Category: Tutorials

Discussed Topics

YouTube Premium Features and Benefits

The session focused on demonstrating YouTube Premium’s key features compared to the free version.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated how the free version of YouTube plays ads before and during videos, which cannot be skipped
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained that YouTube Premium eliminates all ads, allowing uninterrupted playback
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed that Premium allows downloading videos for offline viewing on mobile devices
  • Siena(She/Her): Noted that Premium remembers playback position across devices
  • Ivy: Questioned whether the $16 monthly cost is justified just for removing ads
  • Liz’s: Asked about the pricing and whether it applies to TV viewing as well
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium costs $16 per month and includes YouTube Music
  • Premium removes all ads from videos and music
  • Users can download content for offline playback on mobile devices
  • The service works across all devices once signed in with a Google account

YouTube Music Service and Capabilities

Discussion covered the features and advantages of YouTube Music included with Premium.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated searching for songs, creating playlists, and saving music
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained that YouTube Music can access both official music tracks and YouTube videos
  • Ali: Noted that playlists can be transferred from Apple Music to YouTube Music
  • Ivy: Asked whether YouTube Music is better than Apple Music
  • Siena(She/Her): Stated that YouTube Music finds obscure songs more easily because it searches both the music library and YouTube videos
  • Liz’s: Inquired about pre-made playlists and creating custom playlists
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Music provides access to a larger music catalog by including YouTube videos
  • Users can create custom playlists and access publicly available playlists
  • Playlists from other services can be easily transferred to YouTube Music
  • The service is particularly good for finding obscure or less common songs

Keyboard Shortcuts in YouTube Music

The team reviewed available keyboard shortcuts for navigating YouTube Music.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated pressing Shift + / to view all keyboard shortcuts
  • Siena(She/Her): Listed shortcuts including Space or semicolon for play/pause, J or Shift+N for next song, K or Shift+P for previous song
  • Palmer: Asked whether the K key works for pause in YouTube Music as it does in regular YouTube
  • Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that in YouTube Music, K plays the previous song rather than pause
  • Palmer: Tested and confirmed that semicolon works for play/pause in YouTube Music
• Conclusion
  • Keyboard shortcuts in YouTube Music differ slightly from regular YouTube
  • Space or semicolon pauses/plays music
  • Users can access the full shortcut list anytime by pressing Shift + /

Collaborative Playlists Feature

Demonstration of creating and sharing collaborative playlists in YouTube Premium.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Created a new playlist called “Canadian Music” and enabled collaboration
  • Siena(She/Her): Generated an invite link and sent it to Ali via email
  • Ali: Received the link and joined the collaborative playlist
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained that collaborators can add videos and songs to shared playlists
  • Ali: Successfully added a song to the collaborative playlist
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium allows users to create collaborative playlists
  • Invite links can be generated and shared via email
  • Multiple users can add content to the same playlist
  • This feature is included with YouTube Premium subscription

YouTube Premium on Television

Discussion about signing in and using YouTube Premium on TV devices.

• Details
  • Liz’s: Asked how to set up YouTube Premium on television and whether she would need to enter credentials repeatedly
  • Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that users only need to sign in once on TV
  • Liz’s: Expressed concern about entering passwords using a TV remote
  • Siena(She/Her): Recommended setting up the account on a phone or iPad first, then signing in on TV
  • Ivy: Confirmed that entering credentials on TV with a remote is difficult even for sighted users
  • Rob: Mentioned having difficulty signing in to YouTube on TV
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium account setup should be done on a phone, tablet, or computer first
  • Once signed in on TV, credentials are saved and do not need to be re-entered
  • Entering passwords on TV remotes is challenging and should be avoided when possible

Movies on YouTube Premium

Brief discussion about movie availability and rental options.

• Details
  • Ivy: Asked whether YouTube Premium includes access to movies or if they require additional payment
  • Ivy: Mentioned knowing someone who watches full-length old movies on YouTube
  • Siena(She/Her): Stated uncertainty about whether movie rentals are included in Premium or require separate payment
  • Siena(She/Her): Noted that the free version allows renting movies for a fee
• Conclusion
  • Movie rental options exist on YouTube but it is unclear if Premium includes them
  • Some full-length movies are available for free on YouTube
  • This topic requires further exploration

Browser Recommendations for YouTube

Discussion about which web browser works best with YouTube services.

• Details
  • Ivy: Asked why Siena uses Chrome instead of Safari for YouTube
  • Ali: Stated that Chrome provides a better experience for all Google products
  • Siena(She/Her): Confirmed that Chrome works more smoothly with YouTube and Google services
  • Palmer: Noted that Safari pauses videos when trying to like them, which Chrome does not do
  • Rob: Suggested using Brave browser as an ad blocker alternative
  • Ali: Explained that Brave does not synchronize bookmarks across devices like Chrome does
  • Siena(She/Her): Agreed that synchronization is important and Chrome handles it better
• Conclusion
  • Chrome is the recommended browser for YouTube and Google services
  • Chrome provides better accessibility and smoother performance than Safari
  • Brave browser blocks ads but lacks cross-device synchronization features
  • Chrome allows signing in with a Google account to sync bookmarks and settings across devices

Creating Multiple Playlists Issue

Discussion about a bug preventing users from adding songs to multiple playlists simultaneously.

• Details
  • Jackie: Reported that the free version of YouTube recently stopped allowing users to add videos to multiple playlists at once
  • Jackie: Explained that users must restart the app or phone to add a video to another playlist
  • Jackie: Asked whether YouTube Premium resolves this issue
  • Siena(She/Her): Suggested this might be a bug or a feature being pushed to Premium subscribers
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated successfully adding a song to multiple playlists with Premium
• Conclusion
  • Free YouTube users are experiencing issues adding content to multiple playlists simultaneously
  • This may be a bug or a feature restriction pushing users toward Premium
  • YouTube Premium appears to allow adding content to multiple playlists at once

Find Out What’s Coming Up On Future Workshops At The Following Link

Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Desktop Navigation Basics

Siena demonstrated fundamental JAWS navigation techniques for the Windows desktop.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained desktop is arranged in a grid format with 5 rows
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed arrow key navigation (up/down/left/right) to move between icons
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated typing first letter repeatedly to jump between items starting with same letter
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed typing multiple letters quickly to navigate to specific icons
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained JAWS announces icon name and position (e.g., “30 of 41”)
• Conclusion
  • Users can navigate desktop efficiently using arrow keys or typing icon names
  • Single letter navigation cycles through items starting with that letter
  • Typing multiple letters quickly narrows down to specific items

