Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Voiceover vs. TalkBack (self.Blind)
submitted by Laser_Lens_4
I've been a happy Android User for many years now but I had to start using Google talkback about 2 years ago. So far it's been okay. It's actually performed pretty well on my new OnePlus 5T. Actually, it's the first phone where it isn't horrible and buggy. I did try Talkback on the new version of Android Wear but that's a hot mess so I'm ignoring that for now. Anyway I've heard a lot that voiceover on the iPhone is better than talkback but what's the difference? Anybody who has used both and can tell me more about it? In my experience TalkBack has been pretty competent. Most of the issues I have are from inept developers not labeling their buttons (like Reddit.) some stuff built into the operating system also acts weird, although it didn't happen on my old Nexus 6 so I'll chalk that up to inept OnePlus Developers.
Actually, that's a pretty good question to start with. How are apps built over on iOS? Do the developers over there insist on leaving everything unlabeled?
There are also some apps, like telegram, which don't work at all. also, there's this annoying thing when using Google Chrome where TalkBack will hang for several seconds and do... Something, right after I scroll.
I've also heard stories from some blind coworkers who say that voice over is a broken mess on all but the newer iPhones.
Actually, that's a pretty good question to start with. How are apps built over on iOS? Do the developers over there insist on leaving everything unlabeled?
There are also some apps, like telegram, which don't work at all. also, there's this annoying thing when using Google Chrome where TalkBack will hang for several seconds and do... Something, right after I scroll.
I've also heard stories from some blind coworkers who say that voice over is a broken mess on all but the newer iPhones.
Marconius 3 points 5y ago
I test software on both Android and iOS phones, and hands down VoiceOver wins. It's been around longer, and VoiceOver was definitely designed while Talkback always feels engineered. VoiceOver is smoother than Talkback, much less buggy, and all the standard iOS controls work with it, but of course it's truly up to the developers to label buttons and links, etc. For the most part, most iOS apps are accessible, plus Apple is beginning to make a push for general accessibility across everything in the app store.
I'm not a fan of all the noises and feedback Talkback makes. I highly recommend you go to an Apple store or grab a friend's iPhone and give VoiceOver a try. The gestures are simple, all our vertical swipe options are handled through one interaction called the Rotor rather than through local and global context menus, it's fast and easy to turn VO on and off, plus Siri integration is moving further and further into apps, so I can tell her to pay off different credit cards, etc., along with general assistance functions like organizing my calendars, managing email and messages, etc. There are many more blind iOS users out there than Android users, and as such most major apps and blind-specific apps are coded in iOS first then ported to Android later. Android accessibility updates are usually quite behind the times for most apps. Hell, even the swipe length and sensitivity with VoiceOver is better, as navigating around with Talkback makes me feel like I'm going to get RSI while testing since I have to swipe so far and tap with just the right timing to have an Android phone respond.
It's all personal preference, but honestly VoiceOver is just superior to Talkback in almost every way, from speed, integration, development speed, bugginess, and overall major point release stability. VO was made and designed for blind users, and Talkback was obviously made without UX in mind and just to expose as much as they could to their voice synth feedback.
I'm not a fan of all the noises and feedback Talkback makes. I highly recommend you go to an Apple store or grab a friend's iPhone and give VoiceOver a try. The gestures are simple, all our vertical swipe options are handled through one interaction called the Rotor rather than through local and global context menus, it's fast and easy to turn VO on and off, plus Siri integration is moving further and further into apps, so I can tell her to pay off different credit cards, etc., along with general assistance functions like organizing my calendars, managing email and messages, etc. There are many more blind iOS users out there than Android users, and as such most major apps and blind-specific apps are coded in iOS first then ported to Android later. Android accessibility updates are usually quite behind the times for most apps. Hell, even the swipe length and sensitivity with VoiceOver is better, as navigating around with Talkback makes me feel like I'm going to get RSI while testing since I have to swipe so far and tap with just the right timing to have an Android phone respond.
It's all personal preference, but honestly VoiceOver is just superior to Talkback in almost every way, from speed, integration, development speed, bugginess, and overall major point release stability. VO was made and designed for blind users, and Talkback was obviously made without UX in mind and just to expose as much as they could to their voice synth feedback.
Laser_Lens_4 [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Interesting. So far I don't really mind the gesture control of TalkBack, and I do appreciate the much more open platform. I've always had a strong dislike of Apple products, everything from the ux to their Hardware. It's just not an ecosystem I can get behind.
I guess the question I should be asking now is, does voice-over bring enough improvement over talk back to justify dealing with Apple's bullshit? If so then, much as I dislike it, my next phone might be an iPhone. I could probably go on for over an hour about everything I don't like about Apple
I guess the question I should be asking now is, does voice-over bring enough improvement over talk back to justify dealing with Apple's bullshit? If so then, much as I dislike it, my next phone might be an iPhone. I could probably go on for over an hour about everything I don't like about Apple
Marconius 2 points 5y ago
That open architecture is what makes developing accessible apps for Android so difficult since there are so many hardware and software combinations to contend with when testing. We also have large communities like $1 which take their time rating and reviewing apps for all iDevices and anything MacOS related. Update forums for major point releases where we all contribute to bugs and fixes found, workarounds, iOS development, tips and tricks, training, etc. Android doesn't really have anything like that, and the closest thing to it hasn't been updated in years.
