Libby App Tutorial — Obtaining a Library Card Online

Siena demonstrated how to obtain a library card directly through the Libby app using the Hamilton Public Library as an example. She walked through the full online registration form, including selecting a home branch, entering personal details, choosing a PIN, and accepting the statement of responsibility.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed that the Libby app links directly to the library’s website registration page. The process took approximately 2 minutes and resulted in an immediate card number being issued via email. She used her own newly obtained Hamilton Public Library e-card as a live example.
  • Siena: Noted that the Hamilton Public Library’s registration form included well-labeled alt text on images, which she highlighted as a positive accessibility practice.
• Conclusion
  • Users can apply for a library card directly within the Libby app by navigating to their local library and selecting “I would like a card.”
  • The process is quick (approximately 2 minutes) and the card number is issued immediately upon submission.
  • Physical library card holders can also use their existing card number to sign into Libby.

Libby App Tutorial — Signing In with a Library Card

Siena demonstrated how to sign into the Libby app using the newly obtained Hamilton Public Library card number and PIN.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the Hamilton Public Library within Libby, selected “Sign in with my card,” entered the card number (copied from a Google Keep note), and entered her PIN to authenticate successfully.
  • Siena: Noted that the account showed 0 of 10 loans and 0 of 10 holds available.
• Conclusion
  • Signing in requires the library card number and a PIN. Users who have a physical card but do not know their PIN should contact or visit their local library branch to obtain it.

Libby App — Partner Libraries Feature

Lily raised a question about the partner libraries feature after noticing it during the sign-in process. Siena attempted a live test to determine whether her Hamilton Public Library card could be used to access the Burlington Public Library as a partner library.

• Details
  • Lily: Asked whether the partner libraries feature allows users to access books from multiple libraries with a single card, referencing her grandmother’s experience borrowing books across Kitchener and Waterloo.
  • Siena: Attempted to sign into the Burlington Public Library using her Hamilton card. The app returned an “Invalid library card” error, indicating a separate Burlington card is required.
  • Lily: Clarified that her grandmother’s experience likely involved physical interlibrary loans (books sent between branches), not the Libby app feature.
  • Siena: Noted she has not personally used the partner libraries feature and suggested asking team member Ashlyn, who has more experience with the app.
• Conclusion
  • A separate library card is required for each library, even if it is listed as a partner library.
  • The partner libraries feature may have limitations that require further exploration.
  • Users in areas with small library catalogs (such as Lily’s local library with only a few thousand books) may benefit from registering with multiple libraries to expand their available titles.

Libby App Tutorial — Searching for and Borrowing a Book

Siena searched for the upcoming Books Panel title, Living Disability edited by Emily McRae, and demonstrated the borrowing process using another available title, Living Brave by Shannon Ingle.

• Details
  • Macara: Confirmed the next books panel title is Living Disability, edited by Emily McRae.
  • Siena: Searched the Hamilton Public Library catalog and found Living Disability as an ebook with an approximately 2-week waitlist (1 copy available). Placed a hold on the title.
  • Siena: Borrowed Living Brave by Shannon Ingle, which was immediately available. Selected a 14-day lending period.
  • Siena: Set up Libby notifications for loan expiring, loan expired, hold ready, hold lapsing, hold lapsed, “Notify me” title alerts, and author/series alerts.
• Conclusion
  • Books with holds work similarly to physical library loans — only one patron can borrow a copy at a time, unlike CELA where multiple users can access the same title simultaneously.
  • Libby automatically returns books on the due date, eliminating late fees.
  • Users can set up notifications to be alerted about loan expiry, hold availability, and new titles.

Libby App Tutorial — Reading a Book

Siena opened Living Brave within the Libby app and demonstrated the in-app reading experience using VoiceOver and a Mantis Q40 braille display.

