Excalibur The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary... User manual

Model No. 461
www.ExcaliburElectronics.com
The New York Times
Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
Operating Manual
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Congratulations on your purchase of Excalibur Electronics’
New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary! You and
your friends will enjoy hours of challenging fun solving
crossword puzzles with this innovative handheld. You can
search for unknown words, check for spelling, jumble letters to
new words, find words similar in spelling, search for a phrase
using a specific word, find synonyms and much more!
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary is easy to
use, but be sure to use it safely. Before starting, please read
this manual thoroughly, especially noting safety, care and bat-
tery information. Keep this manual for reference.
This package includes one New York Times Crossword
Dictionary and its manual.
3
The legendary King Arthur brandished a magic
sword, Excalibur, from which we take our compa-
ny name. With this unique weapon in his hands,
he could not be vanquished.
Although Excalibur Electronics can’t claim the
magical secrets of Merlin, King Arthur’s court
wizard, sometimes our patented technology may
make it seem as if we could. The New York
Times Electronic Crossword is another
unmatched innovation of Excalibur Electronics.
We make you think.
Installing Batteries
Your New York Times
Cross-word Puzzle
Dictionary requires two
AAA batteries. To install
batteries, carefully turn it
over so that the top side is
face-down on a soft surface,
such as a towel or magazine.
You’ll find the battery com -
partment on the unit’s back.
Lift off the battery com -
partment lid. Install two
AAA batteries, making sure
to match the polarity (+ and
-) with the diagram inside
the battery compartment.
Place the battery compart-
The New York Times Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
may lock up due to static discharge or other
electrical disturbances. If this should happen, use a
slim, pointed object to press the RESET button on the
back of the unit.
The New York Times logo is a registered trademark of
The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. © 2005 The New York
Times Company. © 1974, 1977, 1984, 1995 by Thomas Pulliam and
Clare Grundman. This product published by arrangement with Random
House Information Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
Table of Contents
Installing Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 2
Functions of Buttons . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4
Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6
How to Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 6
Special Care & Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12
Battery Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 12
FCC Warning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12
90-Day Limited Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 13
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4
?: Press to fill in for an
unknown letter, hyphen or
blank. This is the most
commonly used function.
*: Press to fill in for a
series of unknown letters,
hyphen or blanks. This is a
frequently used function.
ON/ENTER: Type a word and
press ENTER to check
spelling. Press UP or DOWN
to scroll through spelling
suggestions. Press to con -
firm your entry. Press to
Layout of The New York Times
Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
5
wake it up if it goes into
battery-save mode.
JUMBLE: Type a word or
series of letters and press
JUMBLE to view words that
can be made by rearranging
the letters you just entered.
SIMILAR: Type a word or
series of letters and press
SIMILAR to view words that
have only one letter differ -
ent from the word you just
entered.
PHRASE: Type a word and
press PHRASE to view all
phrases that include that
word. Press DOWN to scroll
through more phrases.
Press SYNONYM at any time to
view words related to that
phrase.
SYNONYM: Type a word and
press SYNONYM to view
words that are related to the
word you entered. For
words with many syn-
onyms, you will be
prompted to choose the
lengths of the words you
would like to view.
P& P: Type a word and
press Places & Professions
to view pertinent informa-
tion. Pressing P& Pfor a
place name will reveal geo-
graphic information such as
currency and capitals.
Pressing P& Pfor a profes -
sion will return the names
of famous people in that
field, listed by nationality.
CLEAR: Press to clear the
screen and return to the
home screen.
BACK: Press to return to
the previous screen.
-: Press to type a hyphen.
A~Z: Press to type letters
Athrough Z.
P: Press to pause when
scrolling through syn-
onyms, countries or char-
acters. Press it again to
continue scrolling.
RESET: Press to reset the
unit.
: Press to scroll up,
type an apostrophe or
▲
Functions of Buttons
?
A-Z
ON/ENTER
*
P&P
LCD
SYNONYM
SIMILAR
JUMBLE
PHRASE
DIRECTIONAL
ARROWS
CLEAR
BACK
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6 7
Getting Started with
The New York Times
Crossword Puzzle Dictionary!
Put two AAA batteries into
your New York Times
Crossword Puzzle
Dictionary, as described in
the “Installing Batteries”
section on page 3.
How to Use
After you’ve inserted the
batteries, the power will
turn on immediately and the
screen will show the fol -
lowing sentences:
WELCOME TO THE
NEW YORK TIMES
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
DICTIONARY!
Press any key to begin.
COPYRIGHT 2005.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
COMPANY. COPYRIGHT
1974, 1977, 1984,
1995 BY THOMAS
PULLIAM AND CLARE
GRUNDMAN. THIS
PRODUCT PUBLISHED
BY ARRANGEMENT WITH
RANDOM HOUSE
INFORMATION GROUP,
A DIVISION OF RANDOM
HOUSE, INC.
