1. Common
a. Now supports sound output via HDMI.
i. Note: if another external audio device, such as headphones, or a USB audio device is connected, the sound will go to the external audio device, not the monitor.
ii. When only a monitor is connected, sound is heard both via the internal speakers and the monitor’s audio.
b. Changed relevant menu names from “Polaris” to “BrailleSense.”
c. Added a sound when pressing the Power button when set to screen off.
d. Added beep sound when you reach default levels when adjusting playback or voice volume, rate, or pitch.
e. No longer supports booting without battery connected, even if connected to an AC adapter.
f. If you hold the power key for more than 10 seconds, BrailleSense reboots immediately. Useful if the launcher is not operating correctly and the F2-F3-1-2-3-4-5-6 key doesn’t work.
g. Remove the “USB disconnected” message when in sleep mode
h. When BrailleSense 6 is connected to PC, Mac, or to screen mirroring programs, basically, when another device is hosting the BrailleSense, all connected devices are also hosted by the host device. In other words, if you have a keyboard, mouse, or USB drive connected to BrailleSense, when you connect to a PC or other host device, these devices will work as though they are connected directly to the PC, not the BrailleSense. *Note: this does not apply when USB Braille terminal Mode is active.
i. Added global hot-key for turning “sleep mode” on and off. Hot-key is control-alt-s.
j. Added global hot-key for toggling Hide Passwords on and off: Hot-key is F3-Down Scroll.
k. Changed the screen recording file name from “Polaris_” to “BrailleSense_”.
2. Miscellaneous
a. Android System Settings/Display – Lift to wake : If the user sets this option to On, the device wakes up when you move it.
b. Picture in Picture (PIP): We discovered some apps use the PIP function. This means, apps display in the background when the monitor is connected, even if they aren’t in focus.
i. * Note: does not apply to BrailleSense apps.
c. Monitor : If an incompatible cable is connected, We announce that a V3.0 cable is required.
d. We disabled the “uninstall” button when viewing app info for Android apps.
e. Changed Spell Checker Library from Android AOSP to Hunspell Open Library.
3. Setup Wizard
a. Added additional guide messages before the Android setup wizard.
4. Main Menu
a. Changed the Visual UI of main menu.
5. File manager
a. Added the function to convert multiple files.
i. Acts on all selected items.
b. Added a function to let you choose the location the File Manager opens to (starts in). The hot-key is backspace-s.
i. Press this key when the folder you want is focused. The menu item is located in the view menu.
c. Added the open In Second notepad function. Similar to the second Word Processor option in the U2, this allows you to keep another instance of the Notepad open, so you can instantly switch between 2 documents without loading each of them. Hot key is “Backspace-O”.
6. Word processor
a. Changed the Font dialog so that all controls are in the tab order.
b. Added the Style dialog to the Layout menu. Hot key is “Backspace-Space-Enter-S”.
c. Added the “Opened document list” in the File menu. Hot-key is enter-backspace-o. This allows you to navigate the list of opened documents, and press Enter on the one you want to load rather than having to Tab and Shift-Tab and load each as you go. It’s similar to using the task Manager as opposed to using F2-F3 to switch tasks.
d. Added the “Recent Files List” in the File menu. Hot-key is Backspace-Enter-H.
7. Notepad
a. Added the ability to save marks in the Notepad, even when you exit.
b. Added the Open new notepad function. Hot key is “Backspace-O”.
c. Added the Recent Files List and Opened Documents List same as in the Word Processor above.
8. Email
a. Included the Exchange E-mail functions in the maine E-mail program. Removed the separate Exchange E-mail program.
b. Changed the Account setup dialog so that all controls are in the tab Order. Included exchange setup functions.
c. Added a function to save attachments directly from the Message List. Hot-key is backspace-F.
d. Added the “off” item in the “default mail server.” If you set it to “off”, the email program focuses the accounts list when you start the program.
e. Changed the hot-key to call the Android Browser to Backspace-L.
