Hi,
Openbook 9 has always remained above the usual bloating as many other
programs have tended to do including some Freedom Scientific applications
unfortunately. They did excellent OCR and they did not try to be all things
to all people like throwing a bunch of unnecessary bells and whistles at you
that required three or four updates a year or more just to stay current.
The update that just came out addresses the one gaping whole in Openbook
that really needed to be addressed and that was the need for a more updated
activation scheme. It is now more in line with other FS products and is more
Windows 10 compatible as well.
The OCR accuracy has been improved but it was already pretty excellent.
Now all FS needs to do is fix whatever issue is preventing it from
successfully being installed on quite a few computers.
Understand, this is not me just targeting FS as this is not the first
seemingly negative thing I have said today. There has actually been a need
lately for many applications in the world according to accessibility to work
on stability and forsake needless bells and whistles. Last year we saw it
with Jaws 17. This year we are going to see it with Envision America when
they introduce their new hardware barcode scanner called the Galaxy which
eliminates some of the bels and whistles on their Quest model and improves
just the scanner without the camera and the now defunct skype and money
reader function which no one used anyway.
Getting back to Openbook, I use it with the Pearl and am very happy with it.
I am looking forward to the newest update but have been very satisfied with
Openbook 9 for a very long time.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 7:43 PM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: OpenBook 9 Updated
Jan,
OpenBook is still around. Prior to the 2016 update, FS hadn't released an
update in a little over 2 years. It doesn't receive as many updates as it
did back in the day but some might argue that the program contains so many
features and has such good recognition accuracy that regular updates aren't
as necessary as they were when OpenBook was a toddler.
I'll leave that up to its regular users to decide..
David Goldfield,
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
On 2/29/2016 6:56 PM, Jan Lattuca wrote:
I haven't used Open Book since retiring from my Voc Rehab job in 2005.WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
I haven't heard of it in so long, that I figured it had been replaced
by something else.
Jan
On 2/29/16, David Goldfield <dgoldfield1211@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Wow, I didn't realize updating OpenBook would involve such drama. If
I had the latest version I would have updated and warned everybody
but I don't use it at home. However, we do have OB9 at work and I may
wait a while to update until I have a quiet day, which I won't have
for a while. Well, as I'm quite happy with its OCR and since we don't
have a Topaz or an Onyx I think I will hold off.
On 2/29/2016 2:38 PM, Robin Frost wrote:
Hi,You are invited to visit the moderator's Web site at
Oh dear that's awful I did successfully update both my machines here
and I did express my displeasure when I called in to have my
authorization count reset. Not that it'll matter as they don't seem
to care much but it made me feel better and I did it with all the
the demure politeness I could muster (laughs).
Robin
-----Original Message----- From: Merv Keck
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 2:06 PM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: OpenBook 9 Updated
Hi,I
T did not eat an authorization here but I just wasted about 45
minutes and it refused to allow the update. I even went to the FS
web site and downloaded the update manually and it still refused to
update. It just kept rebooting my computer over and over again until
I told it to stop.
Openbook
still works but with the previous version. I guess they won't be
pushing that one out at CSUN as the latest and greatest in scanning
software, laughs!
Oh my aching hard drive, sad face!
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Robin ;
Frost
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 1:47 PM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: OpenBook 9 Updated
Hi,
Well kids that was fun, not. Not sure if it'll afflict all similarly
but the update here just ate one of my authorization codes for
OpenBook so if you're in doubt as to whether you have any you might
want to check first or make sure to update during regular business
hours so you can rectify the situation easier should it befall you.
Thanks for the warning that that would happen Freedom Scientific. Oy!
Now let's go see how many activations I have left for fun (smile).
Robin
-----Original Message-----
From: Maria Campbell
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 11:40 AM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: OpenBook 9 Updated
It might be under tools. It's there somewhere, as I had OB before I got
Kurzweil.
Maria Campbell
lucky1inct@xxxxxxxxx
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know
peace.
--Attributed to Jimi Hendrix
On 2/29/2016 10:39 AM, David Goldfield wrote:
I don't know if OB has a "check for updates" feature in the help menu.You are invited to visit the moderator's Web site at
Press alt-H and see if there is a "check for updates" option. If there
is, it should work.
If it doesn't exist, the user will need to go to the link and download
and install the update, I'm afraid.
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Downloads/OpenBook/OpenbookWhatsNew#E
nhancements
David Goldfield,
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info
On 2/29/2016 11:34 AM, The New Vision Store wrote:
How does a 9.0 user find the update link?You are invited to visit the moderator's Web site at
This person is very new at updating.
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David
Goldfield
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 11:33 AM
To: Blind-Philly-Comp
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] OpenBook 9 Updated
Wow, OpenBook finally got an update for version 9 users. The what's
new section indicates improved OCR along with support for their Onyx
and Topaz video magnifiers.
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Downloads/OpenBook/OpenbookWhatsNew#
Enhancement
s
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