TalkToMe Keyboard

TalkToMe Keyboard is now Über Keyboard. Please update from the Market if you already have the application.

Considering buying?

We are glad that you are considering our application. Please check if your situation matches one or more of the following categories and read the relevant sections before you buy. Otherwise there are no impediments to using the application on your phone and we look forward to you trying our keyboard. After you have downloaded and installed our application, please be sure to read the "Initial Setup" section for directions. If you are having trouble downloading or if you are unfamiliar with how Google processes credit card charges and returns, please read the section on "Android™ Market Download Issues."

Non-US Users

  • Depending on the wireless carrier, you may or may not have Google Voice Search installed. If it is installed, you will see an application called "Voice Search" or a microphone next to your Google Search toolbar. If you do not have Google Voice Search, you will not be able to use the speech recognition but will still be able to use word suggestions and auto-correct for the physical keyboard. Some examples of phones that do not have voice search: HTC Hero in the UK, some G1 phones in the UK.
  • Google Voice Search works primarily with American accent English. Speech recognition in other accents or other languages may not work as well. You will still be able to use word suggestions and auto-correct for the physical keyboard.
  • Great Britain users: Google Voice Search works with British accents but we have a high return rate from British users. We don't know if it is because of Google Voice Search is not available on many British phones or because of differences in accents.
  • If you are using the TalkToMe keyboard primarily with a language other than English, and you are asked to install the alternate dictionary when installing (HTC Hero, Droid Eris): you will not be able to use word suggestions with the physical keyboard in your language.

HTC Hero

  • When you open TalkToMe, it will likely prompt you to install an alternate dictionary from the market. You will then need to install the dictionary to enable the auto-correction and typing suggestion features. The Hero does not come with the standard Android keyboard, but a proprietary HTC keyboard (called Touch Input) and dictionary.

Droid Eris (by HTC)

  • When you open TalkToMe, it will likely prompt you to install an alternate dictionary from the market. You will then need to install the dictionary to enable the auto-correction and typing suggestion features. The Eris does not come with the standard Android keyboard, but a proprietary HTC keyboard (called Touch Input) and dictionary.

Samsung Moment

  • To the best of our knowledge, Samsung Moment phones do not have Google Voice Search installed. If it is installed, you will see an application called "Voice Search" or a microphone next to your Google Search toolbar. Having a different voice recognition package such as "Nuance" is not sufficient. If you do not have Google Voice Search, you will not be able to use the speech recognition but will still be able to use word suggestions for the physical keyboard. At the present time, we do not recommend this application for the Samsung Moment.

Motorola Backflip

  • To the best of our knowledge, Motorola Backflip phones do not have Google Voice Search installed. If it is installed, you will see an application called "Voice Search" or a microphone next to your Google Search toolbar. You will not be able to use the voice transcription feature. However, you will still be able to use various physical keyboard enhancements including auto-text correction and custom mappings. You will also be able to use custom mappings and custom skins with the virtual keyboard.

Uninstalling?

  • Thank you for trying our application. Please enable and activate a different keyboard before you uninstall. This is especially true if you do not have another keyboard that is enabled. If the system finds no enabled keyboard, you may get into a reboot cycle. This is not an issue with our specific keyboard.
  • If you are unfamiliar with how Google processes credit card charges and returns, or have concerns- please read the section on "Android Market Credit Card Issues."

TalkToMe Keyboard

Description

You talk, it types! TalkToMe Keyboard integrates with the Android keyboard to add voice recognition functionality. You can alternate between speaking and typing as you prefer. It evens works with a physical keyboard, including voice recognition and typing suggestions. It's convenient and a time saver! You can use this to talk to type in any application such as Gmail, SMS/MMS/Messaging.

TalkToMe Keyboard adds the following features to the standard Android keyboard:

  • Word suggestions and spelling corrections to the physical keyboard the same way the standard keyboard does for the soft keyboard
  • Integration with Google Voice Recognition Service to enable transcription for input
  • Advanced skinning capability - choose your own colors, fonts, and images to have your keyboard reflect YOUR personality!

TalkToMe Keyboard does not collect or send any private information. However, the Google Voice Search interface to the application does send your speech to Google servers for translation.

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Initial Setup Help & Troubleshooting

How do I enable it?

