Release notes
What's new in each version of Fathom.
Version 1.1
New
- "Read this with Fathom" via Siri or the Action Button now works reliably — signs, labels, mail, anything on screen.
- New onboarding walks you through Snapshot's core moves (read text, name an object, ask a question) and how to run Fathom hands-free.
- Haptic strength and Awareness level are now part of first-run setup. Skip them if you want to.
- A "Cloud AI & Privacy" screen in Settings shows what leaves your device and what stays on it.
Improved
- Voice profile is opt-in now. Fathom only listens when you ask it to.
- Cleaner recovery when things go wrong, and a clearer message when you hit your monthly cloud limit.
Version 1.0
Fathom is a spoken navigation aid for blind and low-vision users. Built around VoiceOver and meant to be used by ear.
Free
- Lookout — spoken description of what's ahead, updating as you move.
- Snapshot — a one-shot scan of the scene in front of you, read aloud.
- On-device safety layer — obstacle alerts with haptics, step and drop-off warnings, and object detection. No internet needed.
Fathom Plus
- Go — turn-by-turn navigation to a destination.
- Task — step-by-step help with a hands-on task.
- Live Task — ongoing two-way guidance while the camera watches.
- Assistant — tell Fathom your goal and it builds a plan, then walks you through it.
Built around you
- No account, no sign-in. Works on the first launch.
- Every control is labeled for VoiceOver.
- Cloud AI is opt-in. A consent screen explains what leaves your device before anything is sent: camera frames and the text of your requests go to Google's Gemini; your speech is transcribed on your phone first, so raw audio never leaves it. You can also run Fathom fully on-device.
- iPhone Pro models get LiDAR-based step and drop-off detection. Other recent iPhones use camera-based detection instead.
Fathom is an assistive aid, not a replacement for a white cane, guide dog, or orientation-and-mobility training.