Remember that HW does not discuss what they are planning in their upgrades to avoid tipping off their competitors so they can jump on the bandwagon and include it in their own device.
I will however say that I agree with the gentlman that pointed out that CE 6.0 is already technically old and by the time we get it (if or when that ever happens) we will still be behind. I understand that is complicated to upgrade these system upgrades but I really do think that it is holding our product behind. Cindy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of sammie clay Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 8:57 AM To: Joseph Lee; Write Humanware Subject: re: [Braillenote] Upgrading KeySoft to Windows CE 6.0 Hello Joseph Lee and List, I'd like to congratulate Mr. Lee for this well written article. I've also read the responses to it from list members, who seem to be taking it as Humanware gospel. Mr. Lee's theory is perhaps an explanation of why the Classics won't receive another upgrade. However, that information, if true, would have been easier to digest if a Humanware executive or staffer had crawled from under his or her rock and said it. As nice as Mr. lee's article is, it is only a supposition or theory of his. Nowhere in his article does he say that Humanware is ever planning to do this! It would indeed be wonderful if Humanware did make these applications available to the MPower and PK, but please remember when the next upgrade is released, all these are ideas of Mr. Lee's. As usual, Humanware has a lot of room to deny any of this, because like those famous three monkeys they are neither "seeing, hearing, nor saying" anything. Everything that people on this list say or predict as an inclusion in a future upgrade is merely their own wish list. Unless someone from Humanware's soft and hardware planning and development staff comes forward and tell us what will be happening, this is just a list for helping people use their devices and creating dream lists. Currently, the word from Humanware is that "they are working on the next upgrade. They are not saying what it will include, when it will be released, or what number it will be called." So how about complementing Mr. Lee on his well thought out and written hypothesis, but we should remember, that's all it is and not a promise from Humanware. Whenever the next upgrade is released, nothing in this article has been mentioned by anyone from Humanware. Sammie Clay >----- Original Message ----- >From: Joseph Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: BrailleNote List <[email protected] >Date sent: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 22:53:58 -0700 >Subject: [Braillenote] Upgrading KeySoft to Windows CE 6.0 >Hi Alex, Cindy and list, >I'm not a software developer (software development was never my >strong point, grin) but I'll try my best to explain this in >simple but detailed context: >INTRODUCTION >Whenever a new product is released to the general public from >companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, etc., the general >public wants to know what's new with the product. The features >that these companies and other companies list as part of the >product release would be easy for people to understand and many >people would say that upgrading would allow them to use promised >features. >ON THE SOFTWARE SIDE >For software developers like HumanWare staff and OEM's (Original >Equipment Manufacturer), the release of a new operating system >(particularly from Microsoft) usually means that they need to >come up with strategies to implement features of this new >operating systems to their benefit and for the benefit of the >customers. For example, when Microsoft said, when Windows Vista >(Windows NT 6.0) was released, that this new operating system >would no longer support older CPU's such as Pentium III and older >processors, many people who were using computers based on these >chips were worried and switched to newer processors such as Dual >Core processors from Intel and AMD. Also, for example, when >Apple announced that it will establish partnership with Intel to >create iMacks (hope I'm spelling it right), many people who were >using Power PC CPUS to run Mac OSX switched to Intel-based iMacks >for some experiments. As previous examples illustrates, whenever >a major software or hardware is released, people would anticipate >as to its impact on their computing lives. >ABOUT WINDOWS CE 6.0 >Microsoft released Windows CE 6.0 on November 1, 2006. Microsoft >hinted that this new Windows CE version is different from >previous versions and allows devices to run more programs. This >was achieved by modifying the operating system kernel--the real >heart of Windows CE--to take advantage of increased Virtual >Memory from 32 MB to 2 GB. An operating system kernel is some >kind of a process that can be described as "heart of the OS" - >meaning that it is a central component of the operating system >that interfaces with hardware and software (mostly between >firmware and software). Virtual Memory is some kind of a