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Penfriend version 3.0 Main improvements, all variants: January 2008

Penfriend XL changes in italics

• Improvements to keyboard shortcuts allowing true mouse free use.
• Circumflex and other accents work correctly in Penfriend XL and non English versions when typed on non English keyboards. (3.1.1.0)
• Option to read phonemes instead of letters, (depends on the voices used)
• Can add images and symbols to predictions with Clicker 5.2
• Reads abbreviation expansions in the prediction list.3.1.0.6
• New free SAPI 5 voice espeak the voice created by Jonathan Duddington now available.
• Minimised windows go to task bar.
• Works in Windows Vista without having to switch off UAC. Does not work in Windows 98 and ME 3.1.0.5
• Scottish Gaelic prediction introduced including option for Scottish Gaelic syntax. 3.0.4.1 Improved Gaelic lexicons added at 3.1 Penfriend XL
• New method for downloading latest versions. To download the upgrade, log onto our web site from the 'Web site' link in the program, choose customer downloads and follow instructions.3.1
• Keyboard shortcut (Print Screen) for switching screen reading on and off. 3.0.4.7 Penfriend XL
• The ability to use Latin 1 based accented languages. This also applies for the language specific versions of Penfriend XP such as Penfriend FR, IT, DE etc Clipboard only speaks when it is wanted.
• Speaking punctuation and space can be switched off. 3.0.4.7
• Handles fast typing
• Compatible with Clicker 5.2 but not with Clicker 4. 3.0.4.6
• Compatible with Clicker 4, 3.0.4.1 and earlier
• Upgrade to the screen reading to enable it to read long paragraphs. 3.0.3.6 Penfriend XL
• Screen reading and multiple languages (over 30 lexicons)added to functions of Penfriend XP Penfriend XL
• Improved prediction with new Series 3 lexicons, including new 30,000 word lexicons.
• Can read the menus, spell check and synonyms list as well as dictionary and encyclopaedia meanings via look-up in MS Word 2003. If a large font is used in Penfriend and the clipboard is open then the text spoken is automatically transferred to the clipboard, enlarged and highlighted. Valuable for the visually impaired as the enlarged text all appears at the same point on the screen and can be highlighted as spoken. Penfriend XL
• Can read earlier lexicons.
• Lexicon editing made easier.
• Penfriend will now operate with an empty lexicon enabling the user to start a new lexicon from scratch. Valuable for those who need very small word lists.
• Option to prevent the prediction of short words (Penfriend XL)
• Link in the program to free downloads of voices
• One can now type numbers with the on-screen keyboard if using number prediction, by minimising the Prediction window. This stops prediction and numbers are typed as numbers. It is also useful for typing email addresses and URLs as it also switches off smart punctuation
• The on-screen keyboard now has a set of characters such as the Euro which are accessed via its Alt key.
• Penfriend XP version 2 would not learn the first word after a mouse click. This was to prevent half words being learnt if the user went into a word with the mouse to correct it whilst typing. For some users this is a nuisance so the new Penfriend XP and XL have this as an option.
• Penfriend XP version 2 cannot be used with the Windows on-screen keyboard. An option has been included which makes it possible to use the mouse in other programs such as the windows on-screen keyboard.
• Penfriend XP version 2 had a bug which causes various sounds such as % when the arrow keys are used. This has been sorted in the present version.

  Points often missed:

• Dragging and dropping a lexicon icon into the predictor window is an easy way of changing lexicons.
• Saving a lexicon saves all your preferences of colour, window position, font etc. Easy to personalise.
• Version 3 can start with an empty lexicon . Switch off 'Load previous lexicon' in advanced preferences. Then when you reopen Penfriend it will have an empty lexicon.
• Penfriend XL can prevent prediction of short words.