Netop Vision 7.1 Released!
Netop Vision7 is the popular classroom management software that makes teaching with computers easy and effective.
Version 7.1 of Netop Vision7 extends the new Vision7 user interface to include the Vision Shortcut Bar and Pointer, Vision’s on-screen and interactive whiteboard annotation tool, as well as a variety of technical fixes and additional language support. With version 7.1, Netop Vision7 – the next generation of Netop’s popular Vision classroom management software – is now available in Italian and Spanish, as well as English, French and German.
This update is available at no cost to Vision customers with a current Netop Advantage agreement.
License information: This maintenance release is available at no cost to customers currently using version 7.0 of Vision and does not require new license keys. If you are using an older version of Vision and have never upgraded to version 7.0, then you will need new license keys in order to use this release.
If you have questions about your license key, or wish to purchase an upgrade to Vision7, please contact Codework.
Current version: 7.1
Latest build: Build 6858
Shipping from: March 28th 2011
Usability is King!
At Netop we want to build a 21st century classroom management solution that supports teachers in their teaching and learning in IT labs. We also want to be more responsive to teacher needs. So, we undertook a comprehensive survey of schools using Vision, visiting and speaking with teachers to understand what they liked and valued in Vision and what direction they felt Vision should take. It was clear that usability is king for teachers, as this leads to greater teacher confidence in the use of Vision and successful adoption throughout schools IT labs. Based on this conclusion, Netop invested in redesigning the Vision user interface and a number of enhanced usability features that will help teachers, both new to Vision7 or upgrading, to quickly grow their confidence in using Vision7.
Continuing on this theme of enhancing usability, we have extended the new Vision7 user interface design to cover the Vision Shortcut Bar and Netop Pointer, our on-screen and interactive whiteboard annotation tool. This maintenance release also includes a number of issue resolutions.
Enhanced Usability for Teachers
This section describes how the user interface enhancements of Vision7 have been extended to incorporate additional features in version 7.1.
Refresh of the Vision Shortcut Bar
We have extended our new Vision7 icons to cover the Vision Shortcut Bar, making this popular toolbar consistent with the main Vision Dashboard for ease of use.
Further improvements include:
When the Vision Shortcut Bar is in Auto Hide mode and is docked (positioned tight to the edge of the computer screen), there is a delay of 200 milliseconds in reacting to the mouse hovering over it. This delay has been introduced to ensure that teachers can more easily access the Minimize, Restore and Close buttons at the top right of a maximized application, without the toolbar auto-appearing and obscuring these screen elements.
When the Vision Shortcut Bar is in Auto Hide mode and is undocked, free to float over open application windows, the Shortcut Bar becomes gradually more transparent and only returns to being opaque when the mouse cursor is positioned inside the Shortcut Bar. This behavior makes it easier for the teacher to continue to use Vision, or another application, while having quick access to the shortcut toolbar.
The Vision Shortcut Bar is more compact, offering even more working space for teachers to view thumbnails and demonstrations. Additionally, the command labels now wrap neatly and the bar displays with a shadow when docked at the top of the screen, so it is more easily distinguishable from controls of other applications. Although subtle, these enhancements are typical of the many changes we have made to ensure Vision7 continues to be the easiest and most effective classroom management software.
Refresh of Vision’s Pointer tool
We have extended our new Vision7 style to include Pointer, Vision’s on-screen and interactive whiteboard annotation tool. New icons make the individual features more easily distinguished from one another.
These enhancements will help ensure that Vision’s Pointer remains one of the most comprehensive and flexible annotation tools for teachers that can be used across all applications and most interactive whiteboards.
Additional Language Support
Netop Vision7, version 7.1 is being released in the following languages with translated user interfaces and help files:
- English
- German
- French
- Italian
- Spanish – this is the first Spanish release for Netop Vision.
To ensure a translation suitable for education, each has been undertaken by native speakers. Furthermore, each User Interface has been reviewed by a native speaker familiar with the education market for the appropriate language.
Netop Vision 7 Released!
The new version of Netop Vision 7 introduces a fully redesigned interface, making teaching with computers more effective.
What’s New in Vision7:
Over the past year, Netop’s development team met with teachers and IT administrators at schools across the U.S. and Europe, who almost unanimously agreed that usability is the most important aspect of their classroom management solution, followed closely by features. With that in mind, Vision7 was redesigned to make the most-used features easily accessible. With a modern ribbon interface, educators will find all the features they know grouped into tabs to allow for larger icons with text labels. Frequently used features are at the forefront, so helping students learn is even easier.
Existing Vision users will find some significant changes in the user interface. For example, the features in the Surf-Lock and App-Control plug-ins are now fully integrated within Vision7, and have been renamed. However the set of features provided has not changed. The results of Netop’s beta testing have been positive, with teachers commenting that Vision7 “works beautifully.”
Upgrades and License Keys:
This upgrade is free to customers with a current Netop Advantage agreement, but does require a new license key. Please note that there are no longer any separate license keys for Surf-Lock, App-Control and Pointer, instead this functionality is included with the standard Vision7 license.
Netop will begin issuing new license keys to license contacts on Wednesday, and expects to have this process complete on Friday, January 15th. In some countries your license key may be issued by your local Netop partner.
If you have questions about your license, or wish to purchase an upgrade, please contact info@codework-systems.com.
