Category: Tutorials

Gmail keyboard shortcuts and navigation

Siena demonstrated how to access and use keyboard shortcuts in Gmail on the web.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to access keyboard shortcuts by pressing question mark (shift+slash)
  • Siena: Explained that keyboard shortcuts work differently on PC and Mac – on PC use Control instead of Command
  • Siena: Demonstrated navigation shortcuts including G+I (go to inbox), G+T (go to sent messages)
  • Hans: Asked for clarification about using star+A to select all conversations
  • Siena: Clarified that you press the keys sequentially, not simultaneously
  • Palmer: Asked about using delete key vs. # (number sign) for deleting messages
  • Siena: Showed that Gmail uses # for deletion rather than the delete key
• Conclusion
  • Keyboard shortcuts make Gmail navigation more efficient
  • Users can always access the shortcuts list by pressing ? (question mark)
  • Most common shortcuts: C (compose), R (reply), A (reply all), F (forward), # (delete)

Virtual PC cursor in Windows screen readers

Siena explained the importance of toggling the virtual PC cursor when using JAWS with Gmail.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated using Insert+Z to toggle virtual PC cursor on/off in JAWS
  • Siena: Explained that virtual cursor needs to be off when navigating message lists and using keyboard shortcuts
  • Siena: Showed that virtual cursor needs to be on when reading message content
  • Jackie: Asked for clarification about constantly toggling the virtual PC cursor
  • Siena: Confirmed this is necessary as JAWS can interpret Gmail shortcuts as JAWS commands when virtual cursor is on
• Conclusion
  • Windows screen reader users need to toggle virtual PC cursor on/off frequently
  • Virtual cursor off: for navigating message lists and using Gmail shortcuts
  • Virtual cursor on: for reading message content
  • Mac VoiceOver users don’t need to worry about this as it’s handled natively

Reading and managing email threads

Siena demonstrated how to navigate through email threads and perform actions on messages.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to open conversations with Enter or O key
  • Siena: Demonstrated using semicolon to expand threads and colon to collapse them
  • Siena: Showed using N to move to next message and P to move to previous message in a thread
  • Ali: Asked if P and N move between messages in a thread
  • Siena: Confirmed and demonstrated this functionality
  • Siena: Showed how to delete entire threads with # (Shift+3)
• Conclusion
  • N and P keys navigate between messages in a thread
  • Semicolon expands threads, colon collapses them
  • (Shift+3) deletes messages or entire threads
  • Users can select multiple messages with X key before deleting

Composing emails

Siena demonstrated how to compose new emails and use various composition features.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed using C to compose or D to compose in a new tab
  • Ali: Noted that Shift+C also works for composing
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding recipients, subject, and message body
  • Siena: Showed additional options like attaching files, inserting emojis, and scheduling sends
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding CC/BCC recipients with Command/Ctrl+Shift+C and Command/Ctrl+Shift+B
  • Siena: Showed sending a message with Command/Ctrl+Enter
• Conclusion
  • C, D, or Shift+C can be used to compose new messages
  • Command/Ctrl+Enter sends the composed message
  • Gmail offers many composition features accessible via keyboard shortcuts

Mac vs. Windows differences

Discussion about the differences between using Gmail on Mac and Windows.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that Mac uses Command key where Windows uses Control key
  • Siena: Noted that Mac VoiceOver handles navigation natively without toggling virtual cursor
  • Palmer: Asked if Gmail web navigation is similar between Mac and Windows
  • Siena: Confirmed the shortcuts are the same, with the main difference being Command vs. Control
• Conclusion
  • Gmail keyboard shortcuts are consistent across platforms with Command/Control key difference
  • Mac users have a smoother experience without needing to toggle virtual cursor
  • Web interface is consistent across platforms

Apple Mail app issues

Discussion about issues with the Apple Mail app.

• Details
  • Palmer: Described how Apple Mail organizes messages by letter rather than date
  • Palmer: Explained issues with the archive folder behavior
  • Liz: Asked about dealing with 570 draft emails that were created automatically
  • Siena: Explained that Mail app saves drafts automatically when composing is interrupted
  • Siena: Suggested manually selecting and deleting drafts
• Conclusion
  • Apple Mail has some organizational quirks compared to Gmail
  • The app automatically creates drafts even for incomplete compositions
  • There’s no easy way to bulk delete drafts in the native Mail app

Coming Up Next Week

Join us for changing Voiceover pronounciations on Dec, 3. Also, check out the rest of the December lineup at the following link.