• Details
  • Siena: Showed navigation through the table of contents, dedication, and introduction of the book. Read aloud a portion of the introduction describing the author’s personal loss.
  • Siena: Explained that books can be opened directly in Libby (recommended) or downloaded as a DRM-protected EPUB for use in Adobe Digital Editions or compatible devices.
• Conclusion
  • The Libby in-app reader is accessible with VoiceOver and does not require additional software.
  • DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection is used by libraries to prevent unauthorized copying or modification of borrowed titles.

Libby App Tutorial — Returning a Book Early

Siena demonstrated how to return a borrowed book before the due date.

• Details
  • Siena: Navigated to the Shelf, then Loans, selected “Manage Loan” for Living Brave, and chose “Return Early.” Confirmed the return by tapping the “Return Loan” button.
  • Siena: Noted that after returning, the app displayed a reading journey summary and offered options to find similar titles or share the title.
• Conclusion
  • Books can be returned early at any time through the Manage Loan option on the Shelf.
  • Loans are also automatically returned on the due date if not renewed or returned manually.

Participant Q&A — Using an Existing Physical Library Card with Libby

Liz asked whether she needed a new online library card or could use her existing physical library card to access Libby.

• Details
  • Liz: Confirmed she already has a physical library card but has never registered with Libby and does not use a PIN.
  • Siena: Confirmed that an existing physical library card number can be used. However, a PIN is required and may need to be set up by contacting or visiting the local library branch.
  • Liz: Expressed interest in trying Libby and asked about the catalog size compared to CELA.
  • Siena: Noted that catalog size depends on the library, but registering with multiple libraries can expand available titles. Libby offers both ebooks and audiobooks.
  • Liz: Mentioned a specific book, Best Kept Secrets for Travelers with Sight Loss, which is not available on CELA and wondered if it might be on Libby.
• Conclusion
  • Existing physical library card holders can use their card number to sign into Libby after setting up a PIN with their library.
  • Siena offered one-on-one assistance to anyone who needs help setting up Libby.
  • The Libby app is available on the App Store by searching “Libby” (L-I-B-B-Y).

Platform Transition Announcement — Zoom to Google Meet

Lily announced that Techstravaganza plans to transition from Zoom to Google Meet starting in September, citing ongoing technical difficulties experienced by the team on the administrative side of Zoom, particularly with accessing recordings.

• Details
  • Lily: Explained that Siena, Allie, and Macara have been dealing with issues related to screen sharing, recording access, and other backend Zoom problems.
  • Siena: Elaborated that navigating the Zoom admin panel with a screen reader (VoiceOver or JAWS) to find recordings is increasingly difficult, especially without the notification email. Emphasized that participant feedback will determine whether the transition proceeds or Zoom is retained.
  • Liz: Noted that the group had used Google Meet previously and recalled it being manageable. Asked about phone dial-in (one-tap mobile), which will not be available on Google Meet.
  • Siena: Confirmed that Google Meet has improved significantly since the group last used it, particularly for users without Gmail accounts, who can now join by simply entering their name and clicking join.
  • Liz: Expressed that she does not see the transition as a major concern and suggested the team simply teach participants how to use it.
  • Macara: Highlighted the challenge of balancing backend issues with participant comfort.
  • Lily: Suggested conducting a test session on Google Meet to identify who has difficulty signing in before the September transition.
  • Macara: Agreed that a test run would provide more actionable data than office hours alone.
  • Siena: Proposed hosting a Techstravaganza Extra in August on Google Meet with a regular topic, using it simultaneously as a test run to identify participants who need additional support.
  • Liz: Suggested office hours alone may be sufficient and that a separate test session may not be necessary.
• Conclusion
  • The transition to Google Meet is planned for September.
  • A Techstravaganza Extra session in August on Google Meet is being considered as a test run.
  • Group and individual office hours will be offered to help participants prepare for the transition.
  • Final decision on whether to proceed with Google Meet or remain on Zoom will be informed by participant feedback gathered over the coming weeks, including at the Friday Techstravaganza Extra session.
  • Techstravaganza has approximately 70 members on its mailing list, though typical live attendance is around 6–7 participants.

