Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: The Blind Life Podcast – "Massive Apple Accessibility Updates Just Announced! New Accessibility Features for 2025"

Episode 44 | June 16, 2025
Host: Sam Seavey
Theme: Reactions to Apple’s WWDC announcements, focusing especially on the new “Liquid Glass” design in iOS 26 and its impact on accessibility for low vision and blind users.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sam Seavey dives into Apple's latest announcements from WWDC 2025, specifically the sweeping design changes in iOS 26. While he’s addressed the dedicated accessibility updates in a separate YouTube video, here he scrutinizes the broader usability implications for people with low vision, highlighting both exciting and worrisome developments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. New “Liquid Glass” Design Language

[00:30–02:00]

What is Liquid Glass?
Apple’s new system-wide theme introduces highly transparent, frosted, and translucent elements to the interface: menus, widgets, notification panels, and even app icons.
Comparison to Microsoft:
Sam draws parallels to the “Aero Glass” style in Windows 7/Vista (circa 2009), noting that Apple is revisiting an aesthetic that wasn’t universally loved for usability.
Low Vision Concerns:
Sam quickly points out that these changes pose serious challenges:
- Transparent backgrounds make text harder to read
- All major UI elements are layered with see-through effects
- The trend is “as far opposite of low-vision-friendly as you can get,” making high contrast nearly impossible by default

"So Apple is going to this new design theme. They're calling it Liquid Glass. It's very transparent, very translucent...for low vision users this is going to be a nightmare." — Sam Seavey [00:37]

2. Speculation on Apple’s Motivation

[02:00–03:00]

Tied to Vision Pro and Smart Glasses:
Sam believes this aesthetic sets the stage for upcoming AR devices (Vision Pro, smart glasses), where UI elements need to blend with real-world visuals.
Not Just for Looks:
Menu transparency is likely meant to keep virtual interfaces unobtrusive in AR, but this backfires for accessibility.

"It's because of Vision Pro. I mean, that's what it is...they're getting everybody prepared for smart glasses...But still, it is gonna be a mess." — Sam Seavey [02:26]

3. Possible Workarounds & Accessibility Tweaks

[03:00–04:30]

Existing Tools:
- Users can “turn off transparencies” via accessibility settings (Display → Reduce Transparency)
- However, even with these toggles, elements remain semi-transparent in iOS 26, unlike previous versions which allowed full opacity
Uncertainty with High Contrast:
- It’s unclear whether “High Contrast” will improve visibility under the new design
- Sam is wary of installing the beta due to past issues disabling VoiceOver

"I saw somebody do that in a review video and it did cut down on the transparencies...but it didn't cut it out completely like it does right now in iOS 18." — Sam Seavey [03:45]

4. New Functional Features

[04:30–06:00]

Colored Message Backgrounds:
- You can assign custom background colors to individual text conversations, making it easier for people with vision impairments or cognitive disabilities to identify contacts quickly
- Example: Sam suggests a bright red background for his wife's messages for quick recognition
Lock Screen Clock Improvements:
- The clock is now much larger, which is excellent for low vision users, pending it can be set in high contrast
- Concern: Even the larger clock remains semi-transparent; solid colors are preferable
Simplified Camera Interface:
- Especially beneficial for older users or those preferring a cleaner experience

"Being able to set a colored background in your text messages...that's going to be great...super easy for me to recognize whose conversation I'm in with that bright red background." — Sam Seavey [05:10]

"I'm also really loving the lock screen clock, how you can make that much bigger now...but once again...it's been kind of semi transparent... that's not great." — Sam Seavey [05:34]

5. iPad and Mac UX Updates

[06:00–07:00]

New Menus and Pointers:
- Introduction of a true pointer and Mac-like taskbar to iPad—a welcome update for those who prefer desktop-style navigation
Predicted Compatibility:
- Sam expects VoiceOver and other assistive tools to adapt to these menu changes but acknowledges there will be a learning curve

"The iPad has these new menus, like a taskbar...A lot of the Mac elements are being brought to the iPad, which I think is great, especially like the pointer." — Sam Seavey [06:20]

6. Recap & Outlook

[07:00–End]

Sam repeats his biggest concern: that the Liquid Glass aesthetic will be “terrible” for users needing strong contrast.
He’s hopeful but cautious, urging listeners to watch for his updates as more information surfaces.
For full coverage of accessibility updates (not the visual design), Sam recommends his companion YouTube video (link in episode/video description).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Apple’s Design Direction:
"Why, why, why make it harder for everybody to see it? Well, it's because of Vision Pro..." — Sam Seavey [02:12]
On Beta Testing Woes:
"I only have one iPhone and I made that mistake with iOS 16, jumping onto the beta before it was fully tested, and I instantly lost voiceover. Voiceover stopped working and I was stuck." — Sam Seavey [04:10]
Advice for Listeners:
"You guys stick around. Of course I'm going to stay up on top of this and let you guys know as soon as I do." — Sam Seavey [07:22]

Important Timestamps

00:30 Introduction to iOS 26 design changes – “Liquid Glass” explained
02:00 Apple’s presumed rationale: prepping for AR/smart glasses
03:30 Accessibility workaround options and their limitations
05:10 Custom text message colors as an accessibility boost
05:34 Praise and concerns for the larger lock screen clock
06:20 New iPad & Mac UX elements—Taskbar and pointer on iPad
07:22 Promise to track ongoing developments and share updates