(Updated), What’s Coming Up on Techstravaganza for November and December 2025

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macOS Phone App Demonstration

Siena demonstrated the new Phone app in macOS, explaining its functionality as a secondary phone interface that works across iPhone, iPad, and Mac when devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi and iCloud account. The app allows users to make calls, send messages, and access call history, with Liz inquiring about its availability on iPad, which Siena confirmed. The discussion included practical uses of the app, such as making calls when the phone is charging or left in another room, and participants shared personal experiences about where they keep their phones at home.

Mac Phone Call and Notifications

Siena and Ali demonstrated how to make and end phone calls on a Mac using the phone app and Notification Center, including navigating call history and ending calls. They discussed the differences between full screen and banner modes for notifications, and Ali mentioned exploring the option to change the notification style on the Mac. John joined the conversation briefly to clarify that the notification banner on the Mac looks similar to iOS’s floating window.

Mac Notification Management Tutorial

Siena and Ali explored how to manage and interact with phone notifications on a Mac, including changing alert styles to persistent banners and adjusting notification settings for specific applications. They tested answering a FaceTime call through the Mac’s Notification Center, noting some initial confusion with the labeling but successfully completing the task. Both participants acknowledged this as a learning experience, as Siena had never used a Mac to make or answer calls before.

MacOS 2026 Phone Call Features

Siena demonstrated how to answer phone calls on a Mac using macOS 2026’s new notification center feature, which treats phone calls as FaceTime calls. She showed that calls can be answered through the notification center even when the phone app is closed, though the phone app must be open to end calls. Siena also briefly mentioned a new feature in macOS 2026 that provides message and email summaries, though she didn’t demonstrate this functionality.

Mail App VoiceOver Features Update

Siena demonstrated the new Mail app features on Mac, including how to navigate between mailboxes and messages using VoiceOver commands, and showed the AI summary button that provides a concise summary of email content. She noted that while there weren’t many new VoiceOver features in the update, the summary button was particularly useful for quickly understanding email content without reading the full message. Liz inquired about the VO left/right commands and learned that these gestures are equivalent to flicking left/right on iPads that support the feature, with Siena suggesting that the iPad Mini 7 and up, as well as the Air 3 and up, support this functionality.

Email Content Display Issues Investigation

The team discussed issues with email excerpts not displaying properly in some cases, with Ali confirming that the full newsletter content is actually visible when scrolling down in the email. They identified that the problem might be related to how the email is displayed on different devices or email clients, as some team members were able to see the full content while others saw only an excerpt with a “continue reading” link. Ali agreed to investigate further and potentially make adjustments to ensure consistent display of the full content across all devices.

Email Formatting and Accessibility Issues

The team discussed issues with email formatting and accessibility, particularly regarding heading blocks and their impact on mobile readability. They explored mail settings and default email app configurations, with Ali demonstrating how to adjust settings on both iPhone and Mac. The group agreed to investigate whether different account types (iCloud vs Gmail) might be affecting the display issues, and Siena confirmed she would try adding heading blocks to improve navigation while being mindful of potential formatting complications.

Gmail Email Header Improvements

The team discussed issues with email headers and navigation in Gmail, particularly regarding Techstravaganza reminders. Liz suggested adding a sentence to the existing header rather than creating new blocks, which would help maintain consistency. They explored potential causes for scrolling and link-finding difficulties, including the use of threaded views and calendar integration. The group agreed to investigate further before making changes to their email templates.

Email Calendar Invite Simplification

The team discussed issues with email calendar invites and decided to simplify the process by creating a block pattern or template with essential meeting details. They agreed to remove unnecessary information like Find Your Local Number and the calendar view to make it easier for participants. Siena suggested using Google Calendar directly and copying the link with the required information once, rather than doing it weekly. The team also discussed how switching from direct email to a newsletter format allows for larger, unlimited subscriber lists.

Newsletter Format Simplification Discussion

The team discussed streamlining the newsletter format by removing extraneous embedded content and focusing on essential information like Zoom meeting links. They identified that the current format was cluttered and made it difficult to see key details. Siena and Ali agreed to simplify the newsletter by using excerpts and removing unnecessary information like location tags. They also addressed an issue with the iPad status bar disappearing in Mac OS 26, finding that it was still present but harder to access due to smaller icons. The team decided to encourage participants to use the Zoom app for easier access to meeting details, noting that it was free.