In my opinion, Apple really just excel over Android and it's worth the switch and new UX despite how much you dislike the ecosystem. All the Apple apps that come with the iDevices are accessible right out of the gate, the learning curve isn't very high when you are already familiar with smartphones, and I just again hope you'll give one a try before going all in, though best to do so with an experienced VO user with you to help with immediate questions.
In my opinion, Apple really just excel over Android and it's worth the switch and new UX despite how much you dislike the ecosystem. All the Apple apps that come with the iDevices are accessible right out of the gate, the learning curve isn't very high when you are already familiar with smartphones, and I just again hope you'll give one a try before going all in, though best to do so with an experienced VO user with you to help with immediate questions.
SnoobertDoobertDoo 1 points 5y ago
I switched from android to Apple when I started losing my vision because I didn't like how many gestures were required to make things happen on TalkBack. It certainly works, but I prefer how streamlined voiceover is and how simple the gestures are in comparison. Maybe talkback has changed since I last tried it, but I'm very comfortable with voiceover on my 6S and it works great. Hope this helps!
Laser_Lens_4 [OP] 1 points 5y ago
What version of Android were you on when you switched? can you give a few examples of the difference in gestures?
SnoobertDoobertDoo 1 points 5y ago
I had a Galaxy S4 back in 2016. I think that was right around the time that the lollipop update or whatever it was called first came out. I just didn't like how long it took to navigate all the different context menus and I thought it was dumb that they had a circular layout. There were some weird multidirectional gestures. I don't remember very specifically because I only used TalkBack for like two months before I got fed up and switched to an iPhone. All of the gestures for voiceover are a single fluid motion though whereas some TalkBack gestures had you swipe down then up or down then left or right or in clockwise or counterclockwise circles. I'm sure they've changed it since then though.
I also found that TalkBack was very glitchy and didn't always pick up on the gestures. It's also annoying as hell to try to toggle TalkBack on and off because you had to navigate so many menus. I can turn voiceover on or off with a hotkey though.
I also found that TalkBack was very glitchy and didn't always pick up on the gestures. It's also annoying as hell to try to toggle TalkBack on and off because you had to navigate so many menus. I can turn voiceover on or off with a hotkey though.
Kylexmajus 1 points 5y ago
I was an android user in 2011/12 and switched back over to IOS. Since then I’ve tried a friend’s Samsung S8 a few weeks ago and while I will say that talkback is more than functional, I still find voiceover much smoother, faster and more...compact for lack of a better word. I also found all the sounds and vibrations every time I would perform a gesture on the android a little excessive, although I’m willing to bet I could shut those features off if I wanted to. I did enjoy my android for the time that I had it, but vo wins in the efficiency and responsive categories. 😊
estj136 1 points 5y ago
Last time I used talk back I really hated with a passion how it worked. I gave it to my sister. I did not like it. It was a flagship device too, the google nexus. It was horrible! Talkback was slow to respond and clunky! I was bored just trying to work it.
That’s not true, all the iphones except one was mine before theirs. My sisters iphone is a 6 years old iphone 5 and there is absolutely no problem using it. My friends ipod was my property before I gave it to him. That was quite accessible. I had it until a month ago. My dad’s iphone is not the best but very usable.
That’s not true, all the iphones except one was mine before theirs. My sisters iphone is a 6 years old iphone 5 and there is absolutely no problem using it. My friends ipod was my property before I gave it to him. That was quite accessible. I had it until a month ago. My dad’s iphone is not the best but very usable.
Ramildo 1 points 5y ago
> I've also heard stories from some blind coworkers who say that voice over is a broken mess on all but the newer iPhones.
I'm currently using VoiceOver on an almost 7 year old iPhone 4S with iOS 9 without almost any issues, so I don't know where those stories are coming from. I've never used an Android phone, but I can safely tell that whoever came up with those stories has never used an iPhone either, because Apple does support their phones with the latest software for a very long time compared to most Android vendors. I can't tell whether VoiceOver was any good in iOS 7 which ran on the 8 year old iPhone 4 or any earlier version of iOS because I wasn't blind back then, but a 7 year old phone is already pretty old to me.
I'm currently using VoiceOver on an almost 7 year old iPhone 4S with iOS 9 without almost any issues, so I don't know where those stories are coming from. I've never used an Android phone, but I can safely tell that whoever came up with those stories has never used an iPhone either, because Apple does support their phones with the latest software for a very long time compared to most Android vendors. I can't tell whether VoiceOver was any good in iOS 7 which ran on the 8 year old iPhone 4 or any earlier version of iOS because I wasn't blind back then, but a 7 year old phone is already pretty old to me.
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