Please see the following video:

These are the exact set of steps:

  1. Go to the home screen (that is where all the applications are)
  2. Press Menu and select settings. That will show you a menu whose first item is probably "Wireless Controls" followed by "Call settings"
  3. Scroll down and you should see the entry titled "Locale & text" (Android 1.x) or "Language & keyboard" (Android 2.x). It is between "Date & time" and "Search."
  4. Click "Locale & text" or "Language & keyboard". You should now see the keyboard selection menu.
  5. Select and enable the TalkToMe keyboard. You should get a scary warning which you have to accept before the system will enable the keyboard.
  6. Now open any application such as Messaging.
  7. Do a long-touch in the input window. You should see a menu come up, one of the choices in the menu is "Input method". Select this choice.
  8. Now select TalkToMe Keyboard. That will enable the keyboard.
  9. On devices without the standard Android keyboard (Droid Eris, HTC Hero), you will also be prompted to install the alternate dictionary when you try to use the application.

I have it installed but the keyboard doesn't show up?

The keyboard needs to be enabled and selected. Please open the TalkToMe application and follow the directions to enable the keyboard or see the video in the previous section.

It prompts me to install a dictionary application?

Your phone does not have the standard Android keyboard. TalkToMe Keyboard can use the alternate dictionary that you can install from the market.

I have it installed but when I try to enable it, it says no voice recognition is available, and tells me to return it?

Not all phones (Samsung Moment, HTC Hero in the UK?) have Google Voice Search installed. That is a matter of the relationship between the phone vendor, the service provider and Google.  We have no way of knowing upfront as to which phone manufacturer and wireless provider combination has it installed. TalkToMe Keyboard will not provide speech recognition without Google Voice Recognition, so please return it for a refund. It will help us if you can send us an email saying you don't have Google Voice Search so we can make a note of it on our site to help others. You can still use word suggestions with the physical keyboard even if you cannot use the speech recognition.

My device does not let me disable the Android keyboard?

To simplify install/uninstall procedure we are modifying this recommendation. You do not need to disable the Android keyboard.

Once I have enabled it, how do I select to use it?

When in a text box, hold your finger down for slightly longer time- the system will give you a choice of keyboards (or input methods) to use rather than show the default keyboard. You can then choose the TalkToMe keyboard. Next time onwards, it will open TalkToMe by default. You can use the same procedure to switch between multiple keyboards.

How do I manually enable the TalkToMe Keyboard by going to the settings?

Please open the TalkToMe Keyboard application and go to the "How do I use this?" option, and follow its directions.

The keyboard is verified to be enabled, but does not show up when selected?

We have had two such reports, both after a fresh install. Please do the following two steps to resolve this issue:

  1. Sometimes Android is known not to let you use the keyboard that was just enabled. Please try quitting the application you were trying to use the keyboard from, and open a different application, and then try to select the keyboard again with a long touch in a text field.

  2. Reboot

The keyboard shows up but when I click on the microphone, nothing happens?

Not all phones have Google Voice Search installed. TalkToMe will not operate if you do not have voice recognition capability. The best way to check if you have Google Voice Search is to see if you have "Voice Search" application on you phone. Its icon is a microphone inside a red color box. If you don't have Voice Search, TalkToMe will not operate. Please open the application from your phone's home screen for more information.

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Please see the Android Market Help for more information from Google.

There is no charge for updates & No monthly charges

  • Neither we nor Google charges for any updates to the application on the Android Market. It is possible that you may see a message about a credit card authorization. That behavior is the market's behavior and completely outside of our control.
  • There are no additional charges for the application other than the amount you initially pay.

I returned the application but I don't see a credit on my statement yet?

  • If you returned the application within the return period, your credit card was never charged. What you likely see on your statement is an "authorization," which will never be converted to a charge and will go away from your statement in about a week. That behavior is the market's behavior and completely outside of our control.

I have already bought the application and the market is charging me again

  • Neither we nor Google charges for any updates or re-installs. It is possible that you may see a message about a credit card authorization. That behavior is the market's behavior and completely outside of our control.