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Facebook Tutorial and Device Demo

The meeting began with a discussion about new technology, including a new device with reading capabilities and various voice options. Siena then introduced a tutorial on Facebook, covering topics such as writing posts, interacting with timelines, managing notifications, and exploring the Facebook menu. She requested participants to mute their microphones during the tutorial and to use specific commands for raising hands or unmuting. Despite some technical difficulties with screen sharing, the session continued, and Siena encouraged participants to let her know if they could hear the audio.

Facebook Platform Tutorial Overview

Siena conducted a tutorial on Facebook’s interface, explaining various features like creating posts, stories, reels, and live streaming. She mentioned the risks associated with Facebook Marketplace, similar to Kijiji. Ali distractedly shared information about a daily deal on Audible for a book on self-talk. Siena expressed interest and decided to purchase it. The tutorial concluded with a brief explanation of the search and Messenger functions, noting that the search button labeling issue on the iPad had not been fully resolved.

Facebook Tutorial for Techstravaganza

Siena demonstrated how to create and edit a post on Facebook using an iPhone, including typing with braille screen input and using AI features to rewrite text and add backgrounds. She composed a post about doing a tutorial for Techstravaganza 2.0, showing how to use the Facebook app on an iPhone. Ali offered to help Siena get used to typing on the touchscreen, and Siena mentioned she could mention Ali and Jackie in the post.

Facebook Tagging and Mention Features

Siena demonstrated how to use the mention and tag features in the Facebook app on iPhone, explaining the differences between the two and showing how to manually add tags. She encountered some issues with VoiceOver reading characters properly while using mentions, so she switched to using the tag feature instead. Siena also showed how to add emotions to a post, choose a background color, and adjust privacy settings for the post.

Facebook Content and Tagging Guide

Siena demonstrated how to create and post content on Facebook, explaining the tagging feature which sends notifications to tagged individuals. She clarified that tagged users receive notifications both on their phones and when they open Facebook, though the timeline now shows posts in random rather than chronological order. When asked about the home timeline’s randomness, Siena recommended using the notifications tab or following public pages for more organized content.

Facebook Description and Notification Issues

The group discussed issues with Facebook’s image and video description capabilities, noting that while Facebook has built-in image description tools, they are often inaccurate and unreliable. They explored the possibility of using Be My Eyes or Seeing AI to improve video description functionality, as these tools might provide better results. The conversation then shifted to notification problems on both iOS and Android devices, where participants discovered that while push notifications were enabled, many users were still not receiving notifications, with the notification count often being out of sync with the actual number of unread messages.

iOS Update Notification Issues

The group discussed issues with the latest iOS update affecting Notification Center and screen locking behavior. They explored potential solutions and shared experiences with different screen readers across operating systems, with Ali and Siena agreeing that VoiceOver remains more stable than TalkBack. The conversation concluded with a brief mention of Facebook app usage.

Facebook Update Discussion Tutorial

Siena led a tutorial on Facebook for Techstravaganza 2.0, demonstrating features like double-tapping to open full posts. She addressed concerns about Facebook’s recent update that requires users to tap to read full posts, noting this change affects both sighted and visually impaired users. The group discussed the pros and cons of this new feature, with Jackie suggesting it could be beneficial by allowing users to preview content before deciding whether to read the full post. They also touched on the differences between using Facebook on iPhone versus Android devices, with Siena sharing her experience of using an Android tablet and finding it sluggish compared to iPhone.

Facebook Features and User Engagement

The meeting focused on discussing Facebook features and functionality, particularly around notifications and user interactions. Siena demonstrated how to engage with Facebook posts, including liking, commenting, and replying, while also explaining notification settings and birthday reminders. The group discussed the limitations of deleting posts versus comments, with Siena clarifying that only post owners can delete their own content. The conversation ended with a brief discussion about creating a public Facebook group for assistive technology questions. 

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Eye Catcher App Features Demo

Siena demonstrated the sleep timer feature in the Eye Catcher app, showing how users can set the timer for 5 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes during podcast playback. She also showcased other player controls including bookmarks, continuous playback options, and show notes. Ali shared a link to a Facebook tutorial from October 9th during the meeting.

