Hi Josh, Nice suggestions. I would like to compress these into several general categories myself, as well as to give some words about these suggestions: Hardware: Basically, if a device was integrated into a machine, there is no work required by the user to use it. In other words, the FM Radio was a built-in device that HumanWare has just simply written an interface for it in KeySoft 7.0. I will not go into Amplitude Modulation (Fam) - that is reserved in the list archives. Operating system: Things such as Word 2007 (.docx) and PowerPoint requires at least Windows CE 5.2 (because Windows CE 5.2 allows you to read these files thanks to an interface running on top called Windows Mobile 6). As for reserving portions of memory as VM and using other storage medium as so-called ReadyBoost (I've tried it on my Vista machine myself), it is something that HumanWare has no control - rather, the CE kernel (more specifically, the memory manager) needs to support this feature. But a useful benefit is that, under CE 5.0 and later, we can use full 64 MB of RAM instead of using portion of RAM Disk for RAM. In other words, Flash Disk becomes KeySoft System Disk. Software: You'll need to understand that, if a software developer wants to write a software, he or she needs to understand how the target device works. Since BrailleNote is an embedded device, not all features that were suggested by Josh cannot be included. Interfacing with another hardware: I like the idea of a transfer interface between an iPod and a BraillenOte. However, there is an essential component that every hardware needs to have: a driver, so that the operating system would know what to do with the device. If a hardware is connected but if the OS cannot determine what the hardware does, how can it interface with it? This is the case with iPod. In order to interface with such media players, the question that I personally would like to pose is, "is there a person willing to write a device driver for iPod so that it could work with BrailleNote?" Because we can then use iPod as a storage drive and transfer music files between a BN and an iPod. I even heard that there is an iPod that acts as a hUSB thumb drive when connected to a BrailleNote (sorry, I don't have the details). File operations: I personally have advocated for folder/file compression command just like Josh mentioned, as well as encrypting one's file or a folder (or, in some of our cases, the whole unit itself) with a password. One benefit that we'll get in the later CE versions is that you can in fact encrypt a storage device so that none other than your BrailleNote can access it. Also, another suggestion that has been mentioned throughout the chats has been the inclusion of percentage indicator for file operations (listen to the Second BrailleNote Chat for more details). Misc items: * KeyPlus: Graphing Calculator would be useful, particularly if we have trig functions graphed out. Also, unit converter would be a good idea (I'm creating a text-based Unit Copnverter program myself and I understand the suggestion about Unit Conversion function support). * Send/receive interval: I personally would like to see it myself; in other words, this feature would allow us to set how many minutes should a BN wait before automatically sending and receiving email. * Internet related: As for cookies... If there is a setting for downloading no cookies at all, I personally wouldn't check it. Cookies are actually useful for storing certificates, such as login details and other useful things (please delete them periodically). In order to play the YouTube videos, KeyWeb (rather, KSWMedia( needs to support the file type that is associated with these videos. As for WPA, WPA2 and other things, it requires full 802.11G support (including the security standards). Hope it helps. Let us see what the next version of KeySoft is going to offer us next year (if it is released soon; I hope it would be both beneficiary and revolutionary since BrailleNote mPower). Cheers, Joseph -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joshua Klander Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 12:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Braillenote] list of suggestions for a future release of keysoft
Hi list! As promised, I am posting a list of suggestions for a future release of keysoft. For your convenience, I will categorize my suggestions into separate lists. Keyword: 1. The ability to change the color and size of the font you select. 2. a bullets and numbering feature, similar to the one in microsoft word. 3. An enhancement to the spell checker that will allow to not only check for spelling errors, but also check for grammatical errors. 4. The ability to create headers and footers, like in microsoft word. 5. A data recovery feature. I find it annoying when my braillenote crashes when I am in the wordprocessor, and I have to reset it. Of course, the reason for this is the fact, that I lose a bunch of data. In the future, I would like to see a recovery feature in the wordprocessor, similar to microsoft word. 6. The ability to read and edit pdf files. 7. Support for tables. 8. Better word file support. 9. The ability to read word 2007 files. 