VICTOR READER STREAM THE PROVEN SUCCESS STORY, IS NOW EVEN BETTER WITH A FREE VERSION 2.0 SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Longueuil, Canada, June 30, 2008 — Victor Reader Stream, the pocket-sized portable MP3 player designed for blind and low-vision people has swept the world wide market place since its launch in September 2007. Heralded by its users as the most significant assistive technology in recent years, the Stream has already enhanced the life style of thousands of blind and low vision people world wide. In addition to the variety of audio formats (MP3, DAISY, and NISO books and music) supported by Victor Reader Stream, the new version 2 software will add even more media and text formats.

Victor Reader Stream version 2 will now play electronic Braille files with its built-in text-to-speech including multiple formats of English Braille encoded files, Unified English Braille, and non-English Braille formats. Version 2.0 also adds playback of Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Rich Text Format (RTF) files. , Further, the bookshelf feature has been extended to enhance the access and playback of all media types with special new features for Audible books, Podcast files, and music.

With the addition of the new media types of version 2.0 the Stream now provides a pocket size device that can play an impressive list of alternate format books and documents available to the print-disabled. IT will play the special navigable DAISY and NISO digital talking books produced by most libraries for the blind in the world. It can be authorized to play the AudioPlus digital books from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) in the United States. It can play Bookshare.org digital books. It can be authorized to play the popular commercial audio books, newspapers, and magazines from Audible.com. It is optimized to integrate with Serotek.com who provide an extensive repository of digital multi-media content for blind and low vision people. It also plays MP3,, OGG Vorbis, WMA, Wav, AMR-WB+, SPX, and FLAC audio files. The built-in text-to-speech can play electronic text formats including BRF (Braille), HTML, RTF, TXT, and XML. In addition to its extensive digital player capabilities, it has a voice recording functionality for recording of voice notes, meetings, and lectures.

What Stream customers are saying:

“I love my Victor Reader Stream and it travels with me wherever I go.”

“This is one of the best products I have seen come along in a long time. It is well made, works right out of the box, and reads just about any kind of book you need read.”

“It’s one of the most impressive and well-planned and well-working pieces of equipment I have seen for a long time.”

“We appreciate the overwhelming enthusiasm of our customers and are pleased that we have been able to incorporate many of their suggested new features and improvements in the enhanced version 2 of the Stream”, says Gerry Chevalier, HumanWare Victor Reader Product Manager. “And the best news is that the latest version 2 software can be installed for free on all existing Victor Reader Streams.”

The Stream has extensive navigation features for moving through audio books and text files, including functions that allow you to move to the next chapter, section or page, or to set bookmarks. For all audio book and media formats the Stream provides a variable speed control with digital pitch correction which allows the reader to accurately listen at higher than normal playback speed.

The player is completely accessible by blind and low-vision users. All keys and messages are provided through audio feedback. The player has a built-in User Guide and a Key Describer mode.

 

Besides playing electronic text, the integrated text-to-speech voice announces the track names of music files. It uses an SD memory card to store books and music transferred from a computer.

Victor Reader Stream can be purchased online at

www.humanware.com (in USA). Current Victor Reader Stream users can upgrade their player to software version 2.0 online at www.humanware.com.

 

www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for the print disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world’s leading digital audiobook players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier.

 

HumanWare 2008 NFB Convention

 

HumanWare is proud to participate in the 68th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas June 29th through July 5th. We invite you to visit booth A92 to learn about innovative products, including the new Trekker Breeze. This product is designed to be easy to learn and use, providing talking GPS directions that help users know where they are and where they are going.

HumanWare will host Breeze walks on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon during exhibit hours. Take this opportunity to learn how the Trekker Breeze can change the way you travel independently. Sign up at the booth and reserve your place quickly as these scheduled walks are sure to be popular!

HumanWare is also hosting a variety of popular User Groups and Presentations on Sunday, June 29th from 1 PM to 5 PM in the Wyeth Room, Atrium Mezzanine. Refreshments and door prizes will be offered: The schedule is:

1 PM Preview and Presentation of the Deaf Blind Communicator

2 PM BrailleNote Discussion and Users Group

3 PM Victor Stream Users Group and What’s new with Version 2

4 PM Launch of the new Trekker Breeze GPS

We look forward to seeing everyone in Dallas and an exciting 2008 convention.

 

HumanWare

 

www.HumanWare.com 

 

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Press Release: The Trekker Breeze Is Now Available!

