Category: Tutorials

Discussed topics

Uber app setup and account creation

Siena demonstrated how to download and set up the Uber app from scratch on an iPad.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to download the Uber app from the App Store and set up an account using a phone number
  • Siena: Demonstrated the account verification process using a one-time password (OTP)
  • Siena: Explained notification settings and permissions needed for the app to function properly
• Conclusion
  • The Uber app requires location access, contact access, and notifications to function properly
  • Users can sign in with phone number, email, Apple ID, or Google account

Safety features in Uber

The group explored various safety features available in the Uber app, with particular focus on PIN verification, trusted contacts, and emergency settings.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to access safety settings and set up trusted contacts
  • Jeff: Shared his experience with PIN verification, mentioning that drivers can accept the last 4 digits of your phone number instead
  • Hans: Explained that the PIN is generated for each ride and appears in the app when a ride is confirmed
  • Ivy: Asked about where to find the PIN in the app
  • Ali: Helped navigate through the safety settings screens
• Conclusion
  • Users can enable PIN verification for added security when getting into an Uber
  • Trusted contacts can be added to share trip status and for emergency situations
  • The app allows recording of rides for safety purposes
  • There was a technical issue with VoiceOver not announcing trusted contacts that were added

Service animal accommodations

The group discussed how to set up service animal accommodations in the Uber app.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked about Uber drivers’ obligations regarding service animals
  • Siena: Located and demonstrated the service animal settings in the accessibility section
  • Palmer: Mentioned recent news stories about drivers refusing service to people with service animals
  • Ivy: Shared concerns about driver screening and safety
• Conclusion
  • The Uber app has specific settings for service animals under Accessibility settings
  • Users can disclose service animal information to drivers who will be reminded of legal obligations
  • Enhanced support is available if issues arise, including waived cleaning fees

Booking a ride with Uber

Siena demonstrated the process of booking a ride through the Uber app.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to select a destination and pickup location
  • Siena: Explained different ride options (UberX, Uber XL, Comfort)
  • Jeff: Mentioned that the pickup location selection is very sensitive to touch
  • Liz: Asked about pricing and whether it changes if the ride takes longer due to traffic
• Conclusion
  • Users can select from different ride types based on their needs and budget
  • The app provides fare estimates upfront
  • Users can schedule rides in advance
  • According to Ivy, significant delays due to traffic may result in additional charges

Accessibility features for blind and low vision users

The group discussed various accessibility features in the Uber app specifically designed for blind and low vision users.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to access and configure accessibility settings
  • Jeff: Mentioned that he had set his low vision status in the app
  • Ivy: Shared an experience where not disclosing her low vision resulted in a taxi leaving
  • Ali: Emphasized the importance of disclosing vision status when booking rides
• Conclusion
  • The Uber app has specific settings for blind and low vision users under Accessibility
  • Users can choose to disclose their vision status to drivers
  • Disclosing vision status helps drivers provide appropriate assistance

Technical challenges with VoiceOver

The group encountered and discussed technical issues with VoiceOver not properly reading certain elements in the Uber app.

• Details
  • Siena: Experienced issues with VoiceOver not announcing trusted contacts that were added
  • Jeff: Confirmed visually that the contacts were actually added despite VoiceOver not announcing them
  • Jeroo: Also confirmed seeing the contacts on screen
  • Ali: Suggested it might be a VoiceOver issue rather than an app issue
• Conclusion
  • VoiceOver in iOS 26.3 beta has some issues with certain app elements
  • Siena will report the issue to both Apple and Uber
  • Users may need to “trust the process” when VoiceOver doesn’t announce all elements

Headphone discussion

After the main presentation, participants discussed various headphone options, particularly focusing on bone conduction headphones.