10. An option in format menu that will remove all formatting from a document. Keyplan: 1. I have found a strange bug in keyplan. When you navigate to the "open planner," option, the braillenote asks you what date you want. Pressing enter will open that day for you, however, weird things happen when you try to press a touch cursor key instead of enter. I am using a 32 cell braille display. I don't know if this bug would apply to a 16 cell model. If you try to press one of the first four cursor keys at the "Day?," prompt, the braillenote will return you back to the keyplan menu. If you try to press any of the twenty-six touch cursor keys after the first four, the braillenote will just give an error beep. The last two touch cursor keys are the only ones that will work correctly at this point. Keymail: 1. I think that keymail should have a feature that allows the braillenote to automatically check for new messages in the background, if an internet connection is available. Keyweb: 1. An option that would allow you to tell the braillenote to either save all cookies automatically like a computer, or save none at all. 2. I have discovered a serious bug in keyweb. Sometimes, when a web page is loaded, the Concise Oxford American Dictionary and Thesaurus software will not function. This should be fixed. Media Center: 1. I think the braillenote should include both an AM and FM radio, instead of just an FM radio. 2. The ability for the braillenote to play iTunes files that have anm4p extension. 3. The ability to transfer music from the braillenote to an iPod. 4. The ability to play video files on the braillenote. I understand that the braillenote can play some types of video, but I think this feature should be enhanced. It would be nice to be able to connect a visual display to the braillenote, so that sighted people could see the pictures in a video that was being played by the braillenote. 5. The ability to play videos from youtube on the braillenote. 6. The ability to burn Cds on the braillenote if an external Cd rom drive was connected. 7. An audio converter program that could, for example, convert wav files tomp3 files etc. Keyplus: 1. A graphing calculator should be integrated into keyplus. Keybase: 1. The ability to solve advanced equations in keybase, similar to the way they can be solved in microsoft excel. 2. The ability to print a keybase file, so that it comes out like a spreadsheet. File Manager: 1. The ability to compress files. 2. The ability to password protect files. 3. A zip/unzip utility similar to winzip. 4. The ability to hide and unhide files without using cmd. 5. An advanced file search feature remote synthesiser and braille terminal: 1. I would like to see the braillenote be able to act as a braille display or speech synthesiser, using a usb connection. Battery: 1. The ability to set a time period before the braillenote enters hibernation, or completely disable it. 2. A way to disable the battery is low, and battery is critical reminders. I think these reminders are useful, however if you are working on something and you don't have access to a power outlet, these reminders continuously popping up on the braille display, and being continuously spoken can become very annoying. Ram and Virtual Memory: 1. The ability to specify how much of the keysoft system disk is used for virtual memory. 2. A feature, similar to the ready boost feature in windows vista. This feature would allow braillenote users to use any type of memory card, such as an said card, cf card, pc card, or jump drive as a ram module. This would a braillenote user to greatly expand the amount of ram in his or her machine. This feature would make it possible to browse web pages without getting those annoying "not enough storage is available to complete this operation," error messages. Also, we could listen to larger streaming audio files, without having to first download them. braille translation: 1. Support for nemoth code. 2. Support for braille music notation. 3. There is a bug in ueb where when you press dots 3-5, the braillenote says 2-5. This should be fixed. Windows Ce 1. Upgrade from Windows Ce 4.20 to Windows Ce 6 General: 1. There is a major bug in keysoft. This bug involves both the wordprocessor and the planner. When you attempt to search for an ink-print only inclusion (backspace with enter with C), using the find or find and replace command, the braillenote will crash. You will get a "fatal application error dialog." In this dialog box, you are told the following: "application keysoft.exe has performed an illegal operation, and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vender. program: keysoft.exe Exception: 0xc00000005 address: 00000000 Once you press enter, the braillenote freezes. I think this problem should be fixed. 2. I think that if the braillenote is performing a major operation, such as freeing database space, etc, you should be able to set up the braillenote so that it asks you if you are sure if you want to exit. It is very easy, to accidentally bump the previous thumb-key or exit. 3. When you are either in keyweb or keymail, at the point where the braillenote asks you for a connection configuration, and you have selected a configuration, and you press space with H, the braillenote gives you false help. One of the things it says is "To review or change this entry's details, press D." However, when you press D, the braillenote just beeps. One of two things should be done about this: -- Pressing D to review or change details should be made possible. -- This help message should be removed. other: 1. The ability to read power point files. 2. I would like to see a simple chat room application integrated into keysoft. I understand that Humanware has just came out with their new Deaf Blind Communicator, but I think a simple chat room application for the mPower without the dbc software on it would be nice. 3. ability for the braillenote to be able to recognizeu3 smart drives. If anything has anything to add to this, feel free to reply. ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [email protected] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1867 - Release Date: 12/28/2008 2:23 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.552 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1867 - Release Date: 12/28/2008 2:23 PM ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [email protected] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
