<https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/29/users-complain-about-siri-no-longer-being-ab
le-to-send-email-and-check-call-history/> Users complain about Siri no
longer being able to send emails or check call history
<https://9to5mac.com/author/filipeesposito/> Filipe Espósito
Apple announced a major upgrade to <https://9to5mac.com/guides/siri/> Siri
this year with <https://9to5mac.com/guides/ios-15/> iOS 15, which is now
able to process on-device requests without an internet connection. However,
it seems that Apples virtual assistant has also lost some functionality, as
users have been complaining about Siri no longer being able to send emails
or check call history.
As noted by
<https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/29/siri-changes-features-removed/>
MacRumors, there are multiple Siri commands that are no longer working after
the iOS 15 update. These include commands related to the Phone and Mail
apps, as you can check below:
* 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]
9to5Mac was able to confirm that these commands are not only unavailable in
iOS 15, but also in iOS 14.8. While some users may not even notice the
missing commands, these are common requests made by blind and low-vision
users. Reports about this issue have been shared on the
<https://www.applevis.com/forum/ios-ipados/siri-unable-send-email> AppleVis
forum, which is dedicated to discussing accessibility features in Apple
products.
One of the people whom I support told me that she could no longer use Siri
to send email from her iPhone 8 with iOS 14. I tried on my iPhone SE with
iOS 15.0 and the response from Siri was sorry, I cant help with that.
Subsequently, Ive had the same response on a phone running iOS 12. If this
is a deliberate feature removal, its certainly a loss to some users with
sight loss who find it a convenient way to send a brief email.
Its unclear if the removal of these commands was intentional or if its
just a bug, however, as it affects multiple versions of iOS, this may be
something that Apple can solve with a server-side update.
Its worth noting that, beyond the Mail and Phone app commands,
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/07/27/siri-commands-ios-15/> Siri actually lost
even more functionality with iOS 15. Apple has informed developers that
interactions for ride-booking, configuration of vehicles via Siri over
CarPlay, and third-party Photo Search were discontinued with the update in
favor of Shortcuts app workflows.
<https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/30/original-voice-of-siri-web-accessibility/>
Original voice of Siri promotes AI-powered web accessibility
<https://9to5mac.com/author/benlovejoy/> Ben Lovejoy
Susan Bennett revealed back in 2013 that she
<https://9to5mac.com/2013/10/04/siris-u-s-voice-actress-revealed-had-no-idea
-she-would-be-on-the-iphone/> only found out by chance that she had become
the original voice of <https://9to5mac.com/guides/siri/> Siri. Shes now
taking advantage of her accidental fame to promote a new approach to web
usability.
Bennett stars in an amusing Siri-based ad for an AI-based approach to making
websites accessible to people with disabilities, such as those using screen
readers
<https://userway.org/> UserWay explains:
Siri is a game changer for many of the one billion people worldwide with
different disabilities. Susan Bennett did an obscure voice acting job in
2005 and was surprised when she became the first voice of Siri, when it was
introduced by Apple in 2011. Through this experience she came to realize how
impactful technology can be for people with disabilities.
Susans next mission is to advocate for the hundreds of millions who are
excluded from the internet. Thats why she has opted to do her first ever ad
featuring the voice of Siri, calling for a more accessible internet [
]
The campaign focuses on spreading awareness about web accessibility and
bringing light to the critical importance of an inclusive web. With
<https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disability> 15% of the global population
having some sort of disability and the world quickly becoming digital, web
accessibility is an increasingly important issue.
The UserWay campaign features Susan Bennett, the voice behind Apples
popular virtual assistant, Siri. Bennett walks through a neighborhood
assisting individuals with different tasks like directions and calorie
information as Siri would. However, Bennett explains that she is limited
in her ability to help people with disabilities due to inaccessible
websites. The video finishes with Bennett calling on websites to make use of
the UserWay AI-powered widget to create a more inclusive web.
Making websites accessible can be a time-consuming process, but UserWay
claims to let website owners do it by adding a single line of code.
The UserWay widget uses AI to identify any accessibility issues on a website
and automatically alters the sites code in real time to resolve them. The
widget also offers various opt-in usability and accessibility enhancements
like increased color contrast, text size adjustments and an onboard screen
reader [
]
I feel honored to be included in such an important project, Susan Bennett
said. UserWay is bringing light to an issue most people arent even aware
of. Being Siri made me the doorway to online services for millions of
people, and I am excited to raise my unique voice and open those doors
further, particularly to people with disabilities.
In 2017, Bennett shared the story of how she provided Siris first voice
<https://9to5mac.com/2017/04/14/siri-voice-actor-susan-bennett-interview/>
without knowing it.
. UserWay is <https://userway.org/pricing/> a subscription service,
starting at $490 per year.
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