Recent Siri Changes Remove Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users

[cmaier]

Issues yes, angry users over feature changes, not so much.

Steve Jobs took away disk drives. You don’t remember people being angry about that “feature change?”

 

[Bankage]

I almost want to say, Siri is the cause of the breakdown in communication because they can't draft emails with Siri or check their Voicemail with Siri... but that'd just be snarky

---------------------------------

My theory, could this be a side-effect of the processing most requests on device vs sending to the server? Since it's an issue Apple is aware of, perhaps it's just a software fix in the near future. Alas, this is something that even if a small number of users are affected, still causes issues.

With all that said, does Apple specifically state that there is this functionality for low vision/blind people? or is it something they just came to rely on? Either way, hopefully it gets fixed very soon.

My theory is 'institutional amnesia'. Apple's diversity-hiring initiative has caused a massive turnover in personnel and leadership. I saw the same happen in the military, promoting progress and extinguishing legacy. Simply put, the old crew had institutional knowledge from lessons learned; the new crew is gaining experience points through oversight and making mistakes.

 

[bentgate]

Apple just keeps getting worse, and worse and worse. They can’t be doing this kind of thing to a community who depends on these functions. They MUST be more careful.

Getting rid of the home button pretty much does this. My brother is fully blind and needs a flip phone still because he needs actual buttons.

 

[jimimac71]

I'm visually impaired and have had no problems using Siri for a bunch of different things. However, when I upgraded to iOS 15, some of the commands I use daily get the "I can't do that" response from Siri. The pattern I'm noticing is when the features are tied to the HomeKit or Shortcuts. One example is with smart plugs. Asking Siri to "turn on bedroom light" no longer works or she'll substitute turning it on with playing some random Music track of a similar name. Another example is adding items to my grocery list that I setup in the Notes app. Siri can no longer do that, from the iPhone nor HomePod.

The playing of a music track instead of turning on the bedroom light is almost humorous. Almost. What if the situation were more critical?
Apple has prided themselves for decades as being second to none for people with various disabilities.
I'm moderately vision impaired but don't need any additional tools.
I'm aware Siri can do things without VoiceOver.
Siri just makes things easier, right?
All these negative comments, all over this forum, make me happy to stay with Android.

 

[Sincci]

I'm sure there are people who are defending this one too and ask people to just switch to Android if they are blind.

 

[Wildkraut]

Ohh Apple, unbelievable… what a mess.

What will they say to the low vision and blind users now? You’re being blind wrong?

 

[jimimac71]

I'm sure there are people who are defending this one too and ask people to just switch to Android if they are blind.

I don't think Android can complete with Apple's VoiceOver.
Siri yes, but not VoiceOver.
VO started way back with OS X Tiger.
Then Apple created the voice Alex in Leopard.
I think Alex is still the best.
VoiceOver made it possible for blind people to switch from Windows, and a separate screen reader, to the Mac, with VO built right in.
Letting Siri decline, punches holes in Apple's top notch reputation, regardless of the reason why.

 

[Wildkraut]

So they just straight up removed functionality and made Siri less useful. Cool.

Well, they removed the only features that made Siri useful. Now Siri became even dumber. Seems like „tell me a joke“ is more important than supporting blind people.

Bravo Apple! 👏🤬
I smell lawsuits…

 

[MrWillie]

Were you thinking of Vista?

ME ???

 

[MacCheetah3]

All these negative comments, all over this forum, make me happy to stay with Android.

I agree until this. On a Samsung tablet at least, magnification is so tedious it’s nearly useless. I haven’t yet found something akin to Smart Invert — fortunately most apps I use have a dark theme. Granted, I’m not an Android veteran but I shouldn’t need to be to enable, use, and adjust features related to overall accessibility. Furthermore, except for the most recent OS update, a shut down/restart has always caused the accessibility features to get disabled — might not be normal.

 

[jimimac71]

The only thing I really like about my Samsung tablet is it can cast to my Roku. My Amazon tablet can't, not even to an Amazon TV stick.
I don't use too many apps instead of my web browser, because apps don't typically zoom.
My default browser is Opera because it automatically word wraps when I zoom.
I only have the two tablets, no smartphone. A 10 inch display is as low as I can go.
I also don't use Alexa or the Google Assistant. They have memories like an elephant.
My first tablet was a 2017 Amazon 10 inch. Alexa was enabled and when Alex Trebek talked about using Alexa on Jeopardy!, Alexa woke up. That was the end of that. My privacy is important and letting my devices snoop just ain't gonna happen.
As for this thread and Siri, I'm pretty sure Alexa doesn't stop performing tasks.
My brother has and loves his iPhone, but also has the Google Assistant.
I have the Google Play Store on my Amazon tablet. Not everything is compatible, but that can also be said for my Samsung tablet.
I enjoy Mac Rumors as I learn a lot. Some of what I'm learning ain't so good.
I don't think Apple would like to know I just may stay with Windows, Android, and a basic flip phone. Oh, a flip phone with Alexa.

