressing Enter on the highlighted message.
  • Ali: Used the semicolon key to expand all threads within the message.
  • Ali: Used the letter P to navigate to the first message in the thread, and Control+Option+Right Arrow (VoiceOver next item) to read through the message content.
  • Ali: Read through the email content, which included workshop join details, a special announcement about the upcoming move to Google Meet, and upcoming session information.
  • Ali: Demonstrated using G then I (in quick succession) to return to the inbox from an open message.
• Conclusion
  • Enter opens a message; semicolon expands threads; Control+Option+Right Arrow reads through content; G+I returns to inbox.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Moving Messages to Labels

Ali demonstrated how to move selected messages to a specific Gmail label (folder/mailbox).

• Details
  • Ali: Selected multiple Techstravaganza-related messages using X, then pressed the letter V to open the Move To menu.
  • Ali: Typed “Textravaganza” in the menu to filter labels, then pressed Enter to move the messages.
  • Ali: Clarified that Gmail uses the term “labels,” while other email clients may call them “mailboxes” or “folders” — all referring to the same concept.
• Conclusion
  • V opens the Move To menu; type the label name and press Enter to move selected messages.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Composing and Sending a Message with an Attachment

Ali demonstrated how to compose a new email, address it, write a body, attach a file, and send it.

• Details
  • Ali: Pressed the letter C to open the Compose window.
  • Ali: Typed a recipient name (Siena) and navigated the autocomplete suggestions using the Down Arrow, selecting the correct address and pressing Enter.
  • Ali: Tabbed to the Subject field and typed a subject, then tabbed to the message body.
  • Ali: Noted that a pre-existing signature appeared in the body automatically (not covered in this tutorial).
  • Ali: Demonstrated attaching a file by copying a file from Finder (using Command+C) and pasting it into the compose window, with VoiceOver confirming the attachment was added.
  • Ali: Sent the message using Command+Enter.
  • Siena: Noted that attaching files is an important skill to cover and confirmed it was demonstrated.
• Conclusion
  • C opens Compose; Down Arrow navigates autocomplete; Command+Enter sends; files can be attached by copying and pasting from Finder.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Reading a Message with an Attachment and Replying (Siena’s Demonstration)

Siena took over screen sharing to demonstrate reading an email with an attachment, downloading it, and replying.

• Details
  • Siena: Opened the Gmail web interface on the Techstravaganza account and navigated to Ali’s email.
  • Siena: Noted that the inbox listing announces “has attachment” for emails containing attachments.
  • Siena: Opened the email, navigated through the message body using Control+Option+Right Arrow, and located the attachment section.
  • Siena: Explained that Gmail scans attachments for malware and advises users to only download from trusted senders.
  • Siena: Demonstrated two options for attachments — Preview and Download — and downloaded the file to the Downloads folder, then opened it in LibreOffice.
  • Siena: Demonstrated replying using Shift+R (reply in a new window) versus R (reply in the same window).
  • Lily: Asked about the benefit of replying in a new window (Shift+R) versus the same window (R).
  • Siena: Explained it was a personal habit developed to avoid losing her place in the thread; acknowledged it may not be necessary for everyone.
  • Ali: Noted he typically uses R (same window) and finds it sufficient.
  • Siena: Demonstrated returning to the inbox using G+I after replying.
• Conclusion
  • Attachments can be previewed or downloaded directly from the message; R replies in the same window, Shift+R in a new window — both are valid workflows.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Navigating Threaded/Conversation View

Ali demonstrated how to navigate between messages within a thread (conversation view) in Gmail on the web.

• Details
  • Ali: Opened a multi-message thread from a mailing list (LISP group), pressed the semicolon to expand all messages, and used P to go to the first message.
  • Ali: Explained that N moves to the next message in the thread and P moves to the previous, and that this is important to ensure focus is on the correct message before replying.
  • Ali: Read through two messages in the thread (from Yamuna Jivanada and Scott Cheeseworth) using Control+Option+Right Arrow.
  • Ali: Demonstrated pressing R to open a reply on the focused message, then discarded the draft using the Discard Draft button (Command+Shift+D).
  • Ali: Used N again to navigate to a third message in the thread (another reply from Yamuna Jivanada).
  • Ali: Returned to the inbox using G+I.
• Conclusion
  • N and P navigate between messages within a thread; always confirm focus is on the correct message before replying.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Ali demonstrated how to access Gmail’s built-in keyboard shortcuts reference.

• Details
  • Ali: Pressed Shift+/ (the question mark key) to open the keyboard shortcuts overlay.
  • Ali: Navigated through the shortcuts table using Control+Option+Right and Left Arrow, reading out various commands including Shift+Escape (compose/chat side panel), Escape (focus main window), Command+Enter (send), and Command+Shift+E (add CC recipients).
  • Ali: Noted that Google Chat (within Gmail/Workspace) was not covered in this session but expressed interest in exploring it in a future tutorial, as it could be useful for internal communication.
• Conclusion
  • Pressing ? (Shift+/) opens the Gmail keyboard shortcuts reference at any time.