TREKKER BREEZE, THE EASY ALL-IN-ONE HANDHELD TALKING GPS IS NOW AVAILABLE

Longueuil, June 26, 2008 – HumanWare is now taking orders for the Trekker Breeze, a state-of-the-art talking GPS specially designed for the needs of visually impaired users. This simple orientation tool is designed for use when travelling in familiar surroundings or pre-defined routes. The product will also be appealing to people not comfortable with computers and screen readers. The new model is an addition to our popular Trekker and BrailleNote GPS systems, which have thousands of users worldwide. With this innovation, HumanWare will make GPS technology even more accessible to a greater number of people.

The Trekker Breeze is available for purchase at an affordable price of $895. In the fall of 2008, The Trekker Breeze will become available in other languages for European and Asian countries.

Like other GPS products from HumanWare, the Trekker Breeze provides talking GPS directions that help users know where they are, where they are going and what is around them.

Trekker Breeze offers the important benefits of GPS orientation tools. It enhances autonomy and confidence in travelling and makes learning new routes easier. Users can record routes as they walk them with sighted assistance. Routes can then be previewed and activated for future use. As they walk by, users receive audible information, such as street names, intersections and reference landmarks. In case they are lost, they can retrace their steps. They can also reach favorite destinations with turn-by-turn instructions from their current position. The product makes it easier to travel alone, and allows people to discover and enjoy their surroundings.

“GPS technology brings great benefits to visually impaired travellers. With this new addition to our product line, Humanware now offers GPS benefits to an even wider portion of the visually impaired population,” said Lucia Gomez, Product Manager. “Easy and intuitive, Trekker Breeze offers basic orientation functions in an all-in-one hand size device. It is also the most affordable GPS tool specially designed for the needs of users who are blind.”

HumanWare offers the most complete line of GPS tools for visually impaired people. The line includes the popular BrailleNote GPS and Trekker. BrailleNote GPS is a full-featured GPS tool that integrates seamlessly with Keysoft. It is available with any of the BrailleNote family of products. BrailleNote GPS benefits from the highly efficient and easy-to-learn Keysoft interface. Sleek and discreet, Trekker is a powerful GPS solution running on a mainstream palm-size PDA. Trekker is highly appealing to professionals and students already familiar with computers and screen readers.

“Trekker Breeze will make the potential of GPS technology even more accessible to the blind,” said Lucia Gomez.

The BrailleNote GPS and Trekker are currently available from HumanWare. For more information, please visit http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/products/gps

About HumanWare

HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for the print disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world’s leading digital audiobook players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier.

For more information:

HumanWare
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.:                (450) 463-1717        
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com

Icon and Braille+ Software Release 1.11.16

From: “Marc Mulcahy” <marc [at] levelstar [dot] com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:38:05 -0600

Hi All:

Software version 1.11 build 16 is released.?? This one contains support for
content from Audible.com.?? The complete what’s new is below.

Marc

What’s new in 1.11

Bug fixes:
* fixed navigation in continuous read–reading no longer gets stalled when
arrowing through a document while in continuous read.
* Fixed continuous read in the docking station–Alt + Space should now read
beyond the current paragraph.
*Fixed problems disconnecting from Ethernet in the dock.
*Keylearn Mode now works correctly when docked.
*Braille Translator is much faster.
* NLS books beginning with short clips of silence, such as the May issue of
Smart Computing, no longer hang up the bookshelf.

New features and changes:
*Audible content is now supported!
* Software packages installed through File Explorer such as games are now
automatically re-installed after an update.
* New Manage Software Utility lists all installed software packages,
including system software.?? This utility only allows for the removal of
software packages–packages must be installed by selecting them in File
Explorer or downloading them through the Check for Software Updates utility.

*There is a new item in the Applications Menu called Work Space which
contains 4 views: Welcome, RSS, Recent Books, and Recent Files.?? Through
these various views, the Work Space application gives you quick and easy
access to your most recently downloaded RSS podcasts and articles, your
recent books, and your most recently accessed files, as well as providing a
quick link to the APH or LevelStar website (depends on your unit).??

To navigate among the views, press Pound + the Left and Right Arrows (Alt +
Left and Right when docked). To navigate among the items in a given view,
use the Up and down Arrows.?? If the view contains a folder structure, use
the Right arrow to enter a folder, and the left Arrow to exit back out of
the folder to the previous structural level.

In addition, you’ll find when you check for software updates this go-round
that there are two additional packages available for download: an audio
tutorial package, and an audible content package.?? If you choose to download
and install these packages, they will also appear in the Welcome View of the
Work Space below the manufacturer’s website.??

The Audible content package contains several samples of various types of
content from Audible.com as well as a link for a free trial.?? The Audio
Tutorial package is an audio daisy book containing updated versions of all
of the tutorials produced by LevelStar, including the introduction to the
docking station and a tutorial on the new Work Space application.