 

[Jetscreamer]

Come on Apple, Siri is now the dumbest assistant in the industry. Get your act together already.

 

[skitidetdu]

I have no idea why this is news. Siri responding she cannot do something has been happening for years. One day she can, the next day she can’t. It’s like there are multiple Siri’s and it depends on who you’re talking to. Extremely annoying and one of the reasons I hate Siri.

Yes Siri can be quite moody. Bad days good days like the rest of us

 

[smulji]

My theory is 'institutional amnesia'. Apple's diversity-hiring initiative has caused a massive turnover in personnel and leadership. I saw the same happen in the military, promoting progress and extinguishing legacy. Simply put, the old crew had institutional knowledge from lessons learned; the new crew is gaining experience points through oversight and making mistakes.

That's affirmative action for you.

 

[smithcasey_]

With the recent release of iOS 15, Apple appears to have made some changes to Siri functionality that have removed features relied on by low vision and blind iPhone users.

Several Siri commands that provide details on phone calls, voicemails, and sending emails no longer appear to be working. The following commands used to be functional, but have recently been removed.

• Do I have any voicemails?
  
• Play my voicemail messages
  
• Check my call history
  
• Check my recent calls
  
• Who called me?
  
• Send an email
  
• Send an email to [person]

Over the last two weeks, we've received several emails from iPhone users who are missing this key Siri functionality, or their relatives who are attempting to help them navigate the changes. The Siri feature removals have also been documented on the AppleVis forums for blind and low vision users of Apple products.

Asking Siri to provide details on recent phone calls or voicemails results in the following response: "I can't help with that, but you can ask me to open the Phone app." Asking about email garners a similar response about Siri being unable to help.

It's worth noting that it's still possible to ask Siri to play the most recent voicemail message that's available, or a voicemail from a specific person, but Siri will not read out a list of all the available voicemails. The Siri commands seem to have disappeared when iOS 15 was released, but iOS 14 users are also not able to use them anymore so it's not an issue tied to iOS 15.

We asked Apple for comment on whether this was a bug or if there are alternate commands available for users, but after several days of waiting for a response, we did not hear back. A user on the AppleVis forums spoke to Apple support and was told that Apple is aware of the issue, so there's a possibility that this functionality will be re-added at some point.

Article Link: Recent Siri Changes Remove Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users

It appears Siri email support has returned as of iOS 15.0.2.

 

[Morac]

Siri is even more broken in iOS 15.1.

Siri can’t search photos anymore. Asking Siri to “Show my photos from yesterday” just opens the Photos app to whatever was last displayed. Asking to “show photos from yesterday” shows images from the web (using Bing search).

Things are also broken under MacOS 12.0.1 where Finder integration is completely broken in addition to the photo search not working.

 

[Mark Booth]

Siri is pretty close to useless under iOS 15.1. Particularly if used in conjunction with CarPlay.

With just the iPhone in my hand (not in car), I can ask Siri to tell me about appointments I have the coming week. Since iOS 15.1, Siri all too often only tells me about ONE appointment when, in fact, there are 4 or 5 on my calendar app. But when I attempt the same thing with my iPhone connected to CarPlay, Siri FAILS every time. "One moment".... "Still checking".... "I'm sorry, I can't do that right now".

I've heard those sentences to an ANNOYINGLY high degree since installing iOS 15.1.

Apple REALLY screwed up Siri. I wish I never installed iOS 15. Apple screwed up HomePods with audio OS 15.1 (fixed a lot of the bugs in audio OS 15.1.1).

How can a company with so many supposedly talented software engineers SCREW UP stuff so much from one OS version to another? It is PATHETIC.

Folks, do yourself a favor... Buy Android!

Mark

 

[KermitPDX]

FIXED:Apple came out with iOS 15.2 and Siri functions are returned.
HOW: Even if automatic updating in selected it is not automatically updating. So go to Setting, General, Software update. Request to update to IOS 15.2. Be sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in. Can take up to 30-60 minutes.

 

[KermitPDX]

FIXED:Apple came out with iOS 15.2 and Siri functions are returned.
HOW: Even if automatic updating in selected it is not automatically updating. So go to Setting, General, Software update. Request to update to IOS 15.2. Be sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in. Can take up to 30-60 minutes.