9. Media – Media Player
a. Added the Web radio search and Web radio channel manager. (similar to what the U2 offers.
b. Added support for generic USB audio devices.
i. If a USB source is connected, it will always take priority.
ii. If more than one USB source is connected, as in the case of a camera and second separate audio device, the most recently connected source will take precedence.
iii. USB audio sources completely ignore the Recording Source setting, this applies only to internal sources, and connecting a USB source makes it irrelevant, as the USB source automatically takes over, and cannot be chosen using this setting.
iv. If you connect any headphones, 4 pole or otherwise, while a USB source is connected, the USB audio connection is cancelled, and the recorder will use the internal recording source setting.
c. The behavior of 4-pole headsets is changed.
i. When using some 4-pole headsets, if you record via the headset, the BS6 will also record any internal sounds from the BrailleSense itself, including the TTS.
ii. We do not support headphone monitoring during headset recording due to loop back related to the above.
d. Added support for controlling media playback via Bluetooth headsets and speakers.
e. Added the function to release the previously set start and end points with a short press of the Record button.
f. Changed the settings dialog so that all controls are in the Tab order.
g. Removed the Mic decibel option for recording.
h. Added Android notification when the Media Player is running.
i. Added an option to have Dots 7-8 display when playing a media file when the elapsed time is focused. These dots will move across the display as the file progresses to indicate time position.
j. Added the “Show progress on Braille display” in the playback settings, so you can turn the function of displaying dots 7-8 on or off as you wish.
10. Media – FM Radio
a. Removed the sensitivity option.
b. Changed the add channel hot-key to enter-i in the channel manager.
c. Added the Android notification when the FM Radio is running.
d. You can now play the FM radio when in screen off mode.
11. Media – DAISY Player
a. Added the function to change the Auto Play Mode from the display Window. Hot key is Enter.
12. Organizer – Schedule Manager
a. Changed the hot-key to call the Android Browser to Backspace-L.
13. Organizer – Database Manager
a. New function, similar to the U2 program, but with a rearranged menu structure. Global Hot-key is F3-D.
14. Web Tools - Web Browser
a. Added the function to display the heading level. It now announces “heading 1”, or “Heading 5”, and displays h1 or h5 in Braille.
b. Added the function to navigate by said heading levels. This is similar to how HW does this, but we use our Control and Alt keys to denote backward or forward. So, to move forward by heading level 1, type Alt-dot-1. To move back, type Control-dot-1. To move forward by heading level 5, type Alt-dot-5, and to move back, type Control-dot-5. ** note, these are dot numbers, not literal numbers.
15. Web Tools – Google Search
a. Changed the hot-key to call the Android Browser to Backspace-L.
16. Extras – Sense Dictionary
a. Supports the free dictionary. US English data displayed by default, UK, Spanish, Italian and French added by pressing enter-I from within the Dictionary program.
17. Extras -- Color Reader
a. Added new function. Global Hot-key, F3-D.
b. the “flash” button Toggles Flash on/off)
c. The “Change Camera” button allows you to use the “front camera”, which is how a USB camera is identified. The first time you do this, you will need to give permission. As this is an Android prompt, the interface for giving that permission uses the Mobile Screen reader.
18. Extras - Bookshare Download
a. Added new function, similar to programs on U2 and Blaze. Global Hot-key is F1-K.
19. Utilities - BrailleSense Math
a. Added new function. Global Hot-key is F3-M.
20. Utilities - World Clock
a. New function. Global Hot-key is F3-L.
b. Allows you to save and check the time in any of your chosen time zones worldwide.
21. Utilities – Stopwatch
a. Added sound indicators for each minute and second.
22. Utilities – Format
a. Supports the USB and USB2 drives for formatting. The device can read more USB drives, but the format function will not detect more than 2 at once.
b. No longer gives you the option to choose exFAT or FAT32, but rather, will always format the disk according to the current file system.
23. Settings - Setup Internet
a. Wireless LAN
i. Options
ii. Delete Scanning always available
iii. Delete Wi-Fi frequency band
iv. Add Turn on Wi-Fi Automatically (on/off)
v. Add Open network notification (on/off)
b. Advanced
i. Delete WPS Connect
ii. Add Metered
iii. Add Privacy
iv. Add Hidden network
v. Change Security attribute
24. Settings - Bluetooth
a. When you connect to headphones and then connect to a Bluetooth speaker or headset, the sound will output to the Bluetooth speaker.
25. Settings - Backup/Restore BrailleSense Settings.
a. Changed the item labels for consistency.
26. Settings – Voice Options
a. Added the function to select the secondary voice. Hot-key is Enter-S when desired voice is focused.
27. Settings – Language Profiles
a. New function.
b. When you have created profiles, you can use the Global Hot key for switching profiles from the list, F1-L.
28. Settings – Global Options
a. Changed the Visual UI.
b. Changed the default main volume to 12.
c. Added the “Use secondary voice” for detected language.
d. Changed max value of Main Volume to 15.
e. Removed Touch Gestures.
f. Removed Headphone volume.
g. Added the “Spell Checker Language.”
29. All Apps - App Manager
a. No longer displays the App size.
30. Information About The BrailleSense
a. Removed System Version