Sounds like the BrailleNote MPower and VoiceNote MPower might be good products. Was wondering what others think about it.

Harvey


 ---- Original Message ------
From: HumanWare <[log in to unmask]
Subject: HumanWare Launches BrailleNote mPower
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 13:52:41 -0700

HUMANWARE LAUNCHES BRAILLENOTE MPOWER,
THE NEXT GENERATION INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE BLIND

Concord, California - June 27, 2005

HumanWare, the world leader in information technology for the blind and visually impaired, today announced the BrailleNote mPower, the next generation information management system for the blind.

"Blind people need state-of-the-art connectivity to compete successfully in a sighted world.  BrailleNote mPower provides the functionality, portability and ease-of-use required by today's blind students and professionals," says Jim Halliday, President Emeritus of HumanWare North America, based in Concord, California.

Building on the success of the original BrailleNote line of products, BrailleNote mPower offers many new features and a new look.

Key new features in BrailleNote mPower include:

- expanded on-board storage to 128 MB,
- two 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, and,
- a fast Intel X-scale processor.

"Many thousands of people use our existing BrailleNote products in all walks of life, from astrophysics to writing an academic essay, from writing a nation's constitutional court rulings to taking minutes at a school board meeting," says HumanWare's BrailleNote Product Marketing Manager, Jonathan Mosen.

"The one thing all these people have in common is that their BrailleNote product empowers them to succeed on equal terms in all walks of life.  The BrailleNote mPower opens even more opportunities for blind people around the world to manage information and media efficiently, no matter where they are," Mosen says.

BrailleNote mPower offers a powerful suite of applications, operating with Microsoft Windows CE, but written to be used optimally by blind people.  A Braille display takes the place of the screen on a regular PDA.  Information can also be read out loud using synthesized speech.  Models offering Braille or QWERTY input are available, as well as a speech-only output version, known as VoiceNote mPower.

"As a blind person myself, I'm enjoying the freedom of being able to do my e-mail at a wireless hotspot, or even make a Bluetooth connection with my cell phone in the back of a taxi, and all using an interface that maximizes my efficiency," Jonathan Mosen says.

"And thanks to BrailleNote mPower, I'm taking fewer devices with me on the road, since the incredible stereo sound and streaming media support means it's my entertainment as well as information source".

BrailleNote mPower and VoiceNote mPower models can be ordered through HumanWare sales outlets with shipment expected in mid-July.  Seminars on the products are being held throughout the United States.  For more information, check: www.humanware.com or call 800-433-8317 for more information.


About HumanWare

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, HumanWare designs and manufactures innovative technology for people who are blind and visually impaired. Formed in 1988, and formerly known as Pulse Data International, HumanWare exports approximately 98% of its products worldwide to more than 30 countries. In January 2005, Pulse Data and Visuaide of Canada merged to form HumanWare, one of the world's largest companies in the blindness and low vision industries. Sales offices have been established in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand and the company supports a strong distribution network throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

HumanWare
175 Mason Circle
Concord CA 94520
800.722.3393
www.humanware.com


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