Victor Stream 3 Functionality Review

The group discussed the functionality of the Victor Stream 3, with Roueida confirming she has the latest model and sharing her experience that it works well but can be slow with fast button presses. Siena demonstrated iCatcher’s features, including how to set up a sleep timer, access bookmarks, and adjust playback settings, though she encountered some difficulty accessing the bookmarks menu. Ali and Siena worked through various menus and options to resolve the bookmark access issue, eventually finding that the bookmarks could be accessed through the Now Playing Actions menu.

Media Player and Streaming Setup

Ali and Siena discussed navigating a media player interface, focusing on finding and using bookmarks. They also explored the process of connecting Audible and TuneIn to streaming devices, noting that Audible Sync only works on Windows, which limits its utility for Mac users. Ali read through the steps for configuring TuneIn on a stream device, highlighting the need for an account and the process of pairing devices, which Siena found to be a complex procedure.

Braille Display Comparison and Features

Ali and Siena discussed the challenges and preferences of using different braille displays, including the Braille BI40X and the Mantis Q40, with Ali recommending the BI40X due to its features and ADP funding eligibility. They also explored the functionality of the voiceover rotor, demonstrating how to customize and use it for navigation and accessing various options on an iPhone.

VoiceOver Customization and Tips

Palmer and Siena discussed the customization options available for VoiceOver, including rotor settings, sounds, and hints. Siena explained the use of containers, which she finds more useful on the iPad, and mentioned the availability of screen search and text selection in VoiceOver. Liz raised a question about copying and pasting phone numbers, and Siena provided guidance on using the rotor for text selection and editing. They agreed to schedule a one-on-one session for further assistance, and Siena mentioned an upcoming session on copying and pasting in the new year.

VoiceOver Rotor Customization Guide

Siena demonstrated how to customize the VoiceOver rotor settings on iOS, explaining the functions of various options like text selection, speaking rate, and braille input. She recommended keeping flat navigation for iPhone and iPad, as it allows seamless movement between items. Siena also clarified the differences between standard typing and touch typing for on-screen keyboards. The group discussed the Zoom option in VoiceOver, with Siena suggesting it might relate to magnification features rather than the Zoom app.

Tech Updates and Platform Challenges

The team discussed upcoming sessions, confirming that Facebook Part 2 would be held tomorrow, while “What’s New in iOS” would be presented on December 11th as part of Techstravaganza 2.0. Siena demonstrated text selection functionality and addressed questions about hand control in virtual meetings, noting that Google Meet had technical issues including unreliable audio and difficult access. The group also shared experiences with various email clients, with Ashlyn and others expressing frustration with Outlook’s multi-factor authentication requirements and signing-in processes, particularly after iOS updates.

Zoom Accessibility Training Session

The group discussed Zoom subscription details, with Ali explaining their need for the paid version for longer meetings and advanced features. Siena demonstrated text selection and copying functionality in Zoom, showing how to copy and paste links using VoiceOver. The meeting experienced technical difficulties with audio quality issues on Ali’s end, and Siena and Liz agreed to follow up with a separate session the next day at 10 or 11 AM to continue the training.

Calendar Management Tool Discussion

The group discussed various tools for scheduling and calendar management, with Ali explaining his use of Zoom Scheduler and Fantastical for booking meetings and managing calendar events. Ali noted that while Fantastical offers rich calendar features, it lacks automated email reminders, which Zoom Scheduler provides. Palmer shared his preference for using Outlook’s calendar feature, while Siena emphasized the importance of having a backup tool in case primary services experience issues. The discussion highlighted the need for balancing functionality, accessibility, and redundancy in scheduling tools.

Assistive Devices and Budget Challenges

The group discussed various assistive devices and their costs, with Ali expressing reluctance to pay for certain items like the Victor Reader Stream and the Sense Player due to budget considerations. They explored the availability of the Sense Player in Canada, noting that Terry Scott’s website offers it as a final sale with Canadian shipping only. Palmer shared her experience with independent living, including challenges with cooking and travel, while Ali and Siena discussed their different experiences with social interactions and education. The conversation touched on the limitations and opportunities faced by individuals with disabilities in various aspects of life.

Coming Up Next Week

Join us next week, as we discuss what’s new in MacOS26. Also, stay tuned to the newsletters for the information for tomorrow’s Techstravaganza 2.0.

