[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%20am%20considering%20buying%20a%20QBraille%20XL.%20How%20much%20is%20it%2C%20when%20was%20its%20last%20update%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s what I found out about the QBraille XL \u2014 its price, development status, and firmware info \u2014 to help you decide whether it\u2019s a good buy.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udcb2 Price\n\n- US price: **US $3,195.00**, according to the manufacturer Selvas BLV / Dream Vision Group. ([dvg-llc.com](https://www.dvg-llc.com/product-page/qbraille-xl?utm_source=openai))  \n- Other sellers elsewhere (Europe, Turkey, etc.) list it at similar values once you convert non-USD prices. ([leonardoausili.com](https://www.leonardoausili.com/display-braille/617-qbraille-xl-display-braille.html?utm_source=openai))\n\nSo that\u2019s roughly **US$3,200** if ordering inside the US. Importing might add shipping, taxes, or import fees.\n\n---\n\n## \u26a0 Status & Availability\n\n- The QBraille XL has been **officially discontinued** by SELVAS Healthcare, Inc. This notice was posted on **December 1, 2025**. ([himsintl.com](https://www.himsintl.com/en/public_relations/media.php?bgu=view&idx=77&utm_source=openai))  \n- Despite discontinuation, technical support (e.g. firmware and driver downloads) is still being maintained. ([himsintl.com](https://www.himsintl.com/en/public_relations/media.php?bgu=view&idx=77&utm_source=openai))\n\nSo you *can* still get parts and software support, but it\u2019s no longer a product in the active sales line.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 Latest Firmware / Updates\n\n- The most recent firmware version and related release notes are available in the *QBraille XL Downloads* section of the Selvas BLV support site. ([selvasblv.com](https://selvasblv.com/support/download-center/qbraillexl/?utm_source=openai))  \n- The user manual\u2019s latest revision is **Rev-190614-1**, released in **June 2019**. It references *Software Version 2.0* as of that date. ([selvasblv.com](https://selvasblv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/QBraille-XL-User-Manual-Rev-190614-1.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n- Earlier firmware documents list a build with a revision \u201c200207\u201d (February 7, 2020) among update-zip archives. ([1lowvision.com](https://1lowvision.com/firmware?utm_source=openai))  \n\nThere hasn\u2019t been a clear indication of more recent firmware releases after early 2020.\n\n---\n\n## \u2705 What This Means If You Buy One\n\nHere are potential benefits and considerations:\n\n---\n\n### Pros:\n\n- Full-featured 40-cell braille display with a hybrid keyboard mixing Perkins style input and QWERTY function keys. ([sensorylogix.com](https://sensorylogix.com/PDFs/39%20QBraille%20XL.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n- Good connectivity: USB-C, SD card slot, Bluetooth, and support for multiple devices at once. ([floridareading.com](https://floridareading.com/products/qbraille-xl?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n### Cons:\n\n- **Discontinued**: No new units being produced. You\u2019ll likely be buying from remaining stock or secondhand. ([himsintl.com](https://www.himsintl.com/en/public_relations/media.php?bgu=view&idx=77&utm_source=openai))  \n- **Firmware stagnation**: Last clear public firmware version seems to be from 2019-2020. While manual and firmware download pages are active, there\u2019s no recent update showing new features or bug fixes. ([selvasblv.com](https://selvasblv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/QBraille-XL-User-Manual-Rev-190614-1.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n- If bugs or hardware issues emerge, chances are high that they may not be addressed with new firmware or parts.\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can try digging to see if any users have backported fixes, or whether there\u2019s a user-community patch available post-2020. Do you want me to check that for you?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "I%27ve%20heard%20rumors%20that%20the%20QBraille%20couldn%27t%20alt-tab%20between%20more%20than%20two%20applications.%20By%20reviewing%20rleease%20notes%20and%20other%20materials%2C%20do%20you%20see%20any%20signs%20that%20HIMS%20acknowledged%20this%20or%20that%20they%20fixed%20it%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s what I found on the \u201calt-tab between more than two apps\u201d issue with the QBraille XL, what HIMS said, and whether there\u2019s evidence of a fix or acknowledgment:\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd0d What the problem is\n\nIn the **AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) \u201cAccessWorld\u201d review** (July 2020), using **firmware version 2.4 (20200702)**, the reviewer found that on Windows with JAWS and NVDA:\n\n- With three windows open, pressing *Alt+Tab* toggles between the current window and the one immediately behind it.\n- It was *not possible* to reach the third (or a \u201cfurther behind\u201d) window via repeated Alt+Tab presses. ([afb.org](https://afb.org/aw/21/9/17172?utm_source=openai))  \n- The same limitation held true even if Alt+Tab was pressed quickly. ([afb.org](https://afb.org/aw/21/9/17172?utm_source=openai))  \n\nThe reviewer noted: \u201cHIMS has indicated that they are aware of this bug, and they will be issuing an update when it has been resolved.\u201d ([afb.org](https://afb.org/aw/21/9/17172?utm_source=openai))\n\nSo yes: HIMS **did acknowledge the bug** as of mid-2020.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd52 Evidence of a fix or update\n\nI checked for signs that this issue was fixed in later release notes, firmware updates, or manuals:\n\n- The AFB review mentions firmware version **2.4, July 2, 2020**, as the version in which the issue was observed. ([afb.org](https://afb.org/aw/21/9/17172?utm_source=openai))  \n- Subsequent HIMS resources \u2014 like the user guide (manualslib, manuals.plus, etc.) \u2014 don\u2019t clearly state that the alt-tab limitation has been resolved. No release notes I saw specifically mention \u201cfixed alt-tab not switching past the second window\u201d or similar phrasing. ([manualslib.com](https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2312830/Hims-Qbraille-Xl.html?utm_source=openai))  \n- In the AFB review, in the NVDA section too, the same limitation occurs. It\u2019s described similarly: \u201cthe Alt + Tab combination does not allow the user to move to a third or fourth window.