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ZoomText Magnifier is an advanced screen magnification program that enlarges and enhances everything on the computer screen, making your computer easier to see and use.
ZoomText Magnifier low vision software aid is the world’s leading magnification and screen reading software for the visually impaired and helps countless individuals across the globe stay employed and in touch with the world.
There are 2 versions available:
ZoomText contains the following new features and enhancements, allowing for greater productivity and support in the Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 operating systems as well as in the latest versions of popular applications. Be sure you also check out the list of all the features that were already in ZoomText, but here’s a list of everything new:
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- Support for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 ZoomText 10.1 provides unmatched magnification and reading support for the new Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 operating systems and interface. Whether you’re running new Windows 8 apps or legacy applications, ZoomText allows you to work at the highest level of speed and productivity. ZoomText 10.1 also includes ZoomText’s patented “xFont” magnification, which provides the sharpest magnified text available on the market today.
- Support for Microsoft Office 2013 ZoomText 10.1 supports the core applications in Microsoft Office 2013 including Word, Excel and Outlook. Create, navigate and read your documents with ease and accuracy.
- Support for Internet Explorer 10 and 11 With robust support for Internet Explorer 10 and 111 (aka IE10 and IE11), ZoomText 10.1 makes web browsing a snap. Search, navigate and read your favorite websites using ZoomText’s powerful Web Finder and reading tools.
- Improved Support for Videos and Games With a new magnification engine and full DirectX support, you now can watch and play all types of videos and games with ZoomText.
- Support for Touch Screen Devices ZoomText 10.1 can be used on Windows 8 and 8.1 touch screen devices including tablets, laptops and desktop monitors. ZoomText follows along as you tap, drag and swipe your way through all of your applications. And you can instantly access key ZoomText features using the ZoomText Touch Icon and gestures. Note: Requires a 5-point or greater multi-touch device.
- Additional Levels of Magnification To support users wanting higher magnification levels and ultra-high resolution displays, ZoomText’s magnification levels have been extended and now include 42x, 48x, 54x and 60x. We’ve also added more fractional levels between 1x and 5x.
- Improved Tracking and Program Echo ZoomText’s improved event handling delivers more accurate and complete tracking and reading as you navigate application menus, dialogs and other controls.
- Smooth Mouse Pointers At all magnification levels, ZoomText now displays mouse pointers with smooth edges that are more pleasing to look at and use.
- Color Enhancement Transition Effects ZoomText’s new transition effect gives a fresh, comfortable feel when switching between color enhancement schemes.
ZoomText is the world’s leading magnification and screen reading software for the visually impaired and helps countless individuals across the globe stay employed and in touch with the world. Here is an outline of the features, with a note indicating which features are exclusive to ZoomText 10.1. ZoomText Magnifier/Reader contains all of the features of ZoomText Magnifier, and will additionally read aloud anything on your computer screen.
Features
xFont Magnification
xFont technology displays high-definition text that’s easy to read at all magnification levels. Smooth, bold and condense settings allow you to fine-tune the thickness and spacing of text for added legibility.
Flexible Magnification
Full range of magnification levels up to 36x (up to 60x in Windows 8). Levels include: 1x to 8x in steps of 1, 10x to 16x in steps of 2, 20x to 36x in steps of 4, and fractional powers of 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x and 2.5x. 30 levels of magnification in ZoomText 10.1: 1x to 2x in steps of 0.2; 2.25x, 2.5x, 2.75x, 3x, 3.5x, 4x, 4.5x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x; 10x to 16x in steps of 2; 20x to 36x in steps of 4; 42x, 48x, 54x, and 60x.
Support for Touch Screen Devices
ZoomText follows along as you tap, drag and swipe your way through all of your applications. And you can instantly access key ZoomText features using the ZoomText Touch Icon and gestures. Note: Requires a 5-point or greater multi-touch device.
Powerful Zoom Windows
9 different zoom windows (8 in ZoomText 10.1) allow you to choose which part of the screen is magnified.
Enhanced Screen Colors
Innovative color controls improve screen clarity and reduce eyestrain. Special effects include color dyes, two-color modes and replacement of problem colors.
Visible Pointers and Cursors
Size and color enhancements make it easy to see the mouse pointer. Special locators make it easier to follow the mouse pointer and text cursor as they move across the screen. New in ZoomText 10.1 for Windows 8 are smoothed mouse pointers, which are more pleasing to look at and use.
