Category: accessible Devices
HumanWare has been helping people who are blind maximize their digital communications since 2000, when the innovative BrailleNote was first introduced.
The BrailleNote family has continually evolved to address the needs of students, professionals and consumers. Today, advanced productivity as well as reading
in total comfort are at the heart of all our note taking products.
The new BrailleNote Apex puts success at your fingertips. Whether you are a busy professional or a hardworking student, today's connected, digital world
is all yours with the sleek and powerful BrailleNote Apex.
Cutting-edge technology
Starting with BrailleNote's acclaimed design, exceptional ergonomics and outstanding reading and writing experience, our designers set out to meet your
needs at work, school or home by taking the technology further than ever before:
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• The thinnest and lightest Braille notetaker anywhere
• Powerful KeySoft applications for dynamic real-time communications
• NEW Windows CE 6 operating system
• Extensive connectivity
• Enchanced support for large documents and media files
• Plug and play visual display
• Convenient user-replaceable battery
• Integrated real-time clock maintains time and date for 30 days without battery power
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Connectivity with global reach
The BrailleNote Apex assures that you stay connected wherever you go:
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• Built-in options are at your fingertips to access Web pages, download e-mails or retrieve files from your wireless or Ethernet network.
• Enjoy the convenience of wireless accessories and connectivity to keyboards, a wireless earphone or your mobile phone using the improved Bluetooth manager.
• Printers, embossers, hard drives, flash drives and more, it's a snap to connect to one of the three available USB ports.
• Keep an updated list of personal contacts and appointments by synchronizing information with your PC.
• Use your BrailleNote's keyboard to input Braille or navigate with your computer screen reader using the Braille Terminal Mode.
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Smart Ergonomics
The BrailleNote Apex is designed for maximum comfort during extended reading and writing tasks.
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• Comfortable full-size Braille keyboard makes all your notetaking quick and easy.
• Signature thumb keys make extensive reading a real pleasure with effortless
• navigation by line, sentence or paragraph.
• Newly designed scroll wheel allows for effortless navigation in menus, documents and e-mail lists.
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More memory and storage options
The BrailleNote Apex puts more power in your hands with 8GB of internal memory and various portable storage options, including support for high-capacity
SDHC cards.
Sound thinking
The BrailleNote Apex offers outstanding stereo sound capabilities for playing back recordings, listening to audio books, interviews, news, your favorite
music or any of the thousands of Internet radio programs.
Keysoft Inside
The acclaimed KeySoft Suite of applications is both user-friendly and efficient.
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• Easy-to-use menu system enables users to quickly review applications and settings.
• An extensive set of shortcut commands allows users to instantly access any desired feature.
• Context-sensitive "help" is always available when you need to remember a command. One-key touch accesses the Main Menu and Online Help.
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KeySoft includes a comprehensive suite of productivity applications with feature-rich content that is 100% accessible.
Word Processor: Translate between any grade of Braille and text formats including Microsoft Word, then print or emboss any document or attach it to an e-mail.
Book Reader: Read books from Bookshare, RFBD, Audible and numerous other sources. Read Braille or text formats in your preferred grade of Braille. Enjoy
listening to audio books and take advantage of the powerful DAISY navigation features.
Web Browser and E-Mail: Surf the Web - do online research, shopping and banking. Send and receive e-mails, and stay connected via your preferred network
connection.
Voice Memos: Record lectures, class notes and memos, then instantly play them back from anywhere in KeySoft with a single key press.
Media Player: Listen in stereo to MP3, WAV and Windows Media files and a number of other formats. Create playlists, enjoy Internet radio or music while
reading, e-mailing or surfing the web.
Streaming Audio: Enjoy listening to Internet radio programs that use MP3 or Windows Media formats.
Keychat: Communicate in real time with colleagues, friends and family using state-ofthe- art instant messaging (IM) services.
The revolution is at hand
With the innovative line of BrailleNote products, HumanWare has changed the way people who are blind connect, work and interact. Thinner and lighter, enabling
its users to stay ahead of the fast-paced world around them, the BrailleNote Apex truly delivers power to the people.
The Technology
Operating system
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• Microsoft Windows CE 6 operating system
• 8GB of non-volatile user storage
• 256MB SDRAM
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Connectivity
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• One SD card socket supporting SDHC cards
• Built-in Ethernet port (10/100Mbps)
• Built-in Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g protocol
• Built-In Bluetooth 2.1
• One high-speed USB 2.0 client port for Active Sync and Braille Terminal Mode
• 3 high speed USB 2.0 host ports
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*Optional USB voice modem
Hardware
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• 32 cell refreshable Braille display
• Computer-style keyboard (QT model)
• 8 -dot Braille keyboard (BT model)
• Speech output with choice of TTS
• GPS receiver via Bluetooth
• Stereo speakers
• Internal Omni Directional Microphone
• Rechargeable and user-replaceable lithium-ion battery
• Real Time Clock with 30-day battery backup
• External speaker / headphone and microphone jacks
• Weight: 900 g (31.75 oz)
• Dimensions: 19 mm (0.78 in) H x 250 mm (9.84 in) W x 140 mm (5.51 in) D
above was the press statement.