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iCatcher App Tutorial Overview

Siena led a tutorial on the iCatcher app, demonstrating its features and functionality. She showed how to add podcasts, search for content, and customize the layout of the app. Siena also announced that Techstravaganza is now available as a podcast, and she added it to her list as an example. The session included technical instructions for participants, including how to mute/unmute and raise hands during the meeting.

iCatcher Podcast Player Overview

Siena demonstrated how to use the iCatcher podcast player, including following podcasts, searching for shows, and filtering the podcast library. She explained that iCatcher offers features like bookmarks, external media importing, and customizable playback options, which are not available in the default podcast app. The group discussed the differences between iCatcher and Voice Dream Reader for audiobooks. Ali suggested that iCatcher is cleaner and more customizable than the default podcast app. Siena showed how to access episode show notes and options within iCatcher.

Podcast Player Features Overview

Siena demonstrated how to use a podcast player, showing various options like downloading, streaming, queuing, and marking episodes as played. She discussed the features of the player interface, including bookmarks and show notes. Ali and Macara clarified the difference between the download and queue functions in the menu, explaining that queueing means downloading episodes in a specific order. They encouraged listeners to join their social media groups and newsletter to stay updated and engage with the community.

Comparing Podcasting Platforms: Zoom vs Google Meet

The team discussed technical issues with Google Meet and compared it to Zoom, agreeing that Zoom is superior for podcasting due to its more robust features. They explored various menu options and buttons in a podcasting interface, including download, stream, and queue functions, with Ali explaining how the queue feature works by pausing downloads. The conversation concluded with Macara and Ali expressing appreciation for Siena’s clarification on the queue option, which she had previously been unsure about.

Podcast Mini Player Controls Discussion

The team discussed issues with the podcast mini player, particularly the inability to find a back/rewind button when using the mini player in the podcast app. Siena demonstrated that by double-tapping on the episode title in the mini player, users can expand it to access full playback controls including rewind functionality. Ivy shared her workaround of accessing the full player controls through the lock screen, which led to a discussion about how the mini player is a scaled-down version of the full player interface.

Eye Catcher Podcast Management Demo

Siena demonstrated how to use the Eye Catcher app to manage podcasts, including downloading episodes, creating playlists, and accessing various playback options. She showed how to protect downloads, rename episodes, and convert them to streaming format. Ali clarified some features of the app, such as the Q menu and built-in playlists. Siena created a new playlist called “Nighttime Listening” and discussed the app’s settings for managing playlists.

Podcast Playlist Management Tutorial

Siena demonstrated how to create and manage playlists in an audio application, including adding episodes from different podcasts, reordering them, and using various navigation gestures. Ali provided tips on accessing show notes and dismissing them, while Macara joined in with suggestions. The group worked together to create a nighttime listening playlist containing episodes from Techstravaganza, Books Panel, and another podcast, and discussed how to reorder the episodes using drag and drop functionality.

Media Player Playlist Management Demo

The meeting focused on demonstrating and discussing features of a media player application, particularly around playlist management and episode organization. Siena and Ali explored drag-and-drop functionality, with Ali explaining how to enable or disable the feature in settings. They agreed to cover additional topics including autofill playlists, disabling built-in playlists, and features like bookmarks and sleep timer, pending time availability.

iCatcher Playlist Customization Demonstration

Ali demonstrated how to disable built-in playlists and create autofill playlists in iCatcher, encountering and resolving an issue with a connected braille device that was causing audio input problems. They successfully filtered and customized a playlist by selecting specific podcasts and episodes, including “Locked on” series and other sports-related content, while ensuring continuous playback was enabled.

Playlist Settings and Meeting Scheduling

The team discussed playlist settings and episode selection criteria, including filters for downloaded, streaming, and newer-than-x-days content. They agreed to start their next meeting 30 minutes earlier, from 12:30 to 3:30, to cover the topic of “eye-catcher” in more detail. 

Coming up Next Week, on Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025

We will start by finishing up with iCatcher. The rest of next week’s workshop will focus on the Voiceover rotor.

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The team discussed and showed how to work around Google Meet problems experienced.

Hi Techstravaganza Friends,

Have a listen to this excellent tutorial on Safari!

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Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

This was such a fun tutorial! Have a listen!

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Hello Techstravaganza Friends,

This was a fun tutorial on accessing the Voice Dream Reader Player settings.

Have a listen, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or run into problems accessing it using the contact information at the bottom of the newsletter.

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iOS Notifications and Techstravaganza Planning

Siena led a meeting to discuss iOS notification issues and provide tips, with Ali assisting with technical setup. They planned to cover three main tips about notification settings and the Notification Center, though Ali had to briefly pause due to a system update prompt. Siena also announced that a Techstravaganza 2.0 event would be held on November 13th, focusing on parts and notifications.