• Details
  • Siena: Described her Shokz OpenCom 2 bone conduction headphones with boom mic
  • Ivy: Asked questions about AirPods and how they might have become unmuted during the meeting
  • Liz: Asked about options for connecting wired headphones to newer iPhones without headphone jacks
  • Palmer: Discussed latency issues with Bluetooth headphones
• Conclusion
  • Bone conduction headphones like Shokz are a good option for those who want to hear their surroundings
  • Lightning to headphone jack adapters are available for connecting wired headphones to newer iPhones
  • Bluetooth headphones can have latency issues that affect VoiceOver responsiveness

Uber driver requirements and safety concerns

Participants discussed concerns about Uber driver requirements and safety issues.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked about qualification requirements for Uber drivers compared to taxi drivers
  • Ivy: Shared concerns about limited background checks for drivers
  • Palmer: Mentioned that drivers are supposed to take training but the content is unclear
  • Ivy: Recounted stories about safety incidents with Uber drivers
• Conclusion
  • There are concerns about the level of screening and training Uber drivers receive
  • Some participants expressed hesitation about using Uber for longer trips to unfamiliar areas
  • The group was uncertain about accident protocols for Uber drivers

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

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

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Perplexity App Introduction and Setup

Siena demonstrated how to install and set up the Perplexity app on an iPhone.

• Details
  • Siena: Walked through the installation process, showing how to sign in using Google, Apple, email, or single sign-on
  • Siena: Explained the app’s interface including library, discover, and ask buttons
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to dismiss initial prompts and navigate the app
• Conclusion
  • The app has a straightforward setup process with multiple sign-in options
  • The interface includes library, discover, and ask sections for different functionalities

Basic Search Functionality

Siena demonstrated how to perform basic searches in Perplexity using a question about the Beatles song “Let It Be.”

• Details
  • Siena: Asked “In what key is the song Let It Be by the Beatles?”
  • Siena: Showed how to select search modes (fast answers, deep research, etc.)
  • Siena: Explained that free users get limited Pro searches per day
  • Siena: Demonstrated how Perplexity provides detailed answers with citations
  • Rob: Commented that the information could help improve his guitar playing as a self-taught musician
• Conclusion
  • Perplexity correctly identified the song is in C major and provided additional musical details
  • The app cites sources for its information, enhancing credibility
  • The app offers different search modes with varying depths of research

Follow-up Questions and Conversation Flow

Siena demonstrated how to ask follow-up questions to create a conversational flow with Perplexity.

• Details
  • Siena: Asked follow-up questions about who composed “Let It Be”
  • Siena: Showed how Perplexity maintains context between questions
  • Rob: Shared his surprise about learning that “Mother Mary” referred to Paul McCartney’s mother, not the Virgin Mary
  • Ivy: Asked if there was a voice option for the app
• Conclusion
  • Perplexity maintains context between questions, creating a conversational experience
  • The app provides detailed answers with interesting background information
  • Users can scroll to find the “Ask a follow-up” text field at the bottom of responses

Music Information and Sheet Music

The group explored Perplexity’s ability to provide music-related information, including chord sheets and lyrics.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked if Perplexity could read piano music to a blind person in small chunks
  • Siena: Demonstrated asking for lyrics to “Let It Be”
  • Siena: Attempted to get sheet music for various songs
  • Rob: Requested chord information for “Glimpse of Us” by Joji
  • Siena: Found that Perplexity provided chord progressions but noted copyright limitations for newer songs
• Conclusion
  • Perplexity can provide lyrics and chord progressions for songs
  • The app has limitations with providing complete sheet music due to copyright restrictions
  • Older songs have fewer copyright restrictions than newer ones

Voice-to-Voice Mode

Siena demonstrated Perplexity’s voice interaction capabilities.

• Details
  • Ivy: Asked if there was a voice option in the app
  • Siena: Located and demonstrated the voice-to-voice mode
  • Siena: Played a game of Hangman using voice commands
  • Ivy: Noted this would save typing and be more convenient
• Conclusion
  • Voice-to-voice mode allows for hands-free interaction with Perplexity
  • The mode is effective for playing games and maintaining conversational flow
  • Voice mode requires microphone permission

Creative Content Generation

Siena tested Perplexity’s ability to generate creative content by requesting a Harry Potter fanfiction.