Focus Enhancements
Makes it easy to locate and follow the control focus when you navigate through application menus, dialogs and other application controls.
Smooth Navigation
Navigating your applications and scrolling the view is always smooth and comfortable. Constrained mouse movement allows you to examine rows and columns, and keeps you within the active window.
Dual Monitor Support
Use two monitors to expand your magnified viewing area, or use the second monitor to share a magnified or unmagnified view of your desktop with another person or group. Coming soon for Windows 8.
ZoomText Camera
The ZoomText Camera feature allows you to use any high-definition (HD) webcam to view and magnify printed items and other objects right on your computer screen—including bills, magazines, photographs, medicine labels, craft items and more.
Enhanced Web Finder
ZoomText’s Enhanced Web Finder allows you to search web pages with specific words or phrases, or skim through pages to find items of interest. When an item of interest is found you can have Web Finder start reading aloud from that location (Magnifier/Reader only). If the item is a link to another page you can have Web Finder execute the link and continue your search on the new page.
Desktop Finder
Desktop Finder helps you find and launch programs and documents on your desktop, system tray, and quick launch bar.
Text Finder
Text Finder helps you locate words, phrases and topics of interest in documents, web pages, and application windows.
Application Settings
Save unique settings for each application that you use. As you switch applications, ZoomText automatically loads the desired settings.
Special Application Support
Built-in support for popular applications – including Internet Explorer (IE 10 supported in ZoomText 10.1 for Windows 8), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook; Office 2013 is supported in ZoomText 10.1 for Windows 8), Adobe, Firefox, OpenOffice, iTunes and Java – allow you to navigate your documents with 100% accuracy.
Full Windows Logon Support (with ZoomText Logon UI)
ZoomText’s logon support provides essential magnification and screen reading features when logging into Windows.
Options Galore
ZoomText is jam-packed with exciting features and add-ons that are designed to increase your productivity and extend its usefulness beyond your computer.
ZoomText is available in over 20 languages, with a variety of license types to choose from. Plus, we offer an Enhanced Support Plan (ESP), providing you with premium technical support and the next two ZoomText upgrades delivered automatically.
Helpful Videos
- Multiple Monitor Support
- Welcome to ZoomText 11
- ZoomText 11 New Modern Toolbar
- ZoomText 11 New Command Keys
- ZoomText 11 New App Reader
System Requirements
- Windows 10, 8.1 or 7 with Service Pack 1 (or later).
- Processor: 2 GHz i3 dual core processor or similar. i5 or i7 recommended.
- 4 GB Ram. 8 GB recommended.
- Video/Graphics card or integrated graphics with support for DirectX 10 or higher.
- Hard drive space for ZoomText: 1.3 GBSSD drive recommended.
- Note: After installing ZoomText, use of hard drive space can be reduced by uninstalling unneeded voices.
- 5-point multi-touch display for touch screen support.
- USB 2.0 for ZoomText Camera support.
What’s New in ZoomText 2023 Magnifier/Reader
Tethered View in ZoomText and Fusion
Tethered View is a new feature available in ZoomText and Fusion. When using higher zoom levels (magnification), there is often an activity that occurs on the screen that is outside of the magnified viewing area. This is where Tethered View is helpful. It opens a new window inside the magnified area that brings the activity into view. Tethered View currently supports the Windows Start menu search, Excel formula bar, Word Comments pane, and links list on a web page (Fusion only). It is enabled by default for these items.
To toggle Tethered View on and off, or change settings, do the following:
- In the ZoomText or Fusion Magnifier toolbar tab, select the Window button.
- Choose Tethered View.
- Choose Enable or Disable to toggle Tethered View on and off.
Choose Settings to customize Tethered View settings as desired.
Windows Start Menu Search and Tethered View
When you use the search box in the Windows Start menu, you may notice that you cannot see the top search result in the magnified view. With Tethered View enabled, the best match appears in a window next to the search box. You can click the result or move through the list to see other items.
The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with the Windows Start menu:
- Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
- View the result at the top of the search list: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T
Microsoft Excel Formula Bar and Tethered View
In Excel, a similar scenario occurs when working with formulas. Excel displays the formula related to a cell in the formula bar located at the top of the worksheet. This position is far away from the actual cell. The Tethered View brings the formula to you and displays it next to the cell that has focus. If you want to switch to the formula field, you can click it or use the CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T keystroke.
