Hi folks, As a followup to the unt comparison chart on previous posts, here are general notes on software and other features - again using Braille Sense Plus family, BrailleNote Apex and PAC Mate Omni: Software features: * Wordprocessor: yes (BSP does not support advanced formatting), yes (Apex supports advanced block manipulations), yes (PM Omni has two editors). Note 1: Each unit uses different file formats: KeySoft native types under Apex, Braille documents (and HIMS Braille File format on some editions) on BSP and FS-Edit file format (.fsd) on PM Omni. all units supports .rtf, .doc, .brf and other file formats. * Calendar: yes (BSP), yes (Apex), yes (PM Omni). Note 2: The Alarms is separate from Schedule manager on the BSP * Contacts: yes (BSP), yes (Apex), yes (PM Omni). Note 3: In terms of Apex, the Address List sometimes doubles as the database manager. * Email: yes (BSP), yes (Apex), yes (PM OMni). Note 4: All units supports HTML emails (including Apex with proper formatting). In addition, Pm Omni allows email synchronization and supports IMAP. * Media player and media keys: yes (BSP has dedicated media player keys), yes (Apex uses Windows Media Player module for basic playback), yes (PM Omni uses Windows media Player). Note 5: All units support recording via either internal or external microphones. In addition, PM Omni (and possibly BSP) allows recording in .mp3 format (PM Omni requires external programs). * Book Reader with DAISY support: yes (BSP under Korean 5.5 builds with English builds using DAISY player), yes (Apex uses Victor Reader modules for DAISY playback), yes (Pm Omni uses FS Reader, which will become standard in 6.5 firmware). Note 6: Both Korean and English builds of BSP firmware has a dedicated DAISY player. * Calculator: yes (BSP), Apex (yes), yes (PM Omni). Additional utilities: * BSP: Stopwatch, Terminal for screen reader, date lookup, online upgrade, option backup/restore, external contents and extensions (Korean builds only) and so forth. * Apex: Stopwatch, Interactive Fiction (or Z-Code) interpreter, Database Manager, terminal for Screen Reader, Dictionary and Thesaurus, nemeth Tutorial and so forth. * PM Omni: Stopwatch, Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, Powerpoint Mobile and so forth. Additional hardware features: * Detachable braille display module: no (BSP), no (Apex), yes (PM Omni). * Removable battery: yes (BSP using Lithium Ion at 2000 Milliamps), yes (Apex using Lithium Ion at 2700 Milliamps), no (Pm Omni using Lithium Polymer battery). * Upgrade method: online or offline via CF, SD, USB drives (BSP), offline using SD, USB drives and via internal Flash (Apex), offline via CF (PM Omni). * Format Flash Disk: yes (BSP via a utilities option)), yes (Apex via Support Information Mode), yes (PM Omni via Clean Reset). Note 7: Previously, there was a dedicated reset to format Flash under BSP family. Apex has a hidden command under Support Information Mode to perform this task. PM Omni requires Clean Reset to perform formatting. * Formatting other storage devices: yes (BSP can format CF, SD or USB flash drives), yes (Apex can format an SD card via Support Information Mode), no (PM Omni). At this point my notes ends here. hope this helps. Cheers, Joseph
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