• Details
  • Siena: Asked Perplexity to write a Harry Potter fanfiction story
  • Siena: Read the generated story about Albus Potter visiting a wandmaker
  • Liz: Commented “Who needs novelists anymore?” impressed by the quality
• Conclusion
  • Perplexity can generate creative content with minimal prompting
  • The app creates contextually appropriate stories within established fictional universes
  • The quality of generated content impressed participants

Comparison with Other AI Tools

The group discussed how Perplexity compares to other AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini.

• Details
  • Max: Asked how Perplexity differs from ChatGPT and Gemini
  • Siena: Asked Perplexity directly for a comparison
  • Ali: Mentioned she works extensively with Google systems
  • Max: Mentioned another tool called Orion for finding objects
• Conclusion
  • Perplexity excels at citation-backed answers to real-world questions
  • ChatGPT is better for long-form creative work
  • Gemini works best for those deep in the Google ecosystem
  • Different AI tools have different strengths and use cases

Recipe Search Functionality

Liz asked about Perplexity’s ability to find recipes.

• Details
  • Liz: Asked if Perplexity could find a recipe for Dutch apple pie
  • Siena: Demonstrated searching for the recipe
  • Siena: Showed how to ask follow-up questions about apple types
  • Ivy: Asked about cursor placement for follow-up questions
• Conclusion
  • Perplexity can provide detailed recipes with ingredients and instructions
  • The app can answer specific follow-up questions about cooking techniques and ingredients
  • Navigation requires scrolling to find the follow-up question field

Discussion of Orion App for Object Finding

The group discussed another AI app called Orion that helps find objects.

• Details
  • Max: Introduced Orion as a tool for finding and identifying objects
  • Liz: Asked if it could help find lost items like hearing aids or identify spices
  • Ashlyn: Suggested smart glasses could help with similar tasks
  • Ali: Proposed making Orion a future Techstravaganza tutorial topic
• Conclusion
  • Orion is designed specifically for finding and identifying objects
  • The app requires patience as users need to move their phones slowly
  • The group agreed to make Orion a future tutorial topic in March

Find Out What’s Coming up on Techstravaganza at the Following Link

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

Contact the team:

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Messages app layout changes in macOS 26

Siena demonstrated the new layout of the Messages app in macOS 26 Tahoe, highlighting significant changes from previous versions.

• Details
  • Siena: Explained that the conversations table has been moved from the top to the bottom of the interface
  • Siena: Demonstrated that users now need to navigate through the messages collection first before reaching the conversations table
  • Siena: Showed that the search field has also been moved to the bottom of the interface
  • Ali: Commented that the new layout resembles the iPad version of Messages
  • Ashlyn: Noted similar confusing layout changes in other apps like Safari
• Conclusion
  • The new layout requires users to adjust their navigation patterns
  • The changes appear to be part of Apple’s strategy to make Mac apps more consistent with iPad versions

Opening conversations in separate windows

Siena demonstrated how to open multiple conversations in separate windows for easier management.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to use the Actions menu to open a conversation in a new window
  • Siena: Demonstrated using Control+Option+F2 twice to access the window chooser
  • Siena: Explained how to navigate between multiple open conversation windows
  • Ivy: Asked clarifying questions about the window switching process
• Conclusion
  • Opening conversations in separate windows can make managing multiple chats easier
  • The window chooser (Control+Option+F2 twice) is an efficient way to switch between conversations

Pinning conversations

Siena demonstrated how to pin important conversations to keep them at the top of the conversations list.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to access the Actions menu with VO+Command+Space
  • Siena: Demonstrated pinning and unpinning conversations
  • Siena: Explained that pinned conversations stay at the top of the list
  • Ivy: Asked if pinning affects how messages are threaded
• Conclusion
  • Pinning is useful for keeping frequently used conversations easily accessible
  • Pins sync across Apple devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad)
  • Pinning only affects conversation placement, not message threading

Message filtering

Siena demonstrated how to use filters to view specific types of messages.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to access the filter menu in the toolbar
  • Siena: Demonstrated filtering by unread messages, spam, and recently deleted messages
  • Siena: Explained how to return to viewing all messages
• Conclusion
  • Filters help manage large numbers of conversations
  • The filter menu provides several options for viewing specific message types

Sending and replying to messages

Siena demonstrated various ways to interact with messages in conversations.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to type and send new messages
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding reactions to messages using the Actions menu
  • Siena: Explained the difference between general replies and specific replies in group chats
  • Jackie: Asked about proper spacing when using emoticons
  • Ivy: Asked clarifying questions about identifying the message field
• Conclusion
  • The Messages app supports various ways to interact with conversations
  • The edit field is typically where VoiceOver places users when opening a conversation

Concerns about Apple’s app design direction

Participants discussed their concerns about Apple’s approach to Mac app design.

