Upcoming Workshop Roadmap (Announced by Ali)

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

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

Apple Music Tutorial — Home Tab and New Tab

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

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

Apple Music Tutorial — Library Tab

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

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

Apple Music Tutorial — Search Tab

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

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

Music Streaming Service Preferences (Open Discussion)

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

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

Apple Music Tutorial — Radio Tab

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

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

Siri and iOS 26/27 Discussion

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

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

Transition Announcement: Zoom to Google Meet

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

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

Next Session Preview

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

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

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YouTube Premium Tutorial – Ad-Free Playback

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

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

YouTube Premium Tutorial – Background Playback and Screen Lock

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

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

YouTube Premium Tutorial – Video Download for Offline Listening

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

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

Brave Browser as a Free Ad-Blocking Alternative

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

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

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

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

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

YouTube Music Tutorial – Searching, Filtering, and Playing Songs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Platform Transition: Zoom to Google Meet

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

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

Office Hours Scheduling for Google Meet Transition

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

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

Chat Group Streamlining – WhatsApp Only

Siena announced the consolidation of community chat groups.

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

Booking Page for Office Hours

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

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

Newsletter Subscription Reminder

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

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

Contact the team:

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