So, what do you all think?
a good step forward, not a big enough step, will make compotition interestingamong note taker venders?
At least this puts them finally up to speed with the rest. Sure took them long enough hoep it works for them.Bet the price is a killer.
Well the specs look pretty good. The only thing that slightly concerns me is that they have focused a lot more on the new hardware features, not software features. I'd like to know if it:
supports MS word 2007 docs
support direct reading of html email
supports chat services like msn, aim, yahoo etc
Hopefully that information will be available as things progress. But from what i've read, it looks pretty good! But the thing that counts the most, in my opinion, is the user reviews. So for now, I think i'm gonna sit back and wait until other people have got it and had a chance to try it out (from what i've read, it's due to start shipping on December 1st).
Oh, if anyone is interested: I read on the braillenote mailing list that someone called humanware regarding the pricing. Apparently, humanware said that it would cost the same as the 32 cell braillenote MPower ($6195 USD). However, please note that I cannot 100 % confirm that that price is dead accurate.
Anyway, hopefully more details will come out over the coming days and weeks; but so far, it looks pretty good!
$6200 is just crazy price. A netbook is not that much bigger and it costs $300 (the new Acer netbook that runs Windows 7 for instance), a 32-cell display will probably cost one around $1800, I know Perkins Seika displays are 40 cell with list price of $2200 and a slightly more expensive Bluetooth enabled ones are forthcoming, together, under $3000, regular keyboard, all the apps you may want, way more processing speed, storage, you can run all apps you wish for etc.
I know some people prefer braille keyboard, there is a weight difference and the display is built in here, not attached, and some may like it, which is fine with me. But I just don't know if that warrants a $3000 premium and the fact users are forced to use propriatery apps and technology that may ormay not be updated along with the rest of the technology world.
Here I would definitely opt for an Ipod Touch, they said braile support is their most requested update feature and the device costs $400, with 16gb memory, I can buy quite a few of those for $3000 (assuming I have a $3000 display).
Over allI am disappointed, I was hoping for some other device, may be VR Stream update, may be GPS advancements, something that does not rely on the BrailleNote and I question this move, but I am also curious to feel the unit and I am sure I will at CSunif not sooner.
i'm curious to see what comes of it on the software end. It looks like they are trying to go into direct compotition against the braille sense+ but i don't think its worth the caust. on the other hand, its good that people will have a newer alternative if they are dead set on something like this. but I'm thinking the braille sense+ still might be the better choice over this. It depends though on software and such.
I agree with WB on what he stated as well. It was a slight letdown to see this announcement. but when you compare it to what the pacmate omni braught to the table with its upgrade, this is a lot more noticable and worth wile hardware wise.
it is quite impress on the hardware side of thing, but by the time you upgrate the unit to do whatever you want to do, like going online, using as GPS etc etc, it would cost at least 7000, with that money, i can get at least one mac pro, one pc with the latest hardware and software on it, one macbook pro, and perhaps, i have more than extra 3000 to play with, perhaps can give myself the best holiday that i can have...
I think it's an interesting device, but like someone said, I was hoping for a new daisy player, or gps device. I'm thinking of getting a notetaker, but when I look at prices, I wonder if it's not a better idea to just get a net book. Does anyone know how much those are? What about the new acer with windows 7.
Wow! This sounds quite good, but I, too, am interested to see if it will accept html email or run ms-word. Also with this new item on the market and some sort of competition developing, why can't they reduce the price or make a payment plan for this sort of thing, or anything else for that matter. Damn! Who can afford to shell out that kind of money?
because its priceing wise in line with moste of the braille note takers. braille sense + $5700 or so, same with the pacmate omni 40
they could go cheeper but these componies claim always that r&d causts justify the priceing points as well as the braille display.
Yes on the hardware side its a huge leap for teh braille note family but compared to everything else its average, might not be better than anything else really. It just depends on what feature set and menu structure and applications you like.
Netbooks range from 300 to 600 usually.
It is somewhere just over 300 for the Acer with Windows 7 on www.buy.com
Ok, thanks so much!!
Ok, regarding the price. The following information comes from user reports on the braillenote mailing list, so again I cannot guarantee that it is 100 % accurate.
If you have purchased a braillenote MPower on or after October 1st 2009, you can upgrade to a Braillenote Apex for free.
If you have a Braillenote MPower BT/QT, then you may be eligible for a trade-in offer. Seeing as the Apex only appears to offer a 32 cell braille display, it is unclear at the moment whether units with 18 cell braille displays will be accepted. If your unit qualifies for the trade-in, you can upgrade to a Braillenote Apex for $4000 USD. If you have any other type of Braillenote (Classic, PK, Voicenote etc) you will not qualify for the trade-in offer, sorry!
Again, I cannot guarantee that this information is 100 % accurate because it came from a user on the braillenote mailing list and has not yet been officially confirmed by HumanWare.