Gmail iPhone App — Navigating Threaded View (Brief Overview)

Ali provided a brief demonstration of navigating threaded messages in the Gmail iPhone app.

• Details
  • Ali: Connected his iPhone and opened the Gmail app, navigating to a mailing list thread.
  • Ali: Noted that on the iPhone, flicking left/right navigates messages, and VoiceOver announces “collapsed message from [name]”; double-tapping expands the message.
  • Ali: Was stopped by Lily at the 20-minute mark before completing a full demonstration.
  • Ali: Provided a verbal summary of the key interaction: flick to navigate, double-tap to expand a collapsed message.
• Conclusion
  • On the iPhone Gmail app, collapsed thread messages are announced by VoiceOver; double-tap to expand. A more detailed demonstration was deferred.

Announcement: Permanent Move from Zoom to Google Meet

The team formally announced that all Techstravaganza workshops will permanently transition from Zoom to Google Meet starting September 2026.

• Details
  • Ali: Explained that Zoom has recurring backend issues including unreliable screen sharing, audio setup problems, recording difficulties, and complex host controls that make session management difficult.
  • Siena: Confirmed the change is permanent and that Google Meet has undergone significant accessibility improvements.
  • Siena: Noted that Google Meet is browser-based (no installation required), whereas Zoom requires an app install.
  • Ivy: Asked whether the process for joining Google Meet would differ from Zoom; Siena confirmed it is similar — click a link, adjust camera/microphone on the pre-join screen, then click Join.
  • Siena: Announced that virtual office hours (group and individual) will be offered throughout the three months leading up to September to help participants transition.
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza will move permanently to Google Meet in September 2026; office hours will support the transition.

Office Hours Planning: Google Meet Onboarding (June 25, 2026)

The team discussed logistics for the first group office hours session scheduled for the following day.

• Details
  • Lily: Announced that office hours are open the next day (Thursday, June 25) for anyone needing help with Google Meet.
  • Ali and Siena: Agreed to split the team across two platforms — Ali, Lily, and Ashlyn in the Google Meet studio; Siena and Macara in the Zoom studio — so participants having trouble with Meet can start in Zoom and be assisted to transition.
  • Makara: Agreed to the arrangement, noting it would make it easier to monitor both platforms.
  • Siena: Confirmed that the Zoom studio link and Google Meet studio link would both be included in that evening’s newsletter.
• Conclusion
  • Office hours: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM Eastern. Ali/Lily/Ashlyn in Meet studio; Siena/Macara in Zoom studio.

Upcoming Session Schedule and Naming Changes

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

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Siena provided updates on the upcoming session schedule and announced a rebranding of session names.

• Details
  • Siena: Noted that the next session would be on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2026, from 1:00–3:00 PM Eastern, shifted by one day due to Canada Day (July 1st).
  • Siena: Confirmed the regular Wednesday afternoon schedule resumes on July 8th.
  • Siena: Announced a naming change: “Textravaganza Afternoons” for the weekly Wednesday workshops, and “Textravaganza Evenings” for the monthly Thursday evening workshop (second Thursday of the month), with the next evening session on July 9th.
• Conclusion
  • Next session: July 2nd, 2026, 1:00–3:00 PM Eastern. Regular schedule resumes July 8th. New naming convention introduced.

Upcoming Workshop Roadmap (Announced by Ali)

Ali opened the session with an announcement outlining planned future workshop topics based on frequently asked questions and community interest.

• Details
  • Ali: Wants to cover third-party podcast players, including revisiting Eye Catcher and Overcast in more depth.
  • Ali: Plans to address Focus settings — specifically how to control which calls come through during a Focus mode.
  • Ali: Wants to demonstrate how to set up an iPhone with VoiceOver independently.
  • Ali: Plans to cover terminal mode features on the Brilliant BI-40X.
  • Ali: Also wants to do a segment on Simple Radio for listening to local radio stations.
  • Siena: Expressed interest in demonstrating how to set up an iPhone from scratch using VoiceOver, noting that many retail staff (e.g., at Apple Stores or Best Buy) are unfamiliar with accessibility features.
  • Ali: Agreed this is important, sharing that he has a similar personal story to share at a later session.
• Conclusion
  • The following topics were scheduled or penciled in:
    • Mantis tutorial: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM (assigned to Siena).
    • Brilliant BI-40X terminal mode tutorial: August 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM (assigned to Ali).
    • iPhone VoiceOver setup from scratch: August (date TBD, tied to Siena receiving her new iPhone).
    • Podcast players and Simple Radio: To be added to the docket.

Apple Music Tutorial — Home Tab and New Tab

Siena shared her iPhone screen and walked participants through the Apple Music app, starting with the Home and New tabs.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated the five tabs at the bottom of the app: Home, New, Radio, Library, and Search.
  • Siena: Showed the account menu (labeled with the user’s name) accessible from every tab, containing account info, music profile, subscription, purchase history, notifications, privacy settings, and gift card redemption.
  • Siena: Explained the Home tab displays algorithm-based recommendations including Top Picks, Made for You, and Trending content.
  • Siena: Showed the New tab, which lists updated playlists, new albums, and new songs recently added to Apple Music.
• Conclusion
  • Participants were given a clear overview of the Home and New tabs and their content.
  • No questions were raised at this stage.