Here’s a demonstration of
my functions:
CROSSWORDS
AW??E= AWARE
MATCHES
GN*IS= GNOSIS
JUMBLES
GOILCLA= LOGICAL
SPELLING
ENGLUTCH=ENGLISH
SYNONYMS
EDIT=CUT EMEND DIRECT
REDACT REVIEW…
PRESS ANY KEY TO
BEGIN
The home screen is the
“BEGIN” screen. You can
press any button to skip
past the demonstration
above. This will take you to
the home screen.
Adjusting
Screen
Contrast
Press the or but -
tons repeatedly to adjust the
screen contrast.
Finding
Matching
Words
This is the function you
will use the most to solve
crossword puzzles.
When you are searching
for matching words, use the
?button to fill in for each
unknown letter, hyphen or
blank.
First, type a word using ?
for the unknown letters.
For example, enter
C?M??N?E?
Next, press the ON/ENTER
button to display the fol -
lowing:
BUILDING LIST
CROSSWORD LIST
You can press the and
buttons to scroll
through additional matches.
If there are no matches, the
screen will display “No
entries.” In this case, if you
scroll down, there are only
two matches:
Commanded
Commander
The arrows on the side of
these matches indicate there
are additional choices
above, indicated by the up
arrow, or below, indicated
by the down arrow.
Press the CLEAR button to
return to the home screen.
Finding a
Series of
▲
▼
▼
▲
▼▲
You can only adjust the contrast
at the home screen.
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9
First, enter a word using
the ?and/or *buttons, then
press ON/ENTER. For exam-
ple, enter “ SH?P?” then
press ON/ENTER.
Press the SIMILAR button to
display “ SIMILAR WORDS.” In
this case, the first entry
would be “CHAPE .” The
lowercase “C” is
the new letter. Scroll
through the additional
matches.
Press the SIMILAR button
again to see display “ SIMILAR
WORDS” with an additional
letter change. For example,
another entry would be
“AGAPE .” Scroll through
the additional
matches.
You can search for the
same number of similar
words as there are letters
in these words. Once there
are no additional similar
word options, the LCD will
read “NO MORE!”
Finding
Phrases
You can also search for
phrases by using at least
one word in a phrase.
First, type a word in a
phrase. For example, enter
“COME.”
Press the PHRASE button.
The LCD will display “FIND-
ING PHRASE,” then it will
display the “ PHRASE LIST.” In
this case, the first phrase
on the list is “ COME ABOUT.”
Scroll through the addition -
al matches.
If the length of the phrase
exceeds 15 letters, it will
scroll through the LCD
screen automatically.
Press the CLEAR button to
return to the home screen.
8
Missing
Letters
When you are searching
for a series of missing let -
ters, use the *button to fill
in for the unknown series of
characters. The asterisk can
represent letters, hyphens
or blanks.
First, type a word using *
for the unknown series. For
example, enter C*M*R.
Next, press the ON/ENTER
button to display the fol -
lowing:
BUILDING LIST
CROSSWORD LIST
You can press the and
buttons to scroll
through additional matches.
If there are no matches, the
screen will display “ NO
ENTRIES.” In this case, if you
scroll down, there are
numerous matches, starting
with
CABINETMAKER and ending
with CYCLOMETER.
Press the CLEAR button to
return to the home screen.
Finding
Similar Words
If you have not found the
answer you were looking
for using the ?or *button,
try finding similar words
instead. This function
replaces letters for the
selected word. These
replacements are in lower-
case letters.
▼
▲
Everytime you press the SIMILAR but-
ton,
it will replace an additional letter. If
you press it once, it will replace one
letter. If you press it twice, it will
replace two letters. If it reads,
“NO MORE!” that means all the letters
NOTE: Please be patient. When it
searches
for phrases, it will search through
all phrases from Athrough Zusing
the entered word.
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11
Typing
Punctuation
Press the button to
type an apostrophe. Press
the button to type a
period. You can not input
punctuation as the first
letter on your screen.
Judging and
Correcting
Words
After you’ve entered a
word and pressed the
ON/ENTER button, it will be
able to check if your entry
is correct or incorrect. If
your entry is incorrect, it
will suggest correct alter -
natives.
When the word is cor-
rect, the LCD will display,
“THINKING... RIGHT!” fol -
lowed by your entry.
If the entry is incorrect,
it will display, "Thinking…
Correction list." It will
display correct alterna -
tives. For example, if you
enter “WWHK” and press
ON/ENTER, it will suggest
“WACK.”
Jumble
Function
You can rearrange the
characters you’ve entered
to form new words using
the jumble function.
First, type a few letters
or a complete word. For
example, enter “ARANEG.”
Then press the JUMBLE but-
ton.
Press the or but -
tons to select the minimum
word size. For example,
you select six as your min -
imum word size. Press
ENTER to confirm. The LCD
will display the top of the
list. In this case, the first
word it will display is
“ARENGA .” Scroll down to
view all of your
options.
Finding a
Word’s
▼▲
▼
▲
10
Synonym
Press the SYNONYM button
to search for the synonyms
of a word or a phrase. You
can also find additional syn -
onyms by pressing the
PHRASE, ?or *buttons after
finding a synonym.
