Planetweb Comes to CES 2002 with Leading DVD Manufacturers; Planetweb Digital Entertainment Software Shapes Next-Generation DVD Players In Production First Quarter of 2002

Business Wire, Jan 8, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CES 2002

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002

Showcasing a suite of popular digital entertainment software applications that bring new functionality to consumer electronics, Planetweb is setting the trend for enhanced DVD players at this year's CES (Central Hall 3-5 at Booth No. 573). With new customers Samsung Electronics and Apex Digital, Planetweb will be demonstrating the latest next-generation DVD players featuring Planetweb software, which are slated for shipment this year.

In addition to the new customer announcements, Planetweb comes to CES with other major achievements from 2001. The company has not only ported its software to chipsets from all major consumer electronics chip manufacturers, including Cirrus Logic, LSI, National Semiconductor, VMLabs and Zoran, but Planetweb-enabled DVD players first began shipping in August 2001 when the Sharp Aquos portable DVD player was released in Japan.

Making DVD players even more attractive to consumers, Planetweb's software applications bring popular digital entertainment activities to the comfort of the living room, including the ability to edit, print, email and download digital photos; create and save customized slide shows; play, copy, email and download MP3 and other digital music files; access Web sites and chat; and even play family games.

"With DVD player shipments forecasted to reach 69 million in 2005, manufacturers are increasingly looking at entertainment features like digital imaging to enhance their DVD lines," said Michelle Abraham, a senior analyst in the multimedia/digital TV division of Cahners In-Stat.

With Planetweb, Samsung Brings Unmatched Power to Digital Photo Editing and Digital Audio Management in the DVD Market

Samsung's newest line of enhanced DVD players will include both the Planetweb Digital Photo Manager(TM) and Digital Audio Manager(TM) software. With the Digital Photo Manager, consumers will not only be able to view photos and create slide shows, but also edit their photos and slide shows and save the changes to a Sony Memory Stick. With the Digital Audio Manager, consumers not only have the ability to integrate their home entertainment systems, encompassing DVD and CD/R/RW player, jukebox and MP3 playing capabilities, but can also copy selected music files in MP3 format to a Sony Memory Stick.

Digital Photo Viewing and Printing Capabilities First Available on Apex DVD Players Courtesy of Planetweb

Apex Digital will offer a DVD player with the capability to print digital photos via Planetweb's Digital Photo Manager software and a supported USB photo printer. Bypassing the PC, consumers will now have the ability to view their digital photos and directly print the images displayed on the television by simply connecting one of several supported USB photo printers now on the market to their Planetweb-enhanced Apex DVD player.

Planetweb Demonstrates DVD Success

In addition to the Planetweb-enabled Samsung and Apex DVD players, Planetweb will exhibit a demonstration model Toshiba DVD player at CES that includes the Planetweb Digital Photo Manager. Planetweb's Digital Photo Manager software will also be exhibited on the latest Sharp Aquos portable DVD player currently available in Japan. EspriTV will showcase Planetweb's User Interface, which controls all the normal TV functions using HTML, and the Communications Suite, comprising email, Web browsing, and online chat capabilities.

Where to Find Planetweb at CES 2002

-- SPEAKING. Ken Soohoo, president and CEO of Planetweb, will be speaking on
the Digital Hollywood panel, "Networking the Digital Home and the Residential
Gateway -- The TV Hub, Computer Hub, Telecommunications Hub" on Wednesday,
January 9 at 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Room N259, North Hall.

-- DEMONSTRATING. Planetweb will feature demonstrations at booth No. 573 in
Central Hall 3-5. Attendees can also view Planetweb applications at the Samsung
demonstration Booth No. 657 in Central Hall 3-5 and at the Apex demonstration
Booth No. 1321 in Central Hall 3-5. Planetweb software applications will also
be demonstrated in the Toshiba Booth No. 203-4 in Central Hall 3-5; and EspriTV
Booth No. 683 in Central Hall 3-5.

About Planetweb, Inc.

Planetweb is the leading developer of consumer electronics software applications and services for OEMs and silicon chip manufacturers worldwide. The applications and services bring popular features and functionality to digital entertainment devices in the living room, including DVD players, game consoles, set-top boxes and interactive televisions. Planetweb is the only company offering a full suite of offline and online applications, including the Digital Photo Manager(TM), Digital Audio Manager(TM), DVD-ROM Content Viewer and an Internet Communications package, which make consumer electronics devices more attractive to consumers. Planetweb products are designed to be quick and easy for manufacturers to implement and can be customized and ported to any hardware platform, even those without an operating system. Planetweb(R), a privately held company, is headquartered in Redwood Shores, Calif., and has offices in Tokyo, Japan and London, England. Planetweb is located on the Internet at http://www.planetweb.com/.