Apple Music Tutorial — Library Tab

Siena demonstrated the Library section, covering playlists, artists, albums, songs, and downloaded content.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to create a new playlist and access the More menu for editing sections.
  • Siena: Navigated through existing playlists, including collaborative playlists previously shared with Ali.
  • Siena: Noted that if an Apple Music subscription lapses for more than three months, access to playlists and saved content is lost.
  • Siena: Opened “Ali’s Favourites” playlist to demonstrate playback, showing a wide variety of songs including Bollywood, pop, and classic hits.
  • Macara: Raised the point that playlists can be transferred to another service (e.g., YouTube Music, Spotify) before cancelling a subscription.
  • Ali: Confirmed he transferred all playlists when moving to YouTube Premium.
  • Siena: Also confirmed she transferred playlists when moving from Apple Music to YouTube Premium.
• Conclusion
  • Users are advised to transfer playlists before cancelling a music subscription to avoid losing curated content.
  • Playlist transfer is supported across services including YouTube Music and Spotify.

Apple Music Tutorial — Search Tab

Siena demonstrated how to use the Search tab to find songs, artists, and albums.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that in iOS 26, the search field is located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
  • Siena: Demonstrated searching for “One More Night” by Phil Collins using Braille Screen Input.
  • Siena: Showed how to play a song, add it to the library, download it for offline listening, favorite it, share it, and add it to a playlist.
  • Siena: Noted that Apple Music does not allow playback through Zoom (even via loopback), so audio could not be demonstrated live.
  • Lily: Noted that Siri can be used to play songs, playlists, and radio stations within Apple Music without navigating the app manually.
  • Ali: Acknowledged Siri is enabled on his device but he personally does not use it, viewing it as a learning opportunity to understand others’ workflows.
• Conclusion
  • The Search tab allows users to find and manage music efficiently.
  • Siri integration is a valid and useful alternative workflow for Apple Music navigation.
  • Simple Radio was added to the future topic docket following Lily’s mention of radio station searching.

Music Streaming Service Preferences (Open Discussion)

Lily raised a discussion question asking participants to share their preferred music streaming service and reasons.

• Details
  • Ali: Prefers YouTube Music/YouTube Premium because it allows background playback with the screen locked, and he feels it offers better overall value than paying separately for Apple Music.
  • Lily: Also uses YouTube Premium with a family plan (5 members), appreciating the bundled podcasts, music, and ad-free video.
  • Jackie: Currently uses Spotify, citing affordability, the ability to cast to other devices (e.g., a dining room speaker), and 15 hours of free audiobooks per month.
  • Ali: Cautioned that 15 hours of audiobooks runs out quickly and is not worth subscribing to Spotify solely for that feature; prefers Audible for no hourly listening limits and exclusive content (e.g., Great Courses).
  • Makara: Primarily uses Apple Music but acknowledged getting value from YouTube Premium when previously subscribed; expressed openness to rejoining.
  • Macara: Agreed that Spotify’s audiobook feature can work if supplemented with other sources.
  • Ali: Expressed preference for separate apps for music, podcasts, and books rather than an all-in-one platform like Spotify.
  • Siena: Uses YouTube Music primarily for background playback of live shows (e.g., the Ali and Makara podcast), ad-free listening, and offline video downloads.
  • Ashlyn: Participated in the discussion, agreeing with points raised.
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium was the most commonly preferred service among participants for its value and background playback.
  • Spotify was noted as a solid option for those who value casting and free audiobook access.
  • Apple Music remains a strong choice for those deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
  • Audible was recommended over Spotify for dedicated audiobook listeners.

Apple Music Tutorial — Radio Tab

Siena demonstrated the Radio tab, covering Apple Music’s curated radio stations, local broadcasters, and international broadcasters.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed Apple Music’s own radio stations: Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, Apple Music Country, Apple Musica Uno, Apple Music Club, and Apple Music Chill.
  • Siena: Demonstrated the “On Air Now” section, latest radio episodes, artist takeovers, interviews, in-studio performances, and radio hosts.
  • Siena: Showed local broadcasters including Canadian stations such as KISS 92.5, 98.5 Montreal, 102.1 The Edge, CBC Radio 1, TSN 1050, and many others.
  • Siena: Demonstrated international broadcasters including Hot 97, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, 102.7 KIIS FM, and stations from Australia, the Philippines, Mexico, Belgium, Africa, and more.
  • Siena: Noted that clicking the “Local Broadcasters” or “International Broadcasters” button reveals a much larger list than what is visible by scrolling.
  • Ali: Reminded participants that many streams are geo-restricted due to licensing and may be blocked outside their country of origin.
  • Lily: Added that users can search for a specific station (e.g., CKNW Vancouver) via the Search tab filtered by radio, if it does not appear in the default list.
• Conclusion
  • The Radio tab offers a wide range of Apple Music curated stations, local Canadian broadcasters, and international stations.
  • Many streams are geo-restricted by licensing.
  • Users can search for specific stations not listed in the default view.

