Firmware Active Braille
Free update service for your Active Braille
Here you can find the improvements for your Active Braille that we have developed as a free service for you. The improvements of the functions of your Active Braille build on each other. For example, if your Active Braille is still using version 1.2 from last year, you can get all improvements up to the current version by updating to the current version.
Below is an overview of the improvements for your Active Braille, starting with the current version:
Active Braille Firmware 4.8 (01.03.2023)
• Tabli extension
- Input of characters with the on-screen keyboard
- Display of cursor position and markers
- Display of reading position on Braille display (ATC position)
• ATC position is transmitted to all channels with activated monitor mode
• Braille output of the screen reader is displayed in monitor mode
• Automatic switching of connected devices (Smart Switching)
• File extensions in the file menu are always displayed in capital letters
• Improved indication of calendar weeks in the planner
• Input of accented letters on the external keyboard
• Time in the timestamp in the file properties is reliably displayed even for times after 4 p.m.
• The internal memory of the Bluetooth module for known paired devices can now no longer overflow
Active Braille Firmware 4.7 (12.09.2019)
• correction in displaying the charging state of the rechargeable batteries. This problem did occur only if the Braille display had been switched into save mode.
• Display of the reading position
The reading position on the Braille display, determined by ATC, is displayed in real time in the TabliApp. This is especially helpful in the teaching situation, as a sighted person can observe which text passage is being read by the blind user at the moment.
• Display of marked text passages
If text passages are marked on the Braille display, represented by dots 7+8, the marking is now also transferred to the TabliApp and displayed inverted.
• Injecting text input in monitor mode
When TabliApp is connected, the Braille display switches to internal mode. If a note is then opened in the editor, keystrokes can be transferred from the TabliApp to the Braille display as text input. This so-called keyinject makes it possible to write on the Active Braille with the onscreen keyboard of the cell phone.
Active Braille Firmware 4.6 (06.11.2018)
• Memory management has been improved to resolve an issue which caused problems at startup after updating on some devices.
Active Braille Firmware 4.5 (08.06.2018)
• Smart switching has been introduced. Active Braille will now automatically switch to a Bluetooth or USB device, and between pc and menu modes, depending on context. While it is still possible to switch between devices using SPC+458, and between pc and menu modes using SPC+1234 and SPC+134, you will find that this is rarely necessary.
• The file system component has been updated to resolve isolated instances of invalid characters in text files.
Active Braille Firmware 4.3 (03.11.2017)
• The Bluetooth configuration was modified for improved connectivity with iOS devices. Please note that for this reason, controlling an iOS device via an external keyboard connected to Active Braille is restricted. Text entry is still supported, though.
Active Braille Firmware 4.2 (17.07.2017)
• Bluetooth pairing has been redesigned. There is no longer the need, or indeed the option, to manually enter pairing mode. Instead, you simply initiate pairing from the other device, such as a PC or iPhone. On both devices you then confirm that the displayed pairing codes are equal.
• The Bluetooth-related options have been removed from the options menu. Bluetooth is now always on after switching on the device, and will stay on and discoverable for at least 15 minutes.
• iPhone mode has been removed as it is deprecated.
Active Braille Firmware 4.0 (03.12.2015)
• It is now possible to connect Active Braille to a USB device and up to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously. For example, you can connect Active Braille to your computer and your mobile phone and then quickly alternate between controlling the two devices. To switch between the currently connected devices, press chord+458.
• The user interface language can now be changed on the fly without re-installing the firmware or related files. To provide this functionality, the Language menu has been introduced.
• An external USB keyboard connected to Active Braille can now be used with an iOS device. Please activate the "iPhone Mode" setting to use this feature
Active Braille Firmware 3.8 (12.11.2013)
• All system files of Active Braille are now stored in the folder "HTSYS" on the SD card. This speeds up system startup and in general makes Active Braille more responsive.
• Introducing DirectTreanfer:
Text from the internal notetaker of Active Braille can now be transferred directly to a connected device, which will usually be a pc. When you press Chord+E in the internal notetaker, the selected text will be transmitted as if you had typed it on an external keyboard. If no text is selected, the entire document will be transferred.
• In response to customer feedback, Active Braille will no longer automatically switch itself off if no reading finger is detected within one minute. This behavior can be turned back on using the Options menu if desired. In addition, when this feature is used, detection of the reading finger is more sensitive now.
• Important for Bluetooth users: To pair with another device, such as your computer or mobile phone, you need to select "Bluetooth Pairing" from the Options menu, then initiate pairing from the other device. Active Braille will display the PIN for your convenience, and a Braille animation to indicate it is waiting for pairing attempts. On some devices no PIN is necessary. Instead, the other device will ask you to confirm the pairing. Devices need to be paired only once.
Active Braille Firmware 3.7 (10.09.2013)
• This version introduces the Scheduler application also found in Braille Wave, Braillino, and Braille Star.
• The accuracy of TouchBraille has been improved.
• Reliability of Bluetooth in combination with external keyboards has been greatly improved.
• Active Braille will automatically turn itself off after one minute if it was turned on by accident, such as hitting the on/off switch while the device is being transported in its carrying case. Active Braille will stay turned on if more than three consecutive cells have been read.
• When Active Braille is turned off while the internal notetaker is running, any editor settings or bookmarks will always be saved.
• In the previous version it was impossible to turn off the device via the on/off switch if the internal notetaker contained unsaved changes. Now, if the message about unsaved changes is being displayed, simply pressing the on/off switch again will turn off the device, discarding the changes.
Active Braille Firmware 2.7 (10.02.2014)
• Support for many more languages has been integrated, including Arabic, French, Greek, Hungarian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish.
• Using the latest HTCom it is now possible to transfer folder structures to and from the device.
• Active Braille can now automatically advance to the next line of text even when running with screen readers which do not support ATC.
• Lengthy editing operations, such as searching for text or saving large files, are now much faster.
• Fixed an issue which could cause battery warning beeps to occur in error.
Active Braille Firmware 2.5 (23.10.2012)
• Files on Active Braille can now be organized into folders. Please be aware that HTCom can only access the root directory of Active Braille at this time. It is not yet possible to transfer folders. HTCom version 2.4.1.6 or newer is required for file transfer to work.
• Active Braille can now handle multiple music files.
• Music files can be organized into folders in the same way as text documents.
• The games Hangman and Braille Hunt have been introduced.
• Stability of Bluetooth connections to iOS devices has been improved.
Active Braille Firmware 2.1 (24.11.2011)
• MusikBraille has been introduced as a new way of learning Braille music notation.
• ATC enhancements have been introduced, providing greater flexibility in customizing the reading experience.
Active Braille Firmware 1.0 (11.01.2011)
• This is the initial version.