  • Unfortunately, we have absolutely no control over the Android Market. Our application does not come into the picture at all until it is downloaded and installed. The actual sale and download is purely a function of how Google and your service provider work.
  • The most common cause of a failure to download is that the authorization of your credit card failed and Google Checkout has sent you an email regarding this. Please check your email. You may consider using a different credit card (external link to Google Checkout). You will not be able to install until the credit card verification has succeeded.
  • Occasionally, even though the credit card verification has not failed- it never completes. You may consider using a different credit card (external link to Google Checkout). You will not be able to install until the credit card verification has succeeded.
  • Please note that the application shows up as "Purchased" in the market even if your card authorization has not succeeded.
  • If you wish to use a different credit card, you can change the credit card information by going to https://checkout.google.com/viewWallet (external link to Google Checkout).

I have have verified that my credit card was correctly authorized but am unable to download it

  • Our application does not come into the picture in the installation or the uninstallation process. The Android Market is unreliable and downloads will often fail. If you don't succeed, please try again later. Developers are as frustrated as users in this regard. Some people have had success by clearing the internal data of the Android market. To do so, please go to Home->Settings->Applications->Manage Applications->Market. Now select "Clear Data" and "Clear Cache".

I am trying to uninstall but the uninstall is hanging

  • Our application does not come into the picture in the installation or the uninstallation process. Some people have had success by clearing the internal data of the Android market. To do so, please go to Home->Settings->Applications->Manage Applications->Market. Now select "Clear Data" and "Clear Cache".

I just bought your application and I see multiple charges?

  • We have no control over the Google market behavior. What you are likely seeing are authorizations rather than charges.
  • For example, if you just signed up for Google Checkout, Google will do a test authorization. That has nothing to do with our application. If you subsequently purchase our or another application, you will see a second authorization.
  • If you decided to keep our application, you will see a charge in about 2 days. You will also continue to see the authorization that occurred when you initially purchased the application. This authorization will not be converted to a purchase and will go away in about a week.

I had already bought the application but the market is asking me to buy it again because my phone was reset to factory settings, old one died, or I have changed my email address?

  • You will not need to buy the application again after a phone reset if you have logged in with the same account information again.
  • If you are unable to: please go ahead and buy it again. We have no way of getting you a download without buying again. Then send us an email with the name (and the Google Checkout order number) you originally bought the application under and we will cancel the previous purchase (which will refund your money). We have no control over the time lines in which Google actually credits your account but you will get an email of the cancellation.
  • If you have changed your email address, please repurchase the application and then send us an email to cancel the old purchase (and refund the money). Please include the Google Checkout order number of the previous purchase.

Usage Help & FAQ

How do I use it?

Please see the following video:

After you install TalkToMe Keyboard, please open the application and follow the instructions in "HOWTO" to enable TalkToMe. The keyboard has an additional key with a microphone symbol. Touch the microphone key to start the voice recognition engine. Alternatively, when you open the physical keyboard, a small microphone symbol will show on the bottom of the screen.
Screenshot of application in use

Using TalkToMe Keyboard with the Physical keyboard

TalkToMe Keyboard provides two enhancements to the usage of the standard physical keyboard:

  • Speech Recognition: You can press the Microphone button on the screen and talk to type much like you can do for the soft keyboard.
  • Word Suggestions: You can partially type a word and get suggestions to complete the word, similar to the soft keyboard. The Microphone button must be showing on the screen to enable word suggestions. If you don't see the microphone button, please touch in an input window to show the button.

Switching to the compact QWERTY keyboard

You can swipe right/left to switch to between the normal QWERTY and the compact QWERTY keyboards. To type the additional characters available on the compact keyboard, you need to touch the key twice in quick succession. To use this capability, you will need to enable the compact QWERTY keyboard in the options menu.

How do I add a word to the dictionary?

To add a word to the dictionary, please do a long-press of the left-most choice (which should be the same as what you have actually typed), and it will get added to the dictionary.

How do I choose a keyboard skin?

Now you can define your own skins directly within the keyboard application using the colors you want.  No longer are you subject to the whims of skin developers: you can choose custom colors for the keyboard text, the keyboard background, and the text shadow.  Put your personality into your keyboard!  To make a skin, please open the Options and select "Custom Keyboard Skin"

Word Suggestions and Auto-corrections do not appear

  • Some phones (e.g. Eris) may not have the standard Android keyboard. In these situations, the auto-correct and word-suggestion functions will not operate until an alternate dictionary has been installed. If needed, TalkToMe will prompt you to do so. If you have the alternate dictionary installed and do not have auto-correction, please let us know by sending us an email by selecting "Feature Request/Bug Report" option.
  • If you are using the word suggestions with the physical keyboard, the Microphone button must be showing on the screen to enable word suggestions. If you don't see the microphone button, please touch in an input window to show the button.