Upcoming Sessions and Announcements

Siena outlined the schedule for upcoming Techstravaganza sessions.

• Details
  • Siena: Announced a Techstravaganza Extra on Friday, July 3rd, from 7–9 PM Eastern, featuring Ali continuing his Gmail tutorial focused on the native Gmail app on iPhone. The session will use a different Zoom link than the regular Wednesday sessions, with details to be shared via newsletter.
  • Siena: Announced a Goodreads tutorial on Wednesday, July 8th.
  • Siena: Announced a Techstravaganza Evenings session on Thursday, July 9th, from 7–9 PM Eastern.
• Conclusion
  • Participants were encouraged to attend the Friday session and watch for the newsletter with the meeting link.

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

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Session Introduction and Workshop Format

Ali formally opened the Techstravaganza workshop and outlined the session structure and ground rules.

• Details
  • Ali: Introduced the session for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, noting it was being recorded and would be available as a podcast afterward.
  • Ali: Outlined the two-part tutorial: (1) Gmail on the web using a Mac, and (2) threaded/conversation view in the Gmail iPhone app.
  • Ali: Explained the format — 5-minute tutorial segments followed by a pause for questions.
  • Ali: Reminded participants to speak one at a time and raise hands using Option+Y (Mac), Alt+Y (PC), or via the Reactions/More menu on mobile.
  • Siena: Assisted with co-host assignment, countdown for recording, and screen share setup.
• Conclusion
  • Session structure established; recording resumed after setup.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Navigating the Inbox and Selecting Messages

Ali demonstrated how to navigate through the Gmail inbox and select/deselect messages using keyboard commands in Chrome on a Mac with VoiceOver.

• Details
  • Ali: Explained that Gmail on the web has its own set of keyboard shortcuts distinct from VoiceOver-specific commands, and that Chrome provides the best experience for Gmail on the web (Safari works but is less optimal).
  • Ali: Demonstrated using the Up and Down Arrow keys to move between messages in the inbox table.
  • Ali: Demonstrated using the letter X to select and deselect individual messages, with VoiceOver announcing the selection count.
  • Siena: Added that Gmail shows 20 messages per page by default, and users can navigate to the next set via a “See more messages” option.
  • Ivy: Asked why multiple messages would be selected simultaneously and what the benefit was beyond deletion.
  • Ali: Clarified that selecting multiple messages allows bulk actions such as deleting, moving, and archiving, and that opening messages would be covered in the next section.
  • Siena: Confirmed that bulk selection can be used to move, archive, or delete multiple messages at once.
  • Jeroo: Asked about a prompt in Safari suggesting she switch to Chrome, and whether doing so would affect all applications.
  • Ali: Noted that the question was somewhat beyond the scope of the session and that he was unsure of the exact impact, especially given Jeroo’s older Mac.
  • Siena: Clarified that if Chrome is already installed, the prompt would simply open Gmail in Chrome; if not, it would direct to the Chrome installation page. She also confirmed that Gmail works in Safari and the prompt can be ignored.
• Conclusion
  • Up/Down Arrow navigates between messages; X selects/deselects messages for bulk actions.
  • Chrome is recommended for the best Gmail web experience, but Safari is functional.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Deleting, Opening, and Reading a Message

Ali demonstrated how to delete selected messages and open and read a single email, including navigating the message thread.

• Details
  • Ali: Demonstrated deleting selected messages using Shift+3 (the # key).
  • Ali: Opened a Techstravaganza reminder email by pressing Enter on the highlighted message.
  • Ali: Used the semicolon key to expand all threads within the message.
  • Ali: Used the letter P to navigate to the first message in the thread, and Control+Option+Right Arrow (VoiceOver next item) to read through the message content.
  • Ali: Read through the email content, which included workshop join details, a special announcement about the upcoming move to Google Meet, and upcoming session information.
  • Ali: Demonstrated using G then I (in quick succession) to return to the inbox from an open message.
• Conclusion
  • Enter opens a message; semicolon expands threads; Control+Option+Right Arrow reads through content; G+I returns to inbox.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Moving Messages to Labels

Ali demonstrated how to move selected messages to a specific Gmail label (folder/mailbox).

