I’m afraid that I’m not of much help with those questions. I was able to download the full version of the program (split as in two Cd’s) after a few tries. There are some videos with audio examples of speech like in noise etc. that may offer a little benefit. There are links in the help menu to short on line tutorial movies for such things as changing the mike screens or guards etc. There doesn’t appear to be a full manual or full instructions. I suspect that the audiologists receive training for use of the specific program.
There are short instructions for each screen accessible from a question mark icon at the top right of the screens.
I haven’t spent much time in the program but it appeared that after I had imported my file from my audiologist that I could access more settings. Before that I’d just entered my audiogram settings manually in the program.
I watched closely as my audi went into the program but she’s very smart and quick and I wasn’t able to quite keep up with what she was doing. Her hearing center is very busy and a one hour session seemed to go too quickly. Having my questions and concerns printed out to give her was a plus.
Having looked over the terminology used in the program was helpful in describing what I was hearing.
I haven’t looked into purchasing an iCube except for reading something about it in the forums and doing a Google search.
Good luck with your HAs when you get them. If I learn anymore that could be helpful I will post it or send it to you as a PM.
PS If you haven’t already downloaded these tutorial movies from Phonak they would be helpful.
http://www.phonak.com/professional/productsp/fitting/fittingsoftware_ipfg_-_tutorials.htm