Web Navigation Techniques

Comprehensive demonstration of navigating websites using JAWS keyboard commands.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated using H key to navigate by headings
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed number keys (1-6) to jump to specific heading levels
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained B key navigates to buttons, E key to edit fields
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Ctrl+Home to go to top of page, Ctrl+End to go to bottom
  • Siena(She/Her): Used Techstravaganza website as demonstration example
• Conclusion
  • JAWS provides single-letter navigation for different element types
  • Heading level navigation allows quick access to page structure
  • Control+Home/End provides quick page navigation

JAWS List Features

Detailed explanation of JAWS condensed list dialogs for efficient navigation.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+F7 opens links list dialog
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+F6 opens headings list dialog
  • Siena(She/Her): Revealed Insert+F5 opens form controls list
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained lists can be sorted alphabetically or in tab order
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed filtering options (all links, visited only, unvisited only)
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Alt+M to move to link without activating it
  • Jackie: Confirmed familiarity with Insert+F7 but not F5 or F6
  • Siena(She/Her): Noted single letter navigation works within list dialogs
• Conclusion
  • JAWS separates different element types into dedicated list dialogs
  • Lists provide filtering and sorting options for easier navigation
  • This approach differs from VoiceOver’s unified list with granularity switching

System Information Shortcuts

Demonstration of JAWS shortcuts for accessing system information.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+F12 announces current time
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+F12 pressed twice announces date
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained Insert+Shift+B announces battery status, AC connection, and Wi-Fi network
  • Siena(She/Her): Noted this is more efficient than navigating to system tray with Windows+B
  • Siena(She/Her): Mentioned JAWS does not announce volume percentage when using volume keys
• Conclusion
  • JAWS provides quick keyboard shortcuts for common system information
  • Battery status shortcut also includes network connectivity information
  • Volume adjustment lacks percentage announcement, requiring manual checking

Typing Echo Settings

Explanation of JAWS typing echo options for different user preferences.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+2 cycles through typing echo modes
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed four options: None, Characters, Words, Both characters and words
  • Siena(She/Her): Used Notepad to demonstrate each setting with live typing
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained personal preference for either all or nothing, not individual settings
• Conclusion
  • Users can customize typing feedback based on personal preference
  • Insert+2 provides quick toggle between echo modes
  • Different modes suit different tasks and user preferences

Document Reading and Navigation

Demonstration of reading and navigating text documents in JAWS.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed arrow keys read line by line
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated left/right arrows read character by character
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained JAWS announces phonetic alphabet for letters
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed Ctrl+Right/Left arrows navigate word by word
  • Siena(She/Her): Used sample text “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”
• Conclusion
  • JAWS provides multiple granularity levels for reading text
  • Phonetic pronunciation helps distinguish similar-sounding letters
  • Control key modifiers enable word-level navigation

Virtual PC Cursor Functionality

Comprehensive explanation of Virtual PC Cursor and its use cases.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained Virtual PC Cursor allows browsing website content with JAWS navigation commands
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated conflicts when using website keyboard shortcuts with Virtual PC Cursor on
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed YouTube example where K key (pause) conflicted with JAWS place marker command
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained Insert+Z toggles Virtual PC Cursor on/off
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated left/right arrows rewind/fast-forward in YouTube only with cursor off
  • Siena(She/Her): Noted VoiceOver does not have equivalent feature due to different modifier key approach
• Conclusion
  • Virtual PC Cursor should be ON for reading web content with JAWS navigation
  • Virtual PC Cursor should be OFF for using website-specific keyboard shortcuts
  • Toggle is necessary to avoid conflicts between JAWS and application shortcuts

Gmail Navigation with Virtual PC Cursor

Practical demonstration of Virtual PC Cursor usage in Gmail.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed navigating inbox list requires Virtual PC Cursor OFF
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated opening messages with Enter key
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained reading message content requires Virtual PC Cursor ON
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed semicolon key to expand thread conflicted with JAWS when cursor was on
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated G+I shortcut to return to inbox only works with cursor off
  • Siena(She/Her): Provided rule: cursor off for lists, cursor on for reading content
• Conclusion
  • Gmail requires frequent toggling of Virtual PC Cursor
  • Lists and navigation work best with cursor off
  • Reading message content requires cursor on for proper heading navigation

Google Calendar Navigation

Demonstration of calendar grid navigation with Virtual PC Cursor.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed T key navigates to today’s date
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated left/right arrows move between days of week (columns)
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed up/down arrows move between weeks (rows)
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained Virtual PC Cursor ON makes grid navigation confusing
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated entire calendar can be navigated with cursor OFF
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed tabbing through events after selecting a date
• Conclusion
  • Google Calendar works best with Virtual PC Cursor OFF throughout
  • Calendar grid navigation uses arrow keys like a spreadsheet
  • Virtual PC Cursor ON interferes with proper grid navigation

Hidden JAWS Features

Revelation of lesser-known JAWS functions accessed through Insert+Space menu.

• Details
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated Insert+Space+F11 toggles screen shade on/off
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained screen shade saves battery and provides privacy
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+Space+V+B controls audio balance
  • Siena(She/Her): Demonstrated routing JAWS to right ear and system audio to left ear
  • Siena(She/Her): Explained this enables multitasking with separate audio streams
  • Jackie: Confirmed understanding that balance feature is for multitasking
  • Siena(She/Her): Showed Insert+Space+V+C switches between sound cards
  • Jackie: Stated this makes JAWS the best screen reader
  • Siena(She/Her): Called these “Easter egg functions” not widely known
• Conclusion
  • Insert+Space reveals hidden menu with advanced features
  • Audio balance control is unique to JAWS among screen readers
  • Screen shade provides battery savings and privacy benefits

Find Out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza At The Following Link

Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Accessing Techstravaganza Recordings via Email

