>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>Media Contact: Eric Vician, Marketing Communications Specialist
>Sales Contact: Bryan Carver, Inside Sales Director
>Freedom Scientific Inc.
>Blind/Low Vision Group
>St. Petersburg, FL 33716
>800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>Freedom Scientific releases version 4.1 of the Millennium and Type Lite
>firmware
>
>(St. Petersburg, Florida, June 17, 2003) - Freedom Scientific today
>announced the release of version 4.1 of the firmware for the Braille Lite
>M20, Braille Lite M40 and Type Lite notetakers. Freedom Scientific will ship
>this update automatically to PMA and warranty holders. Anyone else wishing
>to install this feature-packed update will be charged $95.
>
>The auto-shipping is expected to commence in early July, but notetaker
>owners are encouraged to visit the Freedom Scientific booths at this
>summer's shows where the updates will be installed. Freedom Scientific
>representatives will be at the National Federation of the Blind convention
>in Louisville from June 28 through July 4, 2003 and the American Council of
>the Blind national convention in Pittsburgh from July 5 through 12.
>
>This release introduces multiple new features and applications. Additions
>comprise a complete integration of compact flash functionality, including
>the backup and restore feature, refinement and improvement of the Doc2txt
>utility, that allows you to convert Microsoft Word documents into text
>files, and the introduction of new Html2txt and an unzip utility.
>
>Here's what some of the changes mean:
>
>·       Compact flash functionality fully integrated into the firmware
>eliminates the need to use an external compact flash program.
>·       Html2txt utility launches automatically when the user opens an HTML
>document and creates a text file allowing the document to be read on the
>notetaker.
>·       Unzip utility launches automatically when the user opens a .zip file
>and allows one or more files within an archive of zipped files to be
>unzipped.
>·       Speechbox mode allows the notetaker to be used as a PC speech
>synthesizer.
>·       Interactive mode causes the unit to speak and/or display text as it
>is received through the serial port (desirable for use with TTY devices for
>the deaf-blind, including the Comm Lite).
>·       Spellchecker allows documents to be edited.
>·       P-chord keystroke opens an external programs menu and launches them
>with a single keystroke.
>·       Multiple e-mail profiles are available and ESMPT e-mail is
>supported.
>·       Display Mode makes the Whiz Wheel move the display in the same
>manner as the advance bars.
>·       Whiz Wheel functions can be toggled on or off.
>·       Extended keystrokes allow various functions to be executed by
>pressing a Braille character in conjunction with an advance bar.
>
>Also, Freedom Scientific has released the June 5, 2003 version of the
>classic notetaker firmware. The classic notetakers affected are: Braille 'n
>Speak 640, Braille 'n Speak 2000, Type 'n Speak, Braille Lite 18, Braille
>Lite 2000 and the Braille Lite 40. The classic notetaker firmware release
>will make your unit compatible with the forthcoming version of WinDisk and
>will be available via free download or can be mailed to you for $10.
>
>To order, contact your local dealer, or call Freedom Scientific at
>1-800-444-4443 or 1-727-803-8000.
>
>Freedom Scientific is the world's leading manufacturer of technology
>products for those who are blind and vision impaired, and products for the
>special education and learning disability markets.


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