Siri and iOS 26/27 Discussion

A discussion arose around Siri’s usefulness and the upcoming overhaul in iOS 27.

• Details
  • Lily: Uses Siri constantly for Apple Music and finds it very useful when commands are specific enough.
  • Ali: Has Siri enabled but rarely uses it; sees others’ usage as a learning opportunity.
  • Siena: Noted that Siri’s major overhaul in iOS 27 may only be available on iPhone 17 or later.
  • Jackie: Asked whether voice-based hands-free interaction with Siri would still be available after the overhaul.
  • Siena: Believes voice interaction will remain; the overhaul appears to add typing capability similar to Gemini on Android.
  • Ali: Noted that Siri performs better with current/trending topics (e.g., FIFA World Cup scores) because it is trained to prioritize them.
• Conclusion
  • Siri remains a useful tool for Apple Music navigation, particularly for users who prefer voice commands.
  • The iOS 27 Siri overhaul is expected to add Gemini-like functionality but will likely be limited to iPhone 17 and later.

Transition Announcement: Zoom to Google Meet

A formal announcement was made (recorded separately) regarding the permanent platform transition for Textravaganza.

• Details
  • Lily: Announced that Techstravaganza is transitioning from Zoom to Google Meet permanently, citing administrative difficulties with hosting, accessing recordings for podcast uploads, and screen sharing issues experienced by the team.
  • Lily: Noted that extensive testing with Google Meet has been completed and the team is confident it will provide a smoother experience for both the team and participants.
  • Siena: Announced that group and individual office hours will be organized to help participants get set up on Google Meet, including installing the app and joining a meeting.
  • Siena: Provided the support email: support@techstravaganza.ca, and noted that the WhatsApp group can also be used to book individual office hours.
  • Siena: Confirmed that during the transition period, the Textravaganza Studio will remain open on Zoom as a fallback for anyone having difficulty joining Google Meet.
  • Ali: Emphasized this is a long-term/permanent transition with no further platform changes planned.
  • Lily: Highlighted that Google’s support team is more responsive and helpful with accessibility issues compared to Zoom.
  • Siena: Added that Google has a strong track record of addressing reported accessibility issues in subsequent updates.
• Conclusion
  • Textravaganza will permanently move to Google Meet starting the following week.
  • Office hours (group and individual) will be available to assist participants with the transition.
  • Zoom will remain available as a fallback during the transition period.
  • Contact: support@textravaganza.ca or the WhatsApp group to book individual office hours.

Next Session Preview

Siena announced the topic for the following week’s session.

• Details
  • Siena: Confirmed the next session on June 24, 2026 will cover Gmail on the web for both Windows and Mac.
  • Ali: Expressed enthusiasm and noted the tutorial is coming at the right time given the group’s discussions about mail apps.
  • Siena: Confirmed she will lead the tutorial, having used Gmail on the web across both platforms for some time.
• Conclusion
  • Next session: Gmail on the web (Windows and Mac), June 24, 2026.

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

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Would you like to join the Techstravaganza Workshops Whatsapp Group? Fill out the form located at the following link: https://techstravaganza.ca/join-the-techstravaganza-workshops-whatsapp-group/

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YouTube Premium Tutorial – Ad-Free Playback

Siena demonstrated the ad-free playback feature of YouTube Premium using a Double Tap podcast video about the Mantis Q40.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that YouTube Premium plays videos without ads at the start, end, or mid-video interruptions, contrasting with the free version which interrupts videos approximately every 10 minutes.
  • Ali: Confirmed he also values the ad-free benefit and noted he pays $16.99/month for YouTube Premium versus $10.99 for Apple Music, finding YouTube Premium more cost-effective.
  • Rob: Confirmed he enjoys YouTube Premium and uses it extensively for playlists.
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium eliminates all ads, including mid-video interruptions, which is one of its primary benefits over the free tier.

YouTube Premium Tutorial – Background Playback and Screen Lock

Siena demonstrated the ability to lock the phone screen and switch to other apps while a YouTube video continues playing.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that locking the phone screen does not stop video playback under YouTube Premium; the video continues and can be paused/played from the lock screen.
  • Siena: Also demonstrated switching to the Mail app while a video played in the background, then returning to YouTube, which resumed at the same position.
  • Palmer: Noted that on Pixel, pausing and locking the screen is possible but may drain battery more if the screen remains on.
  • Siena: Clarified that locking the screen while listening will still drain some battery, but pausing before locking helps preserve it.
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium allows background playback and screen-lock listening; the free version stops playback when the screen is locked or the app is backgrounded.

