PAC Mate Omni BX and QX 6.1 Update
Version 6.1 for The PAC Mate Omni™ BX and QX offers the following new features and performance improvements.
Skip to PAC Mate Omni Update Instructions
New Features
- Enhanced Contracted Braille Input Support on BX
- Expanded QX Braille Input Mode
- Unified English Braille Support
- New Braille Display Options
- New Reader Mode Enhances Access to E-book reading Applications
- New Navigation Quick Keys in Internet Explorer Mobile
- Windows Live Messenger Improvements
- Speech Remains Muted after Warm Reset
- Additional Bluetooth and Wireless Cards Support
- Additional Keyboard Layouts
Downloading and Installing Release 6.1
Enhanced Contracted Braille Input Support on BX
You can now enter text in contracted braille from anywhere in the PAC Mate Omni BX. This includes Word Mobile, Notes, Messaging, Windows Live Messenger, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, as well as the edit fields in various dialog boxes such as the Owner Information dialog box. You can even write in contracted braille in edit fields on Web forms in Internet Explorer Mobile.
To enable contracted braille input, press S CHORD, G until you hear "Contracted Braille on for Input." At this point, you can enter text in contracted braille into any edit field. For example, the Subject field in Calendar or Tasks, the document area of Notes or Word Mobile, or the various fields in Contacts. When you navigate away from an edit field either by tabbing, or pressing F1 to close the dialog box or document, the text is automatically back translated to computer braille. Returning to the edit field automatically translates the text back into contracted braille so you can make any changes. In addition, use the new keystroke, DOTS 3-5 CHORD, to receive information on the currently active braille translation mode.
Note: Before updating to version 6.1, if you have any contracted braille notes saved on your PAC Mate Omni, open each note and press T CHORD to back-translate them to text. This ensures that they display correctly when opened in 6.1.
With contracted braille input enabled, you will occasionally encounter areas where you must still use computer braille. Some of these include entering equations using FSCalc or Calculator, entering data into a workbook in Excel Mobile, the To, CC, and BCC fields when composing an e-mail in Messaging, and the address entry field in Internet Explorer Mobile. When you navigate to an edit field that does not accept contracted braille input, the PAC Mate Omni will say "computer braille." Additionally, if a braille display is attached, the symbol DOTS 4-5-6, DOTS 3-4-6 is displayed to indicate computer braille is required.
For more information on using contracted braille, refer to the PAC Mate Omni BX user's guide.
Expanded QX Braille Input Mode
When enabled, braille input mode allows you to use the PAC Mate Omni QX QWERTY keyboard to write uncontracted or contracted braille. Previously only available in FSEdit, you can now activate this mode and type in braille from anywhere in the PAC Mate Omni QX. This includes the Notes, Word Mobile, Windows Live Messenger, Messaging, Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks applications, as well as various dialog boxes that contain edit fields such as the Owner Information dialog box. You can even type braille in edit fields on Web Forms in Internet Explorer Mobile.
To turn on braille input, press INSERT+SHIFT+F9. The Braille key assignments are:
- F = DOT 1
- D = DOT 2
- S = DOT 3
- A = DOT 7
- J = DOT 4
- K = DOT 5
- L = DOT 6
- Semicolon = DOT 8
When in Braille input mode, DOT 7 (the letter A) functions as the SHIFT key when held down as you enter a character or as the BACKSPACE when pressed by itself. The Semicolon functions as a NEW LINE key. In addition, while the ALT, WINDOWS, and ESC keys as well as the arrow and function keys perform the same functions in braille input mode, you must use chorded commands to perform other actions. A chorded command is a command that includes the SPACEBAR. For instance, to hear the title of the current window, you would normally press INSERT+T. In Braille input mode however, you would press I CHORD, T which is the same command used on the PAC Mate Omni BX. For more information on what chorded commands are available, please refer to the BX user's guide.
For more information on using braille input mode, refer to the PAC Mate Omni QX user's guide.
Unified English Braille Support
The PAC Mate Omni now includes support for the Unified English Braille Code (UEBC), more commonly referred to as UEB. This new braille code has either been adopted or is in the process of being adopted by a number of English-speaking countries, including Australia and New Zealand. These countries now produce braille materials using this format. To learn more about UEB, visit http://www.iceb.org.
To read and write text in UEB on the PAC Mate Omni, select the Enable UEB check box from the General tab of the Braille Settings multi-page dialog box.
New Braille Display Options
The Braille Settings multi-page dialog box located on the Personal Tab of the Settings multi-page dialog box, contains several new options which affect how information is shown on the braille display. These options are all located on the General tab.
The Contracted Braille combo box replaces the Enable Translator check box found in previous releases. Use this combo box to determine how computer braille text is shown on your braille display and whether or not text can be entered in contracted braille. The default setting is computer braille.
Select the Enable UEB check box to read and write text using the Unified English Braille Code. This check box is unchecked by default.
Selecting the PC Follows Braille check box causes only the PC cursor to follow when you move the Braille cursor. This check box is unchecked by default.
If the Word Wrap check box is checked, PAC Mate Omni does not split a word that is too large to be shown on the Braille display. When you pan to the next increment, you can read the word in its entirety. If you clear this check box, PAC Mate Omni displays as much of the word as possible, but a portion may be cut off. This check box is checked by default.
For more information on braille settings, refer to the PAC Mate Omni BX user's guide or the PAC Mate Omni QX user's guide.
New Reader Mode Enhances Access to E-book reading Applications
The new Reader Mode greatly improves access to a wide range of applications not directly supported by PAC Mate Omni. In particular, you can now use a PDF viewer or an e-book reader application. This also includes any program that contains a text view area where there is no PC cursor.