Siena demonstrated how to access podcast recordings from the email notifications sent to subscribers.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that emails contain a “Read on Blog” link that opens the full post in browser
  • Siena: Explained the play button appears immediately after the title and author information
  • Liz: Asked for clarification on the steps: open email, find “Read on Blog” link, then locate play button
  • Siena: Confirmed the play button becomes a pause button when activated and can also be controlled with two-finger double tap magic tap gesture
• Conclusion
  • Process is: open email, click “Read on Blog” link, navigate past title and author, then activate play button
  • Audio player is intentionally placed at top of posts for easy discovery
  • Two-finger double tap can be used as alternative play/pause control on iOS

Accessing Recordings from Techstravaganza Website

Siena demonstrated navigating the Techstravaganza.ca website to find past tutorials and recordings.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that blog posts are organized by headings for easy navigation
  • Siena: Demonstrated accessing the Tutorials category through the navigation menu or by clicking the “tutorials” link within individual posts
  • Siena: Explained that each post displays author attribution showing who wrote/published it
  • Ali: Clarified that he, Macara, and Siena all have admin rights to post content
  • Siena: Noted that she typically handles reminders while Ali and Macara manage admin updates
• Conclusion
  • Website uses heading structure for accessibility
  • Tutorials can be filtered by category
  • Author information is clearly displayed on all posts
  • Multiple administrators ensure continuity when team members are away

Using Heading Navigation for Accessibility

Liz asked about heading navigation, leading to a tutorial on using VoiceOver rotor for efficient navigation.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked how to skip to next heading on iPhone in emails
  • Siena: Explained using VoiceOver rotor set to headings, then flicking up/down to navigate
  • Liz: Requested confirmation that the “Coming Up” section in reminder emails has a heading tag
  • Siena: Confirmed all major sections have headings including “Join the Workshop” and “Coming Up”
  • Hans: Asked if there’s a way to navigate to specific heading levels like on Windows
  • Ali: Clarified that VoiceOver on iOS and Mac does not support navigating to specific heading levels, only sequential heading navigation
• Conclusion
  • VoiceOver rotor with headings option enabled allows efficient navigation through emails and web pages
  • Reminder emails use heading structure for key sections
  • Unlike Windows screen readers, VoiceOver cannot jump to specific heading levels but announces the level of each heading

Accessing Techstravaganza on Apple Podcasts

Siena demonstrated finding and playing Techstravaganza episodes using the Apple Podcasts app on iPhone.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that search field is located at bottom right in iOS 26
  • Siena: Demonstrated searching for “Techstravaganza” and selecting the show
  • Siena: Explained the “Following” button indicates subscription status
  • Siena: Showed using “See All” under episodes to view complete episode list
  • Siena: Demonstrated that mini player at bottom right contains pause/play controls
• Conclusion
  • Search field location changed to bottom right in iOS 26
  • Following status is clearly indicated
  • Episodes can be played directly from the list
  • Mini player provides quick access to playback controls

Accessing Techstravaganza on iCatcher Podcast App

Ali requested demonstration of iCatcher, leading to a tutorial on using this third-party podcast player.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that search results display a preview option for episodes
  • Ali: Clarified that preview mode plays a sample but doesn’t add to main now playing queue
  • Siena: Demonstrated that accessing episodes from the subscribed podcast list (not search) plays them fully
  • Ali: Explained the distinction between previewing from search versus playing from podcast library
  • Siena: Noted that iCatcher remembers playback position when returning to an episode
• Conclusion
  • Preview feature in search allows sampling before subscribing
  • Full playback requires accessing episodes from the podcast library after subscribing
  • App maintains playback position for resuming later
  • This distinction helps users evaluate podcasts before committing to follow

Accessing Techstravaganza on Audible

Siena demonstrated that Techstravaganza is available on Audible due to distribution through Amazon Music.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed searching for Techstravaganza in Audible app
  • Siena: Demonstrated filtering results by “Podcasts” category
  • Siena: Showed the “Follow” button to subscribe to the podcast
  • Siena: Explained that individual episodes can be downloaded or streamed
  • Rob: Expressed interest in getting Audible subscription
  • Ashlyn: Mentioned getting Audible through Prime Day sale
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza is available on Audible as well as dedicated podcast apps
  • Users can follow the show and download episodes
  • Audible subscription provides access to podcasts in addition to audiobooks
  • Prime Day sales offer discounted subscription rates

Discussion of Audible Features and Subscription

Conversation expanded to general Audible features, pricing, and content beyond just Techstravaganza access.

• Details
  • Rob: Asked about payment methods and confirmed debit cards are accepted
  • Liz: Asked if books must be returned after a period
  • Ali: Clarified that purchased books are owned permanently, only Plus catalog items may be time-limited
  • Siena: Explained users get one credit per month
  • Ashlyn: Mentioned 12-credit annual plan option
  • Ali: Stated preference for monthly credits to avoid spending all at once
  • Jackie: Asked about InnoSearch moving to donation model
  • Multiple participants: Discussed Audible badges feature and Night Owl badge for listening late at night
• Conclusion
  • Audible accepts debit card payments
  • Purchased audiobooks are owned permanently
  • Monthly subscription includes one credit
  • Annual plans offer 12 credits upfront
  • Audible has expanded beyond audiobooks to include podcasts, originals, and Great Courses
  • Gamification features like badges encourage engagement

Upcoming Techstravaganza Schedule

Discussion of upcoming workshop topics and schedule adjustments.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced Techstravaganza 2.0 on Thursday, March 12th covering JAWS Basics
  • Siena: Confirmed March 18th workshop will cover YouTube Premium and YouTube Music
  • Ali: Mentioned April 29th will feature navigating threaded view in Mail app as requested by Liz
  • Siena: Noted April 22nd will cover Scribe Me
  • Ashlyn: Asked about DocuScan Plus
  • Siena: Confirmed DocuScan Plus is also scheduled
  • Ali: Clarified that Apple Music Part 2 will be rescheduled to May 6th
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza 2.0 returns Thursday March 12th, 7-9 PM Eastern
  • March 18th: YouTube Premium/YouTube Music
  • April 22nd: Scribe Me
  • April 29th: Threaded view in Mail app
  • May 6th: Apple Music Part 2
  • DocuScan Plus also scheduled for future session

Request for Cable and Device Organization Tutorial

Liz requested a future tutorial on organizing charging cables and devices.