Final Thoughts

Sam’s assessment is clear: while Apple is making positive strides in isolated accessibility features, the overarching “Liquid Glass” design raises red flags for the blind and low-vision community. He encourages listeners to stay tuned as more information and real-world testing become available, and points those wanting a full run-down of accessibility-specific changes to his YouTube channel.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:08]
A
Hey guys, it's Sam and Rachel and you're listening to the Blind Life Podcast.
[00:15]
B
This is the companion podcast to the popular YouTube channel the Blind Life.
[00:20]
A
Here I share tips and tricks, how.
[00:23]
B
To'S, interviews with amazing VIPs in the community, and loads of assistive technology reviews.
[00:31]
A
The goal of the Blind Life, to help you live your best blind life. Since you guys have requested this so much, I'm going to give you my thoughts on the latest announcements from Apple's WWDC regarding the upcoming Updates and specifically iOS26. Now, I'm not going to be talking about accessibility updates. I just did a whole video about all of the accessibility update announcements, so definitely go check that out. All of those accessibility updates are awesome. Very much looking forward to those. But I want to talk about just some of the General updates to iOS 26 and some of the design themes that are going to be carried throughout all the different systems. So first things first. Liquid Glass, guys. It is a mess. So Apple is going to this new design theme. They're calling it Liquid Glass. It's very transparent, very translucent. It's supposed to have lots of see through elements that resemble layers of glass. Frosted glass, translucent glass. So as many other reviewers have mentioned, it's like late Windows 7, Windows Vista. Windows was doing this back in 2009, the transparent glass theme. So obviously for low vision users, this is going to be a nightmare. Even fully sighted people, a lot of people are saying, why are you making everything harder to see? All of the menus, all of the notification panels, everything, all the widgets, it's all transparent. So you have to try and read this text on a transparent background and everything is showing underneath. It is a mess. Whenever I set up a brand new phone, whether it's iPhone or Android, set it up for low vision, there's lots of things that I do to make it as contrasty and as low vision friendly as possible. Things like turning on high contrast, turning off transparencies. This new design language, this liquid Glass is going as far opposite of that as you possibly can. They even have a crystal icon theme where it completely turns all of your icons transparent. It's just like why, why, why make it harder for everybody to see it? Well, it's because of Vision Pro. I mean, that's what it is. Even when you see the demos of the new multitasking on the iPad and you can have these windows and they overlap and you grab the little handle and you can resize the windows is very similar to how you interact with the windows on The Apple Vision Pro. So it's clear that they're kind of leaning into that. And some have speculated that this whole see through menus and notifications and all that they're getting everybody prepared for smart glasses like the Apple Vision Pro, where it's augmented reality. You're gonna have these notifications pop up, but you don't want them to block the real world in front of you. So they're going to be transparent. And okay, I get that maybe, but still, it is gonna be a mess. Now, there is a little bit of hope, but not that much because we do have the option to turn off transparencies. That is in the accessibility settings. It's in the display settings within. You can turn off transparencies. But I saw somebody do that in a review video and it did cut down on the transparencies of all of this liquid glass stuff, but it didn't cut it out completely like it does right now in iOS 18. This individual turned off transparencies and then pulled down the notification shade and it still kind of looked like a semi transparent pane of glass. Now, I don't know if enabling high contrast will kind of help with that. I really hope so. But we won't know until iOS 26 is fully released in September or if I am brave enough to put on the beta build. I only have one iPhone and I made that mistake with iOS 16, jumping onto the beta before it was fully tested, and I instantly lost voiceover. Voiceover stopped working and I was stuck. So I don't want to do that Quite yet with iOS26, I'm going to wait a little while. There's also a lot of new elements, new menus. The iPad has these new menus, like a taskbar. It's very similar. A lot of the Mac elements are being brought to the iPad, which I think is great, especially like the pointer. We're getting an actual true pointer on an iPad now, which is fantastic. And I'm sure that all of these new elements are going to work with voiceover. It's just we're going to have to learn that new way to do it. A lot of these other new features I'm not super crazy about. There are a couple that I am looking forward to. Being able to set a colored background in your text messages. That's going to be great. For example, if I make my wife's text message conversation have a red background, well, it's going to be super easy for me to recognize whose conversation I'm in with that bright red background. I'M like, oh, that's my wife. So I think that's going to be helpful for a lot of people using color contrast. I'm also really loving the lock screen clock, how you can make that much bigger now. But once again, everything I've seen it's been kind of semi transparent or translucent and that's not great. I'm really hoping we can make that a solid high contrast color because a much larger clock is awesome, but it needs to stand out. The other thing that is probably going to be good for a lot of people is the more simplified camera interface, especially for the older population. Simple is always better, so that's probably going to work out well. But like I said, my biggest issue is this whole liquid glass design theme that is being implemented throughout all the systems. The Mac, the iPad, the iPhone, everything is getting this new liquid glass theme for low vision. It's just going to be terrible. I'm just fingers crossed that we're going to be able to set it back back to high contrast. Time will tell. You guys stick around. Of course I'm going to stay up on top of this and let you guys know as soon as I do. And don't forget, if you want to check out all the new accessibility features coming to Apple, check out that video. I'll have a link in the video description or you can find it on The Blind Life YouTube channel.