• Details
  • Ali: Expressed disappointment that Apple is porting iPad apps to Mac rather than maintaining proper desktop versions
  • Ali: Noted that the desktop versions of apps were often lacking features compared to mobile versions
  • Siena: Compared WhatsApp’s desktop app, which maintains a traditional desktop layout
  • Ashlyn: Commented that third-party developers tend to “leave things alone” rather than making unnecessary changes
• Conclusion
  • Participants generally preferred traditional desktop app layouts for Mac
  • The trend of porting iPad apps to Mac was seen as making navigation less intuitive

VoiceOver issues on Mac

Participants discussed ongoing issues with VoiceOver on Mac.

• Details
  • Siena: Mentioned that VoiceOver on Mac hasn’t been updated or “given any love” by developers
  • Ali: Noted that VoiceOver on Mac has “too many issues, too many quirks”
  • Siena: Demonstrated a glitch where VoiceOver doesn’t save activity settings
  • Ali: Mentioned that some people, like Stephen Scott, have suggested Apple should “start over” with VoiceOver on Mac
  • Ashlyn: Added that VoiceOver on iPhone also has issues
• Conclusion
  • VoiceOver on Mac appears to have been neglected compared to iOS versions
  • Persistent bugs and quirks make navigation challenging

Coming up on Techstravaganza

You can find a list of upcoming topics for the rest of January and most of February at the following link. Please note: the list of topics will soon be updated to reflect added topics. Also, next month’s Techstravaganza 2.0 on February 12, will focus on Jaws basics.

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

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Urgent reminders in iOS 26

Siena demonstrated the new urgent reminders feature in iOS 26, showing how to mark reminders as urgent to ensure they trigger alarms even when focus modes are active.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to create an urgent reminder for taking medication, showing that urgent reminders will activate even when a focus is on or the device is muted
  • Siena: Showed how to access reminder details and toggle the urgent setting
  • Ali: Clarified that urgent reminders will go to your phone regardless of which device you set them on
• Conclusion
  • Urgent reminders are useful for time-sensitive notifications that shouldn’t be missed
  • The feature requires permission to allow reminders to schedule alarms
  • Alarms will bypass any focus mode settings

Creating and organizing reminder lists

Siena demonstrated how to create and organize lists in the Reminders app to better categorize different types of reminders.

• Details
  • Siena: Created a “School assignments and tests” list with custom icon and color
  • Jeroo: Asked how to create lists and navigate through the process
  • Liz: Inquired about creating a medical list for doctor’s appointments
  • Ivy: Mentioned having a birthday group under reminders to keep birthdays organized
• Conclusion
  • Lists can be customized with different colors and icons
  • Creating separate lists helps organize different types of reminders (medical, birthdays, school, etc.)
  • Multiple lists can be created for similar categories (e.g., family birthdays and friends’ birthdays)

Setting reminder details

The group discussed various options for setting up reminders, including dates, times, early reminders, and repeat settings.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated setting dates, times, and early reminders for school assignments
  • Siena: Showed how to set reminders to repeat daily
  • Liz: Asked about how early reminders work compared to urgent alarms
  • Ivy: Clarified that early reminders send a notification rather than an alarm
• Conclusion
  • Early reminders can be set for various time intervals before the actual reminder
  • Reminders can be set to repeat at different intervals (daily, weekly, etc.)
  • The app offers flexibility in how notifications are delivered

Shared lists and advanced features

Siena demonstrated advanced features including shared lists, assigning reminders to specific people, and adding additional details.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed the Techstravaganza shared list where team members track upcoming tutorials
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to assign reminders to specific people in shared lists
  • Siena: Showed how to add location-based reminders and messaging-based reminders
• Conclusion
  • Shared lists allow for collaborative task management
  • Reminders can be assigned to specific individuals in shared lists
  • Additional context can be added through notes, tags, and other details

Google Tasks vs. Apple Reminders

The group discussed the differences between Google Tasks and Apple Reminders and which might be better for different workflows.