First, type a word or
phrase. For example, enter
“RUN.”
Press the SYNONYM button.
The LCD screen will scroll
through the synonyms it
found. In this case, it will
display words like “CHASE
HURRY SPEED...” Press the P
button to pause it tem -
porarily when you’ve found
your desired synonym.
After you’ve paused it,
press the or buttons
to manually scroll through
the synonyms. Press the P
button again to resume
automatic scrolling.
If there are no matches,
the LCD will display, “ NO
ENTRIES.”
If the total amount of a
word’s synonyms is less
than 50, the synonym list
will continue to scroll till it
reaches the end of the list.
At the end of the synonym
list, it will read “ END OF FILE
TO RESTART ." Press the
button to scroll
through the same list again.
If the total amount of a
word’s synonyms is greater
than 50, the unit will ask
you to select the number of
letters in the synonym you
are searching for. Press the
or buttons to select
the synonym size and then
press the ON/ENTER button to
confirm your entry. Then
the LCD display will scroll
through these matches.
If the displaying time
▼▲
▼
▼▲
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EXCALIBUR ELECTRONICS,
INC., warrants to the original con-
sumer that its products are free from
any electrical or mechanical defects
for a period of 90 DAYS from the
date of purchase. If any such defect is
discovered within the warranty peri-
od, EXCALIBUR ELECTRONICS,
INC., will repair or replace the unit
free of charge upon receipt of the
unit, shipped postage prepaid and
insured to the factory address shown
at right.
The warranty covers normal con-
sumer use and does not cover damage
that occurs in shipment or failure that
results from alterations, accident,
misuse, abuse, neglect, wear and tear,
inadequate maintenance, commercial
use, or unreasonable use of the unit.
Removal of the top panel voids all
warranties. This warranty does not
cover cost of repairs made or attempt-
ed outside of the factory.
Any applicable implied warranties,
including warranties of merchantabil-
ity and fitness, are
hereby limited to 90
DAYS from the date
of purchase.
Consequential or
incidental damages
resulting from a
breach of any appli-
cable express or
implied warranties
are hereby excluded.
Some states do not
allow limitations on
the duration of
implied warranties and do not allow
exclusion of incidental or consequen-
tial damages, so the above limitations
and exclusions in these instances may
not apply.
The only authorized service center in
the United States is:
Excalibur Electronics, Inc.
13755 SW 119th Ave
Miami, Florida 33186 U.S.A.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.ExcaliburElectronics.com
Ship the unit carefully packed, prefer-
ably in the original carton, and send it
prepaid, and adequately insured.
Include a letter, detailing the com-
plaint and including your daytime
telephone number, inside the shipping
carton.
If your warranty has expired and you
want an estimated fee for service,
write to the above address, specifying
the model and the problem.
PLEASE DO
NOT SEND
YOUR UNIT
WITHOUT
RECEIVING AN
ESTIMATE FOR
SERVICING. WE
CANNOT STORE
YOUR UNIT!
We Make You
Think!
12
Battery Information
•Your New York Times Electronic Crossword Puzzle Dictionary uses
two AAA batteries, not included
•Do not mix alkaline, standard (carbon-zinc) or rechargeable (nickel-cad -
mium) batteries.
•Do not mix old and new batteries.
•Do not use rechargeable batteries.
•Remove exhausted batteries from the unit.
•Do not short-circuit battery terminals.
•Remove batteries and store them in a cool, dry place when not in use.
•To avoid explosion or leakage, do not dispose of batteries in a fire or
attempt to recharge alkaline or other non-rechargeable batter-
ies.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired opera-
tion.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be deter -
mined by turning
90-Day Limited Warranty
13
• Avoid rough handling such as bumping or dropping.
• Avoid moisture and extreme temperatures. For best results, use
between the temperatures of 39ºF and 100ºF (4º C and 38º C).
• Clean using only a slightly damp cloth. Do not use cleaners with
chemical agents.
Special Care & Handling
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exceeds two minutes because there are so many synonyms,
the unit will go into battery-save mode and shut off. Press
the ON/ENTER button to wake it up.
If you find a word or phrase using the ?or *buttons, you
can also press the SYNONYM button to find its synonyms.
P & P Function
This function allows you to view information regarding
geographic places and professions.
First, type a place or profession. For example, enter
CHINA and then press the P& Pbutton. The LCD will display
“ABORIGINE: YAO MANS...” and many other entries. Scroll
through the entries using the or buttons.
If the unit has no information about the entry, it will
display “ NO ENTRIES.”
Press the CLEAR button to return to the home screen.
Automatic Power Off
If no key is pressed for approximately two minutes, your
unit will shut itself off to conserve batteries. Press the
ON/ENTER button to wake your unit up.
▼▲
15
E XCALIBUR E LECTRONICS , I NC .
13755 SW 119
TH A VENUE
M IAMI , F LORIDA 33186 U.S.A.
P HONE : 305.477.8080
F
AX : 305.477.9516
Play games
live at:
www.ExcaliburElectronics.com
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