YouTube Premium Tutorial – Video Download for Offline Listening

Siena demonstrated how to download a YouTube video for offline playback.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the “More Actions” menu on a video and selected “Download,” showing quality options (Full HD, High, Medium, Low).
  • Siena: Showed how to access downloaded videos via the “You” tab at the bottom of the YouTube app, then navigating to the “Downloads” section and finding the “Your Downloads” heading.
  • Dave: Asked how to play a downloaded video later; Siena demonstrated the full process of re-downloading and locating the video in the Downloads section.
  • Siena: Also noted that YouTube Premium remembers the last video played and the position at which it was paused, even after closing and reopening the app or switching devices.
  • Palmer: Confirmed that the free version requires restarting the video from the beginning after closing the app.
• Conclusion
  • Downloaded videos are accessible under the “You” tab → Downloads → “Your Downloads” heading.
  • YouTube Premium saves playback position across sessions and devices; the free version does not.

Brave Browser as a Free Ad-Blocking Alternative

Palmer raised the topic of using Brave Browser to watch YouTube ad-free without a Premium subscription.

• Details
  • Siena: Mentioned Brave Browser as an option for ad-free YouTube viewing on the free tier due to its built-in ad blocker.
  • Palmer: Asked whether signing into YouTube on Brave would still result in ads; also noted an AI feature in Brave he was unfamiliar with.
  • Siena: Indicated she had not used Brave recently but expressed interest in testing it on both phone and computer.
• Conclusion
  • Brave Browser is a potential free alternative for ad-free YouTube viewing; Siena committed to experimenting with it and reporting back.

YouTube Premium Tutorial – Creating and Collaborating on Playlists (YouTube App)

Siena demonstrated how to create a new playlist in the YouTube app and set it up for collaboration.

• Details
  • Siena: Created a new playlist called “Toys and Games from Our Childhood,” set visibility to Public, and enabled the Collaborate toggle.
  • Siena: Sent a collaboration invite to Rob via Gmail directly from the YouTube share sheet.
  • Rob: Mentioned he had already created a playlist called “Rob and Sienna Fun Playlist” and set it to Unlisted, asking whether collaboration was possible.
  • Ali: Clarified that collaboration requires the playlist to be set to Public; Unlisted and Private do not support collaboration.
  • Rob: Confirmed he could share a playlist link without collaboration on Unlisted.
  • Siena: Added the Kerplunk game video to the new collaborative playlist as a demonstration.
• Conclusion
  • Collaborative playlists must be set to Public in YouTube.
  • Collaboration is a YouTube Premium-exclusive feature; viewing public playlists is available to all users regardless of subscription tier.

YouTube Music Tutorial – Searching, Filtering, and Playing Songs

Siena demonstrated YouTube Music’s search and filter functionality, using “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul as an example.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed filter options including Show Song Results, Show Video Results, Show Artist Results, Show Album Results, Show Featured Playlist Results, and Show Podcast Episode Results.
  • Siena: Highlighted that YouTube Music can pull songs directly from YouTube if they are not available as standalone tracks in YouTube Music.
  • Palmer: Noted he typically searches via the YouTube website and finds it easier to locate results there compared to YouTube Music.
  • Ali: Clarified that the experience differs significantly with Premium.
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Music offers granular search filters and can surface YouTube videos alongside music tracks in search results.

YouTube Music Tutorial – Saving Albums to Library and Downloading for Offline Listening

Siena demonstrated saving an album (The Beatles’ Anthology Collection) to the YouTube Music library and downloading it for offline use.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the album via Show Album Results filter, opened it, and used the “Save to Library” button to add the full album.
  • Siena: Demonstrated downloading the album for offline listening from the Library section, noting it was a large multi-disc set.
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate the Library tab (4th tab at the bottom), apply filters (Show Albums, Show Downloaded), and switch between grid and list views.
• Conclusion
  • Full albums can be saved to the YouTube Music library and downloaded for offline listening directly from the Library section.

YouTube Music Tutorial – Playlists, Collaborative Playlists, and Cross-Platform Sync

Siena demonstrated playlist management in YouTube Music, including creating a collaborative playlist and the synchronization between YouTube and YouTube Music.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed the Library’s playlist view, including personal playlists (Canadian Music, Favorites, Ali and Sienna’s Music) and demonstrated saving “Me and Mrs. Jones” to the “Ali and Sienna’s Music” playlist.
  • Siena: Created a new playlist called “Rob and Sienna’s Favorite Music,” set it to Public, enabled collaboration, and sent an invite to Rob via Gmail.
  • Siena: Explained that playlists are synchronized across YouTube and YouTube Music, meaning video playlists created in YouTube are accessible in YouTube Music and vice versa.
  • Rob: Confirmed he would join the collaborative playlist promptly so Siena could restrict new collaborators afterward.
  • Jackie: Asked whether users without YouTube Premium could view public playlists; Rob and Siena confirmed that viewing is available to all users, while collaboration is Premium-only.
  • Ali: Noted the group also has a collaborative playlist that members are welcome to add to.
• Conclusion
  • Collaborative playlists require YouTube Premium and must be Public.
  • Viewing public playlists is free and available to all YouTube users.
  • Playlists sync across YouTube and YouTube Music, supporting both video and music content in a single playlist.