• Details
  • Liz: Described her challenge with managing approximately 10 different charging cables for various devices
  • Liz: Mentioned her previous system using a card table with power cord in center and cables arranged like a starfish
  • Ali: Suggested Siena as the expert for this topic
  • Siena: Agreed to demonstrate her organization methods in a future session
  • Rob: Mentioned keeping cables on piano desk
• Conclusion
  • Topic added to future Techstravaganza schedule
  • Siena will lead the tutorial on cable and device organization
  • Session will cover practical strategies for managing multiple charging cables and power accessories

Books Panel Discussion

Conversation about the Books Panel podcast and upcoming book selection.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked about timing of Books Panel
  • Siena: Explained it meets last Friday of each month at 7:30 PM
  • Siena: Confirmed March 27th is next session
  • Siena: Listed panelists: herself, Ali, Ashlyn, Macara, Lynn Kennedy, and new member Paul Daniel
  • Liz: Expressed interest but noted already in two book groups
  • Ali: Encouraged listening to podcast recordings even without live participation
  • Ashlyn: Asked about current book selection
  • Siena and Ali: Confirmed reading “Theo of Golden”
  • Ashlyn: Noted it’s 13 hours 12 minutes long
  • Multiple participants: Discussed Audible badges and reading habits
• Conclusion
  • Books Panel meets monthly on last Friday at 7:30 PM Eastern
  • Next session March 27th discussing “Theo of Golden”
  • Podcast is available at bookspanel.ca
  • Recordings available for those who cannot attend live
  • Part of Moosa Slobodian Network

Media Industry Changes and Streaming Services

Broad discussion about changes in Canadian broadcasting and streaming landscape.

• Details
  • Jackie: Mentioned Family Channel shutdown and CTV app discontinuation
  • Rob: Noted CTV content moving to Crave
  • Ali: Explained that multiple streaming services increase costs for consumers compared to traditional cable
  • Ali: Listed his subscriptions: Audible, YouTube Premium, SiriusXM, iCloud Plus, Google Workspace, Zoom Pro
  • Hans: Asked about Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy
  • Multiple participants: Discussed AMI downsizing due to CRTC license renewal uncertainty
  • Ali: Explained private broadcasters rely on advertising revenue
  • Rob: Mentioned free services like Pluto TV and LibriVox
• Conclusion
  • Canadian media landscape experiencing significant consolidation
  • Streaming fragmentation increases consumer costs
  • AMI scaled back programming due to funding uncertainty
  • Traditional broadcasters struggling with changing revenue models
  • Multiple subscription services now required to access desired content

Check Out What’s Coming Up On Future Workshops at the Following Link

Updated as of Mar 10, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Discussed topics

Google Tasks overview and accessibility

The session began with an introduction to Google Tasks as a cross-platform task management tool.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that Google Tasks works on web, iPhone, and Android platforms
  • Siena: Demonstrated that the web version is accessible at tasks.google.com
  • Siena: Noted that when using JAWS screen reader, users need to turn off Virtual PC cursor to access keyboard shortcuts
• Conclusion
  • Google Tasks provides a consistent experience across different devices
  • Screen reader users can effectively navigate the interface with proper settings

Keyboard shortcuts

A comprehensive review of keyboard shortcuts available in Google Tasks was provided.

• Details
  • Siena: Pressed Shift+/ (question mark) to display the keyboard shortcuts dialog
  • Siena: Reviewed navigation shortcuts: up/down arrows to move between tasks, Home to focus first task, End to focus last task
  • Siena: Covered task actions: C to create, Space to mark complete/incomplete, Enter to edit, Delete/Backspace to remove
  • Siena: Explained list management shortcuts: L to create a new list, left arrow to focus on lists, right arrow to focus on tasks within a list
  • Ali: Noted that Mac shortcuts differ slightly, with Command replacing Ctrl in most cases
• Conclusion
  • Extensive keyboard shortcuts make Google Tasks efficient for keyboard-only users
  • Shortcuts are organized into categories: Navigation, Task Actions, Editing Tasks, List Actions, and Application

Creating and managing tasks

The session demonstrated how to create and manage tasks with various options.

• Details
  • Siena: Created a task titled “Transfer Techstravaganza topics from reminders to Google tasks”
  • Siena: Showed how to set dates using the date picker or by typing directly
  • Siena: Demonstrated setting times in half-hour increments
  • Siena: Created recurring tasks in the “Medicine” list for “Take my drops” and “Take my puffer”
  • Ali: Helped troubleshoot task creation when Siena encountered issues
• Conclusion
  • Tasks can be created with the C shortcut or Add Task button
  • Date and time settings are flexible with multiple input methods
  • Tasks can be assigned to specific lists for organization

Recurrence options

The session explored setting up recurring tasks with various frequency options.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated setting daily recurrence for medication tasks
  • Siena: Explored custom recurrence options including intervals (every X days/weeks/months/years)
  • Siena: Noted that unlike Apple Reminders, Google Tasks doesn’t appear to support patterns like “first Thursday of the month”
  • Ali: Acknowledged that Apple Reminders offers more flexibility for recurrence patterns
• Conclusion
  • Google Tasks supports basic recurrence patterns (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)
  • Custom recurrence allows for interval-based scheduling
  • Some advanced recurrence patterns are not available

Subtasks and task organization

The session demonstrated creating and managing subtasks and organizing tasks.

• Details
  • Siena: Added subtasks to the “Transfer Techstravaganza topics” task
  • Siena: Created subtasks for “Download the separate tracks for each participant” and “Create a folder in recordings/originals with today’s date”
  • Siena: Demonstrated reordering subtasks using Ctrl+Down arrow
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate between main tasks and subtasks
• Conclusion
  • Subtasks can be added through the task options menu or with Ctrl+Alt+Enter
  • Tasks and subtasks can be reordered using keyboard shortcuts
  • Subtasks help organize complex tasks into manageable components

List management

The session covered creating and managing task lists.

