Dolphin Computer Access today announced the forthcoming availability of a free major upgrade for all version 11 users of SuperNova Screen Reader

Scheduled for late 2009, version 11.50 will deliver Dolphin magnification, speech and Braille users a host of performance, productivity and usability improvements, as well as building on version 11 its support for Microsoft newest operating system, Windows 7. Windows 7 support Less than a week after Microsoft announced the availability of a Windows 7 public beta, Dolphin followed suit launching version 11 of SuperNova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus including support for Windows 7.

Mike Hill, Development Director for Dolphin Computer Access explains the reaction to Dolphin's first public beta;

"The volume of Windows 7 support feedback received from our customers, users and prospective users has been overwhelming; people have really engaged with Dolphin's first public beta programme. As well as the human feedback, the anonymous product improvement data that our users have given us permission to collect, has also been really constructive in helping us perfect our Windows 7 support."

"Since the version 11.01 release in May 2009, Dolphin have released a further three updates for version 11 users, with more than one hundred improvements and fixes. Now that Microsoft has officially launched Windows 7, I would actively encourage all version 11 users to update to the latest version 11.04 of their Dolphin software. Numerous improvements are specifically included for our Windows 7 users, as well as fixes for users of other operating systems."

Free upgrade for version 11 users scheduled for late 2009

Dolphin Computer Access have also confirmed their intentions to provide all version 11 users of SuperNova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus with a free, major upgrade to version 11.50. Scheduled to be released in late 2009, version 11.50 will immediately be available in the widest range of languages, and will include a series of major productivity, performance and usability improvements for screen reader, screen magnifier and Braille display users.

Version 11 users can expect their free upgrade to version 11.50 to include:

• Further enhancements to deliver official support for both 32-bit and 64-bit client versions of Microsoft's newest operating system for desktops and laptops, Windows 7
• A range of performance and functionality improvements to transform Dolphin's support for Microsoft Word, resulting in a more productive and pleasant experience in Microsoft Word 2007, 2003, 2002/XP
• Over 20 new quick navigation hotkeys for moving around inside a Microsoft Word document
• New more meaningful announcements for approximately 50 Microsoft Word hot key functions including formatting and style changes
• Adjustable spelling speed, great for clarifying the spelling of an unfamiliar or misspelled word
• Microsoft Word Spell Checker improvements Increase in pitch when announcing capital letters
• New step-by-step help content describing how to complete common activities in popular applications while using Dolphin software, including Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 7 and 8, Word 2007, Outlook 2007, Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007
• 4 new verbosity schemes, designed to meet the varying needs and experiences of Dolphin software users
• Page progress announcements and download progress announcements for Internet Explorer users
• Improved support for direct draw applications such as Google Earth Now magnifies OpenGL applications such as Google Earth
• New mouse pointer schemes
• Official support for 64-bit Citrix environments
• New and updated Braille translation tables including Arabic and Slovak
• Literary Braille input for the HIMS Braille Sense Plus.

Version 11 users act now

Version 11 users of SuperNova, Hal, Lunar and LunarPlus looking to migrate to Windows 7 are encouraged to update to the latest version 11.04 by turning on their Dolphin internet updater. Step-by-step instructions are available from the Dolphin Computer Access website. Network Administrators may prefer to download the update patch. Customers looking to evaluate Dolphin's Windows 7 public beta support are able to download a 30-day trial from the Dolphin website. Version 11 users that would like to receive priority notification of the free major upgrade to version 11.50 should sign up for 'Find Out First', via the Help menu in their Dolphin Control Panel. Alternatively anyone can sign up to receive the Dolphin newsletter via the Dolphin website.

Visit Dolphin's website for more information