Subscription Cost Comparison – YouTube Premium vs. Apple Music vs. Spotify

Ali and Siena discussed the value proposition of YouTube Premium relative to other streaming services.

• Details
  • Ali: Previously paid $10.99/month for Apple Music for 2–3 years before switching to YouTube Premium at $16.99/month, finding the broader feature set more worthwhile.
  • Siena: Agreed, noting she also moved away from Apple Music and now uses YouTube Premium, SiriusXM, and Audible as her entertainment stack.
  • Rob: Also uses Spotify alongside YouTube Premium; raised a question about unlocking explicit content on Spotify on the computer.
  • Siena and Ali: Agreed the Spotify explicit content question would be addressed as a separate topic in a future session.
• Conclusion
  • Both Ali and Siena concluded that YouTube Premium offers better overall value when consolidating streaming services.
  • Users are encouraged to evaluate which services best meet their needs rather than subscribing to multiple overlapping platforms.

Platform Transition: Zoom to Google Meet

Ali formally announced the upcoming transition from Zoom to Google Meet, effective September 2.

• Details
  • Ali: Cited Google Meet’s greater user-friendliness and Zoom’s ongoing problems in key areas as the reasons for the transition. Emphasized a 3-month transition period with full support available.
  • Siena: Added that Google Meet has resolved previous issues affecting iPhone/iPad users and those without Google accounts. Confirmed that late arrivals will be able to join meetings even after recording has started.
  • Siena: Announced that individual and group office hours will be available to help members test their setup and ask questions before the official rollout.
  • Palmer: Thanked the team for the announcement.
• Conclusion
  • Official transition to Google Meet takes effect September 2 (first Techstravaganza Afternoon of the fall).
  • A 3-month transition period with office hours and individual support sessions will be provided.
  • Members can email support@textravaganza.ca for individual assistance.

Office Hours Scheduling for Google Meet Transition

The team discussed which days to offer office hours to support the transition.

• Details
  • Siena: Proposed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays as available days; also offered Thursday mornings (10 AM–noon).
  • Ali: Preferred not to use Fridays or Thursday afternoons/evenings; suggested Mondays and Thursdays initially, then revised to Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Rob: Noted Thursday mornings are typically occupied by staff commitments (when not on strike).
  • Palmer: Suggested starting with two days and adding more as needed.
  • Ali: Confirmed the final schedule would be decided at the Tuesday team meeting.
• Conclusion
  • Mondays and Tuesdays are the leading candidates for office hours days.
  • Final scheduling to be confirmed at the Tuesday team meeting and announced via newsletter.

Chat Group Streamlining – WhatsApp Only

Siena announced the consolidation of community chat groups.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced that Messenger and Discord groups will be discontinued; WhatsApp will be the sole group communication channel going forward.
  • Siena: Offered individual onboarding sessions for members not yet in the WhatsApp group or unfamiliar with the app.
• Conclusion
  • WhatsApp is the only ongoing group chat platform.
  • Members needing WhatsApp setup assistance can contact Siena directly or email support@textravaganza.ca.

Booking Page for Office Hours

Ali and Siena briefly discussed setting up a booking page for individual and group office hour sessions.

• Details
  • Ali: Suggested a booking page to streamline the scheduling process and asked whether bookers would receive reminders.
  • Siena: Confirmed she has or is setting up a booking page and wants to ensure reminder emails are sent to bookers.
  • Ali: Noted the team could discuss booking service options further.
• Conclusion
  • A booking page will be set up and linked on the Techstravaganza website.
  • Booking details and office hour dates will be communicated via the newsletter.

Newsletter Subscription Reminder

Ali and Siena reminded attendees and podcast listeners to subscribe to the Techstravaganza newsletter.

• Details
  • Ali: Encouraged members to subscribe if not already doing so, noting a pop-up appears for first-time website visitors.
  • Siena: Explained that the newsletter includes session agendas, links, and blog updates delivered directly to subscribers’ email.
• Conclusion
  • Newsletter subscription is available at the bottom of the Techstravaganza website and via a first-visit pop-up.

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Adding a Phone Number to Contacts from a WhatsApp Message

Ali demonstrated how to locate a phone number within a WhatsApp message and add it to the iOS Contacts app.

• Details
  • Ali: Navigated to a WhatsApp message containing a phone number (226-999-5543), performed a double-tap and hold to access the context menu, and found the “Copy phone number” option.
  • Ali: Noted that in this scenario, the number would typically be copied and pasted into an existing contact entry.
  • Ali: Also demonstrated the “Add to contacts” option available in the long-press action menu on a WhatsApp message, which pre-fills the name based on the sender’s WhatsApp display name.
  • Siena: Observed that WhatsApp pre-fills the first and/or last name based on the sender’s WhatsApp profile display name, and that some users include symbols in their display names.
• Conclusion
  • A phone number from a WhatsApp message can be added to contacts via the long-press context menu using the “Add to contacts” option.
  • The “Sync contact to phone” toggle should be enabled to save the contact to the device’s Contacts app rather than only within WhatsApp.