• Details
  • Ali: Asked whether to continue using Apple Reminders or switch to Google Tasks since he uses Google Workspace and PC
  • Siena: Suggested switching to Google Tasks for better integration with Google products
  • Ali: Noted he would lose features like urgent reminders but was okay with that
• Conclusion
  • Google Tasks integrates better with Google Calendar and Workspace
  • Apple Reminders offers more features like urgent reminders
  • The choice depends on which ecosystem a user primarily works in

Grocery list templates

Liz shared her experience with grocery list templates in the Reminders app.

• Details
  • Liz: Described how a CNIB person set up a grocery list template that automatically categorizes items
  • Liz: Explained how she can use Siri to add items to specific categories
  • Siena: Confirmed this would be covered in a future tutorial
• Conclusion
  • Smart lists and templates offer advanced organization features
  • Siri integration makes adding items to lists convenient
  • A dedicated tutorial on this feature is planned for March

Upcoming Techstravaganza workshops

The team discussed upcoming workshop topics and scheduling for Techstravaganza.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed the Techstravaganza list with upcoming tutorials including Perplexity, Uber app, Apple Music, and more
  • Siena: Scheduled a Google Tasks tutorial for March 4, 2026
  • Ashlyn: Mentioned Perplexity, an AI tool that was requested for a future tutorial
  • Ivy: Shared that Perplexity is more detailed than ChatGPT and provides references
• Conclusion
  • Google Tasks tutorial scheduled for March 4, 2026
  • Outlook tutorial by Amanda scheduled for February 18, 2026
  • Smart lists and templates tutorial scheduled for March 2026
  • Messages on Mac tutorial scheduled for the next day

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Scheduling a Zoom meeting on iPhone

Ali demonstrated the complete process of scheduling a Zoom meeting using the iPhone app

• Details
  • Ali: Showed how to access the schedule button in the Zoom app and fill out meeting details including topic, date, time, and duration
  • Ali: Explained that for basic (free) accounts, it’s best to set meetings to 15 minutes to avoid hitting the 40-minute limit warning
  • Ali: Demonstrated how to add invitees both within Zoom and through the calendar integration
  • Ali: Showed how to save the meeting to the calendar and complete the scheduling process
• Conclusion
  • The scheduling process involves multiple steps but is straightforward once familiar with the interface
  • Calendar integration helps manage scheduled meetings

Meeting controls and features

Ali demonstrated various meeting controls and features available during a Zoom meeting

• Details
  • Ali: Showed how to start a scheduled meeting and access the main meeting controls
  • Ali: Demonstrated the chat feature, including how to send messages to everyone
  • Ali: Showed the participants panel and how to view participant information
  • Ali: Demonstrated how to raise and lower hand
  • Ali: Explained that the raise hand button is now directly on the main screen, not in reactions or more menu
  • Amanda: Asked about the AI Companion feature
• Conclusion
  • The iPhone interface provides access to all essential meeting controls
  • Some interface elements have been relocated in recent updates

AI Companion feature

Discussion about Zoom’s AI Companion feature and its capabilities

• Details
  • Amanda: Asked what the AI Companion feature does
  • Ali: Explained that AI Companion provides meeting summaries after meetings end
  • Ali: Noted that it allows late joiners to ask questions about what happened earlier in the meeting
  • Ali: Mentioned that AI Companion requires at least a Pro account and is not available on basic accounts
  • Amanda: Asked about the cost of Pro accounts
  • Ali: Stated that a single Pro license costs around $25 Canadian per month including tax
• Conclusion
  • AI Companion is a premium feature that provides useful meeting summaries
  • The feature requires a paid Zoom account (Pro level or higher)