\u201d ([afb.org](https://afb.org/aw/21/9/17172?utm_source=openai))  \n- The official website / brochure touts that standard keyboard shortcuts like Alt+Tab are supported for switching documents/windows among connected devices. But marketing claims are general; they do *not* explicitly say the bug was fixed. ([hims-inc.com](https://hims-inc.com/brochure/QBraille-XL-brochure-digital.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \u26a0 Current conclusion\n\nBased on what I found:\n\n- HIMS **acknowledged** the issue in 2020 (firmware 2.4). ([afb.org](https://afb.org/aw/21/9/17172?utm_source=openai))  \n- However, there is **no clear confirmation** in publicly available release notes or recent documentation that the alt-tab limitation has been fixed (i.e., being able to switch through three or more open windows via Alt+Tab in one go).  \n- Marketing materials imply \u201cstandard keyboard commands\u201d (which would include Alt+Tab) work, but without specifying whether the limitation remains. ([hims-inc.com](https://hims-inc.com/brochure/QBraille-XL-brochure-digital.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can try to track whether there\u2019s a community forum, support ticket, or internal patch (unpublished) that addresses this. Would you prefer I do that?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Yes"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I searched through official materials (firmware, release notes, manuals, support pages) and community/third-party sources to see whether HIMS / SELVAS BLV acknowledged and/or fixed the \u201cAlt+Tab only between two apps\u201d bug in the QBraille XL. Here\u2019s a summary of what I found, plus an assessment of how likely this bug still exists.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udd27 What the sources say\n\n### 1. Acknowledgment of the issue\n\n- The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) review in mid-2020 explicitly states there was a bug in firmware version **2.4 (20200702)** where Alt+Tab could *only* toggle between two windows, even if more were open. The reviewer wrote:  \n  > \u201cHIMS has indicated that they are aware of this bug, and they will be issuing an update when it has been resolved.\u201d ([applevis.com](https://applevis.com/forum/braille-apple-products/qbraille-xl-experiences?utm_source=openai))  \n- So yes, HIMS did publicly acknowledge the bug as of mid-2020.\n\n### 2. Firmware versions / Release notes\n\n- On the SELVAS BLV site, in the **QBraille XL \u201cDownloads / Release Notes\u201d** section, current firmware and documents are available. However, I did **not** find explicit mention of a fix for this specific Alt+Tab limitation (i.e. \u201cnow support moving through 3+ open windows\u201d). ([selvasblv.com](https://selvasblv.com/support/download-center/qbraillexl/?utm_source=openai))  \n- The most recent firmware noted on 1lowvision.com under \u201cQBraille Firmware Update: Rev 200207 (.zip)\u201d has a build date of **February 7, 2020**. That\u2019s before or around the same time this bug was observed. ([1lowvision.com](https://1lowvision.com/firmware?utm_source=openai))  \n- The latest user manual (Rev -- 190614-1, June 2019) doesn\u2019t contain any mention of resolving this Alt+Tab issue. ([selvasblv.com](https://selvasblv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/QBraille-XL-User-Manual-Rev-190614-1.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n\n### 3. Support resources and forums\n\n- I looked through official HIMS / SELVAS support sites (resource lists, firmware/driver pages) and saw no \u201cpatch note\u201d or \u201cbug fix\u201d entry that references \u201cAlt+Tab bug\u201d or \u201cswitch through more than two windows.\u201d ([himsintl.com](https://www.himsintl.com/en/support/resource_list.php?utm_source=openai))  \n- Community forums (AppleVis etc.) include people discussing keyboard behavior improvements (e.g. arrow key combinations, etc.) but I didn\u2019t find clear reports confirming that the Alt+Tab bug was *fixed* by users in later firmware. ([applevis.com](https://applevis.com/forum/braille-apple-products/qbraille-xl-experiences?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## \u2699 Assessment: Is the bug probably still there?\n\nPutting together what\u2019s known:\n\n- The bug was real and acknowledged in 2020, in firmware 2.4. ([applevis.com](https://applevis.com/forum/braille-apple-products/qbraille-xl-experiences?utm_source=openai))  \n- There is *no* documentation in release notes or manuals that explicitly states it was fixed.  \n- Firmware versions around or before early 2020 seem to be the latest public builds \u2014 e.g. Rev 200207 \u2014 which align with the time frame of the bug but do *not* indicate a fix for that specific issue. ([1lowvision.com](https://1lowvision.com/firmware?utm_source=openai))  \n\nSo unless there is a private or unpublished firmware version not shared in release notes, the Alt+Tab behavior appears **not yet fixed**, at least not officially confirmed.\n\n---\n\n## \ud83d\udccc What to do if you need confirmation\n\nIf you want certainty before buying:\n\n- Contact SELVAS BLV / HIMS tech support directly and ask: \u201cIn firmware version X (latest), has the Alt+Tab bug \u2014 limiting switching among open windows to only two at a time under Windows / screen readers \u2014 been fixed?\u201d  \n- If possible, test a unit in person or via demo with three or more windows open, using the keyboard commands (Alt+Tab) with your screen reader of choice (e.g., JAWS, NVDA) to see if it lets you cycle through more than two windows.  \n- Later firmware (post-2020) might include undocumented fixes \u2014 testing is the safest.\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I could try to see if there is *any* leaked firmware or internal changelog that mentions this specific fix (beyond public release notes). Do you want me to attempt that?"
    }
]