Other times you may want to read the Excel spreadsheet without the formula displayed. In this case, you can toggle the Tethered View with CAPS LOCK+T.
The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with Excel:
- Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
- View the Formula bar: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T
Microsoft Word Comments and Tethered View
If you distribute a Word document for review, others may add comments to the document. The Comments pane or list is positioned to the far right side of the screen. In Tethered View, each comment is placed next to the text where it is inserted. This eliminates the need to move across the screen, find and read the comment, and then return to the text.
The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with Word:
- Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
- View the comment: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T
- Return to the text at the insertion point: ESC
Fusion Links List and Tethered View
When reading a web page while running Fusion, you can press INSERT+F7 to display a list of links that are on the page. With Tethered View, as you move through the list, the current link’s URL appears next to the item in the list. You can click or press ENTER to select the link.
The following keystrokes are available when using Tethered View with the Fusion links list:
- Expand or collapse Tethered View window: CAPS LOCK+T
- View the URL for the link: CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+T
- Open the links list: INSERT+F7
Solution for Dell Waves MaxxAudio Issues
Changes were made in the Eloquence, Vocalizer Expressive, and Microsoft Mobile speech synthesizer drivers to fix increased memory usage issues caused by Waves MaxxAudio. This application is often used on Dell computers. If you previously disabled the Waves MaxxAudio application to resolve these performance issues, you can now reenable it. This is only necessary if you want your computer to automatically begin using a specific audio output device as soon as you connect it, such as headphones.
Improved ILM Authorization Access
The file location for the ZoomText, JAWS, and Fusion ILM authorization files have been moved to a location where users no longer need administrative permission to authorize on their own system.
Enhancements in ZoomText 2023.2212.21 and Fusion 2023.2012.5 (December 2022)
The following describes new features and improvements made in the December 2022 update.
Early Adopter Program
The Early Adopter Program lets you preview new and updated product features that are in development. As we gradually introduce features, you can evaluate them and provide feedback that will help us make improvements before the final release. The Freeze View Update is our first feature available for evaluation using the Early Adopter Program. It’s an update to the existing Freeze View in ZoomText and Fusion, that provides you with additional functionality.
Using the Early Adopter Program
To turn on or off Early Adopter Program features, do the following:
- In the ZoomText or Fusion menu, choose Early Adopter Program.
The Early Adopter Program dialog appears and shows the features available to evaluate. The dialog is empty if no features are currently available.
- Select one or more check boxes to activate features. Clear one or more check boxes to deactivate features.
Note: If you are evaluating changes to an existing product feature, it will revert to its original operation when you clear the check box. - Click OK and restart the software. Features that were turned on are available for use.
Submitting Feedback
While evaluating a feature, you are encouraged to give feedback about your experience. Feedback can be given whether the feature is activated or not.
To give feedback, do the following:
- In the ZoomText menu, choose Early Adopter Program.
The Early Adopter Program dialog displays the features available to evaluate. - Select the Send Feedback button for the feature you are evaluating.
The Early Adopter Program Feedback form appears. - Complete the Early Adopter Program Feedback form and click Send Feedback.
Freeze View Update
Freeze View, currently in ZoomText and Fusion, is our first feature available for evaluation using the Early Adopter Program. The following describes how to use Freeze View when it is activated using the Early Adopter Program.
Freeze View Overview
In a magnified view, it is impossible to see the entire screen at once. As a result, items of interest, such as the clock and Start menu, cannot be seen at the same time since they are on opposite sides of the screen. Freeze View solves this problem by letting you draw a window around an area of the screen that you want to monitor. When you’ve completed your selection, the Freeze View automatically appears on top of the Full zoom window displaying the selected area. The Full zoom window continues to operate normally, tracking all on-screen activity and allowing you to navigate and work in all areas of the screen.
When Freeze View is activated using the Early Adopter Program, you can create and display up to four Freeze Views simultaneously. Freeze Views can be placed anywhere on the screen. For example, you can create a view of the ZoomText app icon located in the system tray and drag it to an area on the screen that is convenient for you to access. This lets you quickly bring the ZoomText toolbar into view instead of scrolling with the mouse pointer to the system tray and then clicking the app icon. Another example is to create a view of the clock, which is located in the notification area. Again, you can position it on the screen so that it is always in view.
Note: Freeze View is only available when the Zoom Window Type is set to Full and you are using one monitor or a single display duplicated across multiple monitors.
