KeySoft 7.5 Soon to be Released!

HumanWare will be releasing KeySoft 7.5 in August 2007, making your BrailleNote more useful and efficient. Whether you have a BrailleNote or VoiceNote mPower, a BrailleNote PK, or a BrailleNote or VoiceNote Classic, there will be a version of KeySoft 7.5 for you. Below is a listing of what's new in Keysoft 7.5

Improved SD card and USB Drive support (mPower only)

Secure Digital (SD) cards are a simple and cost effective type of media that is ideal for exchanging files and documents between blind and sighted individuals using devices such as BrailleNotes, PC's, PDA's and smart phones. KeySoft 7.5 supports a much broader range of models and sizes of SD cards and USB drives and provides improved speed and performance in accessing and saving information.

SSL Email Encryption

A number of major internet service providers have announced that they will begin requiring this new security standard to be used when sending and receiving email via their networks. KeySoft 7.5 delivers full SSL support as a part of its improved KeyMail application.

RFB&D AudioPlus DAISY Books (mPower and PK)

KeySoft 7.5 includes fully integrated support for the special AudioPlus formatted books provided by RFB&D to its members in the United States. AudioPlus books on CD from RFB&D are restricted to RFB&D members who must reside in the United States because of copyright restrictions imposed by the publishers of the books. The enhanced KeyBook application will automatically recognize an RFB&D AudioPlus book and will now prompt the user to enter their personal identification number to access the book.

Bookshare Support for Institutional Accounts

The existing support for unpacking electronic books from Bookshare.org has been enhanced to include full support for both individual and institutional Bookshare.org accounts. The KeyBook application will recognize a text, braille, or DAISY book from Bookshare.org. KeySoft 7.5 efficiently 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.

Built-in Playlist Support for Media Player (mPower only)

New with KeySoft 7.5 is the ability to select multiple files in any file list and have them automatically queued and played in KeySoft's built-in media player application. Select your favorite music tracks or chapters of an audio book and let KeySoft 7.5 play them for you automatically. It's like having your own personal DJ!

Multilingual Foreign Languages Now Available

Multi-lingual speech and braille support is now available for the entire BrailleNote family of products running KeySoft 7.5 or later, at no additional cost. Languages offered are Spanish, French, German and Italian. Documents, web pages and email messages can all be read in their original language with the correct speech pronunciation. Documents and email messages can be composed, read and spell checked in multiple languages and quickly changed on the fly.

Unified English Braille.

KeySoft 7.5 gives you the option of using Unified English Braille (UEB). UEB is a new braille code for English that has been developed over a period of more than 10 years by representatives from English-speaking countries, including the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand. This exciting development provides braille users with more straightforward access to the textual world. Email addresses, web addresses, mathematics and all sorts of signs and symbols can be written and read directly without resorting to computer braille. Because it has been designed with computers in mind, braille to text translation, when printing or emailing a document that you have written in braille, is much more accurate.

Upgrade to the Duxbury Braille Translator

KeySoft 7.5 incorporates the latest version of the Duxbury braille translators to provide better-then-ever translation both from print to braille and braille to print.

New Visual Display Application (KeyView)

KeySoft 7.5 delivers a completely new visual display application for the PC called KeyView. KeyView eliminates the need to use the older and more complex method of Windows HyperTerminal. It is fully accessible and is also Windows Vista compatible. Using KeyView, a sighted teacher, parent or colleague can view in real time the work being done on the BrailleNote, including the braille on the braille display and an immediate translation from braille to text. This provides a transparent interface between the print and braille reader.

Outlook Synchronization Improvements

The KeySync PC application has been improved to provide greater accessibility for screen reader users and has a number of significant stability enhancements. KeySync allows a professional or student who is on the move to have a fully synchronized calendar and contact list always available. Changes made on the BrailleNote or the PC are synchronized with a quick connection.

KeySoft 7.5 requires one count of a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA). An SMA entitles you to receive two software upgrades of KeySoft for the price of one. If you do not already own a current SMA, and you are running the KeySoft 7.2 software, you can purchase an SMA prior to the release of KeySoft 7.5. Ensure you get the best deal on KeySoft 7.5 by purchasing your SMA today.

This will be the final KeySoft upgrade for the BrailleNote and VoiceNote Classic models. Classic owners should consider the popular transplant option.

All BrailleNote and VoiceNote mPower and BrailleNote PK units that ship from the date of this announcement to the time KeySoft 7.5 is released will be entitled to KeySoft 7.5 at no charge.

To learn more about the BrailleNote or to purchase online, check out the BrailleNote product page.