Freehand Systems Delivers the MusicPad Pro, World's First Digital Sheet Music Computer Tablet; The MusicPad Pro Promises to Change Forever How Musicians Read and Perform Music

Business Wire, Jan 16, 2003

Business/Entertainment Editors & High-Tech Writers

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LOS ALTOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 16, 2003

Eliminates page turning with the mere touch of the screen; stores

thousands of sheet music pages

Freehand Systems, Inc., a privately-held company with the mission of reinventing how musicians read and perform music, announced today that it will release the MusicPad Pro(TM), the world's first digital sheet music computer tablet, on Jan. 31. The announcement was made at NAMM 2003, the annual winter trade show of the International Music Products Association, in Anaheim, Calif.

The MusicPad Pro solves the age old problem of turning music pages by enabling musicians to simply touch the screen. It creates a paperless environment by providing storage capacity for an entire music library of more than 5,000 pages of sheet music. Freehand's proprietary annotation technology enables musicians to mark up and compose new music while saving the original score.

"The MusicPad Pro is the ultimate dream machine for musicians," said Kim Lorz, Freehand Systems' CEO. "Musicians with a passion for technology and a vision for how computers can change their world, conceived, designed and built it. That's why serious musicians who spend just a few minutes using the MusicPad Pro find it indispensable. There's nothing quite like it in the world today."

The announcement at NAMM follows MusicPad Pro's premiere Jan. 7 at MacWorld in San Francisco, and as a featured product at the American Music Awards Monday night in Los Angeles.

The sleek new tablet computer is housed in a charcoal grey ABS polymer enclosure not much larger than a sheet of paper. Weighing just under five pounds, it is lightweight and easy to carry, although the MusicPad Pro Plus(TM), which comes with a rechargeable battery, weighs a little more. Suggested retail price for the MusicPad Pro is just $999. The MusicPad Pro Plus, with a battery life of three hours on a single charge, is $1,199.

Both models have an easy-to-read, low glare, backlit 12.1 in. TFT LCD display. Key features include zoom in and zoom out capabilities and on-screen color highlighters and pens to add or erase rehearsal marks and notations. Digital music files in pdf, jpg and other popular graphics formats can be directly imported into the MusicPad Pro using the software provided with the device. Printed music can be scanned into a computer and then imported.

As part of the Freehand Music Management System, Freehand's website (www.freehandsystems.com) provides over 17,000 music compositions and digital files. Customer support and access to an on-line store to buy Freehand products are also on the website.

Pricing & Availability

The new MusicPad Pro and MusicPad Pro Plus are available on Freehand System's website (www.freehandsystems.com) and through Freehand Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US). The MusicPad Pro Plus, which includes a 3-hour rechargeable battery, is $1,199. Shipping date for both products is Jan. 31.

Freehand Systems offers special prices for education customers who purchase multiple devices by calling Ms. Dana Schroeder, director of sales, at 650/941-0742, ext. 207.

Freehand Systems, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Los Altos, Calif., with the mission of reinventing the way musicians read and perform music. The company is a world leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of electronic accessories to the music industry, as well as a leading Internet-based provider of sheet music and digital files. Its flagship product, the MusicPad Pro, provides innovative technology and productivity benefits to arrangers, composers, conductors and performers within the orchestral, choral, studio musician markets, as well as music educators and amateur musicians. Freehand Systems has been funded and mentored by KAL Equity Capital Fund I, LLC.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Freehand Systems' website (www.freehandsystems.com).

Freehand Systems, Inc., MusicPad Pro, MusicPad Pro Plus are trademarks of Freehand Systems, Inc.

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