Workshop Introduction and Setup

Ali began the workshop on October 1st, 2025, and introduced the session after resolving some technical issues with audio recording. He welcomed participants, including Jackie and Hans, and confirmed that the audio was properly set up for recording. Ali emphasized that participants could join at any time and encouraged them to reach out with questions or comments. The session started with a brief introduction, and Ali mentioned that they would be discussing the main topics shortly.

Google Calendar Invite Settings Demo

Ali demonstrated how to change Google Calendar settings on the web interface to control how calendar invitations are added to the calendar. He showed how to navigate the settings menu using keyboard shortcuts and explained the options for handling calendar invitations, ultimately deciding to set them to only add invitations when responding to the invitation email.

iOS 26 Accessibility Features Demo

Ali demonstrated how to adjust settings in Google Chrome and VoiceOver on an iPhone, including changing permissions for guests and configuring audio input. He then showed new features in iOS 26, such as Magic Tap, customized commands, and support for additional Indian language voices. Ali also demonstrated the copy speech feature, allowing users to copy text from apps where text selection isn’t possible, and showed how to paste it into a note.

Audible Notes Rotor Feature Demo

Ali demonstrated using the rotor feature in Notes to copy and paste audiobook information from Audible, including titles, narrators, and durations. They created a new note and used the rotor to navigate and edit the text, fixing minor spelling errors along the way. Ali showed how to paste multiple audiobook entries into the note and make adjustments to the text.

Speech Copying and PDF Navigation

Ali demonstrated how to use the copied speech feature and answered questions about its functionality. He showed how to adjust the Magic Tap command behavior to prevent music from playing after ending a call. Ali also explained how to read PDF documents in the Preview app, navigating through the app’s interface and demonstrating the creation and selection of documents.

Magic Tap Feature Demo

Ali demonstrated how to use and customize the Magic Tap feature on an iPhone, explaining that it can be used to answer and end phone calls but cannot be customized for other actions. Hans raised concerns about the feature inadvertently activating media playback, which Ali confirmed could be disabled in settings. Liz inquired about turning off Magic Tap, and Ali agreed to provide instructions. Hans also mentioned the Back Tap feature, which can be customized for various actions and works through iPhone cases.

iOS Magic Tap Feature Disable

Ali demonstrated how to disable the Magic Tap feature in iOS 2026, which is activated by default and causes music to play when performing a two-finger double-tap. After showing the step-by-step process in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Commands > Magic Tap, Ali confirmed that the feature can be turned off by disabling Media Playback. Hans then provided additional guidance on using dictation, explaining that it is started and ended with a two-finger double-tap, and confirmed that a tone is played when dictation is complete.

Email Attachment Navigation Challenges

Ali, Jeroo, and Liz discussed issues with accessing email attachments on mobile devices. Jeroo asked about navigating back to an email after viewing an attachment on an iPad, and Ali agreed to investigate. They discovered that the process varies between iPhone and iPad, with swiping down on an iPhone returning to the email but requiring a second tap on an iPad. Ali suggested Jeroo forward an attachment to check the navigation on her device, which Jeroo did. They also discussed challenges with accessing and editing PDF attachments, particularly those requiring input, and Ali acknowledged the need for further investigation into these issues.

iOS Mail Security and Navigation

The team discussed navigation and security features in Apple Mail and iOS. Ali and Jeroo explored how to close and reopen the Mail app when the back button is missing, while Jackie inquired about dictating usernames and passwords, which Ali explained is not allowed for security reasons. The group also discussed alternative methods for entering passwords, including using a physical keyboard, Bluetooth keyboard, or the password autofill function, with Hans noting that Face ID or passcode authentication is required for these features to work.

iOS Features and Calendar Updates

The group discussed password management features on iOS devices, including iCloud Keychain, the Passwords app, and locked notes for backup. They explored how to set up and use live voicemail, which allows messages to be viewed without dialing into voicemail.

Ali announced that he would not be present for next Wednesday’s session, but the Google Calendar tutorial would continue as scheduled. The group also discussed the upcoming 2.0 session on October 9th in the evening.