memory >where you can use more memory than physical RAM. Also, this new >kernel allows devices to run almost unlimited number of >programs/processes (processes is another term for programs) - up >to about 30,000 programs. (Remember, that under Windows CE 4.2, >you can run up to 32 programs at once.) Also, the audio stack and >bluetooth functions has been redesigned and the way of running >programs is significantly different from Windows CE 4.2. >As the illustrations above shows, Windows CE 6.0 is not just a >simple upgrade: it is a radical departure. >SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BrailleNote USERS? >Because of the way Windows CE 6.0 is designed, just running >KeySoft on top of CE6.0 when it is designed for CE4.2 will not >work. Due to the redesigned operating system that takes >advantage of nearly thousandfold of virtual memory (2 GB or >roughly 2000 MB), KeySoft needs to be rewritten/recompiled to >take advantage of increased virtual memory support. As the chat >summary states, the hardware on the mPower and PK is capable of >running Windows CE 6.0 (especially on the mPower). >WHAT ABOUT BrailleNote Classic USERS? >There are numerous reasons why Classic won't be able to run under >CE6.0 (I'll try my best to answer many questions that has been >discussed on the list from non-programming perspective): >* The processor itself (MIPS R4000 at 100 MHz) does not have >sufficient capabilities to support CE6.0 because of its speed and >rarity of devices running Windows CE that is powered by MIPS >processors. Most devices these days run under ARM processors. >* Classic does not have enough memory to support CE6.0 features, >notably newer audio stack and virtual memory (although one can >use "emulation" for it). >* The audio hardware on the Classic does not have sufficient >capabilities to support newer audio stack (devices these days >have multichannel sound cards vs. single channel sound cards >present on Classic). >These are reasons why Classic will not, and unfortunately unable >to support upgrading to Windows CE 6.0 (it has endured enough to >be powered by Windows CE 4.2). >WHAT POSSIBILITIES CAN USERS EXPECT FROM UPGRADING TO WINDOWS CE >6.0? >If HumanWare upgrades to Windows CE 6.0, the following >suggestions that were posted on the list will come true: >* Enhanced Bluetooth supporting Bluetooth audio and Object >Exchange (ObEx) protocol so you can send data to other Bluetooth >devices. >* Enhanced Audio stack (probably a new hardware upgrade is in >order). >* The issue of "not enough storage" error would be resolved >through use of tons of virtual memory (KeySoft alone can use up >to 2 GB of virtual memory). >* Support for Office 2007 files and better MS Word documents >support. >* Support for Power Point (did I spell it right?) files. >* Support for SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output) cards such as SD >WiFi and modem cards (probably a new hardware is in order). >These are some of the possibilities that we can expect in Windows >CE 6.0. >Conclusion: Every new product release, especially operating >system release, carries considerable impact on customers, >computer/device manufacturers and software developers. Although >it may have new features for better productivity and computer >lives, for developers, this means another challenge for them, >especially if the product in question is different from what >developers have been used to using. As illustrated above, >Windows CE 6.0 is not just an evolutionary release, but rather a >radical departure from what we've seen on devices that runs under >Windows CE, namely support for larger virtual memory, redesigned >audio and Bluetooth stack and so forth. For this reason, a >software that has been designed for an older OS such as Windows >CE 4.2 needs to be rewritten to take advantage of new features >found in CE6.0. A software written for an older operating >system, say for Windows 98 will not take advantage of new >features released in newer operating systems such as Windows >Vista. This is critical when running a software on a portable >device such as BrailleNote family of products. Although we' as >users of this product, will see many improvements and suggestions >come alive, for developers, it would be a challenge to compile >KeySoft to take advantage of new features introduced in the >latest version of Windows CE designed for portable devices. As >Joseph Lee, the author of this message and a BrailleNote user >proclaims, "Use a given technology to its full potential." - use >your technology to take advantage of it. >I hope the above article made sense to everyone. If you have any >questions for me, feel free to contact me. >Cheers, >JosephP.S. Just a comparison: even though the competition claims >that it runs under latest Windows Mobile technology, don't be >fooled, as it still runs under Windows CE 5 technology (This was >not meant to be an attack on a specific product). >___ >Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >copy to the list as well. >To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