Installation and Technical Support:
Vision 7 may/may not be installed on top of Vision6. There is no need to/You must/For best results uninstall Vision6 prior to installing Vision7 on teacher and student computers. For help with installation or technical support questions go to www.netop.com/support/technical-support/netop-vision7.htm.
Vision7 Documentation
At present, documentation for Vision7 is available in English only. Local language documentation will be available when those versions are released in February.
- Netop Vision7 Datasheet
- Vision7 Release Notes
- Upgrader’s Guide to Vision 7 (with user interface map: Vision6 to Vision7)
- Netop Vision7 Quick Installation Guide
- Netop Vision7 Remote Deployment Guide
- Netop Vision7 Getting Started Guide
- Netop Vision7 User’s Guide
- Netop Vision7 TeachPad Quick Guide
- Netop Vision7 Vision@Hand User’s Guide
- Netop Vision7 Improving User Interface and Workflow
Netop Vision 6.9.1 Released
Netop Vision 6.9.1 supports 64-bit Operating Systems.
A maintenance release of Vision6 is now available. Version 6.9.1 adds support for 64-bit operating systems and fixes a number of issues teachers encountered when using Vision6 with the Windows 7 or Vista operating systems. This release is available at no charge to customers with valid Netop upgrade insurance (NUI). Download version 6.9.1 here.
Updates in this maintenance release
1. Support for 64-bit operating systems
Vision6 now provides support for 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems.
2. Student computers visible in dashboard before login
Vision6 can now see student computers even if the students have not yet logged in. On Windows Vista and on Windows 7, the Vision Student software did not connect to the classroom when Windows’ logon screen was still active. This was a problem in Windows Vista and Windows 7 only and has now been fixed so that Vision Student software connects even before a student has logged in.
3. Improved integration with Firefox 3.6.3
Surf-Lock now integrates smoothly with version 3.6.3 of Firefox and displays site lists.
4. Drag and drop computers to a classroom
An issue preventing some computers from being added to a classroom via drag and drop has been fixed. In the classroom wizard it was not possible to add a computer to a classroom by using a drag-and-drop operation. This was a problem in Windows Vista and Windows 7 only and has now been fixed so that a computer can be included by drag-and-drop.
Download a Free Trial of Netop Vision Now
Licensing information
This maintenance release is available at no charge to customers currently using version 6.9 of Vision and does not require new license keys.
If you are using an older version of Vision6 and have never upgraded to version 6.9, then you will need new license keys in order to use this release. To purchase an upgrade and obtain new license keys, contact Codework. Customers with valid Netop Upgrade Insurance (NUI) will not be charged for this upgrade.
Known Problems in 6.9.1
Mouse pointer not visible during a remote control session
When you use Remote Control to take over a student computer, you may lose the mouse pointer: the mouse pointer is actually responding on the Student computer but is not visible on the teacher’s computer.
Workaround: restart the Remote Control tool.
Netop Education Software Now Supports Windows 7
CHICAGO – Dec. 16, 2009 – Today Netop launched new versions of its best-selling classroom management software tools with support for the new Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. Schools can now download updates to Netop School6 and Netop Vision6 classroom management software here.
“At Netop, our commitment is to ensuring that all schools have access to powerful tools for teaching with technology,” said Kurt Bager, CEO, Netop. “We updated our core education software to be compatible with Windows 7 quickly so that schools can continue to use our classroom management software and make the most of their technology investment, no matter which Windows operating system they choose.”
Netop School6 is the premier classroom management solution. Designed for educators who teach in networked classrooms or computer labs, Netop School6 incorporates tools for preparation, instruction and evaluation in one complete solution. Teachers use Netop School6 to share their computer screen with the class, supervise student computer work, lend a hand when needed, control application and Internet use, distribute and collect documents, create tests and evaluate student progress.
Netop Vision6 is the most popular classroom management software, proven to improve student achievement. Vision6 gives teachers complete control over classroom computers from an easy-to-use console that shows each student computer screen. Educators use Vision6 to monitor student progress, provide on-screen demonstrations and guide student learning on computers.
The update to Vision6 now includes Surf-Lock, App-Control and Pointer. All schools currently using the classroom management software will receive these additional products, formerly sold separately. This all-inclusive version of Vision6 gives teachers the ability to control Internet access with a single click, only allow access to approved Web sites, monitor and control application access and use Pointer to annotate presentations.
These upgrades are free to customers with valid Netop upgrade insurance policies or can be purchased. For more information, visit http://www.netop.com.
About Netop Solutions A/S Netop develops and sells software solutions that enable swift, secure and seamless transfer of video, screens, sounds and data between two or more computers over the Internet. The company has three business areas: Administration, Education and Communication.
Netop’s unique and cost-saving Administration solutions make life easier for IT professionals with Remote Control and IT Asset Management. With the market-leading solutions for Education classroom management and corporate e-learning, Netop helps students and teachers to achieve optimum results through virtual education. Netop Communication solutions, including unified communications, let customers, partners and colleagues meet easily and safely in the virtual space via video conferencing, instant messaging, voice and file sharing over the Internet.
Netop employs 152 people and has subsidiaries in the United States, Great Britain, China, Romania and Switzerland. The company sells its solutions to public and private clients in more than 80 countries. Netop Solutions A/S shares are listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange OMX. In 2008, Netop Solutions had a total revenue of DKK 92.1m. Read more at: www.netop.com.
613-368-4300 | info@codework-systems.com