Ahead Software's Nero 6 Ultra Edition Wins PC World's Best Buy Award; All-In-One Application Claims Top Spot with 4-Star Rating in DVD Burning Software Roundup

Business Wire, March 11, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2004

Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, announced today that Nero 6 Ultra Edition, the most comprehensive set of CD and DVD recording tools ever compiled, has received PC World's coveted "Best Buy" award. PC World's editors selected Nero 6 Ultra Edition over six other competitors' products, securing the top position as the most powerful and comprehensive DVD burning application available today.

Ahead Software has simplified an otherwise arduous task of combining the essential advanced photo and video editing/authoring tools, DVD playback, automatically scheduled backups, unlimited MPEG-4 (Nero Digital) encoding and a whole array of features into one premier solution, Nero 6 Ultra Edition, released in July 2003. Within the ultimate all-in-one software package is Nero StartSmart, an intuitive application launcher which serves as a seamless portal that leads the user to and from each software application arena with ease. Ahead provides consumers with a fortified software structure tailored to their every need while simultaneously simplifying and enhancing the user's overall experience.

PC World editors wrote that Nero 6 Ultra Edition "has everything you'll need to do almost anything related to CD and DVD creation, all-in-one solution for all audio, video, photo, data and backup needs." And also praised Nero 6 for offering "advanced video capturing, encoding, editing, authoring, burning and backup capabilities."

"We feel it is an outstanding honor and achievement for Ahead Software to be recognized by one of the industry's most respected magazines, PC World, as its Best Buy among DVD recording suites," said Udo Eberlein, President, Ahead Software Inc. "In a constantly changing digital media environment, PC consumers have no choice but to become multi-faceted users who can navigate through any type of software for very diverse tasks. With Nero StartSmart, Ahead has made life easier for consumers by providing speedy, efficient access and convenience to a broad array of valuable applications."

In addition, PC World found other Nero 6 Ultra Edition key applications note-worthy in its most recent DVD round up including:

-- NeroVision Express 2, which "offers the best control over the

look of DVD menus" and "provides easy-to-use storyboard and

timeline video editing;"

-- Nero Cover Designer, which "handles both slim jewel case

inserts and large, movie-style DVD case and booklet inserts;"

-- Nero Burning ROM, which records "in the widest variety of disc

formats... offers simpler, step-by-step wizard;"

-- Nero Recode 2, which "shrinks the content of a

non-copy-protected 9GB dual-layer disc by re-encoding that

content to fit onto a standard 4.7GB DVD or onto a 700MB VCD

or SVCD" and "takes it further by letting you re-encode video

to its Nero Digital MPEG-4 codec, thereby generating a movie

that fits on a single CD."

With the December addition of Nero Recode 2 to the already feature-rich package of Nero 6 Ultra Edition, consumer demands were fulfilled, making it the first and only application to take full advantage of Nero Digital's MPEG-4 speed and power. In addition to its unmatched capabilities to re-author, copy and reduce MPEG-2 streams (DVD-9 to DVD-5), Nero Recode 2 can recode 'non-protected' DVD movies to Nero Digital, preserving chapters, sub-titles, multi-channel audio and above all else, quality - all at lightening speed. No other application today offers these features. Nero Recode 2 surpassed the 34-million download mark within nine weeks of its initial release and is still available at no cost to Nero 6 retail users across the globe.

PC World went on to say, "Of the seven DVD burning suites we examined, only Ahead's Nero 6 Ultra Edition handled everything we threw at it--and handled it well." Nero 6 Ultra Edition scored remarkably well receiving either Outstanding or Very Good scores in all multimedia and data feature in PC World's tests.

The "Best Buy" honor from PC World is the latest in a series of prestigious awards that Nero 6 Ultra Edition has received in recent months, including PC Magazine's "Best of 2003" award, TechTV's "Must Have" software, and CNET.com's "2003 Editor's Choice Award."

About Ahead

Ahead Software provides the most reliable CD/DVD software applications available to serve digital media markets worldwide. Since its inception in 1995, Ahead's leading application, Nero, has built a loyal customer base of more than 120 million users world-wide.

Ahead's award-winning flagship product Nero 6 provides an all-in-one comprehensive CD/DVD burning suite. Ahead's product line also includes Nero Digital - audio/video technology, SIPPS - VoIP, and across - professional computer aided translation software. Ahead distributes its products globally through world's leading drive manufacturers and PC makers, as well as leading world-wide retailers, online partners, and also directly to consumers at www.nero.com. Ahead Software AG is headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany, with its subsidiary Ahead Software Inc. located in Glendale, California USA.