Early Adopter Freeze View and Current Freeze View Operation
The table below describes the differences between the Early Adopter Freeze View and the current Freeze View operation.
Freeze View – Early Adopter Program | Freeze View |
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Up to four Freeze Views can appear simultaneously on the screen | One Freeze View |
Assign a name for each Freeze View | Not available |
Option to keep the mouse pointer in front or behind the Freeze View. When in front, you can click inside the Freeze View and interact with items visible in the Freeze View. When behind, you can only view what is in the Freeze View. |
Always behind |
Toggle Freeze Views 1…4 on and off: CAPS LOCK+CTRL+1…4 | Toggle Freeze View on and off: CAPS LOCK+E |
Create a specific Freeze View: CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+1…4 Note: These hotkeys are disabled by default. You can enable them using the ZoomText Command Key dialog. |
Not available |
Resize and move Freeze View: CAPS LOCK+A | Not available |
Create a Freeze View
Note: Freeze View is only available when the Zoom Window Type is set to Full and you are using one monitor or a single display duplicated across multiple monitors.
To create a Freeze View, do the following:
- Make sure the Zoom Window Type is set to Full.
- On the Magnifier toolbar tab, click the arrow next to Window or navigate to Window and press the down arrow key.
Note: You can also press CAPS LOCK+N to create a new Freeze View. When you do this, the Freeze tool becomes active as mentioned in step 3. - In the Window menu, choose Freeze View > New Freeze View.
The Freeze tool becomes active.Note: You can have up to four Freeze Views. If you try to create a fifth Freeze View, you must first delete an existing Freeze View.
- Move the mouse pointer until the area you want to freeze is scrolled into view.
- Hold down the left button and drag a selection rectangle around the desired freeze area and release the button.
When you complete the drag, the Freeze View will appear with sizing handles on the frame.
- To size the window, drag any handle. To move the window, drag inside the window frame. To scroll the contents of the window, hold down CTRL and drag inside the window frame.
- To exit the Freeze tool, right click or press ESC.
- To create additional Freeze Views, repeat steps 1-7. You can have a total of four Freeze Views.
Note: If you try to add a fifth Freeze View, the Freeze View Settings dialog opens. You must delete at least one Freeze View from the Views list before adding another. - To save Freeze View changes, in the ZoomText menu, choose Configurations > Save As Default.
Enable and Disable Freeze View
To enable or disable a Freeze View, do one of the following:
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- Press the Freeze View On/Off hotkey:
- CAPS LOCK+CTRL+1 for Freeze View 1
- CAPS LOCK+CTRL+2 for Freeze View 2
- CAPS LOCK+CTRL+3 for Freeze View 3
- CAPS LOCK+CTRL+4 for Freeze View 4
- Press the Freeze View On/Off hotkey:
- On the Magnifier toolbar tab, choose Window > Freeze View > Enable (or Disable).
Note: This only enables and disables the first Freeze View that is in the Views list in the Freeze settings tab.
Delete a Freeze View
To delete a Freeze View using hotkeys, do the following:
- Press CAPS LOCK+A until the Freeze View you want to delete is selected.
- Press DELETE.
The Freeze tool appears. - Press ESC to restore the mouse pointer
- Repeat steps 1-3 to delete other Freeze Views.
To delete a Freeze View using Freeze View settings, do the following:
- On the Magnifier toolbar tab, select the Zoom Window Settings button, which appears in the lower-right corner of the Zoom Window group.
The Zoom Window Settings dialog appears. - Select the Freeze tab.
- Choose a Freeze View from the Views list and click the Delete button.
- Repeat steps 1-3 to delete other Freeze Views.
Customize a Freeze View
To customize a Freeze View, do the following:
- On the Magnifier toolbar tab, select the Zoom Windows Settings button, which appears in the lower-right corner of the Zoom Windows group.
The Zoom Windows Settings dialog appears. - Select the Freeze tab.
- Choose a Freeze View from the Views list and do any of the following:
- Assign a name
- Choose a zoom level
- Decide if you want the mouse pointer to appear in front of or behind the Freeze View. When in front, you can click and use the items in the Freeze View. When behind, you can only view what is in the Freeze View.
- Repeat steps 1-3 to customize other Freeze Views
- Click OK.
- To save Freeze View changes, in the ZoomText menu, choose Configurations > Save As Default.
Other Changes
- ZoomText now supports Estonian.
