Mastodawn

This week on Technically Working:
#TechnicallyWorking
We talk AI that helps, AI that might wipe your hard drive, and the one rule we’re sticking to:
If it can take action on your system, run it on a Raspberry Pi first.

Also in this episode:
• First stock purchases and accessible investing apps
• Claude Bot and the risks of giving AI real access
• Cookie, a voice-friendly recipe app that’s surprisingly great for blind cooks thanks to @doubletap
• Using AI to organize notes and documents automatically
• Why some Mastodon servers are blocking AI-built apps
• A growing return to Linux on the desktop

If you’re curious about practical AI, cautious experimentation, and making tech actually work for you, this one’s for you.

Listen now if you are a Tip Jar Supporter and tomorrow morning in the podcast feed and at: TechnicallyWorking.show

Harry Bell Jan 13

kᵣotka Jan 12

having an AI partner must be so funny, imagine you ask them "do you still love me" and they begin the response with "Excellent question!"

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Harry Bell Dec 18

The name of the first chapter will be spoken aloud with its name and then “button” (e.g. Introduction, button).

Activating the name of the first chapter will open a menu that offers a list of chapters.

Sincerely,

Apple Accessibility

For more information on Accessibility at Apple, please visit:
http://www.apple.com/accessibility
http://www.apple.com/support/accessibility

Please include the line below in follow-up emails for this request.
Case-ID: 17495592… (2/3)

Accessibility

Apple products and services have built-in features to help you create, connect, and do what you love, your way.

Apple

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Harry Bell Dec 18

On Dec 15, 2025, at 1:43 AM, Harry Bell <[email protected]> wrote:
Release notes for iOS 26.2 said that chapters will now be generated automatically for each podcast if the Developer has not already created them. I subscribe to many podcasts but I cannot find any way of me now playing screen to discover how to access such chapters. How do I go about finding them using VoiceOver?
Thanks
Harry Bell. (3/3)

Harry Bell Dec 18

Who would have guessed?? Apple Accessibility have just replied My query is now and Podcast chapters
Hey Harry,

Great question. The easiest path we found was to:

1. Open Podcasts
2. Play the episode you wish to listen to
3. Activate the mini-player to open the Now Playing screen
4. Activate the Transcript, button
5. 4 finger single-tap on top half of display to jump focus to first item on-screen
6. Swipe with 1 finger to move focus one flick past the More, button. (1/3)

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Harry Bell Nov 19

We’ve been getting a huge number of support requests since launch. We’re still a small team, but we’re doing our best to get back to everyone as quickly as we can. We definitely haven’t abandoned ship. We’re actively listening and working through all the feedback you’re sharing. (2/2)

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Harry Bell Nov 19

At last ally solos team replies: Hey everyone, thank you for all the feedback. We aren’t replying to each message here because this is a beta Slack group and we don’t have the capacity to provide support in this space. If you run into issues or need help, the best way to get a resolution is to email [email protected]. (1/2)

Harry Bell Nov 19

#ally solos from #envision arrived 2 weeks ago full of problems but the ally team have gone silent and do not reply to messages or emails. Has anyone had more luck with the glasses or with getting any response from the company?

The touhchpad is so fiddly and hit and miss that I still cannot work out how to reliably activate Walkie-talkie - the touchpad on Meta glasses is s omch uh easier!
And of course, it is not hands-free if I have to get my phone out if I want to use walkie talkie and do not want to have Ally on all the time bothering me with suggestions that I ask her about the weather or what colour something is.
Unless there is a lot of updates and a clear roadmap, few will want to keep the glasses! (3/4)