Personal Meeting ID vs. scheduled meetings

Discussion about when to use personal meeting ID versus scheduling a meeting

• Details
  • Amanda: Asked about when to use personal meeting ID versus creating a meeting
  • Ali: Explained that personal meeting ID is best for quick, impromptu meetings
  • Ali: Gave an example of wanting to meet with someone immediately rather than scheduling ahead
  • Ali: Cautioned that using personal meeting ID for all meetings could allow anyone with the link to join any meeting
  • Roueida: Asked if Zoom provides the personal meeting ID
  • Ali: Confirmed that Zoom provides the personal meeting ID
• Conclusion
  • Personal meeting ID is best for quick, impromptu meetings
  • Scheduled meetings are more appropriate for planned events
  • Using personal meeting ID for all meetings poses security risks

Meeting duration and limits

Brief discussion about meeting duration limits

• Details
  • Roueida: Asked what happens if a meeting scheduled for 15 minutes goes longer
  • Ali: Explained that on basic accounts, meetings are cut off after 40 minutes
  • Roueida: Confirmed understanding that meetings continue until the 40-minute limit
• Conclusion
  • Basic Zoom accounts have a 40-minute limit regardless of scheduled duration
  • Pro accounts don’t have this limitation

Email BCC functionality (unrelated to Zoom)

Brief side question about Mac email functionality

• Details
  • Roueida: Asked how to set BCC in email on a new Mac Pro 15
  • Ali: Suggested checking the view menu in the Mail app
  • Roueida: Acknowledged the suggestion and said she would try it
• Conclusion
  • The BCC option is likely available in the view menu of the Mail app

A Brief Note About Upcoming Workshops

Today’s was the last workshop for 2025. Workshops will resume again on Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026. Please stay tuned to the newsletters, as the schedule of topics for January and February will be posted within the next day or 2.

Wishing all of you the happiest of Holidays, and all the best for 2026!

Contact the team:

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Gmail app navigation and interface

Siena and Ali demonstrated the basic navigation of the Gmail app interface.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed the navigation menu, compose button, and search field at the top of the screen
  • Siena: Explained that multiple email accounts can be added to the Gmail app
  • Siena: Pointed out the Gemini AI integration within the Gmail app
  • Ivy: Mentioned she has a different layout with compose and search at the bottom of her screen
  • Siena: Clarified that Ivy was likely using the native Mail app rather than the Gmail app
• Conclusion
  • The Gmail app has a consistent layout with navigation menu, search field, and compose button at the top
  • The app supports multiple email accounts and includes Gemini AI integration

Reading emails in Gmail

The presenters demonstrated how to read individual emails in the Gmail app.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to open an email by double-tapping on it
  • Siena: Demonstrated the email reading interface with options like close, archive, delete, and mark as unread at the top
  • Siena: Explained how to navigate through the email content by swiping right with one finger
  • Siena: Showed how to close an email using the close button at the top
  • Siena: Demonstrated using VoiceOver’s action menu to manage emails from the inbox view
• Conclusion
  • The Gmail app provides a straightforward interface for reading emails
  • Users can easily navigate through email content using VoiceOver gestures
  • Email management actions are available both within the email and from the inbox view

Navigating conversation threads

A significant portion of the session focused on navigating conversation threads (email chains) in the Gmail app.

• Details
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to identify and open conversation threads
  • Siena: Showed that Gmail displays the number of emails in a conversation
  • Siena: Explained that Gmail shows threads in chronological order (oldest first)
  • Ali: Demonstrated how to expand and collapse individual messages within a thread
  • Siena: Showed how to navigate between messages using headings or form controls in VoiceOver
  • Ivy: Asked about the difference between using headings and form controls for navigation
• Conclusion
  • Gmail app displays conversation threads in chronological order (oldest first), unlike the Mail app
  • Users can expand or collapse individual messages within a thread
  • VoiceOver users can navigate between messages using either headings or form controls

Replying to emails

Ali demonstrated how to reply to specific messages within conversation threads.