• Details
  • Siena: Created a “Medicine” list for medication-related tasks
  • Ali: Created a “Techstravaganza afternoons” list
  • Siena: Explored list options including sorting, renaming, deleting, and printing
  • Siena: Noted that old Google Keep reminders had been migrated to a special list in Google Tasks
• Conclusion
  • Multiple lists help organize different categories of tasks
  • Lists can be managed with various sorting and organization options
  • No option was found to share lists with other users

Check Out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza at the Following Link

(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Discussed topics

Configuring email accounts in Outlook on iPhone

Siena demonstrated the process of adding email accounts to the Outlook app on iPhone.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to add an iCloud email account to Outlook, which required two-factor authentication
  • Ali: Suggested using the Braille keyboard when Siena encountered difficulties with verification code entry
  • Ashlyn: Noted when the app bumped Siena out during the authentication process
  • Siena: Successfully added the iCloud account after disabling braille screen input, which was causing issues
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding a Gmail account, which also required authentication through the Gmail app
• Conclusion
  • Different email providers have slightly different authentication processes
  • Two-factor authentication is required for security purposes
  • Braille screen input can sometimes interfere with the verification code entry process

Attaching files to emails using copy-paste method

Siena demonstrated a technique for attaching files to emails by copying them from the file manager and pasting them directly into the email body.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated the technique on iPhone using both Outlook and Mail apps
  • Ali: Explained this method allows attaching multiple files at once
  • Jeroo: Asked if using the share button would work instead
  • Ali: Clarified that share only works for one file at a time
  • Siena: Demonstrated the same technique on Mac using Mail and Gmail
  • Siena: Also showed the technique working on Windows PC using Gmail
  • Hans: Asked about finding the attach button in the Mail app interface
  • Siena: Explored the interface but noted VoiceOver doesn’t consistently identify the attach button
• Conclusion
  • Copy-paste method works across platforms (iPhone, Mac, Windows)
  • This technique allows attaching multiple files simultaneously
  • The method is more efficient than using traditional attachment buttons
  • The technique works in various email clients including Outlook, Mail app, and Gmail

Cloud storage options

Discussion about different cloud storage services and their accessibility with screen readers.

• Details
  • Hans: Mentioned many in the blind community use Dropbox but noted its 2GB free storage limitation
  • Siena: Shared that Google Drive works well with screen readers on Windows
  • Ali: Expressed preference for Google products and services
  • Hans: Noted that Google offers 15GB free storage combined across Drive, Photos, and Gmail
  • Siena: Mentioned that Google Drive can be accessed via File Explorer like Dropbox
  • Hans: Shared that he uses pCloud but finds its web interface challenging with JAWS
• Conclusion
  • Google Drive is screen reader friendly and offers more free storage than Dropbox
  • Cloud storage provides access to files across multiple devices
  • Different services have varying costs and accessibility features
  • File Explorer/Finder integration is an important feature for accessibility

Downloading multiple attachments

Hans asked about downloading multiple attachments from emails on mobile devices.

• Details
  • Hans: Asked if there’s a way to save multiple attachments at once on iPhone, similar to “save all attachments” in desktop email clients
  • Siena: Confirmed there’s no “save all” option in the Mail app on iPhone
  • Siena: Suggested downloading attachments on a computer first, saving them to cloud storage, then accessing them from the phone
• Conclusion
  • Mobile email apps generally don’t have a “save all attachments” feature
  • Using a computer to download attachments and then accessing via cloud storage is a workaround

Check out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza at the Following Link

(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Check out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0 at the Following Link

What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Discussed topics

Outlook for iOS email functionality

Amanda demonstrated the basic features of the Outlook app on iOS, showing how to navigate through emails and use various functions.

• Details
  • Amanda: Showed how to navigate through emails, access message actions, reply to emails, and compose new messages
  • Palmer: Demonstrated a workaround for issues with the reply function, noting that using the message actions button works better than the standard reply button
  • Ali: Asked for clarification on the message actions feature
  • Liz: Requested that Amanda wait until VoiceOver stops talking before speaking to avoid confusion
• Conclusion
  • The message actions button provides access to reply, forward, delete, and other email functions
  • The Outlook app interface is generally accessible with VoiceOver but has some navigation quirks

Copilot feature in Outlook

The group attempted to test the “Draft with Copilot” AI feature in Outlook but encountered difficulties.

• Details
  • Amanda: Attempted to demonstrate the Copilot feature but couldn’t get it to work properly
  • Palmer: Tried to help troubleshoot the feature, suggesting it might be a bug
  • Jeroo: Asked what the Copilot feature was supposed to do
  • Palmer: Explained it was likely meant to help draft emails using AI
• Conclusion
  • The Copilot feature appeared to have bugs or wasn’t functioning correctly
  • The group couldn’t successfully demonstrate how it works

Outlook Calendar functionality

Palmer demonstrated how to use the calendar feature in the Outlook app.

• Details
  • Palmer: Showed how to navigate the calendar interface, create new events, add attendees, set times, and configure recurring events
  • Palmer: Demonstrated how to add Teams meeting links to calendar events
  • Palmer: Explained how to add descriptions and attachments to calendar events
• Conclusion
  • The Outlook calendar is accessible with VoiceOver and offers comprehensive event management features
  • The calendar integrates well with Teams for virtual meetings

Microsoft 365 subscription discussion

The group discussed whether a Microsoft 365 subscription is necessary for using Outlook.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked if Amanda and Palmer were subscribed to Microsoft 365
  • Amanda: Confirmed she has a subscription and uses Word on her phone for reading documents
  • Palmer: Mentioned he only uses Outlook and Teams on his phone
  • Siena: Stated she doesn’t subscribe to 365
  • Ali: Mentioned he prefers Google’s productivity suite
• Conclusion
  • Some participants use Microsoft 365 subscription services while others prefer alternatives
  • Palmer subscribed because he received an email saying he had to, though he wasn’t sure if it was actually required

Managing important emails

Liz asked about how to keep important emails easily accessible.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked how to “pin” important emails at the top of her inbox
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to flag emails, which places them in a special “flagged” folder
  • Palmer: Suggested archiving important emails as another approach
  • Siena: Showed that flagged emails remain in the inbox but also appear in the flagged folder
• Conclusion
  • Flagging emails is the best way to keep important messages easily accessible
  • The flagged folder automatically appears once you flag your first message

Managing draft emails

Liz asked about managing draft emails that were accumulating in her account.

