America Online Pandasoft Create New Vistas for Computer Users; Elegant Displays can be Personalized by AOL Users

Business Wire, August 3, 1995

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 1995--By naming Pandasoft as its official screensaver, America Online(TM) has created a new service for its more than three million members.

To date, over fifteen thousand AOL users have downloaded the software and images, and many have adopted Pandasoft as their personal source of art or theme images for their home or office. Windows(TM) compatible, the Pandasoft AOL display sampler is a changing collection that can be used as-is or customized with photos or personal messages.

"Users e-mail their special requests," said Pandasoft president, Ted Feng. "They all have their favorites and often ask for the return appearance of a special dog or cat, a scene from nature, or even a single rose."

In the quickly evolving tradition of on-line communication, Pandasoft users have also uploaded their own creative images, sharing on-line with a fast-growing Pandasoft community. Home users contribute family album or personal theme ideas. Office users gravitate toward logo and message development.

Password Protection

In an open office area, privacy and security can be maintained by using the Pandasoft screen saver password protection capability to shelter work-in-progress when stepping away from the workstation.

The Market

At $80M, the present screen saver market will grow to $180M by 1997 (IDC 1994). "Ever since Berkeley Systems' flying toaster phenomenon, people have used screensaver software to personalize their computers' look," observed Pandasoft's Ted Feng. "Our displays range from the personal to the beautiful," he continued. "We want people to take a break and smile."

Major Customers

Under a licensing agreement, Itochu -- a major Japanese trading firm -- recently acquired a custom version of Pandasoft's Masterpiece software product. Meanwhile, a number of U.S. retailers are stocking Masterpiece in gift shops, including the Cleveland Museum of Fine Arts and the New York Public Library. In the near future, Pandasoft plans to sell its products through distribution and OEM channels.

The Pandasoft Masterpiece Series

The first two offerings in the Masterpiece series are Classic Chinese Paintings and Holiday Greetings. Additions to this series are being developed by the company on an ongoing basis.

Classic Chinese paintings: This series of 24 reproductions of timeless Chinese paintings fill the screen with serene and beautiful images from landscape to the instantly recognizable panda.

Holiday greetings: Since Pandasoft went on-line in December 1994, it has selected the best of the Gibson Greeting Card collection to create a series of 24 delightful holiday pictures -- just in time for Christmas 1995.

System Requirements

To run any Masterpiece program, the PC should have a 386 or higher processor running Microsoft(R) Windows 3.1 or later; 2MB of available memory; a hard disk with 3MB available; and a VGA or higher resolution monitor. Formats include JPEG, GIF and BMP. A Macintosh version is in development.

Price and Availability

Each masterpiece product is priced at $29.95 and available now by mail direct from Pandasoft, and in October from the PC Zone computer catalog at 800-258-2088. Pandasoft products will soon be available through other computer catalogs as well.

AOL subscribers can sample the Pandasoft screensaver products by typing the keyword: Pandasoft.

Every effort will be made to fill Christmas orders immediately.

Pandasoft is an innovative software company which develops and publishes specialized software products for home and office PC environments. The company's products are characterized by ease of use, outstanding graphical interfaces, affordable prices, and easy customization to the needs and desires of the average computer user. Founded in 1993, the company currently offers two computer screen saver products. Additional titles in the Masterpiece series are in development. Pandasoft also works directly with customers seeking custom logos and messages for multimedia presentations.

CONTACT: Pandasoft, Mountain View

Ted Feng, 415/965-8376

TedF88@aol.com

or

The Lekas Group

Sandra Park, 415/948-8907

Lekas@aol.com