Techstravaganza 2.0 and Notification Features

Ali and Siena discussed the upcoming Techstravaganza 2.0 event scheduled for November 13th.They then addressed issues with notifications and VoiceOver, explaining how to navigate through the Notification Center and use automatic grouping. Ali planned to demonstrate these features using her phone, but the connection was not established in time. Siena provided a brief overview of how notifications appear and behave with VoiceOver before handing the discussion back to Ali.

iPhone Notification Center Customization

Ali demonstrated how to access and customize the Notification Center on an iPhone, including adjusting notification styles, grouping options, and settings for individual apps. He explained the differences between “by app” and “automatic” grouping modes and showed how to modify preferences for lock screen appearances, sounds, and badges. Ali encouraged questions and provided a comprehensive overview of managing notifications on the device.

iPhone Lock Screen Notification Settings

Ali and Ivy discussed the limitations of iPhone lock screen notifications, noting that they disappear quickly and cannot be adjusted. Liz inquired about notification settings, and Ali explained the functions of banners, previews, and badges, as well as how to clear notifications. Siena joined the call to address technical difficulties some participants were experiencing with Zoom, planning to work with them on Friday to resolve the issues. Ashlyn suggested turning off “Race to Wake” to prevent automatic voice activation when picking up the phone, which Ali agreed was a good idea.

iPhone Features and Settings Tutorial

The group discussed iPhone settings and features, with Siena demonstrating the Raise to Wake function for Liz. Ali provided a tutorial on using the Notification Center, including how to clear individual notifications. The conversation ended with Ali making some audio adjustments before locking their device.

iPhone Display Settings Tutorial

Siena demonstrated how to adjust the Raise to Wake feature on an iPhone, explaining its functionality and showing how to turn it off to prevent unwanted voice feedback. She also covered other display settings like auto-lock, appearance, and True Tone, addressing Liz’s questions about these features. The session included troubleshooting audio issues during the demonstration, which were eventually resolved.

VoiceOver iPhone Demonstration Guide

Siena demonstrated how to use VoiceOver on an iPhone, including accessing the lock screen and clearing notifications. She explained how to delete individual notifications and entire groups of notifications in the Notification Center. The group discussed audio issues during the demonstration, which were eventually resolved.

iOS Badge Count Notification Demo

Siena demonstrated how to use badge counts on iOS to track new items in folders and individual apps, showing examples with the Mail app and Communication folder. She explained that badge counts appear when there are new items to address, such as unread emails or software updates, and can be managed through the edit mode. Liz asked about receiving verbal notifications for new voicemail messages, but Siena did not provide a solution, noting that the current system only shows a badge icon.

iPhone Voicemail Notification Setup

Siena demonstrated how to set up custom sounds for voicemail and other notifications in the Settings and Sounds section of an iPhone. She showed Liz how to access voicemail notifications through the Notification Center, which could help Liz who was previously missing voicemails for three days.

WhatsApp as Default iPhone Calling

Siena demonstrated how to change the default calling app on an iPhone, showing that WhatsApp could be set as the default instead of the phone app. She explained that WhatsApp often provides better call quality than traditional phone calls, and mentioned that the search field in iOS 26 has been moved to the bottom right corner of the screen. The session concluded with Siena offering to help Ivy troubleshoot audio issues by trying a different device.

iPhone Default App Configuration

Siena and Ali demonstrated how to change default apps and settings on an iPhone, focusing on call handling and WhatsApp integration. They successfully tested calling a landline number through WhatsApp and explored alternative calling options when WhatsApp wasn’t available. The demonstration concluded with confirmation that the default app settings were successfully changed, though Siena mentioned they would need more time to cover additional topics, which would be addressed in a future session.

Tech Workshops and App Notifications

The meeting covered upcoming workshops and tutorials, including iCatcher on November 5th, VoiceOver Rotor 101 on November 12th, and Gmail on the web on Windows on November 26th.Siena announced Techstravaganza 2.0, a monthly evening workshop held on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern. Hans inquired about controlling live activity notifications in food delivery apps, and Siena explained that these notifications are currently app-specific and can only be managed by opening the app. Liz asked about blocking notifications from a specific app, and Siena demonstrated how to disable notifications in the Settings app. Jackie mentioned receiving a new keyboard for her iPhone and sought help with pairing it, which Siena addressed by explaining the need to remove a plastic tab and use the F1 key to enable the keyboard.

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