• Details
  • Liz: Mentioned having 540 drafts that she never intentionally created
  • Siena: Suggested it might be related to dictating emails with Siri
  • Palmer: Recommended checking different email accounts for drafts
• Conclusion
  • Drafts can be automatically created when using Siri or when messages don’t send properly
  • The group couldn’t determine exactly why so many drafts were accumulating

Managing junk email

Jeroo asked about automatically deleting junk emails.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Asked how to set up automatic deletion of junk emails on a weekly basis
  • Siena: Found information suggesting iOS mail doesn’t have an automatic feature for this
  • Ali: Explained how mail apps download messages in batches, which can make it seem like deleted messages return
  • Jeroo: Mentioned she was waiting to see if messages would be automatically deleted after 30 days
• Conclusion
  • iOS mail doesn’t have a built-in feature to automatically delete junk mail on a schedule
  • Messages may be automatically deleted after 30 days
  • Manually selecting and deleting junk mail is currently the main option

Email spam and scams

The group discussed spam emails, how they work, and how to avoid them.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Mentioned receiving numerous spam emails daily despite not visiting many websites
  • Ali: Explained that spam is generated by software that randomly targets email addresses
  • Liz: Noted that companies sometimes sell customer email lists
  • Rob: Shared examples of scam emails he had received
  • Siena: Mentioned she was arranging for a police constable to speak about fraud prevention at a CCB meeting
• Conclusion
  • Clicking “unsubscribe” on spam emails often confirms your address is active and leads to more spam
  • Spam is typically generated by automated software rather than individuals
  • Several YouTube channels (Kit Boga, Jim Browning, Scammer Revolts) focus on exposing scammers

Check out What’s Coming Up on Future Techstravaganza Workshops at the Following Link

(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Find out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0 at the Following Link

What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Discussed topics

JAWS Basics Introduction

Siena introduced JAWS (Job Access with Speech), a screen reader developed by Freedom Scientific (now Vespero).

• Details
  • Siena: Shared the history of JAWS, mentioning it was originally developed in the late 80s/early 90s by Hunter Joyce
  • Siena: Recalled her personal experience using JAWS 3.7 on Windows 98 during her school years
  • Ali: Mentioned his first computer experience was with Windows XP in 2005
  • Jackie: Shared that her first Windows experience was with Windows 95, then she skipped to Windows Millennium
• Conclusion
  • JAWS has evolved significantly since its early versions
  • Participants shared nostalgic memories of early Windows and screen reader experiences

Desktop Navigation with JAWS

Siena demonstrated various methods to navigate the desktop using JAWS.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to access the desktop using Windows+M or Windows+D
  • Siena: Demonstrated arrow key navigation through desktop icons
  • Siena: Explained first-letter navigation (pressing a letter to jump to icons starting with that letter)
  • Siena: Showed how to type multiple letters quickly to navigate to specific applications
• Conclusion
  • Three main methods for desktop navigation were presented:
    1. Arrow keys to move between icons
    2. First letter navigation to jump to applications starting with that letter
    3. Typing multiple letters quickly to navigate to specific applications

Virtual PC Cursor and JAWS Cursor

Siena explained the different cursor modes in JAWS and their functions.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated the Virtual PC cursor for web navigation
  • Siena: Explained that Insert+Z toggles the Virtual PC cursor on/off
  • Siena: Showed how the JAWS cursor allows reading letter by letter in areas where normal navigation isn’t possible
  • Siena: Demonstrated using NumPad minus to route JAWS to PC and NumPad plus to return to Virtual PC cursor
• Conclusion
  • Virtual PC cursor is essential for web browsing and document navigation
  • Toggling between cursor modes is necessary for different tasks
  • The JAWS cursor provides additional reading capabilities in specific contexts

Web Browsing with JAWS

Siena demonstrated web navigation techniques using JAWS on various websites.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate by headings using H and Shift+H
  • Siena: Demonstrated using Insert+F7 to bring up a list of links
  • Siena: Explained that Alt+M moves to a link without activating it
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate through links using arrow keys
  • Siena: Demonstrated turning Virtual PC cursor off to use website-specific keyboard shortcuts
• Conclusion
  • Headings are important landmarks for efficient web navigation
  • JAWS provides multiple methods to navigate links and web content
  • Virtual PC cursor must be turned off to use website-specific keyboard shortcuts without conflicts

DocuScan Plus Overview

Siena briefly demonstrated DocuScan Plus, a document scanning and reading application.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed DocuScan Plus in both self-voicing mode and with JAWS
  • Jackie: Asked what DocuScan Plus is used for and if it requires a scanner
  • Ali: Expressed interest in the program for future use
  • Siena: Explained it’s a lower-cost alternative to Kurzweil for OCR (optical character recognition)
  • Siena: Clarified that it works without a scanner and can be used on both PC and Mac
• Conclusion
  • DocuScan Plus is useful for making inaccessible documents (like PDFs) accessible
  • It can be used with or without a physical scanner
  • The group agreed to schedule a dedicated tutorial on DocuScan Plus

Check out the Agenda for the Next Couple Techstravaganza 2.0 Sessions at the Following Link

What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza 2.0

Find the Schedule for the Regular Weekly Techstravaganza Workshops at the Following Link

(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Discussed topics

VoiceOver rotor basics

Siena provided a comprehensive overview of the rotor functionality in VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the rotor allows users to read by character, word, headings, and perform other functions
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to access the rotor by placing thumb and index finger on the screen and rotating as if turning a dial
  • Siena: Showed that users can navigate through rotor items by rotating clockwise or counterclockwise
  • Rob: Asked about keyboard users accessing the rotor
  • Siena: Explained that keyboard users can use up arrow with left arrow to go counterclockwise and up arrow with right arrow to go clockwise
• Conclusion
  • The rotor is a fundamental navigation tool for VoiceOver users
  • The gesture mimics turning a physical dial, rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise
  • Keyboard users can access rotor functions using arrow key combinations

Rotor items and functions

Siena demonstrated various items available in the rotor and their functions.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed characters, words, lines options for reading text at different levels
  • Siena: Demonstrated text selection options (character, word, line, page selection)
  • Siena: Explained hints feature that provides context-sensitive help for controls
  • Siena: Showed the actions menu that allows performing operations on selected items
  • Siena: Demonstrated braille screen input for typing in braille on the touchscreen
  • Siena: Explained containers for navigating between sections, especially useful on iPad
  • Siena: Showed headings navigation for web browsing
  • Siena: Demonstrated voice selection for switching between different language voices
• Conclusion
  • The rotor contains numerous navigation and interaction options
  • Different rotor items appear contextually based on the current screen or app
  • The actions menu provides quick access to common operations without needing to use gestures like long press

