Here it is. Again, it is not official and is just what I remember, no research went into this.
Keysoft started out as a program for MS-DOS (Windows 3.x or, I think, under 95). It was later ported to a mobile device called the Keynote Companion, then, in 2000, the first BrailleNote Classic was released, running the first version of keysoft as we know it today. I got my classic at ks3.06. With 4.2 they upgraded the motherboard to accept compactflash cards and go online. 5.0 brought the stopwatch and media player and finally unlocked keyweb (until then you would just get a "you are not licensed to run this application" message). Then, the huge upgrade, from ks5.1 under ce2.12 to ks6.11 under ce4.2. This introduced the wonderful world of wireless connectivity to the Classic and, if memory serves, the PK as well. In 2005 Humanware released the mPower, running ks6.2 (the features of 6.11 but re-written to work on the mPower's hardware, with some additions like audio recording). After that we had ks7.0, 7.2, 7.5, and (where non-Apexes are now) 8.0. Between them, these upgrades brought a lot of new features: FM radio, keybase, z-code games, UEB support, statistics and fractions for keyplus, recording for the PK, built-in foreign languages, Audible book support, unzipping of .zip files (to support a new Bookshare.org book format), and more. In late 2009 the Apex was announced. It ran ks9.0, which was just ks8.0 rewritten and with a couple new features. In other words, 8.0 on the mPower and 9.0 on the Apex are the same as 6.11 on a Classic and 6.2 on an mPower. That is where we are now, awaiting ks9.1 (or 10, or whatever they call it) and the long-anticipated Word 2007 support that Humanware said would be included, free for Apex users, in the next release. On 10/16/10, TaraPrakash <[email protected]> wrote: > I understand that I missed the email by Alex that had history of keysoft. > What a loss. Can you please send it again Alex? > > Thanks > > TaraPrakash > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kieran L" <[email protected]> > To: "Alex Hall" <[email protected]>; "braille note" > <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, October 15, 2010 5:02 PM > Subject: Re: [Braillenote] a brief (unofficial) history of Keysoft (replyto > Zach's email) > > >> There betta be a free upgrade for mPower too! >> I'm hoping on an apex soon, but might be stuck with this mPower running ks >> >> 7.5 build 27. >> >> Oh, and thanks, alex for the brief history of ks. >> I got my classic in 2004, running ks 5.1. Quite fun, init? >> >> Kieran Little. >> _____ >> Contact info >> ---- >> Email: >> [email protected] >> MSN: >> [email protected] >> AIM: kieranlittle667 >> GoogleTalk isEmail address* >> Loudtalks: kieranlittle667 >> Klango: kieranlittle12 >> skype: little_kieran46 >> Phone: 02030516246 and then type 441 when asked for extention >> ----- >> Social networks >> -------- >> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kieran.little667 >> twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dj__k >> zonebbs username: kieranlittle667 >> Youtube channel: http://youtube.com/kieranlittle667 >> >> On 15/10/2010 03:12, Alex Hall wrote: >>> Keysoft started out as a program for MS-DOS (Windows 3.x or, I think, >>> under 95). It was later ported to a mobile device called the Keynote >>> Companion, then, in 2000, the first BrailleNote Classic was released, >>> running the first version of keysoft as we know it today. I got my >>> classic at ks3.06. With 4.2 they upgraded the motherboard to accept >>> compactflash cards and go online. 5.0 brought the stopwatch and media >>> player and finally unlocked keyweb (until then you would just get a >>> "you are not licensed to run this application" message). Then, the >>> huge upgrade, from ks5.1 under ce2.12 to ks6.11 under ce4.2. This >>> introduced the wonderful world of wireless connectivity to the Classic >>> and, if memory serves, the PK as well. >>> >>> In 2005 Humanware released the mPower, running ks6.2 (the features of >>> 6.11 but re-written to work on the mPower's hardware, with some >>> additions like audio recording). After that we had ks7.0, 7.2, 7.5, >>> and (where non-Apexes are now) 8.0. Between them, these upgrades >>> brought a lot of new features: FM radio, keybase, z-code games, UEB >>> support, statistics and fractions for keyplus, recording for the PK, >>> built-in foreign languages, Audible book support, unzipping of .zip >>> files (to support a new Bookshare.org book format), and more. >>> >>> In late 2009 the Apex was announced. It ran ks9.0, which was just >>> ks8.0 rewritten and with a couple new features. In other words, 8.0 on >>> the mPower and 9.0 on the Apex are the same as 6.11 on a Classic and >>> 6.2 on an mPower. That is where we are now, awaiting ks9.1 (or 10, or >>> whatever they call it) and the long-anticipated Word 2007 support that >>> Humanware said would be included, free for Apex users, in the next >>> release. >>> >>> On 10/14/10, dreicer, zachary<[email protected]> wrote: >>>> does the apex use something similar to this? This mac user >>>> mentioned keysoft on a computer. See below: >>>> >>>> ---- Original Message ------ >>>> From: Eleni Vamvakari<[email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] tutorial on a Mac >>>> Date sent: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:46:44 -0400 >>>> >>>> I have an Apple IIC, an Apple IIGS, a Macbook, several pc >>>> desktops and >>>> several pc laptops running various versions of Windows and DOS. >>>> But >>>> right now, only one of my XP Home desktops, my IBM Thinkpad X32 >>>> with >>>> XP Pro, my Macbook with Snow Leopard and my KeyNote Gold with >>>> Windows >>>> 3.1 and MS-DOS 6.21 are available... Hoping to get the IBM >>>> Thinkpad >>>> 310 up so that I could play with MS-DOS 7 under Windows 98 in >>>> there, >>>> because the KeyNote has a terribly stripped down version of DOS, >>>> since >>>> they expect users to use only the KeySoft software, is missing >>>> several >>>> important keys by design and is driving me nuts! Love that old >>>> baby >>>> but really need a change of pace. >>>> >>>> Eleni >>>> >>>> On 10/14/10, heather kd5cbl<[email protected]> wrote: >>>> I also have a mac and a pc! Heather >>>> >>>> For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: >>>> http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ >>>> >>>> >>>> For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: >>>> http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ >>>> >>>> ___ >>>> 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 >> > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap ___ 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