At least we now know why keysoft 8 was a huge pile of steaming smelly dog crap. Why couldn't they give us ms worrd 2007 support as well as the upgrading of the OS as promised? Oh, and sdhc? I think those of u saying going the netbook route is the way to go is correct. Why pay more for less? Especially given Humanware's recent track record on repairs. I wasn't excited or itching with anticipation through their advertizing tactics on this one, and I'm not all that excited now either. I too, was hoping for a new vr stream or something.
As for the Pac mate, that thing is way behind the times. The Omni doesn't even support SD cards. CF technology is going by the wayside quickly. The worst part is that the biggest advancement in the Omni was that you could reset it without losing your data. wooooow! Talk about leaps in technology!
One thing to keep in mind is that it's only around 24 hours since the announcement came out regarding the new Braillenote Apex. At the moment, there are a lot more questions than answers *smile* Once Humanware releases the user guide (which, according to a post on the bn list from someone at Humanware, will be closer to the shipping date) and the units start shipping on December 1st, we will know a lot more about the software side of things (as well as any major bugs).
Since the Braillenote Apex runs an upgraded version of Windows CE (Windows CE6.0), things such as MS Word 2007 support are possible; it's now just a case of HumanWare implementing this (which I hope they have). Also, with the upgrade to Windows CE6, the annoying virtual memory issues should hopefully be resolved!
Yes, i'll agree that KeySoft 8 was a pile of crap (unless you wanted audible book support, google talk support or a free 90-day trial of the sendero gps software). I only upgraded to KS8.0 because I had the upgrade available and from what I've heard, you can't skip upgrades.
The lack of a CF (CompactFlash) card slot is a slight concern and has sparked some outrage on the bn list. Last month, my Dad bought me a 16GB CF card. Also, people who use some of the other Braillenote products like the PK or Classic, there are no USB or SD card slots so CF was the only option. I'm thinking that the only real solution to this is a USB card reader. Yes, the technology is slowly dying out, but people still use these cards.
The other, and bigger concern, is the price! A lot of people cannot afford $6195 (as expressed in earlier posts in this topic and on the bn list). Yes, there is a transfer offer, but $4000 is still too much for some people. This is the one thing that is preventing me from upgrading; my local authority bought me my Braillenote MPower and I don't think they are going to pay for a new Braillenote *sad face*
Anyway, that's enough rambling from me for now; got other stuff to do!
It looks like Humanware were trying to play catch up to the Braille sense Plus. A few of the hardware features are better, the extra USB slots, and the 256 memory. but I don't think that would justify a switch in any way.
I'm getting sick of Humanware bringing out new products and forgetting those of us who bought before. I have a trekker Maestro, and they forgot last years annual update, and no sign of this years. it's rediculous, that you or someone on your behalf spends so much money and they don't care about you. They're starting to be a little like FS.
why does anyone opt for such a pricey alternative to just using a laptop or netbook and adding a braille display if desired? the obvious difference I can see is the Braille keyboard but surely that alone can't be wirth the money. So what is the big draw or advantage of a braille notetaker over a laptop or netbook?
the simple fact that sometimes it's a lot more convenient to be able to walk out the door with one unit which includes the braille display. When that's the most importent part of the unit for you, then it can be that big a deal.
I have to agree with Blackbird's last post. It's convinient, but I'm pretty frustrated with humanware right now. They have this habbit of releasing decent products, but after a year or so, they quit making updates for those products. I mean, Humanware's technology is "behind" enough as it is, and with their slow, and often nonexistent updates after a certain amount of time, your device is worthless. Having said this, I have a BN M-Power. I like having the braille keyboard because I feel like I type a lot faster and to me I can concentrate on what my professor is trying to say. When I type on a computer keyboard, I find that my attention is more what I'm typing than what is being said to me. I also agree with many who say that 6000 is way too much money! It's crazy! That's why if and when my BN dies completely, more than likely, I'll get me a netbook. I don't really need a braille display. I used my BN's because it was there and handy. Anyway, I'll hush now. I'm disappointed in this product. I too was hoping for something more.... I can't find the word now, but what I mean is that I was hoping for something "more with the times." Something like a VR stream or something like that although HW seems to have forgotten about it now too. What a shame!
if apple does braile support and support blue tooth keyboards, (bothqwerty and braile) i think they will crush the market, cuz then something like an ipod touch that can run all the equivalent apps that the braile note and all the other things do will be that much more apealing. And then you will have something smaller all be it two units in stead of one but still something small you can walk out the door with.
I agree. Although portability might be a factor for some, I totally agree with you. I think mainstream products are becoming the way to go, and it's a good thing in my opinion.
yes totally mainstream products are the way to go. Cheaper, better follow up support, no having to wait forever when it needs repairs, and no having to explain to sighted persons what exactly your piece of equipment does. lol Also perhaps if there is a decline in interest in these blind specialty products, the companies will have to start selling them at a lower "more reasonable" price - supply and demand. If demand goes down but supply remains the same then price will drop.
Yep, very true!
My dad sent me an email with that information. It sounds great, but I might want to wait. It's a bit pricy. I'm proud of Humanware for finally making that step forward in accessibility. I still wish it had support for AIM, MSN, etc.
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