[gui-talk] Fwd: GW Micro Announces New Products and Developments at CSUN

[Steve Pattison]

GW Micro Announces New Products and Developments at CSUN
Press release from GW Micro:
GW Micro Announces New Products and Developments at CSUN 2009 

GW Micro continues to lead the way with exciting new products and developments being announced during the CSUN Conference at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott from March 18 through 21. If you are attending CSUN, we invite you to visit with us in Booth 314. 

Window-Eyes 7.01 Features 

The Window-Eyes 7.01 feature set is extensive: Scripting, Placemarkers, Enhanced Control Search, Unicode support, iTunes, Firefox 3, keyboard language announcement, Eloquence and more. We are very excited about these features, and are continuing to demonstrate them. In addition, the power of scripting is being exhibited with the new WE4Java script, by Jay Macarty. WE4Java provides comprehensive support for Java applications without using additional third party add-ons. 

Preview of Window-Eyes 7.1 

We are previewing Window-Eyes 7.1, which will include full support for 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. We are also demonstrating Window-Eyes on Windows 7, including 64-bit versions of Windows 7. In addition, Window-Eyes 7.1 will include many enhanced Braille features (including line mode, and speech box mode), enhanced support for standard edit boxes (including 100% text accuracy), several new scripting related features (such as a new, customizable script menu, the ability to add menus in dialogs, built-in update checking, and more), and support for Internet Explorer 8 and Thunderbird 3. 
Two Exciting New Products 

GW Micro is also announcing two exciting new products - Book Sense, a portable digital audio book player, and Braille Sense Plus QWERTY, the new version of the Braille Sense Plus, featuring a standard keyboard and Braille display. 

Book Sense 

The new portable digital audio book player, Book Sense, lets users access information for education, information, and entertainment. Students can access school textbooks, people in the workplace can stay current with journals or business magazines, and anyone can enjoy newspapers, favorite novels, or a bestseller. 

With a comfortable feel when held in your hand, Book Sense is very easy to use. Weighing only four ounces (115g), it is portable and powerful and easily fits into a shirt pocket, backpack, or purse, so you can take it anywhere. 

Two models are offered - Book Sense and Book Sense XT. Both models play audio files, DAISY content, Secured-Digital (SD) memory card slot, and built-in recorder. The media player supports a variety of formats, such as MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV, WAX, MPC, and WMA. 

The Book Sense model features an SD memory card with 1 GB of storage. Book Sense XT has internal 4GB storage memory, built-in Bluetooth, and an FM radio. 

With Book Sense, you can access digital talking books from providers such as Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), BookShare, and Audible. 

Book Sense makes it simple by utilizing the USB port to connect to your PC to transfer downloaded books and music directly to the Book Sense XT or to an SD memory card for use in either model. 

The book reader mode supports several file formats, including txt, rtf, doc, docx, html, xml, and brf. 

Pricing for Book Sense will be decided soon and shipping will start later this year. 

Braille Sense Plus QWERTY 

In response to people who have asked for a notetaker with a standard keyboard, GW Micro listened and developed the Braille Sense Plus QWERTY. Now you can type on a standard keyboard and also have a Braille display in a notetaker that is still small and portable. 

Equipped with 32 Braille cells and speech output, the Braille Sense Plus QWERTY weighs only two lbs (924g), so you can carry it without experiencing shoulder pain from lugging a heavy laptop or notetaker. 

It has 8GB of built-in memory and allows you to have plenty of storage for all the files you download using the built-in WI-Fi or Ethernet connection. There is 128MB of RAM for quick response time. The VGA Port allows you to have a conversation with a large group using an external monitor or projector. It also has one SD slot, one CF slot, two USB ports, and a user-removable battery. It also has built-in Bluetooth. 

GW Sense Navigation (SenseNav) wayfinding is available as an option for anyone who travels. 

Pricing for Braille Sense Plus QWERTY will be decided soon and shipping will start later this year. 

Sense Navigation Rebate Promotion 

GW Micro is also announcing a special CSUN promotional rebate on SenseNav. Anyone who purchases SenseNav at the retail price of $1,549 between now and the end of March will receive a $150 rebate. 

SenseNav version 1.3, released in December 2008, is the GPS add-on for the GW Micro Sense notetakers, which include the new Braille Sense Plus QWERTY being introduced at CSUN, along with Voice Sense, Braille Sense Plus, and Braille Sense Original. 

SenseNav consists of an 8GB CF card containing every file you need to travel the U.S. or Canada. Other countries are available. A CD that may be used in your computer or audio CD player is included. The CD provides an audio tutorial, the user manual in text format, and other system files. You receive the Holux M-1000 receiver with AC adapter and custom-carrying case. 

To obtain your $150 rebate, just submit your receipt for the retail purchase price of $1,549 along with your request for the rebate, and GW Micro will provide a check to you. Send your request and receipt to: GW Micro, 725 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825. 

GW Micro and Lexmark Offer Easier Accessibility 

Users of GW Micro's Window-Eyes screen-reading software and Sense notetakers will now find it easier to use Lexmark's Multifunction Printers (MFPs) thanks to Lexmark's Accessibility Solution. 

In the past it has been difficult or impossible for blind or low-vision people to access LCD screens on multi-function copiers. Due to the collaboration between GW Micro and Lexmark, we are making Lexmark MFPs accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers. 

The web-based software lets you set up and complete copy, fax, e-mail, ftp and scan jobs directly from your PC or notetaker, rather than from the MFP touchscreen display. 

The software works with GW Micro's Window-Eyes, Voice Sense, Braille Sense, Braille Sense Plus, and Braille Sense Plus QWERTY. 

You now have access to almost every setting and option available on Lexmark's MFPs to ensure that you can accomplish equivalent tasks to those completed directly from the touchscreen. You can control more than 120 settings/options, change accessibility application display options like font size and foreground/background colors, and check the working status of the MFP. 

Lexmark and GW Micro are demonstrating the Accessibility Solution in the GW Micro booth 314 at CSUN. 

Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
MSN Messenger:  internetuser383 at hotmail.com
Skype:  steve1963