Adding a Contact Card Shared via iMessage

Ali demonstrated how to add a contact card received in the iOS Messages app to the Contacts app.

• Details
  • Ali: Navigated to the Messages conversation containing Siena’s shared contact card.
  • Ali: Described the multi-step process Apple now uses: flicking right from the message header reveals a phone number button, then an edit button, then the number itself, followed by options including “Create new contact” and “Add to existing contact.”
  • Ali: Selected “Create new contact,” filled in the first and last name fields, and saved the entry.
  • Ali: Clarified navigation: to reach the Done button efficiently, touching the top-left corner of the screen and flicking right avoids navigating through all keyboard keys.
• Conclusion
  • Contact cards received in iMessage can be saved via the contact card attachment, which presents a “Create new contact” or “Add to existing contact” option.
  • Apple has made this a multi-step process; navigating to the Done button is most efficiently done by touching the top-left corner of the screen and flicking right.

Adding a Contact Card Shared via WhatsApp — Initial Attempt and Discovery

Ali attempted to add a contact card (Joe Schmoe) sent by Lily via WhatsApp but found no direct “Add to contacts” option in the context menu.

• Details
  • Lily: Created a fake contact (Joe Schmoe) with placeholder information and initially sent it to Ali via copy-paste in both Messages and WhatsApp.
  • Ali: Explored the long-press context menu and the “More” button on the WhatsApp message but found no option to add the contact card directly.
  • Macara: Suggested checking the “More” button, which Ali confirmed had already been activated without success.
  • Ali: Theorized that Apple restricts third-party apps from directly accessing the Contacts list to add entries via shared cards.
  • Lily: Added that WhatsApp requests contact sync permission upon setup, which handles most contact additions automatically.
• Conclusion
  • WhatsApp does not provide a direct context menu option to add a shared contact card to the iOS Contacts app.
  • This is likely an intentional Apple privacy restriction on third-party app access to the Contacts database.

Correct Method for Sharing a Contact Card via WhatsApp

After the initial failure, Lily reshared the contact card using the proper share sheet method, which resolved the issue.

• Details
  • Lily: Explained she had originally used copy-paste from her Mac to send the contact card, which only copied the contact’s name as plain text.
  • Ali: Instructed Lily to go to the Contacts app on her phone, find the Joe Schmoe entry, and use the Share button to send it directly to WhatsApp.
  • Lily: Reshared the contact card via the Contacts app share sheet to WhatsApp.
  • Ali: Upon receiving the properly shared card, found that activating the contact card in WhatsApp presented a “Create new contact” option with the full details (name, phone number) pre-filled.
  • Siena: Confirmed that the copy-paste method only transfers the name, not the full contact data.
• Conclusion
  • Contact cards must be shared via the Contacts app share sheet (not copy-pasted) to transmit the full vCard data.
  • Once properly shared, WhatsApp displays the contact card with a “Create new contact” option that includes all contact fields.

Technical Explanation: Contact Card File Format (CSV/vCard)

Ali provided a technical explanation of why copy-pasting a contact card does not work the same way as copying a standard file.

• Details
  • Ali: Explained that contact cards use a CSV (contact) format; to be shared or imported elsewhere, the file must first be exported, then imported at the destination.
  • Ali: Noted that standard files (e.g., Word documents) can be pasted because they are standard attachment formats, whereas contact cards require export/import.
  • Ali: Gave an example of exporting an iCloud contact list as a CSV and importing it into Google Contacts via the web interface.
  • Lily: Summarized that the contact card behaves like an internal format that must be exported via the share function to work correctly.
  • Siena: Thanked Ali for clarifying whether the CSV format is Apple-specific or universal, confirming it is a universal contact format.
• Conclusion
  • Contact cards use a universal CSV/vCard format that requires proper export (via share sheet) to be imported elsewhere.
  • This format is cross-platform and can be used to migrate contacts between services such as iCloud and Google Contacts.

Future Topic Request: Adding a Phone Number from an Email

Liz raised a common use case not covered in the current session.

• Details
  • Liz: Described her current workaround of memorizing a phone number from an email in segments and manually entering it into a new contact, then returning to the email for the next digits.
  • Ali: Acknowledged this as a separate topic and offered to cover it in a future session.
  • Siena: Confirmed she would add it to the session reminders.
• Conclusion
  • Adding a phone number from an email to Contacts will be covered in a future Textravaganza workshop.

LibreOffice Writer on macOS — Overview and Document Navigation

Siena demonstrated LibreOffice on macOS, covering the start center, file opening, and VoiceOver-based document navigation.

