I can't answer your questions, but I just wanted to say that I too wish there were programs for the BN. Even the older Braille 'n Speak and Braille Lite have more programs than the BN. I'm majoring in English literature in university and use a dictionary a lot. I have a Franklin Language Master, but often think of how great it would be if there were a dictionary program that could run on the BN and allow me to look up definitions. Then I could use the braille display to see spelling and other useful things that I can't do as easily with the Language Master.
As far as I know the BN can't even run regular programs even if they are designed for Windows CE, so I don't know who could make programs that would work. Jen