• Details
  • Ali: Selected multiple Techstravaganza-related messages using X, then pressed the letter V to open the Move To menu.
  • Ali: Typed “Textravaganza” in the menu to filter labels, then pressed Enter to move the messages.
  • Ali: Clarified that Gmail uses the term “labels,” while other email clients may call them “mailboxes” or “folders” — all referring to the same concept.
• Conclusion
  • V opens the Move To menu; type the label name and press Enter to move selected messages.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Composing and Sending a Message with an Attachment

Ali demonstrated how to compose a new email, address it, write a body, attach a file, and send it.

• Details
  • Ali: Pressed the letter C to open the Compose window.
  • Ali: Typed a recipient name (Siena) and navigated the autocomplete suggestions using the Down Arrow, selecting the correct address and pressing Enter.
  • Ali: Tabbed to the Subject field and typed a subject, then tabbed to the message body.
  • Ali: Noted that a pre-existing signature appeared in the body automatically (not covered in this tutorial).
  • Ali: Demonstrated attaching a file by copying a file from Finder (using Command+C) and pasting it into the compose window, with VoiceOver confirming the attachment was added.
  • Ali: Sent the message using Command+Enter.
  • Siena: Noted that attaching files is an important skill to cover and confirmed it was demonstrated.
• Conclusion
  • C opens Compose; Down Arrow navigates autocomplete; Command+Enter sends; files can be attached by copying and pasting from Finder.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Reading a Message with an Attachment and Replying (Siena’s Demonstration)

Siena took over screen sharing to demonstrate reading an email with an attachment, downloading it, and replying.

• Details
  • Siena: Opened the Gmail web interface on the Techstravaganza account and navigated to Ali’s email.
  • Siena: Noted that the inbox listing announces “has attachment” for emails containing attachments.
  • Siena: Opened the email, navigated through the message body using Control+Option+Right Arrow, and located the attachment section.
  • Siena: Explained that Gmail scans attachments for malware and advises users to only download from trusted senders.
  • Siena: Demonstrated two options for attachments — Preview and Download — and downloaded the file to the Downloads folder, then opened it in LibreOffice.
  • Siena: Demonstrated replying using Shift+R (reply in a new window) versus R (reply in the same window).
  • Lily: Asked about the benefit of replying in a new window (Shift+R) versus the same window (R).
  • Siena: Explained it was a personal habit developed to avoid losing her place in the thread; acknowledged it may not be necessary for everyone.
  • Ali: Noted he typically uses R (same window) and finds it sufficient.
  • Siena: Demonstrated returning to the inbox using G+I after replying.
• Conclusion
  • Attachments can be previewed or downloaded directly from the message; R replies in the same window, Shift+R in a new window — both are valid workflows.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Navigating Threaded/Conversation View

Ali demonstrated how to navigate between messages within a thread (conversation view) in Gmail on the web.

• Details
  • Ali: Opened a multi-message thread from a mailing list (LISP group), pressed the semicolon to expand all messages, and used P to go to the first message.
  • Ali: Explained that N moves to the next message in the thread and P moves to the previous, and that this is important to ensure focus is on the correct message before replying.
  • Ali: Read through two messages in the thread (from Yamuna Jivanada and Scott Cheeseworth) using Control+Option+Right Arrow.
  • Ali: Demonstrated pressing R to open a reply on the focused message, then discarded the draft using the Discard Draft button (Command+Shift+D).
  • Ali: Used N again to navigate to a third message in the thread (another reply from Yamuna Jivanada).
  • Ali: Returned to the inbox using G+I.
• Conclusion
  • N and P navigate between messages within a thread; always confirm focus is on the correct message before replying.

Gmail on the Web (Mac) — Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Ali demonstrated how to access Gmail’s built-in keyboard shortcuts reference.

