Yes I agree, and my only point was that because there is a high demand for a PDA that is much smaller, much more versatile, and more reliable goes to say that in order for the BN to compete with all the PDA's, is going to take time. I would love to have the capability to work with MS7 word, and Excel files, and have my BN run more efficiently with all computers on my network. So the point is, we all just need to either give HW more time, or if some of us is able to solve the windows platform issues, then lets help them by suggesting or whatever we can do to encourage them to push on for a better change then we are getting. I think this is what Carol was trying to say in the first place.
-----Original Message----- From: Nicole B. Torcolini [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 5:18 PM To: James Malone; 'Carol Pearson'; 'mike welty'; 'John Patrick Houck'; 'Braillenote' Subject: Re: [Braillenote] KeySoft 8.0 We're not asking for a laptop. Yes, we all know that the bn is only a PDA, But PDA's for the sighted do a lot more than bn's. There were some rather Important issues that were not addressed in this upgrade that I believe some Of us may think are just as, if not more, important than some of the Features. That is not to say that the features that were included are not important. ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Malone" <[email protected]> To: "'Carol Pearson'" <[email protected]>; "'mike welty'" <[email protected]>; "'John Patrick Houck'" <[email protected]>; "'Braillenote'" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 5:08 PM Subject: RE: [Braillenote] KeySoft 8.0 Okay, everyone has made a good point on How they feel. However, if you want a PDA to act like a laptop, then buy a Laptop. Personally, I really don't use my Mpower for anying but keeping records, reading books storing data, and GPS when needed. It's good to have all the bells and whistles, but you can't make a super machine out of a PDA. Although for the price you pay for the cost and upgrades is expensive, it is not practical to expect miracles. James http://www.crosswindsmusicpro.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf of Carol Pearson Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 1:32 PM To: mike welty; John Patrick Houck; Braillenote Subject: Re: [Braillenote] KeySoft 8.0 Well, I remember messages two years ago suggesting we'd be moving to the Next version of Windows and Keysoft 8. I think I have the right, as anyone does, to say whether this upgrade appeals to me or not. I have held my peace on this matter for some considerable time now, whilst others have gone on and on about the upgrade And shown some frustration at the wait ... so now it's my turn to say what I Think! I'm sorry if this offends some! That is not my intention! -- Carol [email protected] On Thursday, January 29, 2009 7:07 PM (UK time), mike welty at [email protected] said: > I personally think that hw is doing a good job with this update from > what I've seen. they've overcome a couple things that people have > wanted for a long time. your making it sound like hw is just throwing > things in. show some respect for the people that have to write and > debug the code for this to work. how would you feel if someone's like > I'm glad you are making something, but it's not good enough to meet > my personal needs so release something else right away. > be happy that we're getting an update at all please. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Carol Pearson" <[email protected]> > To: "John Patrick Houck" <[email protected]>; "Braillenote" > <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 13:24 > Subject: Re: [Braillenote] KeySoft 8.0 > > >> Maurice, >> >> We all welcome this news, because we have waited so long to hear... >> >> Sadly, I see less, as always, for UK customers, since we don't use >> Bookshare and I'm personally disappointed that it would appear you >> haven't used this release (which has been a very long time in >> coming) to upgrade the Windows platform. This, in my view, puts the >> BN still a long way behind its competitors. >> >> Anyway, before I get too disappointed, I note you have told us >> "What's New", but you have made no reference to any improvements/bug >> fixes of the current software, nor have you made any reference to >> Word documents and whether there is any more support for these in >> the new release ... Perhaps we could have some clarification on these >> points also and, >> if the Windows platform isn't updated (as you had suggested that it >> would be before this release), I would personally welcome an >> explanation as to why and what this means for the BN (PK and mPower) >> in the future ... I do believe customers have now waited long enough to >> hear the >> truth, so please tell us more than your last post contains. Frankly, I am >> not sure that an upgrade is worth it for all users >> based on what you have told us. Thank you for your comments so far. >> >> -- >> Carol >> [email protected] >> >> On Thursday, January 29, 2009 6:02 PM (UK time), John Patrick Houck >> at [email protected] said: >> >>> list.humanware.com/archives/bnannounce/2009-January/000130.html >>> >>> KeySoft 8.0 >>> >>> Maurice Sloane Maurice.Sloane at humanware.com >>> Fri Jan 30 05:36:32 NZDT 2009 >>> >>> >>> Unveiling KeySoft 8.0 >>> >>> >>> >>> Version 8.0 will be available for mPower and PK platforms in >>> March. KeySoft 8.0 requires one count of a Software Maintenance >>> Agreement (SMA). >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> What's new in KeySoft 8.0? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Experience new ways to communicate in real time and enrich your >>> book reading experience with this new KeySoft version. Are you >>> interested in learning more about GPS navigation? You now have >>> the opportunity to try for a period of 90 days the acclaimed >>> Sendero GPS. Version 8.0 is packed with a wide range of features >>> to enhance the way you work and learn. