Baum has released version 1.33 of its English firmware for the VarioUltra 20 and 40 cell braille displays. This update includes several new features and some bug fixes.
This update allows the user to copy text from the VarioUltra's internal clipboard to a bluetooth enabled device, as long as that text is less than 10,000 characters. SO, for example, if you have a set of notes you took down on the internal word processor, it's now possible to copy those notes to the clipboard, open an application on your smart phone, and paste the text from that file on the VarioUltra to your external device.
This update also allows the user to pair mobile devices in the more conventional way in which they have been for other devices, though the user can still pair the VarioUltra by initiating the paring from the braille device if they would like. New in the notetaking mode is "one handed" mode, which allows the user to operate the VarioUltra with one hand. There is also a new "clean up" feature, which allows the user to clear out unnecessary data such as temp files, OS backups, and software backups, according to Baum.
Improvements to using the VarioUltra as a braille display on Windows, support for more types thumb drives, and a new function for users who type braille very rapidly. This update is free for all VarioUltra customers. For more detailed information, including how to update, please see the source link.
I briefly tested the clipboard feature, and found that it worked reliably using iOS 9.3.3. The transfer process emulates the individual typing the text directly, so it is worth noting that larger files may take some time. However, equally important to note is that this appears to be the first braille device which allows you to transfer something from the device's internal memory to an external source directly.
Source: Baum USACategory: News
Has the battery life been improved since version 1.32? That was the main consideration that decided me in favor of the Smart Beetle instead when I bought a small display. The Vario didn't last me through a day, where as the Beetle can go for about two days of typical use if necessary.
Scott Tuesday, 02-Aug-2016 12:12 PM ET:
Not that I can tell, the battery life seems about the same. I think what you sacrifice in terms of lightness and thinness, you give up in battery life.
darknexus Tuesday, 02-Aug-2016 9:28 PM ET:
Actually, I suspect it's more the software than the battery. The Beatle actually has a smaller battery, at 700 mAH vs the Vario Ultra's at 1000. Yet it still gets more out of that smaller battery. So in this case, it seems more a software problem than size.
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