• Details
  • Ali: Showed how to select a specific message within a thread to reply to
  • Ali: Demonstrated that when the reply button is activated, it replies to the currently selected message
  • Ali: Compared this to the Mail app’s approach to replying to messages in threads
  • Siena: Noted that Gmail makes it clearer which message you’re replying to
• Conclusion
  • The Gmail app makes it easier to identify which message you’re replying to within a thread
  • Users can select specific messages within a thread to reply to them directly

Composing emails

Ali demonstrated how to compose new emails in the Gmail app.

• Details
  • Ali: Showed how to access the compose button
  • Ali: Demonstrated adding recipients in the To and CC fields
  • Ali: Showed how to add a subject and message body
  • Ali: Demonstrated using dictation for message composition
  • Ali: Showed options for discarding drafts and sending messages
• Conclusion
  • The Gmail app provides a straightforward interface for composing new emails
  • Users can easily add recipients, subject, and message content
  • The app supports dictation for message composition

Gmail app settings and customization

The presenters explored various settings and customization options in the Gmail app.

• Details
  • Ali: Demonstrated how to access settings through the navigation menu
  • Ali: Showed how to customize mail swipe actions
  • Ali: Explained signature settings and how they sync with web signatures
  • Siena: Noted that Gmail synchronizes signatures across devices, unlike the native Mail app
  • Ivy: Asked about how to establish and manage signatures
• Conclusion
  • Gmail app offers various customization options through settings
  • Users can customize swipe actions to personalize email management
  • Signatures can be synchronized across devices when using the web signature option

Advantages of Gmail app over native Mail app

Throughout the session, several advantages of the Gmail app over the native Mail app were highlighted.

• Details
  • Siena: Mentioned that Gmail delivers notifications more promptly than the native Mail app
  • Siena: Noted that Gmail integrates with Google Calendar for event invitations
  • Siena: Explained that Gmail’s thread navigation is more intuitive
  • Ali: Demonstrated that Gmail synchronizes signatures across devices
  • Siena: Pointed out that Gmail allows collapsing and expanding individual messages in threads
• Conclusion
  • Gmail app offers better notification delivery and calendar integration
  • The app provides more intuitive thread navigation and management
  • Gmail synchronizes settings like signatures across devices

Next week is our annual Zoom tutorial, on Wednesday, Dec 17. Depending on what time allows, there will possibly be a follow up on the evening of Dec 18, more information nearer to the day.

Contact the team:

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Setting up email accounts in iOS/iPadOS 26

Siena demonstrated the process of adding email accounts to the Mail app on an iPad, focusing on VoiceOver accessibility.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to set up an iCloud email account as the first account
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to enable/disable iCloud Mail in Settings
  • Ali: Clarified that users don’t need an iCloud email account but might be prompted to create one for certain backup features
  • Jackie: Asked about setting up accounts without an iCloud email
  • Siena: Confirmed you can use any email address for your Apple ID
• Conclusion
  • The Mail app guides users through initial setup when first opened
  • Users can enable or disable iCloud Mail through Settings > Apple Account > iCloud

Adding multiple email accounts

Siena demonstrated how to add Gmail and custom domain accounts to the Mail app.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to add accounts through Settings > Mail > Accounts
  • Siena: Demonstrated the authentication process including two-factor authentication
  • Siena: Explained how to select which services to enable (Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Notes)
  • Siena: Showed how to customize account labels for easier identification
• Conclusion
  • Multiple accounts from different providers can be added to the Mail app
  • The Mail app recognizes account types (Gmail, Exchange, etc.) automatically
  • Users can customize account labels to make them more recognizable

Navigating between email accounts

Siena demonstrated different methods for viewing and switching between email accounts.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to use the sidebar on iPad to switch between accounts
  • Siena: Explained that on iPhone, users would use the “Mailboxes” back button
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to enable and use the “All Inboxes” feature
  • Ali: Mentioned he prefers using “All Inboxes” to avoid missing emails
• Conclusion
  • Users can view individual account inboxes or combine them using “All Inboxes”
  • The iPad interface uses a two-column layout with message list and open message
  • VoiceOver users need to use the “containers” rotor setting on iPad to read messages

Email app preferences

Discussion about different email apps and their features.