VoiceOver activities

Siena explained how activities in VoiceOver allow for preset configurations.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated how activities allow users to switch between different VoiceOver presets
  • Siena: Explained her personal activities including reading (slower speech), editing (includes punctuation), tutorials (slower speech, some sounds disabled), and gaming (faster speech, sounds disabled)
  • Siena: Showed how to switch between activities using the rotor
• Conclusion
  • Activities provide quick access to different VoiceOver configurations
  • Users can create custom activities for specific use cases
  • Activities can adjust speech rate, punctuation level, and sound settings

Customizing the rotor

Siena demonstrated how to add or remove items from the rotor.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to access VoiceOver settings to customize the rotor
  • Siena: Navigated to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor > Rotor Items
  • Siena: Demonstrated selecting and deselecting items to include in the rotor
  • Siena: Explained that some items like “Actions” are always available and cannot be removed
  • Liz: Asked specifically about adding text selection and actions to her rotor
  • Siena: Confirmed text selection can be added, while actions is available by default
• Conclusion
  • The rotor is highly customizable to suit individual needs
  • Users can add or remove items through VoiceOver settings
  • Some items are context-sensitive and only appear in certain apps or situations

Practical demonstration with Mail app

Siena demonstrated practical applications of the rotor in the Mail app.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to use the actions menu to delete, flag, or mark emails as read
  • Siena: Demonstrated text selection in email messages
  • Siena: Showed how to read an email by character, word, and line
  • Liz: Asked how to spell an author’s name from an email
  • Siena: Demonstrated using words in the rotor to navigate to the name, then characters to spell it out letter by letter
• Conclusion
  • The rotor provides efficient ways to interact with emails
  • Character-by-character navigation helps with spelling unfamiliar names or words
  • The actions menu simplifies common email operations

Upcoming Techstravaganza sessions

Discussion about future Techstravaganza workshops.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced another Techstravaganza session on February 12th focusing on JAWS basics
  • Siena: Mentioned that topics are lined up through the end of March
  • Jackie: Suggested FaceTime as a future tutorial topic
  • Siena: Confirmed they haven’t covered FaceTime yet and would add it to the list
• Conclusion
  • A JAWS basics workshop will be held on February 12th from 7-9 PM Eastern
  • Participant suggestions help drive future Techstravaganza topics
  • FaceTime will be added as a future tutorial topic

Text-to-speech voices and technology

A side discussion about various text-to-speech voices and technologies.

• Details
  • Rob: Mentioned using Siri voice for VoiceOver
  • Siena: Discussed using Eloquence voice on her devices
  • Rob: Shared that Susan Bennett is the original voice of Siri
  • Rob: Mentioned differences between RealSpeak Solo and Vocalizer voices
  • Siena: Noted that Vocalizer is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• Conclusion
  • Various voice options are available across different platforms
  • Users have personal preferences for different synthetic voices
  • Some voices are available across multiple platforms and screen readers

Check out the List of Future Techstravaganza Topics at the Following Link

(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Discussed topics

Mac Finder introduction and basics

Siena provided an overview of the Finder application on Mac computers.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that Finder is where all file management lives, comparable to the Files app in iOS
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to access Finder using Command-Tab
  • Liz: Asked about creating files on iPad and where they would be stored
  • Siena: Clarified that iPad uses the Files app rather than Finder, and files created in Pages would typically save to iCloud Drive
• Conclusion
  • Finder is the central file management system on Mac
  • The equivalent on iOS/iPadOS is the Files app
  • Files can be accessed across devices when stored in iCloud Drive

Finder keyboard shortcuts

Siena walked through various keyboard shortcuts available in the Finder.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated accessing the menu with VO+M
  • Siena: Covered file operations shortcuts including:
    • Command-F for search
    • Command-N for new Finder window
    • Command-Shift-N for new folder
    • Command-Control-N for new folder with selection
    • Command-O to open files
    • Command-W to close windows
    • Command-I for file info
    • Command-D to duplicate files
  • Siena: Explained navigation shortcuts including:
    • Command-Left bracket to go back
    • Command-Right bracket to go forward
    • Command-Up arrow to go to enclosing folder
    • Command-Shift-F for Recents
    • Command-Shift-O for Documents
    • Command-Shift-D for Desktop
    • Command-Option-L for Downloads
    • Command-Shift-H for Home
    • Command-Shift-C for Computer
• Conclusion
  • Mac offers numerous keyboard shortcuts for efficient Finder navigation
  • VoiceOver users can benefit from list view (Command-2) for easier navigation

File compression and zip files

Siena demonstrated how to compress and decompress files using the Mac’s built-in zip functionality.

• Details
  • Roueida: Asked how file compression works and if it removes content
  • Siena: Explained that compression packages files into a smaller size without removing content
  • Siena: Demonstrated downloading a zip file (OSARA extension) and decompressing it
  • Siena: Showed how to compress a folder of music files using Control-Option-Shift-M to access the context menu
  • Palmer: Asked for clarification about the compression/decompression process
  • Siena: Noted that compression results vary depending on file types
• Conclusion
  • Zip files are useful for sharing multiple files at once or reducing file size
  • The Mac has built-in utilities for compressing and decompressing files
  • Compression doesn’t remove content but packages it more efficiently

Google Drive for cross-platform use

Discussion about using Google Drive for working across Mac and PC platforms.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked if Google Drive can be used in the Finder
  • Siena: Confirmed it works well and recommended it for users working across platforms
  • Palmer: Asked about downloading Google Drive and how files sync between devices
  • Ali: Discussed his workflow with Audio Hijack recordings and Reaper
  • Siena: Explained how Google Drive allows starting work on one computer and finishing on another
• Conclusion
  • Google Drive is recommended for users working across Mac and PC platforms
  • The Google Drive app makes files accessible through Finder/File Explorer
  • There’s a slight delay when syncing files between devices

Customizing the dock

Siena demonstrated how to add items to the dock and rearrange them.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to add an application to the dock using Control-Command-Shift-T
  • Siena: Demonstrated using sticky keys to make complex keyboard shortcuts easier
  • Palmer: Asked about the Brave Browser that Siena was adding to the dock
  • Siena: Explained how to move items on the dock using Option+Left/Right Arrow
  • Siena: Showed how to remove items from the dock using the context menu (Control-Option-Shift-M)
• Conclusion
  • Items can be added to the dock with Control-Command-Shift-T
  • Sticky keys can help with complex keyboard shortcuts
  • Items can be rearranged on the dock using Option+Arrow keys
  • Items can be removed from the dock through the context menu

Zoom AI note-taking feature

Brief discussion about the AI feature in Zoom that was active during the meeting.

