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Expressive portraits and voice calls, TestFlight build 281
TestFlight 282 adds more varied blinking, brow movement during pauses, and smoother head movement for Kiana and Della. The signed update is available to internal testers. The public App Store submission remains version 2.0.2, build 281, awaiting Apple review.
While a voice message plays, its character appears beside the reply. This also works while a new reply is arriving. Kiana and Della have individual eye, mouth and brow movement with actual playback; other characters keep their own portrait with gentle movement. Voice calls can show the originating companion while listening, thinking and speaking. Pausing stops the animation. The transcript and VoiceOver actions are unchanged.
Use Settings → Feedback & Sounds → Animated voice portraits to turn the picture off. Reduce Motion, Low Power Mode and backgrounding keep it still. The picture is decorative and does not add VoiceOver stops. Build 281 is in TestFlight. Version 2.0.2 has been submitted for public App Store review; the store stays on its earlier version until Apple approves the update.
As of September 5, 2026, Kade-AI is a real App Store app. No more invitations, no TestFlight, no waiting on Kade to add you — open the link and install it like anything else.
Prefer to search? In the App Store app, search for Kade-AI (with the hyphen). If it does not show up in search on the very first day, that is Apple's catalog catching up; the link above works regardless.
Voice and display improvements, TestFlight build 279
Thinking feedback restarts for a fresh send, including after playback ends or a failed send is retried. Replaying an older reply uses its original character's current voice: your personal choice takes priority, followed by that character's current default. Older replies are voiced when you play them; the app does not regenerate your whole history.
Gentle call, recording, waiting and playback decorations stay still with Reduce Motion, VoiceOver, Low Power Mode or the app in the background. They follow changes while the screen is open and add no VoiceOver stops. System Increase Contrast and the app's contrast setting give stronger outlines. The call button has a darker fill behind its white label, tool rows stack sooner at large text, and search-clear buttons have larger touch targets.
These changes are in TestFlight first; the App Store version may be older. Actual audio, VoiceOver focus and headphone behavior still need checks on a phone.
Signing in
There is no sign-up screen. Use the account Kade set up for you — same email and password as the website. Everything you have here is already there: your conversations, your memory cards, your voice picks, your characters.
If you were on TestFlight
Nothing breaks. The App Store version installs over the TestFlight one, and you stay signed in. TestFlight will keep offering newer test builds a few days ahead of the store; take them or leave them. If you would rather be done with TestFlight, delete it — the App Store version updates itself from now on.
Speak a message to your companion
- Open the conversation and find the message box at the bottom.
- Immediately to its right is a microphone inside a filled circle, beside the upward-arrow Send button. Use this button above the keyboard, rather than the microphone on Apple’s keyboard.
- Tap once and speak. Allow microphone access if asked. You do not need to hold the button down.
- Tap the red Stop circle when you finish. Wait for your words to appear in the message box.
- Review or edit the words, then tap the upward-arrow Send button.
With VoiceOver, find Record a voice message and double-tap. When you finish, double-tap Stop recording. Recording fills the draft; it does not send until you choose Send message.
Clubhouse sound
On the website, headphones clarity mode removes microphone processing; use headphones and turn it off before switching to speakers. Stereo depends on your browser, output device and the song. The iPhone's speaker-friendly calling mode does not provide stereo music. If your installed TestFlight build offers Headphones clarity and stereo, that setting uses the phone microphone and a separate stereo music player; disconnecting headphones restores speaker echo protection. Build 276 does not include that stereo player.
Home and saved work, from build 276
Home has clearer cards and more space. At accessibility text sizes, paired tool buttons become full-width rows. To find the version and build number, open Settings → Support. Build 276 is a TestFlight update; the App Store may still offer an earlier build.
After a connection drops, open Agent work from Home, then Refresh requests. It checks your recent chat requests without sending a message or using AI credits. Choose Open chat to read a saved reply. Back takes you to Conversations.
Reply saved means a reply is in the chat. Working means the server is still handling the request. Interrupted means a finished reply could not be confirmed. Read the chat and any action receipts before sending again. Refresh does not restart work, and stopping a reply does not undo actions already performed. Your older conversations remain in Conversations; temporary chats and separate voice or coding sessions may not appear here.
What the app does that the website cannot
- Real calls. Ask a character to call you — a wake-up call, a check-in about your meds — and your phone rings like a real call at that moment. See Phone Calls.
- Lock-screen notes. Reminders, a companion texting you first, the family's What's New.
- Every reply spoken in the character's own voice, with Stop and Play on every message, and the voice picker as wheels: pick who, spin the voice, hear each one.
- Scan Text, Siri, Lock Screen widgets, and Share from any app straight into a conversation.
- Memories and the Logbook, the marketplace, Game Parlor, and Describe My World are also available in the app. Some website tools still require the browser.
Screen reader notes (VoiceOver)
The app was built blind-first. Every message is one element with its actions on the rotor; the voice wheels speak each voice as you land on it; tool work reads as a short label ("web search", "weather") instead of a narration; settings have a search box that brings the actual switch to you. If something reads wrong, tell any character "tell Kade" and it lands on her board with the build number attached.
Android person?
The Android app is its own native app, installed straight from this site — see The Android App.