* Due to the addition and placement of the Work Space application under
number 1 in the Applications Menu, the Address Book is now number 7 in the
Tools Menu, and so can be accessed by typing 57 from the Applications Menu.

* Due to the fact that f10 will be one of the programmable hotkeys for
opening programs using the docking station, the Qwerty command for accessing
the Options Menu within a program is now Alt + O.

And finally,
* The Check for Software Updates utility now supports the installation of
multiple packages.?? Press Select to mark each package you wish to download,
then press OK to begin download and installation.?? All the packages will
download, next all the packages will install, if a package requires a reboot
as do the system software packages, this will happen next, and finally after
the restart and restoration of data, games and other software packages
installed from File Explorer will be re-installed.

Known issues.
1. The NLS books that give “error 22″ when unpacking: we’re stillworking on
it.
2. Can’t currently select links from email or RSS articles when docked.
3. The unit ocasionally resumes with no system sounds or media player or
bookshelf audio.?? Closing all applications, powering off, and turning the
unit back on again usually fixes this.?? We’re still working on fixing the
underlying issue.
4. The function key on the dock says nothing in key learn mode.
5. Occasionally, when docked, no audio can be heard through the dock’s
speakers.?? Pressing caps lock seems to resolve this.?? We’re investigating
the underlying issue.
6. Re-installation of packages with interdependencies silently fail.?? This
only affects anyone who has a bunch of interdependent .ipk files installed.
7. Installing the Soduku game hangs the installer.

Work Space

Podcast 25.  This podcast introduces you to the new work space application for the Icon and Braille
+.

 

OTL025_Work_Space.mp3

Update: Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 25 – Window-Eyes 7.0 Fully Disclosed

Coming up on this week’s Main Menu Live, we dedicate the two hour episode to
talk all about Window-Eyes 7.0. Doug and Aaron from GW Micro will be with
us as well as many beta testers from the Window-Eyes private beta team. We
will discuss the product and the many scripts that will be available on GW
Micro’s Scripting Central web site found at:

http://www.gwmicro.com/Script_Central/

We had Doug and Aaron on Main Menu in the past and it is time to bring them
back to discuss the product and to get feedback from private beta users and
scripters on the new version. Jamal Mazrui has written a significant amount
of scripts for the 7.0 product and he will be here to talk about the many
things he has developed. I will discuss the newest refinements to the
Winamp scripts that will be available including features that could replace
the ACB Radio Tuner for Winamp users that use Window-Eyes as well as much
improved access to the Auto-Tagging capabilities of Winamp. Aaron and Doug
will talk all about the GW Toolkit scripting library, the AutoComplete
script, the progress indicator script, the VirtualView script, the Weather
or Not script, and much much more.

As of this writing, we are happy to report that Window-Eyes 7.0 Public Beta
1 is available at the following link:

http://www.gwmicro.com/beta

Here is how to participate in the show:

The number to call into the show is 866-400-5333.
You may email your questions to: mainmenu@acbradio.org
You may also interact with the show via MSN (Windows Live) Messenger. The
MSN Messenger ID to add is: mainmenu@acbradio.org

Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the
topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the
Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is:
main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com

Come join an already lively group of users.

Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu
Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:

Main Menu – http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenu
Main Menu Live – http://www.acbradio.org/podcasts/mainmenulive

For this next week, only the Main Menu Live podcast feed will be updated.

Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific,
and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream
channel.

Follow this link to listen to the show:

http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8

Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team

Opinions expressed belong to the Individual Contributors.

Podcast:

ml20080625.mp3

Window-Eyes Training

 Window-Eyes,When:  Tuesday, September 30, 2008 to Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Where:  Portland, OR
What:  Training
Who:  Jeremy Curry, Kimberly Cline

Do you need to know how to use Microsoft Office products with Window-Eyes? Do you want to expand your employment opportunities by learning how Window-Eyes makes applications accessible? Are you a teacher or IT professional that needs to know how to use or support Window-Eyes? Then, Window-Eyes training is for you.
GW Micro is pleased to announce Window-Eyes training in Portland, Oregon! Come and enjoy the Pacific Northwest in all its glory, and learn all about the great features that Window-Eyes has to offer. Learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more!
Unlike other advanced technology courses that cost up to $800 per day, the cost for Window-Eyes training is only $250 per day per person. You�ll get hands-on training and experience with trainers direct from the manufacturer. You�ll also get the entire Window-Eyes curriculum for both days on two CDs. You�ll learn how to use many of the functions in Window-Eyes, and how they can apply to your everyday life, along with training materials that you can review after the training.

