AppleVis Extra Launches Blind Developer Showcase Series with Ashley Cox of Simulcast

AppleVis has kicked off a new mini-series on its AppleVis Extra podcast spotlighting blind and low vision developers, and the first guest is Ashley Cox, a blind software developer building native apps for Apple's platforms with accessibility at the center of his work.

Host David Nason sat down with Cox for an in-depth conversation about his path into software development, his current projects, and what it takes to bring accessible software to market as a blind creator.

From Self-Taught HTML to Native Swift Apps

Cox's story starts in the early days of the web, where he taught himself HTML. That early curiosity grew into a career building sophisticated Swift applications across the entire Apple ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro.

Throughout the episode, Cox explains how his own needs as a blind user often shape the direction of his projects. He makes the case that software built to solve a developer's personal problem tends to work better for everyone, not just the person who built it.

Simulcast: A Podcast App Built From the Ground Up

The centerpiece of the conversation is Simulcast, Cox's upcoming podcast application. Simulcast combines podcast playback, internet radio, Apple Music integration, iCloud syncing, Siri support, and a range of accessibility-focused features into a single native Apple experience.

Cox walks through the technical and design decisions behind Simulcast, including how he's using Apple frameworks like ShazamKit and Apple Intelligence alongside more familiar tools like Siri and iCloud. He also talks about working with hundreds of beta testers to refine the app before its full release.

Two More Projects in the Pipeline

Beyond Simulcast, Cox is developing two additional apps. Levelly is a precision spirit level for iPhone, and Audit is a modern single-track audio editor built specifically for macOS.

Building Accessible Software From Day One

Much of the discussion centers on what it actually takes to build accessible interfaces rather than retrofit them later. Cox and Nason cover VoiceOver customization, rotor support, and the real-world testing process that goes into making sure an app works well for blind and low vision users from the start.

They also dig into broader questions facing any independent developer today:

• Why native apps still matter in a world leaning toward cross-platform frameworks
• The tradeoffs between cross-platform and native development
• The realities and frustrations of publishing software through the App Store
• How to price an app without leaning entirely on subscriptions
• How AI tools are reshaping the way software gets built
• Why blind developers bring a distinct and valuable perspective to design

Where to Learn More

Listeners who want to follow Simulcast's development, join the beta, or read feedback from early testers can visit the AppleVis discussion thread titled "Seeking Testers for my new iOS and macOS Podcast App." The thread includes feature updates, development news, and details on joining the TestFlight beta.

More information on Cox's work is available at his website, ashleycox.co.uk, and through his project The Blind Man's Workshop at blindmansworkshop.com.

This episode marks the first installment in AppleVis's new series highlighting developers from within the blind and low vision community, with more conversations expected to follow.