Spoken punctuations

When a spoken punctuation is recognized in spoken text, it is automatically converted to the corresponding punctuation mark. The punctuations supported at the present time are: "comma", "period", "question mark", "exclamation mark", "colon", "dash", and "semicolon". For example, if Google Voice Search recognizes the phrase: "Hello comma my dear friend period", TalkToMe Keyboard will replace it by "Hello, my dear friend."

We currently don't convert a punctuation at the beginning of a voice recognition session (but are considering it because often each speaking session is only a part of a sentence).

Can you improve the voice recognition?

We use Google's voice recognition services provided within the Android tool set. We benefit from the availability of this voice recognition, but are limited by its quality.

Why can't it just choose the best spoken match?

It can. Please go to the Options menu and uncheck "Recognition Choices".

Why do you censor the profanity?

This is the normal behavior of Google Voice Recognition, and we have no control over it.

Why do I have to be connected to the Internet for TalkToMe Keyboard to work?

Google Voice Recognition service sends the data to Google's servers for recognition.

Why doesn't it recognize long sentences?

Google Voice Recognition service sends data to the servers after a pause, and deals with small sentences only.

What languages does it support?

Google Voice Recognition service for Android currently only supports English. As Google expand the capability of its voice recognition, we will do the same with the TalkToMe keyboard.

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Configuration Options

Show Disabled Warning

If this is checked, the keyboard will put out a warning notification that it is disabled.

Standard Keyboard Options

These are settings from the standard Android (version 2.x) keyboard. They include settings for sound/vibration, and various settings for formatting and corrections.

Custom Mappings

This lets you define short forms of phrases as well as possible alternate spellings. For example, you can define "brb" as "be right back" or "crpwn" as "© 2010 Pwn with your Phone", or "pi" as "π". The key must be lower case letters without spaces, but the result can be anything including special characters such as the copyright symbol you see in the example.

Enabled Keyboard (Portrait)

There are three different virtual keyboards available- a keyboard that is based on the standard Android keyboard, a "compact qwerty" keyboard similar to Blackberry Suretype and is similar in idea to most "dumbphone" keyboards, and an alphabetic keyboard, in which the keys go ABCDEF... Use this preference to select which keyboard you want enabled.

Enabled Keyboard (Landscape)

Same as the previous option, except for the landscape mode.

Custom Keyboard Skin [Beginning version 3.5.0]

Please see separate section on the skinning capability

Big Microphone Key? [Beginning version 3.5.0]

If this is checked (default), the keyboard shows a larged microphone key. This option supports better hands-free operation. If this option is not checked, the keyboard shows a smaller microphone key. Large key was the only option prior to version 3.5.

Long-Press

If this is checked, it requires a long-press to start up voice recognition or bring up application options. Use this if you find yourself pressing the Option key or the Microphone key by mistake while typing.

Recognition Choices

If this is checked, the keyboard will present a menu of possible voice recognition choices so that you can select the best possible option. If it is not checked, the application will automatically choose the best option.

With Physical Keyboard?

If this is checked, the keyboard will display a microphone button when the physical keyboard is active and you have touched in an input field. It lets you use the microphone to input data even when using the physical keyboard. It will also enable you to use word-suggestions with the physical keyboard.

Vibrate with Physical Keyboard

If this is checked, the keyboard will provide vibration and sound (if they are selected in the preferences for the virtual keyboard) for the physical keyboard.

Making Custom Skins

Custom Skins let you develop your own skin theme for the keyboard. You can choose a font, its color, its size, and its background shadow; the background color of the keys; and you can select custom images for any key. Use this to reflect your family, your favorite sports team, or anything! Use your favorite team logo for the space key! Use your own photo for the microphone key to show who is speaking!

After making individual changes, You will return to the Skinning preferences, where after the preview updates, you should see the new look of the keyboard.