- Improved performance when running ZoomText on laptops with a dedicated video card. By default, ZoomText will now use the dedicated video card if it exists.
- Resolved an issue in Outlook where focus tracking was constantly jumping between the To or Cc fields and the list of suggested contacts.
- Resolved an issue in Word where cursor enhancement tracking would stop working when toggling between the Navigation task pane and the document.
- Resolved an issue where tracker alignment would jump between edge alignment and center alignment when moving up and down the contents of a list box.
- Resolved an issue where the Layered Keys Banner did not display correctly when using multiple monitors.
- Resolved an issue with Tethered View where the Excel formula bar and the Word Comments pane were not displaying on the correct monitor. This occurred when the zoom window type was set to Span.
- Resolved an issue where the Tethered View window would not display properly after expanding it with CAPS LOCK+T.
Software Updates
- <Click Here to access updates for August 2023>
- <Click Here to access updates for June 2023>
- <Click Here to access updates for April 2023>
- <Click Here to access July 2022 Release>
- <Click Here to access June 2022 Release>
- <Click Here to access February 2022 Release>
- <Ckick Here to access December 2021 Release>
- <Click Here to access November 2021 Release>
- <Click Here to access July 2021 Release>
- <Click Here to access May 2021 Release>
- <Click Here to access April 2021 Release>
- <Click Here to access February 2021 Release>
- <Click Here to access January 2021 Release>
- <Click Here> to access 2021 Pre-Release>
- <Click Here> to access August 2020 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the April 2020 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the March 2020 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the February 2020 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the August 2019 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the June 2019 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the August 2018 Update>
- <Click Here> to access the May 2018 Update
Downloads for the January 2022 Updates
- JAWS 2022 What’s New in 2022: https://support.freedomscientific.com/downloads/JAWS/JAWSWhatsNew
- JAWS 2022 Connected:https://jaws2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.24.400/80824FB8-21F9-4D84-85EB-4008CD002070/J2022.2112.24.400.exe
- JAWS 2022 Offline 64 Bit:https://jaws2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.24.400/80824FB8-21F9-4D84-85EB-4008CD002070/J2022.2112.24.400-Offline-x64.exe
- JAWS 2022 Offline 32 64 Bit:https://jaws2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.24.400/80824FB8-21F9-4D84-85EB-4008CD002070/J2022.2112.24.400-Offline-x86.exe
- ZoomText 2022 Connected:https://zoomtext2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.10.400/983A3F44-83C0-4017-A6D5-2CB9A9710F72/ZT2022.2112.10.400.exe
- ZoomText 2022 Offline:https://zoomtext2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.10.400/983A3F44-83C0-4017-A6D5-2CB9A9710F72/ZT2022.2112.10.400-Offline.exe
- Fusion 2022 Connected:https://fusion2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.5.400/3065094C-E40A-4D29-9875-467B73F9724B/F2022.2112.5.400.exe
- Fusion 2022 Offline:https://fusion2022.vfo.digital/2022.2112.5.400/3065094C-E40A-4D29-9875-467B73F9724B/F2022.2112.5.400-Offline.exe
Product Manual
No user manual found.About New England Low Vision and Blindness
New England Low Vision and Blindness uniquely brings hope through technology, training, and care. We are a full-service assistive technology rehabilitation training provider. We offer nearly 100% of all major electronic low vision, blindness, and software products, multiple assistive technology showrooms and a team of Vision Technology Rehabilitation Trainers to help anyone who is visually impaired.
We provide ‘patient choice’ showcasing numerous technology options from the world’s most respected suppliers, all in line with one’s individualized budgetary limits and personal, educational, or professional goals. We also provide custom training solutions and troubleshooting support.
Widely known, tested, and trusted throughout New England, our team brings 75+ years of low and blindness vision experience. Our talent, technology, and training offerings are unmatched and highly respected. We are an extremely unique and extraordinary resource for anyone suffering from vision loss in New England. We are here to help.
Through our no-obligation demonstrations - either at one of our conveniently located assistive technology showrooms or in their home, office, or school - clients experience a relaxed 2-hour no-obligation personal demonstration of almost 100% of all low vision and blindness technologies available on the market.
To learn more about how we Bring Hope to people who are blind or with low vision, contact a Technology Specialist at New England Low Vision and Blindness please call our toll-free number 888-211-6933 or email us at info@nelowvision.com. You can also use the form above to request information about our services or a no-obligation demonstration on this or any of our products.