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HumanWare Release BrailleNote KeySoft 7.0 Upgrade


January 24, 2006

HumanWare the world's leading manufacturer of personal digital assistants for the blind, is proud to release the next exciting version of KeySoft for the BrailleNote family of products.

Whether you have a BrailleNote or VoiceNote mPower, a BrailleNote PK, or a BrailleNote or VoiceNote Classic, there’s a version of KeySoft 7 that will be available for you.

Whats in KeySoft 7.0?

We promised that KeySoft 7 would be our best release ever, and as you look at this extensive feature list, you can see we’ve packed in a wide range of features that will change the way you work, learn and play

New features:

  • KeyBase, Available on All Models

    This new application, available from KeySoft’s Main Menu, is a powerful database manager allowing easy creation of your own databases. KeyBase ships with many useful databases to assist you in cataloging your music collection, keeping track of home inventory, entering recipes, logging ham radio contacts and so much more. But the step by step wizard-style interface of KeyBase makes it a snap to create your own databases too. Simply tell KeyBase the names of your fields and the type of data you want to store in that field. Be specific right down to the kind of Braille you want to be entered into a field if you wish. Want to share your database with others? Then you can even customize the messages users read when they press the help key when entering data into each field.KeyBase allows easy importing and exporting to and from many applications including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access and many on-line banking systems.

  • Updated KeyPlus Scientific Calculator, Available on All Models
    Work with fractions in the updated KeyPlus Scientific Calculator. As well as performing standard mathematical operations, you can convert fractions to decimals and vice versa, convert fractions to and from percentages, convert a fraction to its lowest terms, and much more.

  • Let the Games Begin, Available on All ModelsOne of the most frequent questions asked of HumanWare about the BrailleNote family has always been, “can you play games on this?” Now, the answer is a resounding yes, as interactive fiction comes to KeySoft. Interactive fiction, also known as text adventures, will take you into mysterious worlds where you can look at your environment, move around, collect objects, talk to all kinds of strange creatures and sometimes find yourself trapped. There are hundreds of compatible interactive fiction games available for download on the Internet, ranging from educational titles for kids right through to epic fantasy for the serious gamer, and you can play them right on your BrailleNote or VoiceNote. Easily switch in and out of games when you need to check e-mail or make a note, play music in the background while you solve the latest mystery, or save games for later resumption.

  • Braille Input for JAWS for Windows, Available on All Models
    Window-eyes users have for some time been able to control their Windows PC from their BrailleNote in Braille terminal mode. Now, that feature is available for JAWS for Windows users as well. Compose e-mail, write a Microsoft Word document or work with your spreadsheets on your PC, all from your BrailleNote’s keyboard.

  • More Configurable E-mail, Available on All Models
    Some Internet service providers are now using non-standard POP and SMTP server ports as an attempt to increase security. While most users will not need to be concerned with this, those customers on Internet providers adopting this approach can now specify any port for both POP and SMTP traffic.

  • More Bluetooth Support, Available on BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower, and BrailleNote PK models only. The integrated Bluetooth support in BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower and BrailleNote PK just got even more useful! In KeySoft 7 you can,

  • Use your device as a remote synthesizer for your PC with no wires attached. Take your BrailleNote or VoiceNote mPower or BrailleNote PK up to 10 meters (30 feet) away from your PC and still hear what your screen reader is saying.
  • Use your device as a wireless Braille display. With BrailleNote mPower and PK operating as a wireless Braille display, coupled with the keyboard input functionality, you have complete control over your PC as far as 10 meters (30 feet) away from your PC. Take the BrailleNote outside on a sunny day and keep on working on your PC using the keyboard input functionality. Control a PowerPoint presentation in front of your audience, even when the PC is tucked away in an inconvenient place. The possibilities are limitless!
  • Drive a wireless visual display. Want to give a presentation using data on your BrailleNote? Are you a teacher who wants to be able to check a student’s work with no wires or fuss? The extension of the visual display function to include Bluetooth makes all this possible. Use a range of devices for the visual display function including Palm Pilots and Windows HyperTerminal.

  • FM Radio, Available on BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower only
    That’s right, your BrailleNote or VoiceNote mPower is now an FM radio too! Scan the FM band for your stations and save them as presets. Read the frequency on the Braille display or the station name if you’ve saved that information. Listen to the FM radio while you work on other tasks. Control the volume of the FM radio separately from the volume of the speech. Even use the recorder to record FM radio stations.

  • Eloquence Speech, Available on BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower only
    HumanWare’s BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower becomes the first device of its kind to offer you a choice of speech synthesizer. Use the highly responsive and accurate KeyNote Gold speech that has been one of KeySoft’s strongest features, or switch to the familiar Eloquence speech that is now widely available on access technology products. When Eloquence is active, you may also choose to have hyperlinks voiced in a different Eloquence voice when using KeyWeb, making the web really come to life.

  • Voice Recorder, Available on BrailleNote PK only
    The popular voice recorder for BrailleNote mPower arrives on BrailleNote PK in KeySoft 7. Just press the handy record button on the front of your BrailleNote PK, and make recordings using the built-in microphone.

     

Please note that KeySoft 7 will not run on the original BrailleNote, discontinued in 2002, that does not have a compact flash slot in the back of the unit. The latest version of KeySoft that runs on these units is 4.02. By BrailleNote Classic, we refer to the BrailleNotes and VoiceNotes prior to BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower that have a compact flash slot in the back of the units. Original BrailleNote owners should contact Humanware about transplanting to BrailleNote mPower.

 

KeySoft 7 takes one count from your Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA). An SMA allows you to receive two major versions of KeySoft for the price of one. Remember, SMAs only can be used for a version of KeySoft if they are purchased prior to the release of the software concerned.

Note that the cost of KeySoft 7 on its own is exactly the same as the cost of an SMA, so an SMA represents by far the best value for money.

Contact HumanWare or your local dealer for KeySoft 7 pricing.

Is there anything I need before I sign up for the SMA plan?

The SMA program is only for BrailleNote mPower units, BrailleNote PK units and BrailleNote Classic units with a Compact Flash card slot on the back panel. If you have an older BrailleNote machine you may want to consider upgrading the hardware in order to gain access to the benefits of the SMA program.

There are two different types of SMA to consider, one supplied in the post on a memory card, simply insert and upgrade and the the software only upgrade, requiring internet downloading and file manipulation.

For further information on the cost of the SMA plan and the options available phone your closest HumanWare sales office.

 

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