[Iabs-talk] Fw: Window-Eyes with Windows Vista and Office 2007

[Dave Wright]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jeremy Curry 
To: Jeremy Curry 
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 2:50 PM
Subject: Window-Eyes with Windows Vista and Office 2007


Greetings to All Involved with Screen Readers,

 

As you may know, Microsoft is releasing Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 today.  Windows Vista will replace Windows XP, while Office 2007 will replace Office 2003.  This means that the current versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Office applications will be replaced with the new Office 2007.  So, instead of getting Word 2003 when consumers purchase a new computer or an upgrade to Office, they will be getting Word 2007.  Instead of getting Excel 2003, they will be getting Excel 2007, and so on.  These new versions have many enhancements, and are much different than the previous versions.

 

We have been getting many inquires regarding screen readers and if they will work with Vista and the new Office 2007, as the entire computer industry will be shifting starting today.  The answer is that if a client is using Window-Eyes, then yes, the client can get access to Office 2007 and Windows Vista.  However, if a client is using ANY other competing screen reader (such as JAWS), then the answer is no.  So, there is only one choice:  Window-Eyes.  If you check www.dell.com, Dell is already shipping computers with Windows Vista, and HP appears to only be shipping Vista and Office 2007 on almost all computers as well.  In fact, most computer stores are pulling Windows XP off of the shelves as of today.  By now, you are asking yourself, "What does this mean to me?"  If you are a counselor or an evaluator for blind or visually impaired clients; or, if you are a screen reader user, this information is very relevant and extremely crucial.  Most clients require Office applications to perform their daily functions in the workplace and/or in an educational setting.  Currently, Window-Eyes is the ONLY screen reader to fully support Word 2007, Excel 2007, Outlook 2007, and PowerPoint 2007.  JAWS is currently only supporting Word 2007, and does NOT currently have any Vista support, nor does it have support for Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook 2007.  Thus, if a client needs access to these applications, they will need to use Window-Eyes.  So, when you think screen reader, Think Window-Eyes First.  

 

In Orlando, Florida last week at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) annual convention, Window-Eyes was the only screen reader to be showing off support for Windows Vista and Office 2007.  As they have been for the last year, Microsoft was exclusively demonstrating Window-Eyes when showing off screen reader support for Vista and Office 2007.  For existing clients that currently use JAWS, but require access to Vista and/or Office 2007, Window-Eyes has implemented a JAWS keyboard layout to reduce the learning curve.  

 

To allow clients to use Office 2007, the current release of Window-Eyes will work.  If they require access to Vista, a public beta of Window-Eyes is available today.  This is ground-breaking, as blind consumers have never before had access to an operating system when it ships.  GW Micro is leading the pack, and is obviously still the world leader in screen reading technology.

 

I think this important information for anyone who is involved with screen readers, which is why I am emailing you about it.  I am pasting the official announcement below:

 

"Think Window-Eyes First - This is the first time in the history of computer technology, where a full-featured screen reader is ready on the same day as the general release of a new operating system.  No other screen reader is ready.

 

In July 2000 at the summer conferences GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes reading Adobe PDF files.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

In September 2001 at the WCD exhibition GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes running under Windows XP.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

In March 2002 at the CSUN conference GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes version 4.2 utilizing Flash technology.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

With the January 2003 release of version 4.21, Window-Eyes was the first to implement Display Chain Management, the standard that allows applications such as screen readers and screen magnifiers to co-exist peacefully.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

In March 2003 at the CSUN conference GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes running under Citrix MetaFrame XP, Microsoft Terminal Services and Microsoft Windows XP/2003 Professional Remote Desktop.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

When Window-Eyes 4.5 was released in September 2003 it had the first and to this date the only error reporting system available in a screen reader.  This error reporting system improves stability and reliability, which are critical to a productive, enjoyable computing experience.  No other screen reader was ready then and no other screen reader is ready today.

 

In November 2005, the release of Window-Eyes 5.5 offered full support of Mozilla Firefox running DHTML applications.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

December 4, 2006 GW Micro released Window-Eyes 6.0 with Microsoft Office 2007 support and support for the new ribbon interface.  No other screen reader was ready.

 

Today - January 30, 2007 GW Micro released a public beta version of Window-Eyes that will run under the new operating system, Windows Vista.  This is the first time in the history of computer technology, where a full-featured screen reader is ready on the same day as the general release of a new operating system.  No other full-featured screen reader is ready.

 

Think Window-Eyes First because we strive to be the First and you should not have to wait.  We are leading the way, just as we have for many years - innovating, changing with new technology, giving you, the customer the true freedom to choose the latest software when you want it.  

 

To download a full public beta version that anyone, even non-Window-Eyes users can try, go to www.gwmicro.com/beta and download your copy today.  

 

For our clients with computers running Windows 2000, XP or 2003 Server there is a separate public beta download, which includes various improvements and performance enhancements.  When you download your version, please make certain you are choosing the correct file.  

 

Remember, this is a public beta version - please let us know about any issues that you may find.  We listen and respond to our customers and our goal is to provide the finest quality screen reader possible."

 

If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. 

 

Best Regards,

 

Jeremy Curry

GW Micro, Inc.