Fonts (Android version 1.6/Donut or later only)

To use fonts in your skin, you must have the font (TTF) file in the "fonts" directory on your SD Card. To transfer a font:

  • First, locate the font you wish to copy. On Microsoft Windows, this is usually in C:\Windows\Fonts
  • Connect your phone to your computer using your USB cable you got with your phone. Your phone should ask you if you want to enable USB storage, choose yes
  • Your computer should open up your SD card. Make a "fonts" directory, and then copy the fonts you want into that folder. Note that the directory name fonts must be lower case.
  • "Safely Remove", or unmount, your SD card, and disable USB storage on your phone. After a little bit of time, your phone will automatically remount the SD card, and then you will be able to select the font in TalkToMe Keyboard.

Key Images

You can choose a custom image for any keys. To choose an image for a key, for example, the space key:

  • Click the key in the preview
  • A "picker" will open, allowing you to select an image. Choose the image you want for your key.
  • You can take a camera picture right from the image picker and use it with an key. To do so, click the menu button in the image picker and you will be able to start the camera.
To reset the image for a key, just press the key and the image will be removed.

Key Background

This lets you choose the background color of the keys. A color picker will start to let you choose the color when you touch on an option.

Known Issues & Limitations

If you see a message that requests you to send a bug-report, it means that the application has detected an inconsistent state. If you see this message, please go to the Options menu and send us an email by selecting "Feature Request/Bug Report" option and describing the situation under which it happened. That will greatly help find and fix the issues quickly.
  • Version 2.5.0: We have a few reports of users not being able to turn haptic feedback (vibration) off. If you see this, please send us an email from the Options menu in the keyboard application.
  • Cupcake/Android 1.5 based phones: Voice transcription may not correctly work in landscape mode with the virtual keyboard. This will happen if you see that the Google Voice Recognition Service runs in the portrait mode even when your phone is in landscape mode. This is a technical limitation of the OS and we have no work-around for this situation.
  • Some applications (e.g. ebuddy, Thinking Space, Remember The Milk, some fields of AK Notepad) will not be able to accept transcribed text from TalkToMe Keyboard. Google Voice Recognition sends the original application into the background- some applications do not maintain the text input window in the same state when they go into  background. This is an application limitation and we have no work-around for this behavior.
  • Version 3.x: We have a few reports of words not showing up as they are typed. Apparently the words are still there because they eventually get displayed. We have not been able to duplicate this problem. If you see this issue, please send us an email with any additional information you can provide.
  • Version 3.x: We have one report of the keyboard not always opening with the selected keyboard choice (normal or compact QWERTY). We are investigating this issue but have no resolution at the present time.
  • Version 3.5.x (on Droids?): We have a number of reports of the font size being small when custom skins are enabled. We are investigating this issue. If you experience this issue, you can continue to use the keyboard normally with the custom skins disabled. Please also send us an email describing the behavior you see. That will greatly help solve this issue.

Version History

3.5.1-3.5.4 (2010-03-21 - 2010-03-23)

  • Bug Fixed- In one scenario, the large microphone was still being shown even though the small microphone key should have been shown.
  • Bug Fixed - Updating the keyboard could rarely cause the font to become small if skinning was enabled

3.5.0 (2010-03-21)

  • Add images in your skins! Now you can set any image on your SD Card as the image on any key! Customize your keyboard to reflect your favorite sports team, your family, or anything.
  • Add custom fonts (Android version 1.6/Donut or later only) to your custom skins. Simply place a font (TTF) file in the "fonts" directory on your SD Card, and select it within the application.
  • Add option to remove the large microphone key and its associated row, and replace it with a small microphone key unobtrusively in the rest of the keyboard
  • Add a left/right swipe to move the cursor left/right
  • Add AZERTY keyboard layout

3.3.2 (2010-03-06)

  • Separate options for the choice of the enabled keyboard (QWERTY, Compact QWERTY, Alphabetic) for the portrait and landscape modes.

3.3.1 (2010-03-01)

  • Bugfixes

3.3.0 (2010-02-27)

  • Now you can define your own skins directly within the keyboard application using the colors you want.  No longer are you subject to the whims of skin developers: you can choose custom colors for the keyboard text, the keyboard background, and the text shadow.  Put your personality into your keyboard!

