Insyde Technology: News: Press Releases: Home Director™ Chosen by Insyde Software to Provide Applications for Internet Devices

Home Director™ Chosen by Insyde Software to Provide Applications for Internet Devices

Demonstrates home management applications at Digital Living Room conference using the National Semiconductor® Geode™ WebPAD™ appliance

Dana Point, CA, Digital Living Room Conference - June 20, 2000 - Home Director™, Inc. today announced it has been selected by Insyde Software to provide value-added software applications that will run on the National Semiconductor® Geode™ WebPAD™ appliance. Insyde Software is the exclusive provider of XpressROM™ operating system-enabling software for National's Geode reference platforms, which includes the WebPAD. Home Director is also developing home control applications for its own branded line of personal access devices.

The WebPAD device is a hand-held, web-enabled appliance designed to access the Internet and control home appliances. Home Director will develop a wide range of applications for the WebPAD platform, which will deliver Internet capability to consumer devices throughout the home. In addition, Insyde Software will use Home Director applications on WebPAD devices to be distributed by other WebPAD manufacturers and integrators.

"By incorporating our software capabilities with the WebPAD platform, we'll be able to provide more services in the home today and in the future by integrating these conveniences with the technology backbone infrastructure of the home," said Lee Griffin, Home Director's Chief Technology Officer.

At the Digital Living Room conference this week, Home Director is demonstrating a WebPAD appliance running its Home Network Controller intelligent home management system. The Home Director control interface, previously accessed from any television in the home, is being extended to use a browser interface on the WebPAD appliance that can also be accessed by any browser over the Internet.

"Insyde's significant operating system and browser integration expertise combined with National's XpressROM product has allowed Home Director to demonstrate their unique Java application successfully running on the WebPAD platform," said Jonathan Joseph, president and CEO of Insyde Software Inc.

"National is pleased to see our Geode™ technology endorsed by both Home Director and Insyde Software," said Michael Polacek, vice president of National's information appliance division. "Home Director's innovative use of the WebPAD platform as an access device to their home controller system demonstrates the directions the information appliance market can and is taking."

The WebPAD appliance demonstrated at Digital Living Room is a wireless tablet about the size of a magazine, enabling users to surf the net and access e-mail. It features a full-color, interactive touch-screen, built-in software, and complete multimedia functionality. Web-enabled wireless devices eliminate the high cost and complexity associated with the traditional PC.

Based in Morrisville, N.C., Home Director, Inc. was launched in January 2000 as an independent, entrepreneurial spin-off of the former IBM Home Networking Solutions unit. As a market leader in the home networking industry, Home Director has built a successful business focusing on both leading edge technologies and strategic channel development. Home Director products are available across the United States and Canada through a network of Authorized Home Systems Integrators. To locate an Authorized Home Systems Integrator or to learn more about Home Director and its products, visit the web site at www.homedirector.com or call toll free 1-800-426-7144.

National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for its last fiscal year and currently has about 10,500 employees worldwide. www.national.com

Insyde Software Inc., develops, markets and customizes operating system-enabling software and provides integration for Internet/Information Appliance and mobile computing vendors. Insyde has an exclusive partnership agreement with National Semiconductor to provide XpressROM and Insyde's IArom™ for the Geode processor. The company supports a number of operating systems including BeOS, Linux and QNX as well as Windows CE, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000. Founded in 1998, Insyde Software is a privately-held company headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts.

More Information on Insyde Software's products and services is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.insydesw.com and http://www.insydesw.com.tw.

Home Director, Home Network Controller, and Authorized Home Systems Integrator are trademarks of Home Director, Inc. National Semiconductor is a registered trademark, and XpressROM, Geode and WebPAD are trademarks of National Semiconductor Corporation. IArom is a trademark of Insyde Software Inc.