• Details
  • Siena: Shared her screen and opened LibreOffice, walking through the Start Center options: Remote Files, Recent Documents, Templates, Writer Document, Calc Spreadsheet, Impress Presentation, Draw, Math Formula, and Base Database.
  • Siena: Opened a .docx file (Sweet Caroline lyrics) from iCloud Drive, granting LibreOffice access to the Desktop folder, iCloud Drive, and Dropbox as prompted.
  • Siena: Noted that LibreOffice on Mac can be finicky with VoiceOver; the document sometimes needs to be closed and reopened before it becomes properly readable.
  • Siena: Demonstrated that standard arrow key navigation does not move the cursor as expected; instead, Control-Option-Left/Right Arrow (VoiceOver character/word navigation via the rotor) must be used to navigate within and edit text.
  • Siena: Successfully edited a word (“growin’ strong”) using character-level rotor navigation, confirming editing is possible but requires this specific approach.
  • Ali: Suggested that when VoiceOver left/right flicking moves between edit fields (each line treated as a separate field), interacting with the desired field and then using Control-Option navigation may be the most effective approach.
  • Siena: Noted she would contact LibreOffice developers about improving VoiceOver support on Mac.
  • Ali: Noted in chat that a link to the LibreOffice for Windows tutorial from the previous week should be added to the show notes.
• Conclusion
  • LibreOffice Writer is functional on macOS with VoiceOver but requires rotor-based character/word navigation rather than standard arrow keys.
  • Each line/paragraph is treated as a separate edit field; users should interact with the target field before navigating within it.
  • The Windows version was covered the previous week; the Mac version was demonstrated this session.

Document Creation Tool Preferences

Ali facilitated a brief discussion on preferred word processing tools while Siena was temporarily away.

• Details
  • Lily: Uses Pages for word processing and Numbers for spreadsheets on Mac; prefers TextEdit for personal documents due to its cleaner interface; uses formatted tools like Pages for resumes.
  • Ali: Prefers Google Docs for its simplicity, easy sharing via link, and collaboration features; has also used Pages with iCloud sharing.
• Conclusion
  • Tool preference varies by use case: TextEdit for simple personal documents, Pages/Numbers for formatted or spreadsheet work, and Google Docs for collaboration and sharing.

Platform Transition: Zoom to Google Meet (September 2026)

Siena announced that Textravaganza workshops will transition from Zoom to Google Meet in September 2026.

• Details
  • Siena: Cited ongoing Zoom admin-side issues including audio setup problems across computers, recording access difficulties (now requiring the Zoom Hub), and general interface changes negatively affecting screen reader usability.
  • Siena: Reported that the team (Ali, Makara, Ashlyn, Lily, and Siena) conducted extensive testing of Google Meet and found significant improvements in hosting, participant joining, and recording accessibility.
  • Siena: Confirmed the official transition will take effect with the first September 2026 workshop.
  • Siena: Announced individual and group office hours will be offered throughout the three months leading up to the transition to help participants prepare.
  • Ali: Emphasized that the team will continuously monitor the experience for participants with and without Google accounts and provide ongoing updates as the platform evolves.
  • Siena: Noted that recordings are significantly easier to locate in Google Meet compared to Zoom’s current Hub-based system.
• Conclusion
  • Textravaganza will officially move to Google Meet starting September 2026.
  • Zoom will continue to be used until then.
  • Individual and group office hours will be available upon request to support the transition.
  • Participants can reach out via support@textravaganza.ca or the WhatsApp group with any concerns.

Communication Channel Updates: Messenger and Discord Discontinuation

Siena announced changes to Textravaganza’s communication channels.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced that the Messenger group and Discord server will be discontinued within the next one to two weeks.
  • Siena: Confirmed the WhatsApp group will be the primary community channel going forward, alongside email at support@textravaganza.ca.
  • Ashlyn: Indicated she may have additional updates related to this.
• Conclusion
  • The Messenger group and Discord server are being retired in favor of the WhatsApp group.
  • Primary contact methods going forward: WhatsApp group and support@textravaganza.ca.

Workshop Naming Update: Textravaganza Afternoons and Evenings

Siena announced a rebranding of the two recurring workshop formats, effective July 2026.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced that the Wednesday workshops will be renamed “Textravaganza Afternoons.”
  • Siena: Announced that the monthly Thursday evening sessions (currently “Textravaganza 2.0”) will be renamed “Textravaganza Evenings,” held on the second Thursday of each month.
  • Siena: Noted the next Textravaganza Evenings session is June 11, 2026, covering YouTube.
• Conclusion
  • Wednesday sessions: Textravaganza Afternoons (effective July 2026).
  • Monthly Thursday sessions: Textravaganza Evenings (effective July 2026).
  • Next session: June 11, 2026 — YouTube topic.

Find the LibreOffice on Windows tutorial from last week at the following link: http://techstravaganza.ca/2026/06/03/word-processing-and-spreadsheets-with-libreoffice-wednesday-june-3-2026/

Contact the team:

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Would you like to join the Techstravaganza Workshops Whatsapp Group? Fill out the form located at the following link: https://techstravaganza.ca/join-the-techstravaganza-workshops-whatsapp-group/

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