Check out the download and forums on the subject here.
You’ll be able to check your email, access MSN and other Windows live content with it.
Let me know if you’ve used it.
Activ Inspire V1.1 Now available
The first update is now available for Activ Inspire.
Watch the video below to see how to easily update your software.
I have to say that whilst I am very appreciative of the fixes in this new upgrade, I am also very disappointed that some of the issues we’ve been raising since before the first release still haven’t been addressed.
This release is focusing on fixing bugs rather than enhancing features or restoring some of the missing elements in Inspire. This is vital and of course of greater priority than pretty page turns, search bars in the library etc. My only problem with it is that we were told, in the forums, that the issues we raised back in January would be fixed in the “next release”.
Here’s a list of the major fixes:
Functionality Changes
=======================
- Now available in Arabic, Spanish, French, Russian, Trad Chinese, Simp Chinese, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Turkish, Swedish, Korean, Kazakh, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Hebrew, Brazilian Portuguese, German & Vietnamese
- Arabic, Turkish, Hungarian handwriting recognition languages added.
- Trial mode length increased to 60 days
- Mac system keyboard shortcuts Cmd-Q, Cmd-H and Cmd-Shift-Q are no longer overridden by Inspire.
- When inserting flash and/or videos using the menu main (Insert->Media) a placeholder object will be created and not a link.
- When dragging on flash and/or video files onto the canvas a placeholder object will be created and not a link.
- If the display size of a video cannot be obtained then inspire will display at 400 by 300.
- New shapes now snap on creation.
- Flipchart object settings – transparency now works OK.
- Property Grid. Numbers now use correct floating point separators for locale
- Grid Designer. Numbers now use correct floating point separators for locale.
- Clear Grid. Undo / redo now works correctly.
Bug Fixes
==========
- Start-up crashes on MAC related to internet plugins/phonon.
- Intermittent window jitter when docking toolbar on Windows Vista.
- Extract text by dragging selected text in text edit mode not working – Mac
- Text symbols not being displayed properly on Mac
- Text edit, to fix missing cursor issue
- Text edit marquee select issue, text marquee select was not recalculating text height properly
- Screen recorder does not display an error response if user has configured unsupported codec’s
- Color on main toolbox not being saved between sessions, only in Studio mode
- Teacher lock not handled properly in case of desktop flipchart, desktop tools, switching browsers
- You can NOW select a printer in the print dialog
- Vote results now display in numeric order
- Fixed crash when using legacy votes
- Can now enter accented characters onto page on the Mac
- Fixed crash when printing on Mac
- Clock now remembers countup/down value
- Import from mathtype improved
- Extract text now copies the correct text
- Screen recorder now displays progress
- Mac help will display correctly
- Admin.ini will create a path if it doesn’t already exist
- Fixed screen recorder crash on Mac
Things that some users may be disappointed to find with this release are:
- no changes to compass
- no page turn effects
- no multi monitor support
- no fraction creator
and we have been assured that “This release was primarily to include the new languages & do major bug fixes & these things haven’t just been forgotten or discarded.”
Other Updates For SMART users
SMART Sync 09
Apart from developing their hardware SMART have also been working hard to keep their software up to date and developing. If you use the I.T. classroom management software Syncronise then you can look forward to SMART SYNC2009. A free 30 day trial is available now to all SMART users
Senteo 2.0:
There is also a new Senteo upgrade with a new an improved interface for creating resources for the response system.
SMART Ideas 5.1
Smart Ideas has also got a new update available (FREE!). This mind mapping tool is now in Version 5 and can actually be used with any of the IWBs. You can download a free 30 day trial of this software here.
The brilliantly fun Lesson Toolkit is also due to be updated with Version 2.0 nearly ready to release. I’ll let you know as soon as I do 
New Touch Recognition Features for SMART board.
Not only have Promethean been taking time to think about how we interact with their whiteboards, SMART have been too. Unlike Promethean, instead of focusing on having more than one user at the board they have instead focused on how we switch between modes. Remembering to click the arrow to drag, or to place the pen it’s holder and select the eraser is going to become a think of the past for SMART users.
I really like this new feature. It takes a while to get used to moving between modes on all of the boards and although we eventually do it automatically ( a little like steering and changing gears when driving) it will be really nice to be able to do so without having to think!. I am disappointed that they’re not offering this feature update for free. According to the press releases we’re looking at US$147 for the upgrade. (AUD $229.987 and GBP £102.869 at today’s rates) They really ought to offer these updates for free.
Where's the interaction?
An interesting powerpoint I came across which takes into account recent research into the use of IWB in classrooms. I found it whilst browsing another research blog on blogger. I agree entirely with the sentiment of the presentation. As those of you who have attended my courses know I can not repeat enough the the need for teachers to understand that IWBS are just another teaching tool. They are not a replacement for you nor will they do all the work for you!
A larger number of teachers than I care to admit often ask me “but what lessons does it come with” when i introduce this technology and although I applaud the use of Promethean Planet and Smart’s resource exchange programs it is vital that we remember that each lesson should be tailored to the needs of our pupils. We might not want to reinvent the wheel and it makes perfect sense to download someone else’s flip chart or notebook file but once it’s in our hands we need to edit and personalise it. In fact, eventually, even improve it and share it back around. The technology and software that the boards comes with is developing all the time; I change my flip charts almost every time I use them. I add more enhanced interactive features to them where ever I can.
I see interactive whiteboards as a tool which enables my students to lead learning not just for themselves but for others too. With my board I can scaffold or frame an environment where they can feel confident sharing and discussing what they have learnt. Student begin to develop confidence in using the tools provided to express their ideas on literature and media.
I jump for joy when I see a whiteboard resource which puts the pupils in control. Here are a few ideas of how you can do this really easily:
- Place a keyword from your lesson (or a previous lesson if you’re testing prior knowledge) in the middle of the board. Turn on your timer and allow the class 2 mins to write up everything they know. They are only allowed to write one thing each. This means that they have to pass the pen to another student once they have had their go. Let them choose who to pick.
- This encourages team work and engages everyone as they try and share their ideas with the class. Be warned though… it can get noisy! Try recording the items they know or how many they were able to recall in two minutes and try it again at the end of the lesson or next lesson.
- Use containers in Promethean Activ Studio or Flipped text boxes in SMART to allow pupils the chance to come and move information into classified spaces. In Activ Studio you can even provide instant feedback by having the container only accept the correct answer. That’s the AFL (Assessment for Learning) box ticked!
- Add objects to the page for pupils to sort.
- Give them the task to do in pairs first (using a card sort away from the board) and then ask them to demonstrate how they sorted the objects using the board. This will allow you to extend their thinking through questioning. Allow other class members to disagree and debate their choices; engaging the whole class in a discussion about how the decision (learning) happened.