3.2.0 (2010-02-25)

  • Support for your own mappings of alternate word completions. For example you can set it to translate "idk"->"I don't know" or "gtg"->"got to go".  This is a great feature if you like the convenience and speed of "brb" but would prefer people to know your more refined side.
  • Added an alphabetic keyboard if you prefer to type that way
  • Change the method to swap enabled keyboard mode (QWERTY, Compact QWERTY, Alphabetic): it no longer requires swiping your finger, as that happened to often by accident.  This keyboard mode is now controlled by a preference in the Options.
  • Temporary removal of skins support

3.1.3 (2010-02-16)

  • Modified the preferences so that the compact qwerty keyboard is not enabled by default. This is to help users who are getting confused by the compact qwerty keyboard. To use the compact qwerty, please go to the TalkToMe Keyboard options and select "Enabled Keyboards"

3.1.1 & 3.1.2 (2010-02-15)

  • Fixed a bug where pressing delete with the physical keyboard could cause the keyboard to close.
  • Fixed a bug in which using the compact qwerty keyboard could cause it to close.

3.1.0 (2010-02-14)

  • Support for compact QWERTY keyboard. If you swipe to the left/right you can get to this additional virtual keyboard.
  • Long-press of the "?123" button now brings up the "Input Method" choice as well as the keyboard setting as the options. This is to ensure consistency with the standard Android keyboard.

3.0.2 (2010-02-07)

  • Haptic feedback (vibration) option for the physical keyboard
  • Fixed bug on cupcake/donut where typing a space after a special character (using the virtual keyboard) caused an extra space to be inserted.

3.0.1 (2010-01-31)

  • Made haptic feedback (vibration) intensity consistent with the standard Android Keyboard. (No change for those with the HTC IME or "Touch Input")

3.0.0 (2010-01-23)

  • Added support for keyboard skins
  • Added a "Retry" button to the voice transcription so that voice search can be restarted without selecting any of the choices
  • Fixed bug where every third ALT/SHIFT keys were sometimes incorrectly handled with the physical keyboard

2.5.0 (2010-01-03)

  • Add ability to immediately restart voice recognition after selecting a recognition option
  • Allow the full microphone key to be pressed in order to start voice recognition
  • Show the keyboard after voice recognition is complete

2.4.1 (2009-12-31)

  • Fixed bug introduced in version 2.4.0 which failed to disable haptic feedback even though the option was set to disable it.
  • Catching certain internal errors and enabling them to be logged
  • Fixed the ALT-Lock (NUM-Lock) issue for the Droid

2.4.0 (2009-12-28)

  • Fix all known bugs
    • Fix the bug where using a number key with the physical keyboard on the Droid would result in a special character.
    • Fix the bug where pressing enter with the physical keyboard in the Messaging application on the droid would double-send the text message

2.3.2 (2009-12-27)

  • Special handling for Droid number keys on the physical keyboard. This fixes the bug where pressing ALT-followed by the key for the number resulted in a special character found on standard desktop keyboards in the number position.

2.3.1 (2009-12-26)

  • Auto-correct with the physical keyboard. For example, typing "qweso" will suggest "awesome"
  • Catching certain internal errors and enabling them to be logged

2.3.0 (2009-12-24)

  • Use of the Contacts Dictionary to suggest names and addresses. This behavior is consistent with the standard Android keyboard behavior.
  • Auto-capitalization preference, consistent with the standard Android keyboard.

2.2.0 (2009-12-23)

  • Word Suggestions with the physical keyboard. For example, typing "awes" will suggest "awesome".

2.1.1 (2009-12-19)

  • "Long-press" option: Enable Microphone and Options button to activate on a long-press only

2.1.0 (2009-12-19)

  • Use of an alternate dictionary for phones that do not have the standard Android keyboard (i.e. they use a carrier provided keyboard). The dictionary is installed as separate application from the market.
  • Modifications to the data in a bug report email.
  • Catching certain internal errors and enabling them to be logged

2.0.1 (2009-12-12)

  • Smaller Options button to reduce accidental pressing
  • Spoken punctuation marks
  • Modifications to the data in a bug report email.

2.0 (2009-12-04)

  • Integration with the standard Android keyboard
  • Enable text suggestions and automatic corrections

1.x (2009-11-07 through 2009-11-14)

  • Initial release