• Details
  • Ali: Pressed Shift+/ (the question mark key) to open the keyboard shortcuts overlay.
  • Ali: Navigated through the shortcuts table using Control+Option+Right and Left Arrow, reading out various commands including Shift+Escape (compose/chat side panel), Escape (focus main window), Command+Enter (send), and Command+Shift+E (add CC recipients).
  • Ali: Noted that Google Chat (within Gmail/Workspace) was not covered in this session but expressed interest in exploring it in a future tutorial, as it could be useful for internal communication.
• Conclusion
  • Pressing ? (Shift+/) opens the Gmail keyboard shortcuts reference at any time.

Gmail iPhone App — Navigating Threaded View (Brief Overview)

Ali provided a brief demonstration of navigating threaded messages in the Gmail iPhone app.

• Details
  • Ali: Connected his iPhone and opened the Gmail app, navigating to a mailing list thread.
  • Ali: Noted that on the iPhone, flicking left/right navigates messages, and VoiceOver announces “collapsed message from [name]”; double-tapping expands the message.
  • Ali: Was stopped by Lily at the 20-minute mark before completing a full demonstration.
  • Ali: Provided a verbal summary of the key interaction: flick to navigate, double-tap to expand a collapsed message.
• Conclusion
  • On the iPhone Gmail app, collapsed thread messages are announced by VoiceOver; double-tap to expand. A more detailed demonstration was deferred.

Announcement: Permanent Move from Zoom to Google Meet

The team formally announced that all Techstravaganza workshops will permanently transition from Zoom to Google Meet starting September 2026.

• Details
  • Ali: Explained that Zoom has recurring backend issues including unreliable screen sharing, audio setup problems, recording difficulties, and complex host controls that make session management difficult.
  • Siena: Confirmed the change is permanent and that Google Meet has undergone significant accessibility improvements.
  • Siena: Noted that Google Meet is browser-based (no installation required), whereas Zoom requires an app install.
  • Ivy: Asked whether the process for joining Google Meet would differ from Zoom; Siena confirmed it is similar — click a link, adjust camera/microphone on the pre-join screen, then click Join.
  • Siena: Announced that virtual office hours (group and individual) will be offered throughout the three months leading up to September to help participants transition.
• Conclusion
  • Techstravaganza will move permanently to Google Meet in September 2026; office hours will support the transition.

Office Hours Planning: Google Meet Onboarding (June 25, 2026)

The team discussed logistics for the first group office hours session scheduled for the following day.

• Details
  • Lily: Announced that office hours are open the next day (Thursday, June 25) for anyone needing help with Google Meet.
  • Ali and Siena: Agreed to split the team across two platforms — Ali, Lily, and Ashlyn in the Google Meet studio; Siena and Macara in the Zoom studio — so participants having trouble with Meet can start in Zoom and be assisted to transition.
  • Makara: Agreed to the arrangement, noting it would make it easier to monitor both platforms.
  • Siena: Confirmed that the Zoom studio link and Google Meet studio link would both be included in that evening’s newsletter.
• Conclusion
  • Office hours: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM Eastern. Ali/Lily/Ashlyn in Meet studio; Siena/Macara in Zoom studio.

Upcoming Session Schedule and Naming Changes

Contact the team:

Email: support@techstravaganza.ca

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Siena provided updates on the upcoming session schedule and announced a rebranding of session names.

• Details
  • Siena: Noted that the next session would be on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2026, from 1:00–3:00 PM Eastern, shifted by one day due to Canada Day (July 1st).
  • Siena: Confirmed the regular Wednesday afternoon schedule resumes on July 8th.
  • Siena: Announced a naming change: “Textravaganza Afternoons” for the weekly Wednesday workshops, and “Textravaganza Evenings” for the monthly Thursday evening workshop (second Thursday of the month), with the next evening session on July 9th.
• Conclusion
  • Next session: July 2nd, 2026, 1:00–3:00 PM Eastern. Regular schedule resumes July 8th. New naming convention introduced.

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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