• Details
  • Ali: Mentioned he finds the Gmail app more reliable than the Mail app
  • Amanda: Shared that she prefers Outlook
  • Siena: Noted that Gmail app has better notifications and calendar integration
  • Ali: Discussed how Gmail app handles calendar invites directly in the email
• Conclusion
  • Different email apps have various strengths and weaknesses
  • The Gmail app will be covered in a separate tutorial the following day

Calendar app discussion

A side discussion about calendar applications and subscriptions.

• Details
  • Ali: Mentioned Fantastical’s features including live activities on lock screen
  • Amanda: Explained she stopped using Fantastical to avoid another subscription
  • Macara: Discussed conference call joining features in Fantastical
  • Ali: Noted he’s helped the Fantastical team improve accessibility
• Conclusion
  • Fantastical offers useful features but requires a subscription
  • The group might do a tutorial on Fantastical in the future

Coming Up

Join us tomorrow evening from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern for Techstravaganza 2.0, where the Gmail app on iPhone and iPad will be explored. Next Wednesday, we will have the annual Zoom tutorial, which, depending on time on Wednesday, might have a followup on Thursday, Dec, 18, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM Eastern.

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Screen reader pronunciation settings on iOS

Siena and Sherry demonstrated how to change pronunciation settings in VoiceOver on iOS devices.

• Details
  • Sherry: Demonstrated accessing the pronunciation settings through Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Speech > Pronunciation
  • Siena: Explained that users can add words that are mispronounced and create phonetic substitutions
  • Siena: Used “Fogarty” as an example, showing how to spell it phonetically as “FOH GGER TY” to get the correct pronunciation
  • Sherry: Showed how to test pronunciations using the play button before saving them
• Conclusion
  • iOS allows users to apply pronunciation changes to specific voices or all voices
  • Changes made on iPhone will sync to iPad and Apple Watch through iCloud
  • The process involves adding the word as spelled correctly, then creating a phonetic substitution

Deleting pronunciations on iOS

Drew (Jeroo) asked about deleting pronunciations, leading to a discussion about the process.

• Details
  • Jeroo: Asked how to delete a pronunciation completely
  • Siena: Explained that with VoiceOver on, users can swipe down with one finger to access the delete option
  • Jeroo: Noted difficulty finding the edit button without VoiceOver
  • Siena: Located the edit button at the bottom of the screen
  • Jeroo: Confirmed that when using the edit button, red circles with minus signs appear next to entries
• Conclusion
  • With VoiceOver: Swipe down on a pronunciation to access the delete option
  • Without VoiceOver: Use the edit button at the bottom of the screen, then tap the red circle with minus sign
  • The placement of the edit button at the bottom makes it difficult to find, especially for users with visual impairments

Pronunciation settings on macOS

Siena demonstrated how to change pronunciation settings in VoiceOver on macOS.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed how to access VoiceOver Utility using Ctrl+Option+F8
  • Siena: Navigated to the Speech category and then the Pronunciation tab
  • Siena: Demonstrated adding a pronunciation by entering the original word and its substitution
  • Palmer: Asked for clarification on the process
• Conclusion
  • Unlike iOS, macOS doesn’t allow setting pronunciations per voice
  • MacOS allows setting pronunciations per application
  • The process involves adding the word and substitution, with no explicit save button needed

Pronunciation settings in JAWS

Siena demonstrated how to change pronunciation settings in the JAWS screen reader.

• Details
  • Siena: Accessed the Dictionary Manager through the JAWS context menu (Insert+J)
  • Siena: Showed how to add a word and its replacement pronunciation
  • Siena: Explained additional options like playing sounds instead of speaking certain words
  • Siena: Demonstrated how to specify language, synthesizer, and voice settings
• Conclusion
  • JAWS offers more granular control than VoiceOver, allowing settings by language, synthesizer, and voice
  • Changes can be saved to the default dictionary or application-specific dictionaries
  • The process is similar to iOS and macOS but with more customization options

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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

Contact the team:

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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.

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

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