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Welcome to Media Center - a repository of media files on BrailleNote, such as chat archives, podcasts recorded by users and so forth.
If you want to listen to various media files on this page, go to the relevant link to the episode you want to listen to e.g. BrailleNote Podcast - Intro link for "Show number 1." If you are using a computer, press ENTER on the link. File Download dialog should be displayed. Press O for Open (where you can listen to the podcast using a media player such as Winamp) or press S to Save the file. If you are using a BrailleNote, depending on File download setting under Internet Options, either "Download File" prompt will be displayed, or "loading media" message should appear and the podcast should start playing in the Media Player.
BrailleNote: It's Potential is a podcast series produced by Joseph Lee devoted to BrailleNote family of products. In this series, he talks about features found on BrailleNote, specifically those that are used in BrailleNote mPower and Apex.
Note: The information presented in this series applies to all family members - Classic, PK, mPower and Apex - but emphasis is placed upon using an mPower and an Apex. Also, the feature set that are demonstrated is current up to KeySoft 7.5.28 with later series using KeySoft 9.1.1031.
Show 1: Introduction: In this episode, I talk about What BrailleNote is and hardware and software orientation.
BrailleNote Podcast - Intro
Show 2: Getting Started: In this part, I demonstrate basic features, such as navigation commands and setting date and time.
BrailleNote Podcast - Basics
Show 3: Options Menu: In this show, I describe and demonstrate how to set your BrailleNote to your preference using Options Menu (sort of like Control Panel). This show is divided into two parts: The first part describes Options Menu and tours Braille Display Options (Options Menu Part 1); Part 2 continues from where Part 1 ends, starting with Keyboard Settings all the way up to speech reminder commands at the end of the Menu (Options Menu Part 2).
Show 4: Word processor: A tour of word processor, including creating a file, reading and navigating text, text selection for copying, formatting and other topics. Due to the length of this one, it was divided into parts:
Part 1: Creating, reading and navigating a document.
Part 2: Deleting and manipulating text.
Part 3: Further block manipulation, place markers and finding and replacing text.
Part 4: Introduction to format commands.
Part 5: further format commands, spelling checker, printer and embosser setup and output.
Show 5: Organizing appointments, contacts and useful records: Introduces KeyPlan, KeyList and KeyBase and ways of synchronizing calendar and contacts with a PC.
Some people on the BrailleNote List were asking me about how one can upgrade a BrailleNote. So, here is the resulting podcast that talks about downloading and installing the product key, notes on installation and actual upgrade procedure for the mPower and Apex using an SD Card.
Support Information Mode is a console-like location where one can obtain information about BrailleNote's battery, including charging status, temperature, voltage and whether the battery needs to be calibrated - discharged fully and recharged. Under Apex, SD card format capability has been added in addition to two advanced commands to compensate for loss of battery status commands. Here is a podcast that describes this Mode.
Using Support Information Mode (mPower edition)
Using Support Information Mode (Apex edition)
The question often comes up: "Can I use my Apex as a display with my iPhone (or iPad, or iPod Touch)? How do I do it? What else can I do?" Alex H has started a series of recordings to answer this question. See the below list for links to the podcasts uploaded so far, and please excuse the mistakes and general uneditedness; Alex's audio editing software is not behaving at the moment.
On January 24, 2011, HumanWare gave a sneak preview of KeySoft 9.1 for the Apex through Tek Talk training. Then on January 27, 2011, Greg Stilson from HumanWare gave another sneak preview of KeySoft 9.1 through Blind Bargains podcast. The podcasts can be downloaded from here:
A BrailleNote user recorded his experience unpacking a BrailleNote Apex:
Apex Unboxing
A user found a website which converts documents, audio and video in a variety of formats. Here's a podcast demonstrating use of this site using a BrailleNote.
Podcast on online converter
In October 2011, HumanWare released KeySoft 9.2, featuring PDF to text conversion and improved information on file downloads. On this podcast, Joseph L gives an overview and demonstration of KeySoft 9.2's new features (JL: sorry for the quality of the recording).
KeySoft 9.2 overview
A number of users asked whether it is possible to click a web address given in email message. Here is a detailed audio procedure on clicking a link within an email message.
Clicking links within email message
A number of users asked about fractions support and how to perform various statistics functions in scientific calculator. Here is a quick tutorial on these topics.