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.1 KeyChat >>> >>> >>> Communicate in real time with colleagues, friends and family >>> using state of the art instant messaging (IM) services. Designed >>> using the newest open instant messaging standards, KeyChat can >>> communicate through Google Talk, iChat and other chatting >>> services. Google Talk is an innovative and free IM service. It >>> offers an efficient, clutter-free, and easy way to chat. Google >>> Talk smoothly integrates with the popular Gmail system, allowing >>> you to chat in real time with your email contacts as well. Read >>> and write messages in your preferred grade of Braille, manage >>> conversations and follow chat history with familiar KeySoft >>> commands. Receive an Audio or Braille notice when a message >>> arrives. Add new friends or select from your KeyList contacts, >>> or simply go online and enjoy! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.2 Reading Audible.com books >>> >>> >>> KeySoft 8.0 will support Audible.com books. Audible.com offers a >>> wide audio book collection for general and specialized audiences, >>> including the latest best sellers. Teachers and parents can also >>> join their new Audible Kids service to access fun and educational >>> content for school age kids or get tips and ideas on how to help >>> children get the most out of their listening experience. Fully >>> integrated into KeyBook, you can listen to Audible books and >>> customize various settings such as narration speed and audio >>> tone. Set bookmarks, create text notes, and jump to any place in >>> the book. To obtain Audible books, you will need to become a >>> member of the Audible service and use the Audible manager to >>> authorize your BrailleNote to play the protected Audible books. >>> HumanWare customers can enjoy the complete Audible collection for >>> a free 14 day period >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.3 Direct access to the new Bookshare site >>> >>> >>> The existing support for unpacking electronic books from >>> Bookshare.org is enhanced to include the new .zip or bks2 formats >>> adopted by Bookshare. KeySoft provides everything necessary to >>> wirelessly access the Bookshare.org web site, download the text, >>> Braille or DAISY electronic book and unpack and read the book, >>> without having to use a PC. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.4 Support for NIMAS books >>> >>> >>> KeySoft will now play NIMAS books. NIMAS books are text files >>> with a structure that is similar to that of DAISY books. >>> KeyBook's rich navigation used with DAISY files is also available >>> for NIMAS files. NIMAS books are instantly translated into your >>> preferred Braille grade. Choose to read in Braille or let >>> Eloquence speech read to you. Move through DAISY elements or use >>> the familiar KeySoft sentence and paragraph navigation commands. >>> NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard) >>> is the format for educational textbooks in the United States. >>> NIMAS guides the production and electronic distribution of >>> digital versions of textbooks and other instructional materials >>> so they can be more easily converted into accessible formats. >>> For more information, please visit: http://nimas.cast.org/ >>> <http://nimas.cast.org/> . >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.5 Get a taste of GPS >>> >>> >>> KeySoft version 8.0 represents a great opportunity to get >>> familiar with GPS. It includes the latest version of Sendero GPS >>> and users can take advantage of a 90-day free trial period to >>> browse their preferred map or navigate outdoors. After this >>> trial period, users can continue to enjoy their system at a >>> preferred price. Users are required to download the desired maps >>> from the Sendero site. For real time navigation, you will need a >>> GPS receiver. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.6 More printers available to students >>> >>> >>> Students and teachers can now select from a wide range of Hewlett >>> Packard printers. Most new models from the Deskjet, Officejet, >>> Laser jet and Photosmart product lines are supported. Printers >>> supported via the KeySoft generic printing engine must have a USB >>> port. This functionality is only available to mPower users. >>> >>> The new printing engine can create images of documents in JPEG >>> format. As JPEG files are compatible formats, users can transfer >>> documents to the PC or to non-BrailleNote users without losing >>> the rich formatting available in Keyword. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1.7 Eloquence speech is now supported in the PK >>> >>> >>> 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. >>> >>> >>> 1.8 French Version >>> >>> >>> KeySoft 8.0 will be released simultaneously in English and >>> French. The same functions are available on both versions. >>> >>> >>> Recent mPower & PK Purchases >>> >>> >>> Customers that have purchased a new mPower or PK units after >>> January 1st 2009 are eligible to receive a free KeySoft 8 >>> upgrade. >>> >>> >>> Compatibility >>> >>> >>> KeySoft 8.0 is not supported by the Classic models of the >>> BrailleNote and VoiceNote. As previously stated, KeySoft 7.5 was >>> the last release for these Classic devices. >>> >>> >>> Contact >>> >>> >>> Please contact your regional HumanWare office in the USA, Canada, >>> the UK, New Zealand and Australia for regional pricing and >>> orders. >>> >>> >>> >>> USA: 1 800 722-3393 or 925 680-7100 >>> >>> UK/Europe: +44 1933 415 800 >>> >>> Canada: 1 888 723-7273 or +1 450 463 1717 >>> >>> Australia/Asia: +61 2 9686 2600 >>> >>> New Zealand: +64 3 384 4555 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Posted by: >>> >>> >>> >>> Maurice Sloane >>> >>> HumanWare NZ >>> >>> ___ >>> 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 >> >> >> ___ >> 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 ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. 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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 __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3811 (20090129) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ___ 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
