HBN Releases The Network Guide — a Content Manager and Search Tool that Includes Secure P2P File Transfer and Instant Messaging

Business Wire, July 22, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

EUGENE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 2002

World's First Interactive Web-free ``Content Locator'' Links Users

Directly to Information, Entertainment, and Other Users without

Requiring Them to Visit a Web Page First

In a bid to give Internet users more independence from the Web, HBN, Inc. (High-Tech Broadcasting Network) today publicly released the beta version of The Network Guide(TM) software program, which includes the company's proprietary Wildfire Peer-2-Peer Technology(TM) (Wildfire).

The Network Guide (TNG) is the next step in the evolution of converging consumer communication technologies. The program combines the first secure, non-server-based P2P file transfer and instant messaging system with a unique, Web-Free(TM) content locator and manager.

Simply by using a mouse, TNG enables both novice and power users on public and private networks to search for, find, launch, download, manage and securely exchange files, photos, favorite music and other information, as well as watch movies, listen to music, view art, follow sports, shop and get news.

"When designing The Network Guide," said HBN's chief vision officer, Kevin Corson, "Our goal was to converge the best concepts in today's file managers, search engines, peer-to-peer programs, Cable/TV guides and instant messengers, but offer solutions where these programs fell short."

"Today's Web-based search engines force users online for tedious searching, keyboard typing, and repeat visits, to the point of total frustration," explained Corson. "After years of researching the most visited and useful Internet sites, we developed an easier, mouse-driven, Web-Free way for users to research content off-line prior to visiting it online. Users visit a Web page or FTP site only after they know what they want, and where to get it. Because our content locator is Web-Free, it will never require continuous upgrades like Web browsers."

Corson added, "Our other goals were to overcome basic security holes found throughout today's file-sharing and instant messaging programs, as well as provide advertisers with an unmatched delivery and targeting opportunity."

Available free from download sites worldwide, the self-extracting file "TheNetworkGuide.exe" is compatible with Windows 95 /98 /2000 /NT /ME /XP. It requires a minimum of a 200 MHz MMX processor, 64 Meg of RAM, 10 MB of free hard drive space, and a TCP/IP Internet connection (dial-up).

HBN plans to port TNG to the Palm, CE and Linux operating systems by mid 2003. An enterprise version is also slated for early 2003 (see section later).

Web-Free Digital Content Locator:

TNG works like a digital TV guide, providing registered users access to HBN's extensive database of over 75,000 handpicked Web-based (Web pages) and Web-Free (streaming audio and video) content locators. This database will be continually updated as new content becomes available, particularly streamed media, which is not yet abundant online.

TNG's proprietary P.U.M.P(TM) technology pumps these content locators to users' desktops according to their interests, into categories such as art, business, fashion, movies, music, news, shopping, sports, travel, TV and WebCams. Highlighting a locator displays preview information for easy off-line research. When online, clicking on the locator takes the user straight to the source. Users may also hide/unhide categories, and perform basic, advanced or extended searches.

Active Tickers:

From user-chosen categories (news, sports, finance, etc.), dynamic tickers scroll up-to-the-minute information continuously across the screen. If a subject is interesting, a double click takes the user straight to the source. Users can customize their tickers' colors, fonts, speed and direction. When users are online, each ticker is continuously refreshed so it delivers the most current information. HBN will add even more ticker sources over time.

Powerful Content Manager:

TNG is a powerful tool to manage, organize, find, and exchange virtually all types of computer data.

"I have never liked having to launch multiple programs and use drop-down menus just to open documents and files normally used together," said Corson. "So we developed 'Associated Links' to give users one-click access to the different files and programs they use together most often."

Users can link a file with up to five other types of content. For example, a document can be linked to email addresses, other documents, Web pages, spreadsheets, streaming video, MP3 files, pictures, programs, FTP sites, etc. TNG doesn't alter the content being linked, it provides "content locators" in virtual folders that point to the physical data.

TNG manages content using Green, Blue and Red Folders. Green Folders contain information that is continually pumped from HBN's content database. Blue Folders are created and controlled by registered users. Users create their Blue Folders by dragging and dropping content from the HBN-supplied Green Folders, or by adding content from their own desktops, local networks or other search engines. Users can create their own categories such as My Music, My Family, My Hobbies, Photos, Sports, Stocks, etc. Data organized with TNG can be marked for private viewing or exchange with other TNG users, using Red, Wildfire-enabled Folders.