Using fractions and statistics functions in calculator
On November 21, 2011, Greg Stilson from Humanware demonstrated features on KeySoft 9.2, including PDF to text conversion, file download and so forth. Here's the podcast on this topic from Accessible World's TekTalk archives.
TekTalk presentation on KeySoft 9.2 (November 21, 2011)
A brief tutorial from Mayson C on configuring KeyChat for Google Talk and adding a contact.
Setting up keyChat and adding contacts
Marvin V wrote a small web utility to shuffle an existing playlists (an m3u file with a list of media files to be played) on a BrailleNote. Here's an audio demonstration of this program produced by mayson C.
using Playlist Shuffler
A number of users inquired about how to set up a BrailleNote as a braille display via Bluetooth. Here's an audio presentation on how it is done for mPower and Apex with JAWS for Windows.
Setting up mPower as a Bluetooth braille display
Setting up Apex as a Bluetooth braille display
Web Braille, a service provided by National Library Service (provider of BARD books) allows qualified residents in United States to browse and download electronic braille books. in this podcast, Mayson C demonstrates how to use Web Braille with a BrailleNote.
Using Web Braille via BrailleNote
This keySoft extension allows a user to look up definitions of a word, as well as find out synonyms and antonyms of a given word. in this podcast, Joseph L demonstrates uses of this add-on.
using Concise Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus
The BrailleNote's Database Manager (KeyBase) allows you to create and manipulate custom databases, as well as exporting entries to and importing records from a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file. This tutorial shows you how.
Using Database Manager to create and manipulate databases
Bookshare allows United States residents to find and download thousands of book with annual subscription. In this tutorial, Mayson C describes how to access, search, download and read a DAISY book from Bookshare.
Podcast on downloading and reading DAISY books from Bookshare
A BrailleNote user found a handy trick to change system sounds on the Apex and a way to restore default sounds without losing personal data. In this series, Mayson C demonstrates how to change system sounds, restore default sounds and steps on creating your own sound packs for the Apex (with an added bonus on how to access hidden KeySoft System Disk on the Apex).
Changing system sounds on the Apex and restoring default sounds without losing data
A BrailleNote user discovered that one can download files from websites in the background. In this podcast, Jessica B shows us how.,br> Downloading files in the background
Mayson C has found two file conversion websites that converts audio, documents and video file types from one format to another. Here are the podcasts describing how to use these sites with BrailleNote running latest KeySoft (9.2) release:
convertfiles.com: Using Convert Files website with KeySoft 9.2
Grab Tube: Using Grab Tube website to convert videos to audio files
MP3Raid.com is a website where you can download a variety of audio files. In this podcast, Paul T demonstrates using this service with a BrailleNote.
Using MP3Raid.com website with a BrailleNote
Did you know that BrailleNote can play games with you? To find out more, listen to a tutorial from Mayson C on how to play text adventures, or interactive fiction games on the BrailleNote (note that, as of 2012, BrailleNote comes with IF interpreter built in).
Tutorial on playing text adventure games on the BrailleNote
BrailleNote's email program supports popular POP3 email services such as Gmail, AT&T and so forth. In this tutorial, Mayson C demonstrates setting up an email account using Gmail service as an example (note that IMAP is not supported on the BrailleNote).
Setting up an email account on the BrailleNote based on Gmail service
Once or twice a year, a bunch of bn users will get together online for a voice chat about the bn and any recent news or updates about it. This section lists the archives of those chats and, when it is known, will list the date, time, and location of the next chat.
BrailleNote Chat #1 (July 6, 2007)
BrailleNote Chat #2 (July 13, 2007)
BrailleNote Chat #3 (September 3, 2007)
BrailleNote Chat #4 (October 3, 2007)
BrailleNote Chat #5 (March 1, 2008)
BrailleNote Chat #6 (September 7, 2009)
BrailleNote Chat #7 Part 1 (June 26, 2010
BrailleNote Chat #7 Part 2 (June 26, 2010)
BrailleNote Chat #8 Part 1 (March 25, 2011)
BrailleNote Chat #8 Part 2 (March 26, 2011)
BrailleNote Chat #9 Part 1 (September 4, 2011)
BrailleNote Chat #9 Part 2 (September 8, 2011)
BrailleNote Chat #10 Phone session (April 14, 2012)
BrailleNote Chat #10 PC session (April 14, 2012)
We hope above podcasts will help you learn things about BrailleNote.
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