The training will be held on Tuesday, September 1 and Wednesday, October 1 at the Oregon Commission for the Blind at the following address:

Oregon Commission for the Blind
535 SE 12th AVenue
Portland, OR 97214

Remember that GW Micro accepts most major credit cards, checks, and state agency authorizations. Space is limited, so register today at www.gwmicro.com/training by entering the code OR092008.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Curry at  (260) 489-3671 , or email Jeremy at jeremy@gwmicro.com.

 Training

 

http://www.gwmicro.com/News_&_Events/Upcoming_Events/?eventID=175

AER 2008 International Conference

When:  Wednesday, July 23, 2008 to Friday, July 25, 2008
Where:  Chicago, IL
What:  Conference
Who:  Chris Park, Jeremy Curry, Drew Markley

Visit us at AER 2008 International Conference in Chicago, IL July 23-25!

New products and features:
-Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 offers the latest advancements in screen reading technology, including full Unicode support, new scripting functionality, web browsing enhancements, a new synthesizer, and much more
-Sense View Duo portable Video magnifier, next generation handheld CCTV with long distance view feature!
-The Braille Sense Plus, the lightest and latest notetaker with built in 32-cell Braille display Also, you can find out what it and the Voice Sense (the smallest notetaker available) can do for you, including the new GW Sense Navigation powered by Sendero

Conference location:
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 North Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel:  312-836-0100 

Dates and hours of exhibits:
Wednesday, July 23, 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Opening Reception
Thursday, July 24, 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday, July 25, 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Best Regards,
Chris Park
GW Micro Inc
725 Airport North Office Park
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
Voice:  260-489-3671  ext.204
FAX: 260-489-2608
Email: chris@gwmicro.com
Web Site: www.gwmicro.com

NFB National Convention 2008

When:  Sunday, June 29, 2008 to Thursday, July 03, 2008
What:  Conference
Who:  Jeremy Curry and Dan Weirich

GW Micro will be providing training and exhibiting our products at the NFB National Convention which is being held at the Hilton Anatole hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX 75207. For hotel information call  214-748 1200 .

We will be there from Sunday, June 29, 2008 through Thursday, July 3, 2008. Kewing Enterprises will be assisting at our booth as well. The exhibit schedule is …

Monday, June 30, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday Afternoon, July 2, 12:00 noon to 1:45 p.m.
Wednesday Evening, July 2, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 3, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.

Stop by to learn more about the new features of the upcoming Window-Eyes version 7 and pick up a free demo CD. We will also demonstrate the Voice Sense and the new Braille Sense Plus with GW Sense Navigation. For those with low vision we will also demonstrate the Portable SenseView and the new Portable SenseView Duo.

We hope to see you in Dallas next week.

http://www.gwmicro.com/News_&_Events/Upcoming_Events/?eventID=179

Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 Is Now Available!

Jun-24-2008

After much anticipation, Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 is now available.  Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 offers the latest advancements in screen reading technology, including full Unicode support, new scripting functionality, web browsing enhancements, a new synthesizer, and much more.

Full Unicode support means the ability to work with more international languages. Web browsing enhancements mean easier navigation between controls, and the ability to add placemarkers that can remember places on a webpage even when the webpage changes. ECI Eloquence 6.1 is now available as yet another speech option. Other enhancements like speed increases for list views, the system tray, and error reporting, being able to increase and decrease the speech rate during read to end, new options for keyboard voice interruptability, and numerous bug fixes make Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 a welcome update.

The most notable enhancement in Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1, however, is scripting. Window-Eyes scripting is unparalleled in its design and implementation.  Rather than require a scripter to learn a proprietary language, Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 allows a scripter to choose from a number of standard computer languages for writing scripts.  This means that more people will be able to take advantage of Window-Eyes scripting, and ultimately more accessibility to more software applications. Access all Window-Eyes features and settings, all operating system windows and properties, create custom accessible dialogs for user interaction with power and ease, and more.

To make scripts easily accessible and encourage script development, GW Micro has created a centralized script repository called Script Central (www.gwmicro.com/sc). Script Central provides script developers with the tools to distribute their scripts, and provides scripts users the tools to download, comment, rate and track favorite scripts.  The GW Micro forums (www.gwmicro.com/forum) have also been enhanced for general script discussions, script requests, script announcements, and much more. While we encourage everyone to take advantage of Script Central, Window-Eyes scripts can be hosted anywhere and distributed by anyone.

Read more about all of the features Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 has to offer, and download your copy, at www.gwmicro.com/beta.