Enabled by default, when you access the reading area in an application, such as a PDF viewer, the Reader cursor is automatically activated, allowing you to use the arrow keys to navigate the text. Press DOTS 1-2-3-5-7 CHORD on the BX or INSERT+SHIFT+R on the QX to cycle through the Reader Mode settings.
For more information on Reader Mode, refer to the PAC Mate Omni BX user's guide or the PAC Mate Omni QX user's guide.
New Navigation Quick Keys in Internet Explorer Mobile
PAC Mate Omni now includes additional Navigation Quick keys for navigating to various form controls on Web pages in Internet Explorer Mobile. In addition to F and F+DOT 7 on the BX or F and SHIFT+F on the QX, which moves to the next and prior form control, the following keystrokes are now available:
- B or B+DOT 7 on the BX or B or SHIFT+B on the QX moves to the next or previous button.
- C or C+DOT 7 on the BX or C or SHIFT+C on the QX moves to the next or previous combo box.
- E or E+DOT 7 on the BX or E or SHIFT+E on the QX moves to the next or previous edit field.
- R or R+DOT 7 on the BX or R or SHIFT+R on the QX moves to the next or previous radio button.
- X or X+DOT 7 on the BX or X or SHIFT+X on the QX moves to the next or previous check box.
Windows Live Messenger Improvements
The following enhancements have been made when using Windows Live Messenger:
- You can now press M CHORD, DOT 2 on the BX or the GRAVE key on the QX to have the PAC Mate Omni speak and display the most recent message. The message is shown on the braille display as a flash message.
- If you are using the arrow keys to review previous messages in a conversation, you are now automatically placed in the text input area as soon as you begin typing. You can also use TAB or SHIFT+TAB to move between the input and message output windows. It is no longer necessary to first press BACKSPACE.
- Incoming messages are now automatically read even while you are typing or located in the Contacts list.
Speech Remains Muted after Warm Reset
If you press S CHORD, M on the BX or INSERT+S, M on the QX to mute speech, performing a warm reset no longer causes speech to be turned back on.
Additional Bluetooth and Wireless Cards Support
The PAC Mate Omni now offers plug and play support for the latest Bluetooth card from Socket Mobile as well as the AmbiCom WL54CF WiFi card.
Additional Keyboard Layouts
On the PAC Mate Omni QX, you can now choose from 11 language keyboard layouts. In addition to American English and UK English, you can enter text in Spanish, Italian, German, European French, French Canadian, Brazilian Portuguese, French Swiss, and German Swiss. It is no longer necessary to run a separate installer to add support for these languages.
To change the input language, do the following:
- Open the Settings multi-page dialog box and from the Personal tab, choose Keyboard Settings.
- Press TAB to move to the Input Language combo box and use the ARROW keys to select a language.
- Press the CLOSE button (ESC) to close the dialog box and perform a warm reset when prompted.
What Does it Cost?
The 6.1 update is a free download for PAC Mate Omni BX and QX users. Do not download this update if you have a PAC Mate BX or QX running version 4.1 or earlier.
To verify what version is installed on your PAC Mate Omni, press INSERT+ENTER, A on the QX or DOTS 2-4 CHORD, DOT 1 on the BX. If the version is 6.1, you do not need to update. Otherwise, proceed to the next section for instructions on updating your PAC Mate Omni.
How do I Get it?
Download the self-extracting file, PMO6.1.1074.101-enu.exe, by selecting the Download link near the bottom of this page. When prompted, be sure to save this file in a location where you can easily find it; such as the desktop.
How do I Install it?
Save the PMO6.1.1074.101-enu.exe file to a folder on your computer that you can easily remember. You might choose to save it on the desktop, which is the Windows default.
Locate the file and run it. By default, it extracts to the folder, C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Application Data\Freedom Scientific\PAC Mate Omni\6.1. After the files are extracted, the folder automatically opens. Additionally, a PAC Mate Omni 6.1 Update shortcut, which directly opens the folder containing the update files, is created on the desktop for your convenience.
Once the files finish extracting, a Web page opens containing step-by-step instructions on how to update your PAC Mate Omni. You can also find this file, How to Update.htm, in the folder where the files were extracted to. Please read this file carefully before proceeding as the 6.1 update can be installed in one of two ways.
Performing a flash update takes approximately 15 minutes to complete; however, any data you have added to your PAC Mate Omni, such as third-party applications, are erased and the unit is reset to factory defaults. You must back up or synchronize any information you do not wish to lose before updating using this method. The file used to perform the flash update is called Flash!6.1.1074.101-enu.bin.
Performing a package update takes approximately 50 minutes to complete, and all data on your unit, including any third-party applications, are retained. In addition, many PAC Mate Omni settings, such as the date and time, are retained. You will only have to reconfigure JAWS specific settings, such as Voice and Verbosity settings. The two files required to perform the package update are located in the Package Update folder.
If you need additional help, step-by-step instructions for both update methods are provided in the How to Update.htm file.
Important:
You must have at least 32 MB of free space available to update the unit using the package update.
A package update will not complete successfully if your unit is password protected. You must disable password protection before starting the update.
You may want to backup the data on your unit prior to updating. This is to ensure that no information is lost if a problem occurs during the update.
If you previously installed the AmbiCom WL54CF CompactFlash WiFi card drivers, you must remove the drivers before running the PAC Mate Omni 6.1 package update. Since version 6.1 now supports the AmbiCom WL54CF card, you can experience problems using the WiFi card if you do not uninstall the drivers before running the update.
Attention BX Users: Before updating to version 6.1 using either of these two methods, if you have any contracted braille notes saved on your PAC Mate Omni BX, open each note and press T CHORD to back-translate them to text. This ensures that they display correctly when opened in 6.1.