• Details
  • Roueida: Asked about the “AI is active” notification on her screen
  • Siena: Explained that AI is taking notes during the session
  • Roueida: Asked if it’s possible to turn it off and if it shares content elsewhere
  • Siena: Clarified that the notes only go to hosts and co-hosts
  • Ivy: Asked if anyone can turn on AI and record
  • Ali: Confirmed only hosts and co-hosts have those privileges
• Conclusion
  • Zoom’s AI feature takes notes during meetings
  • Only hosts and co-hosts can access these notes
  • The feature doesn’t share content outside the meeting

Mac vs PC discussion

Participants shared their experiences and preferences regarding Mac and PC systems.

• Details
  • Ali: Mentioned he likes both operating systems but prefers certain aspects of each
  • Siena: Discussed using both platforms and their respective strengths
  • Ali: Noted that Windows screen readers handle text editing better than VoiceOver
  • Palmer: Discussed his experience with laptops and considering a new Mac purchase
  • Ali: Shared his preference for full-size keyboards with numpads for screen reader commands
• Conclusion
  • Both platforms have strengths and weaknesses for accessibility
  • Personal preference plays a significant role in platform choice
  • Hardware considerations (like keyboard preferences) affect user experience

Listen to the Episode of The Ali and Macara Show with Jack Falejczyk at the Following Link

https://thealiandmacarashow.ca/2026/01/23/what-direction-is-voiceover-on-the-mac-heading-in-with-jack-falejczyk-friday-jan-23-2026/

Check Out the Schedule for Upcoming Techstravaganza Workshops at The Following Link

(altered), Updated as of Feb 2, 2026, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578990010675

Follow the Show:

Tunein: http://tun.in/pxXlj

On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On Audible: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/techstravaganza/id1846930800

On iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-techstravaganza-301161434/

On Spotify: https://spotify.link/vVGru9nKBXb

Apple Music Interface Navigation

The session began with Siena demonstrating how to navigate the Apple Music interface using VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to search for songs using the search field at the bottom of the screen
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate through search results and access additional options through the “More” menu
  • Ali: Assisted with explaining interface elements and navigation techniques
  • Liz: Asked about the difference between iPad and iPhone interfaces
  • Siena: Explained that iPad uses a sidebar navigation that isn’t present on iPhone
• Conclusion
  • The search field in Apple Music is located at the bottom of the screen
  • VoiceOver users can access additional options by swiping up or down when focused on a song

Technical Issues with Audio Playback

There were technical difficulties playing Apple Music audio through the screen sharing feature.

• Details
  • Siena: Attempted to play “Everybody Plays The Fool” by Aaron Neville but the audio wouldn’t come through the screen share
  • Ali: Suggested focusing on demonstrating the interface rather than troubleshooting the audio issues
  • Siena: Tried alternative methods to share audio but was unsuccessful
• Conclusion
  • Apple Music doesn’t allow audio playback through screen sharing
  • The workshop continued with a focus on interface navigation rather than audio demonstration

Creating and Managing Playlists

Siena demonstrated how to create playlists and add songs to them.

• Details
  • Siena: Created a new playlist called “Siena’s favorite 60s songs”
  • Siena: Showed how to search for songs and add them to the playlist
  • Siena: Added “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan, “Turn Turn Turn” by The Birds, and “Good Morning Starshine” by Oliver
  • Liz: Asked about reordering songs within a playlist
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to access the edit function through the “More” menu and reorder songs
• Conclusion
  • Creating playlists requires navigating to the library tab and selecting the playlist option
  • Songs can be added to playlists from search results using the “More” menu
  • Reordering songs requires accessing the edit function through the “More” menu, then using swipe gestures to move songs up or down

Searching Within Your Library vs. Apple Music Catalog

Discussion about how to search specifically within your own library rather than the entire Apple Music catalog.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked how to search only within her library rather than all of Apple Music
  • Siena: Demonstrated that users need to go to the library tab first, then select a category (songs, artists, or albums), then use the search field that appears
  • Liz: Noted that she preferred searching just her library to avoid getting multiple versions of songs
• Conclusion
  • To search within your library: go to Library tab > select category (Songs, Artists, Albums) > use search field
  • The main search tab searches the entire Apple Music catalog
  • You can tell if a song is in your library by checking the available actions (it will show “Delete from library” instead of “Add to library”)

Apple Music vs. YouTube Premium

Discussion comparing Apple Music to YouTube Premium and which service offers better value.

• Details
  • Ali: Questioned why he should keep paying for Apple Music when he already has YouTube Premium which includes YouTube Music
  • Siena: Mentioned Apple Music has features like crossfade and better Siri integration
  • Ali: Noted he doesn’t use Siri and finds YouTube Premium more valuable overall
  • Ivy: Requested a future tutorial on YouTube Premium to help decide if it’s worth subscribing
• Conclusion
  • YouTube Premium offers more features that most users would benefit from (ad-free videos, background play)
  • Apple Music has specific features like crossfade that might appeal to DJs or music enthusiasts
  • Personal preference and specific use cases determine which service provides better value

iTunes Library Migration

Discussion about what happened to iTunes purchases after the transition to Apple Music.

• Details
  • Ivy: Asked what happened to songs purchased through iTunes now that iTunes no longer exists
  • Ali: Explained that purchased songs remain in the user’s library regardless of Apple Music subscription
  • Geoff: Shared that he had to unhide his purchases as they were hidden during the transition
• Conclusion
  • iTunes purchases are still accessible in the Apple Music app
  • Some users may need to unhide purchases that were hidden during the transition
  • The music library combines both purchased songs and Apple Music content

Radio Stations in Apple Music

Brief discussion about accessing radio stations through Apple Music and geographical restrictions.

• Details
  • Ivy: Asked about radio features in Apple Music
  • Geoff: Mentioned that voice commands can be used to play specific radio stations
  • Hans: Noted that some stations are geo-restricted based on country
  • Baxter8686: Shared that they listen to BBC Radio 4 and other international stations through Google Home
• Conclusion
  • Apple Music includes radio station access
  • Many radio stations are geo-restricted due to streaming licenses
  • Alternative methods like using smart speakers may provide access to international stations

Find out What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza in February at the Following Link

(corrected), Updated, What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza for January and February 2026

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