BrailleNote mPower
Notetakers
Accessories for the BrailleNote mPower
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BrailleNote mPower BT32

BrailleNote mPower BT18

BrailleNote mPower QT32

BrailleNote mPower QT18

When it was first introduced in 2000, the BrailleNote family of products were the first of its kind. These are notetakers developed by and for visually impaired users to easily organize their notes and also be able to access the Internet and read and compose e-mail. As these products have evolved, so have their capabilities.

Building on the success of the original BrailleNote line of products, BrailleNote mPower offers many newer features and a great new look. Key features in BrailleNote mPower include:

Fast Intel X-Scale processor
Expanded on-board storage to 128MB
2 USB host ports and a USB client port
Great Quality Stereo sound when listening through headphones
Support for listening to Internet radio
An Audio Recorder with either an external microphone or a built-in microphone with fully adjustable recording levels
Built-in Bluetooth for connections with cell phones, keyboards and other computers

Every BrailleNote model gives you instant access to each of the following applications:

Word Processor: Create, edit and store documents, convert them to Braille or a range of mainstream text formats including Microsoft Word, print or emboss any document, translate between Braille and text
E-Mail: Send and receive e-mails with attachments, store addresses, create folders. Supports standard POP3 e-mail services
Daily Planner: Schedule single or recurring appointments and set reminder alarms and synchronize with Microsoft Outlook's Contacts
Address List: Store and organize your contact information, look up an address quickly and simply, paste it into a document or e-mail, synchronize with Microsoft Outlook's Contacts. Or create your own database
Book Reader: Read e-books in standard Braille or text format, in any grade of Braille you choose, download and unpack Bookshare e-books
Web Browser: Surf the net -- do research, online shopping and banking, save pages, download files and much more
Media Player (Media Center in the BrailleNote mPower): Sounds too good to be true? Listen to MP3 audio books or music, and return to the point you stopped listening to your last MP3 file
Stopwatch: Keeps track of time passing while you do other tasks
Scientific Calculator: Make complex mathematical calculations, insert the answer into an e-mail or document
Online Help: Context-sensitive help and fully-indexed user guide are available at the touch of a key
ActiveSync: Enables you to connect your PC to share or synchronize files

BrailleNote BT: The pioneering member of the BrailleNote family, featuring a Braille keyboard, Braille display (18 or 32 cells), and voice output.

If you need a personal digital assistant that produces results compatible with mainstream technology via an intuitive, fast and friendly user interface, then look no further.

BrailleNote is available with a choice of either 32 or 18-cell Braille display, highly accurate and responsive speech output, and an ergonomic 8 key Braille keyboard.

Exchange information by disk, memory card, e-mail or ActiveSync. Read Microsoft Word e-mail attachments and files using Grade 2 Braille. Produce results that are compatible with those produced by standard Windows applications.

BrailleNote QT: A notetaker with a computer-style keyboard, Braille display (18 or 32 cells), and Voice output.

You like the compactness and features of the BrailleNote, the convenience of the Braille display, the effortless document navigation using the thumb keys, and the high quality speech. But, if you prefer to use a computer-style keyboard, then BrailleNote QT is for you.

This member of the BrailleNote family provides all the style and sophistication common to all BrailleNote models, packaged into the same compact size.

With the BrailleNote mPower, the user can connect the BrailleNote to an Braille embosser for printing, either directly through one of the USB ports or by a USB to Parallel Converter if the embosser only has a Parallel port. In addition, you can use the serial port to connect to a desktop or laptop for a visual display of the functions of the BrailleNote.

Newer features of the BrailleNote mPower:

Want to share your database with others? Then you can even customize the messages users read when they press the help key when entering data into each field. KeyBase allows easy importing and exporting to and from many applications including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access and many online banking systems.

Updated KeyPlus Scientific Calculator - Work with fractions in the updated KeyPlus Scientific Calculator. As well as performing standard mathematical operations, you can convert fractions to decimals and vice versa, convert fractions to and from percentages, convert a fraction to its lowest terms, and much more.

Statistics Support in KeyPlus - KeySoft offers more intuitive, powerful statistical functions in KeyPlus. Create data sets within the Calculator using a special data entry mode. Enter your data into a KeyWord document, and paste it into data entry mode from the clipboard. Import data sets from many common applications. Save data sets for later use, and export them for use by other applications. Perform a wide range of statistical functions on a data set using an intuitive KeySoft menu, or with hotkeys.

Games - Interactive fiction comes to the BrailleNote. Interactive fiction, also known as text adventures, will take you into mysterious worlds where you can look at your environment, move around, collect objects, talk to all kinds of strange creatures and sometimes find yourself trapped. There are hundreds of compatible interactive fiction games available for download on the Internet, ranging from educational titles for kids right through to epic fantasy for the serious gamer, and you can play them right on your BrailleNote. Easily switch in and out of games when you need to check e-mail or make a note, play music in the background while you solve the latest mystery, or save games for later resumption.

Braille Input for JAWS for Windows - Compose e-mail, write a Microsoft Word document or work with your spreadsheets on your PC, all from your BrailleNote's keyboard.

More Bluetooth Support - In addition to what has already been useful with the integrated Bluetooth wireless technology, here's what can also be done:

Use your device as a remote synthesizer for your PC with no wires attached. Take your BrailleNote up to 30 feet away from your PC and still hear what your screen reader is saying;

Use your device as a wireless Braille display. With the BrailleNote operating as a wireless Braille display, coupled with the keyboard input functionality, you have complete control over your PC as far as 30 feet away from your PC. Take the BrailleNote outside on a sunny day and keep on working on your PC using the keyboard input functionality. Control a PowerPoint presentation in front of your audience, even when the PC is tucked away in an inconvenient place;

Drive a wireless visual display. Want to give a presentation using data on your BrailleNote? Are you a teacher who wants to be able to check a student's work with no wires or fuss? The extension of the visual display function to include Bluetooth makes all this possible. Use a range of devices for the visual display function including Palm Pilots and Windows HyperTerminal.

