What's New in MAGic 9.50

MAGic 9.50 (released in August 2005) is a free update for all MAGic 9.x customers. This update contains the following enhancements and bug fixes.

Features and Enhancements

User Specific and Shared Profiles

MAGic 9.50 introduces a new approach to settings files and customization. Just as Windows provides a "My Documents" folder for each user on a computer or server, MAGic now allows each user to have his or her own profile. This profile contains the user's custom MAGic settings and schemes. This allows different users on the same system to set up and run MAGic in completely different ways.

In addition to these user specific profiles, MAGic also sets up a shared profile. MAGic uses the settings in this shared profile whenever the user has not specifically defined his or her own custom settings. The shared profile allows a network administrator to set up a baseline configuration for MAGic according to the needs of that network's users.

Run MAGic from the System Tray

You can now run MAGic from the Windows system tray. If you use this feature, the MAGic window no longer appears in the Windows taskbar with other programs that you are currently using. In addition, the MAGic window does not appear in the list of active windows when you press ALT+TAB. Instead, an icon appears in the Windows system tray (located in the bottom right corner of the screen) to indicate that MAGic is running. Double-click this icon or press MAGic Key+U to display the MAGic program window. If you minimize the MAGic window, it is removed from the taskbar again.

To run MAGic from the system tray, do the following:

MAGic Mimics JAWS NUM PAD Commands

With the addition of three new keystrokes, MAGic now mimics the standard JAWS reading commands available on the num pad. To read from the beginning of the line to the current position of the cursor, press INSERT+HOME. To read from the current position of the cursor to the end of the line, press INSERT+PAGE UP. To read the bottom of the active window, press INSERT+PAGE DOWN. This area usually contains the window's status bar. The type of information displayed in the status bar varies depending on the program you are using.

New Keystroke to Show/Hide the MAGic User Interface

You can now press MAGic Key+U to show or hide the MAGic user interface.

Internet License Manager Authorization

MAGic 9.50 features new Internet License Manager (ILM) authorization. ILM replaces the older 3.5-inch disk (Quella) authorization system for new MAGic 9.50 customers. Using this new authorization method, you can quickly activate MAGic over the Internet. If you do not have an Internet connection, you can activate by telephone, fax, or with the assistance of a trusted third-party. ILM authorization is also available for network licenses. For network authorization, you designate a computer on your local area network (LAN) to be your license server. The license server has a fixed number of tokens that it can distribute to any computer on the network to authorize MAGic. After the user quits MAGic, the token is returned to the license server and is ready to be reassigned.

Note: Only new MAGic customers who purchase version 9.50 will use ILM for authorization. Existing customers who upgrade from a previous version will continue to use their original authorization method.

Start MAGic from the Run Dialog Box

You can now start MAGic from the Windows Run dialog box. To start MAGic this way, press WINDOWS Key+R, type "MAGic" followed by the version number (with no decimal point), and then press ENTER. For example, to start MAGic 9.50, type "MAGic950" in the Run dialog box and press ENTER.

HTML Help

MAGic 9.50 features a new HTML Help system, which replaces the older WinHelp system. HTML Help is also easier to use with JAWS, allowing you to use the full range of JAWS HTML features and options.

MAGic Basic Training

MAGic now features audio training in DAISY format to help get you started. In this audio training, you'll learn the basics of using and customizing MAGic to suit your low vision needs. You can listen to this audio training with the included demo version of FSReader.

Download the MAGic Basic Training in DAISY Format (13 MB)

New Default Installation Folder

By default, Setup installs MAGic 9.50 in C:\Program Files\Freedom Scientific\MAGic\9.50. The MAGic user specific settings files are stored in a different location than the program files and shared settings (see User Specific and Shared Profiles). Authorization files are stored in C:\Program Files\Freedom Scientific\Activator and C:\Program Files\Freedom Scientific\Authorization.

Display Excel Information Using either Speech or a Message Box

When you perform the commands to post column headings (ALT+SHIFT+C), row headings (ALT+SHIFT+R), or monitor cells (ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+1 through 0), MAGic determines how to display the information based on your speech settings. If speech is disabled, MAGic displays the information in a message box. If speech is enabled, MAGic speaks the information. However, you can press the keystroke twice quickly to display the information in a message box even when speech is active.

Shortcuts for Accessing Settings and Program Files

MAGic now provides shortcuts to folders containing your user settings, shared settings, and program files. These shortcuts are automatically created in the MAGic program group when you install the program. To find these shortcuts, open the Start menu and choose Programs or All Programs, MAGic 9.50, and open the Explore MAGic folder.

Authorization Tools

The Tools submenu in the MAGic program group provides shortcuts for utilities that help you manage your ILM product license. Dongle Viewer allows you to view license information for the dongle currently connected to your computer. ILM Authorization Viewer allows you to view details of your MAGic ILM software license. Remove Product Activation allows you to delete your ILM licenses for all versions of MAGic installed on this computer.

Note: These options are only available to customers who use ILM for authorization.

FSReader Demo

MAGic now includes a free demonstration version of FSReader, Freedom Scientific's new DAISY reader program. DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information System. DAISY books have enhanced navigation features and can combine both audio and text versions of the material. FSReader Demo can only read DAISY books created by Freedom Scientific, such as the MAGic Basic Training. The full version of FSReader can read any DAISY book.

FSReader Demo is installed automatically when you install MAGic. To start FSReader Demo, open the Start menu, open the MAGic 9.50 program group, and choose FSReader Demo. For more information on using FSReader, start the program, open the File menu, and choose Open. Select the DAISY book "FSGettingStarted" and press ENTER.

To obtain the full version of FSReader for the Desktop, contact Freedom Scientific Sales.

Bug Fixes

The following issues were fixed in version 9.50 of MAGic:

• MAGic now reads lines with superscript and subscript characters correctly. When correctly formatted strings are found on a line, MAGic reads them without splitting the superscript or subscript characters apart.
• Performance when reading PDF documents with Adobe Acrobat/Reader 7.0 and later has been greatly improved.
• MAGic now surrounds words completely when highlighting them in PDF documents.
• MAGic no longer gets stuck tracking and speaking, "Type a contact to find," while in Outlook 2003 with the toolbar above the menu bar.
• When typing echo is set to "Word by Word," MAGic uses the typing echo speech rate instead of the reading speech rate. Note that when you use the UP or DOWN ARROW keys to navigate a document, MAGic still uses the reading rate rather than the keyboard echo rate. This is because using the UP or DOWN ARROW keys is regarded as a form of manually reading through a document.
• If you set the color of your mouse enhancements pointer to "Black," the color is no longer lost when you select an enhancement style.

Other features in previous MAGic 9.x versions
Download MAGic 9.50.658 (41 MB)
Download the free demo of MAGic 9.50.658 (41 MB)
Download the MAGic Dongle required 9.50.658 Update (43 MB)