What's New in this version of Dolphin Guide?

New in version 6.0 (released: 13/07/2010 10:06:42)

Now available on a Dolphin Pen!

At work, at home, at play, with a community, with friends or just on the move, Dolphin Guide v6 – Pen version enables you to move Guide from one computer to the next simply and easily. All of your settings, documents, e-mails, voices and resources are stored on a small thumb drive, ready to be taken wherever you desire.

Dolphin Guide v6 Pen is able to use the local printing, scanning, reading and Internet facilities of the computer it is plugged into, giving you ease and simplicity every step of the way.  So you never need to be without your 'Computing Friend' no matter where you are, at any time of the day or night.

For added peace of mind you may wish to consider our optional 'Pen Cover' - 12 months cover against, loss, theft or damage or your Dolphin Pen. Please read the Dolphin Pen Cover Terms and Conditions.

Installation

New enhanced installer, means it's easier to get started with v6:

• Allows you to load the Guide program onto your computer, or remove it effortlessly, whether it's a demonstration disk or the disk carrying the full program. So you don't need to worry that you will be left without your Dolphin Guide working or have to ask for help to get you up-and-running again.
• Guide version 6 now comes with added new options, allowing you to customise it more easily when you're loading it onto your computer. When you're getting started with Guide, you can now choose whether or not you want Guide to automatically start each time you switch on your computer. This means you don't need to worry about lots of button-pressing to open your Guide program, simplifying operation and easing your computing experience.
• A new Internet update system allows you to go onto the Internet and download the latest version of Guide  as soon as it  becomes available. Carry on using Guide while the latest versions are downloaded onto your computer. This exciting new feature means that you're always up- to- date,  and the latest features and functions of Dolphin Guide are at your fingertips.

Getting Started

• Email - Set up an Email account quickly and easily, by just entering your email address, full name and password. The new Auto Setup feature takes away the need for you to have any specialist knowledge in order to get your email up- and-running. So you can start sending e-mails straight away with out all the fuss, ensuring simple, easy, computing every step of the way.
• Contacts - Import contacts from XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 to the Guide Address Book. Maybe you have used other email programs before such as Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Live Mail; and have created an address book that you would like to use in Dolphin Guide. With v6, Guide is able to use this information, giving you peace of mind that you don't need to start all over again.
• Typing Tutor - New to Dolphin Guide v6 is a typing tutor. With 16 lessons, you can dip in and out as often as you like at any level, and improve your typing skills. Guide v6 uses an accuracy measure to gauge your progress, and help you improve you computing experience. With simple, easy lessons, your typing will improve every step of the way.

Word Processing

Many Internet sites, particularly Government and Public Service sites, have a host of useful information for you to access, download and read. Often this information has been saved in a particular way, called ‘PDF format', which can be difficult to download if you do not have the right tools loaded onto your computer. New in v6, a ‘PDF' viewer and reader makes it much easier to read and save PDF documents, and search through them, while all the text is read out to you and magnified. Guide will automatically load the PDF document reader onto your computer,  if you don't have it already, ensuring that you are able to access a wider range of information on the Internet  simply, easily and without fuss.

Additionally, a new import feature makes it possible to move all the information within the PDF document into Guide's easy to use word processor - for even easier reading, modifying, merging and printing; helping you make the most of your computing experience and giving you peace of mind every step of the way.

Guide can now open and read the latest docx documents from Microsoft Word, without the expense of Microsoft Word being installed on your computer.

Email

When you want to send an email, it can be really frustrating to have to go through loads of steps just to write a reply. In Dolphin Guide v6, replying to emails has now been simplified with the new default 'easy-reply mode' - reducing the number of steps involved when writing a reply so it's quicker and even easier than before.

Using the Internet

Using the Internet is a fantastic experience for sighted users, but now in Dolphin Guide v6, the joy and ease of using the Internet for the sight impaired user has been greatly enhanced, to ensure pages are smoothly and perfectly magnified.

Dolphin Guide v6 now allows you to read out and magnify a wider range of web pages than ever before, including those which are more complex because they are interactive and very graphical.

Voices

Being able to choose the voice that Guide uses for reading aloud what is on your screen and making announcements is as important as what you can do with your computer. Dolphin Guide v6, now provides 3 voices as standard and others can be purchased as optional extras. What if you already have voices on your computer that you use for other programs? They can be used alongside the voices in v6. With all these voice options, Dolphin Guide v6 is there to improve your computing experience every step of the way.

If you do not always want to use the voice, you are able to temporarily turn off your chosen voice. This is possible with a simple, easy button press from anywhere with in Dolphin Guide v6.

Games

The time you spend at your computer doesn't have to be all work and no play! Dolphin Guide v6 now includes a suite of games for your entertainment. Just like the simple, easy, computing experience that you enjoy within the rest of Guide, Games can be played and fully enjoyed, whenever you feel the need. Guide V6 comes with 3 games as standard, with more coming soon. All the games speak and can be magnified on screen.

• Classic Hangman - Try to guess the word within 10 attempts. Choose from 4 different levels of difficulty. We've also included a hint feature for those really difficult words!
• Kountdown - Given 6 numbers and a target value, you have to add, multiply, divide and subtract the numbers to reach the target value. Choose from 4 different levels of difficulty.
• Anagram - Re-arrange the letters to find the jumbled word. Choose from 4 different levels of difficulty. If you get stuck, Guide can show you the answer.

Multiple Language Support

Guide v6 and its supporting voices, spell checker and thesaurus are now available in many different languages. This means you can now read, write and spell-check e-mails and letters in French, German or any other language voice you have bought.

Podcast Player

The world of podcasting provides subscribers with a wealth of interesting and stimulating information from a wide range of sources on the Internet. Dolphin Guide v6 now provides even better support for podcast users, as it comes with a new option to subscribe to a set of recommended podcasts, which are automatically updated through the Internet. This means you don't need to look through the hundreds of podcasts which are available, to find ones you'd like to subscribe to. There is also a new search option, making searching through episodes within podcasts quick and easy, simplifying your computing experience every step of the way.

Radio Player/ BBC Listen Again

The BBC Listen Again service allows you to watch or listen to any programme that you have missed, either on TV or on the radio, through the Internet. Since there are now hundreds of programmes available to choose from, Guide v6 comes with a new search facility, enabling you to search easily for the programme you are looking for, by simply typing in a keyword. Guide v6 also includes a search facility so that you can find your favourite radio station quickly and easily, improving your computing experience.

Internet News Reader

If you like catching up with the news through the Internet, Guide v6 now makes this even easier. As with the Podcast  facilities, Guide v6 now comes with a list of recommended example news feed sites, which are automatically updated through the Internet. This means that you don't need to find or know the web address of news feed sites, in order to get started in accessing a variety of useful news, sport and current affairs programmes.

Remote Support

The Remote Support system enables us to give you help if you get stuck, by enabling our Product Support team to access your computer directly. Guide v6 has now updated the way we give you Remote Support, to ensure we will be there if you need our help. The system is both faster and more secure, giving you peace of mind every step of the way.