FM Radio - Scan the FM band for your stations and save them as presets. Read the frequency on the Braille display or the station name if you've saved that information. Listen to the FM radio while you work on other tasks. Control the volume of the FM radio separately from the volume of the speech. Even use the recorder to record FM radio stations.

Eloquence Speech - Use the highly responsive and accurate KeyNote Gold speech, or switch to the familiar Eloquence speech that is widely available on access technology products. When Eloquence is active, you may also choose to have hyperlinks voiced in a different Eloquence voice when using KeyWeb, making the web really come to life.

DAISY Support - Your BrailleNote can be your digital book player. HumanWare is the world leader in DAISY playback technology, through our Victor Reader products. That Victor Reader technology has been incorporated right into KeySoft. Listen to DAISY audio books, with the flexibility to speed up and slow down the narration and change the tone of the audio. Set bookmarks, create text notes, and jump to any time in the book. Text-only DAISY books are instantly translated into your preferred grade of Braille.

With books that offer both text and audio, you have the best of both worlds. Choose to read in Braille for detailed study, and let the narrator read to you when it suits. Move through DAISY elements, or use the familiar KeySoft sentence and paragraph navigation commands in text DAISY books if you prefer.

Improved File Management - KeySoft also allows extensive manipulation of files from any file list. Anywhere you can see a list of files, you can copy, erase, move, protect, unprotect and rename a file. Now, it is possible to mark files for action. Move through a list of files, mark those files that you need to take action on, and the file manipulation commands can be applied to the group of files.

When you look through a file list using the Directory option in File Manager, pressing ENTER on any file will launch its associated application. Pressing ENTER on an mp3 file, for example, will immediately cause it to start playing in the Media Player.

In any file list, it is even easier to get it sorted. You can still sort files alphabetically as you have always done, however you can also sort by date and by size. Sorting by size is a great way of finding those pesky large files that are consuming Flash Disk space. Sorting by date makes it easier to trace the progress of a project whose files are contained in their own folder.

Email Enhancements - KeySoft has the additional ability to set up two e-mail signatures. Configure an e-mail signature for messages you generate, and another for messages you forward or reply to. You can see the text of the signature right in the body of any e-mail message you create.

Accessories for the BrailleNote mPower:

Compact Flash Video Card Adapter: A compact flash video card adapter is available, which can be used with all mPower units running at least KeySoft Version 7.2. When the card is inserted, the BrailleNote mPower automatically detects the card, and the visual display is active. All that is required is a monitor or LCD projector to provide a visual display.

This video card adapter has been used successfully for the mPower with an LCD projector or a flat screen monitor at BrailleNote workshops and conferences. Teachers, parents and sighted trainers are very excited about this newer option.

Multi-Lingual Capability: You can search for text, check spelling, print and emboss in another language. Change the language of text, and the language features are retained even when you copy and paste that text. Use just one language or switch back and forth in just 2 keystrokes.

Multi-lingual is available in all BrailleNote software functions from the word processor to e-mail. Available in Spanish, French, German and Italian.

BrailleNote GPS: BrailleNote GPS puts the map of the world at your fingertips. Navigate independently using maps or routes you have created yourself. GPS works in vehicles, while walking, even flying.

Because of the lack of parallel ports in the BrailleNote mPower, there has been a concern regarding the use of many printers and Braille Embossers that do not have wireless capability. There are separate Bluetooth and Infrared adapters available, which have been tested and approved for use with the BrailleNote mPower, that allow a printer or Braille Embosser to become wireless. Please Contact Us for more information, especially as to how the BrailleNote mPower can be used with these separate accessories.

Tech notes:
A complete listing of products that are and are not compatible with the BrailleNote mPower is now available for download. Just click on the link below:

BrailleNote/VoiceNote mPower Product Compatibility Chart

Please note this chart will be updated as needed.

Here is a brief FAQ on the capability of using digital books from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (R F B & D) with this product:

1. Will there be any cost for customers wishing to upgrade their units to play R F B & D books?
Customers will need to be running KeySoft 7.2. A KeySoft patch for customers to download free of charge will be made available with detailed instructions. There is no need to have to send the units in for upgrade. Future versions of KeySoft will eliminate the need to install a patch.

2. Will HumanWare be providing all of the necessary unlock codes, or will the customer also have to contact R F B & D?
Customers will need to contact R F B & D to receive a username and password and pay a $20.00 membership fee. R F B & D will send out a Welcome Kit with instructions.

3. What CD-ROM drives currently work with the mPower for playing R F B & D books?
Customers will need to copy the RFB&D book to a storage device such as a USB thumb drive or memory card. This will eliminate the process of having to carry around a CD-ROM Drive to read a book. Users will need to enter the book code before opening the book as is required on other devices that play R F B & D books.

If you have any further questions about this or any other specifics of this product, please Contact Us.

20-hour or more Battery Life
Size: 9.9” x 6.1” x 2”
Weight: (BrailleNote mPower BT32/QT32) 2.9 lbs.
           (BrailleNote mPower BT18/QT18) 2.2 lbs.

Upgrades are available for any BrailleNote unit at any time, especially if you need to go from one member of the BrailleNote family to another. Also, a Product Maintenance Agreement (PMA) and Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) can be purchased.

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