Ph:  (260) 489-3671

Fx:  (260) 489-2608

Email:  jeremy at gwmicro.com

Web:  www.gwmicro.com

Check out www.gwmicro.com/vr
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----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:jeremy at gwmicro.com Jeremy Curry
To:
mailto:jeremy at gwmicro.com Jeremy Curry
Sent:
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 2:50 PM
Subject:
Window-Eyes with Windows Vista and Office 2007
Greetings to All Involved with Screen Readers,
 
As you may know, Microsoft is releasing Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 today.  Windows Vista will replace Windows XP, while Office 2007 will replace Office 2003.  This means that the current versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Office applications will be replaced with the new Office 2007.  So, instead of getting Word 2003 when consumers purchase a new computer or an upgrade to Office, they will be getting Word 2007.  Instead of getting Excel 2003, they will be getting Excel 2007, and so on.  These new versions have many enhancements, and are much different than the previous versions.
 
We have been getting many inquires regarding screen readers and if they will work with Vista and the new Office 2007, as the entire computer industry will be shifting starting today.  The answer is that if a client is using Window-Eyes, then yes, the client can get access to Office 2007 and Windows Vista.  However, if a client is using ANY other competing screen reader (such as JAWS), then the answer is no.  So, there is only one choice:  Window-Eyes.  If you check http://www.dell.com/ www.dell.com
, Dell is already shipping computers with Windows Vista, and HP appears to only be shipping
Vista
and Office 2007 on almost all computers as well.  In fact, most computer stores are pulling Windows XP off of the shelves as of today.  By now, you are asking yourself, “What does this mean to me?”  If you are a counselor or an evaluator for blind or visually impaired clients; or, if you are a screen reader user, this information is very relevant and extremely crucial.  Most clients require Office applications to perform their daily functions in the workplace and/or in an educational setting.  Currently, Window-Eyes is the ONLY screen reader to fully support Word 2007, Excel 2007, Outlook 2007, and PowerPoint 2007.  JAWS is currently only supporting Word 2007, and does NOT currently have any Vista support, nor does it have support for Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook 2007.  Thus, if a client needs access to these applications, they will need to use Window-Eyes.  So, when you think screen reader, Think Window-Eyes First. 
 
In
Orlando
,
Florida
last week at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) annual convention, Window-Eyes was the only screen reader to be showing off support for Windows Vista and Office 2007.  As they have been for the last year, Microsoft was exclusively demonstrating Window-Eyes when showing off screen reader support for
Vista
and Office 2007.  For existing clients that currently use JAWS, but require access to
Vista
and/or Office 2007, Window-Eyes has implemented a JAWS keyboard layout to reduce the learning curve. 
 
To allow clients to use Office 2007, the current release of Window-Eyes will work.  If they require access to
Vista
, a public beta of Window-Eyes is available today.  This is ground-breaking, as blind consumers have never before had access to an operating system when it ships.  GW Micro is leading the pack, and is obviously still the world leader in screen reading technology.
 
I think this important information for anyone who is involved with screen readers, which is why I am emailing you about it.  I am pasting the official announcement below:
 
“Think Window-Eyes First - This is the first time in the history of computer technology, where a full-featured screen reader is ready on the same day as the general release of a new operating system.  No other screen reader is ready.
 
In July 2000 at the summer conferences GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes reading Adobe PDF files.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
In September 2001 at the WCD exhibition GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes running under Windows XP.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
In March 2002 at the CSUN conference GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes version 4.2 utilizing Flash technology.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
With the January 2003 release of version 4.21, Window-Eyes was the first to implement Display Chain Management, the standard that allows applications such as screen readers and screen magnifiers to co-exist peacefully.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
In March 2003 at the CSUN conference GW Micro demonstrated Window-Eyes running under Citrix MetaFrame XP, Microsoft Terminal Services and Microsoft Windows XP/2003 Professional Remote Desktop.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
When Window-Eyes 4.5 was released in September 2003 it had the first and to this date the only error reporting system available in a screen reader.  This error reporting system improves stability and reliability, which are critical to a productive, enjoyable computing experience.  No other screen reader was ready then and no other screen reader is ready today.
 
In November 2005, the release of Window-Eyes 5.5 offered full support of Mozilla Firefox running DHTML applications.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
December 4, 2006 GW Micro released Window-Eyes 6.0 with Microsoft Office 2007 support and support for the new ribbon interface.  No other screen reader was ready.
 
Today - January 30, 2007 GW Micro released a public beta version of Window-Eyes that will run under the new operating system, Windows Vista.  This is the first time in the history of computer technology, where a full-featured screen reader is ready on the same day as the general release of a new operating system.  No other full-featured screen reader is ready.
 
Think Window-Eyes First because we strive to be the First and you should not have to wait.  We are leading the way, just as we have for many years - innovating, changing with new technology, giving you, the customer the true freedom to choose the latest software when you want it. 
 
To download a full public beta version that anyone, even non-Window-Eyes users can try, go to http://www.gwmicro.com/beta www.gwmicro.com/beta
and download your copy today. 
 
For our clients with computers running Windows 2000, XP or 2003 Server there is a separate public beta download, which includes various improvements and performance enhancements.  When you download your version, please make certain you are choosing the correct file. 
 
Remember, this is a public beta version - please let us know about any issues that you may find.  We listen and respond to our customers and our goal is to provide the finest quality screen reader possible.”
 
If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
 
Best Regards,
 
Jeremy Curry
GW Micro, Inc.
Ph:  (260) 489-3671
Fx:  (260) 489-2608
Email:  mailto:jeremy at gwmicro.com jeremy at gwmicro.com
Web:  http://www.gwmicro.com/ www.gwmicro.com
Check out http://www.gwmicro.com/vr www.gwmicro.com/vr