rö Design Debuts with Shöwboat at Macworld

RELEASED AUGUST 4, 1997

For more information contact

Richard Oesterreicher
ROester@rodesign.com
www.rodesign.com
(425) 844-2921

RÖ DESIGN, INC. DEBUTS WITH SHÖWBOAT AT MACWORLD
New media presentation package combines "workstation class" effects with next generation user interface technology.

DUVALL, WA ­ (July 22, 1997) rö design announces its first product - Shöwboat - a new media presentation package for BeOS, Silicon Graphics Irix and Windows 95/NT 4.0. Shöwboat combines powerful special effects, normally found only in high-end 3D drawing and animation programs, with rö design's compelling new user interface technology Baröque. The application allows users to create stunning shows and presentations, both on-screen and on-line, by combining text, graphics, multimedia, animations, and special effects. Engaging presentations can now be created by users in just a few minutes without having to learn complex authoring applications or rely on presentation professionals.

"Today's applications have become too complex for an ordinary person to quickly create a professional presentation," said Richard Oesterreicher, founder of rö design, Inc. "Shöwboat redefines the user experience and allows presenters to once again be in control." Shöwboat features professional quality real time animations, transitions and text effects in an easy to use presentation package.

Shöwboat is the first application that is built upon rö design's new user interface paradigm and object oriented class library called Baröque. Richard Oesterreicher explains, "Users require powerful tools but are also seeking easier to use solutions. Products like Shöwboat and technological innovations such as Baröque are driven by our commitment to develop the next generation of creative tools."

The Baröque library is written to take advantage of all of the low-level technologies and OS services that are unique to each platform. This includes, but is not limited to, utilizing hardware acceleration that may be present at run-time. It was inspired by and designed on the BeOS from Be, Inc. "Shöwboat is an example of an application that exploits the capabilities of the BeOS," said Mark Gonzales, VP of Product Marketing at Be, Inc. "Be is designed to be the first, true Media OS and it's gratifying to see Media applications appearing so quickly."

Shöwboat will be available by the end of August for BeOS. Silicon Graphics IRIX and Windows 95/NT4.0 versions will follow in a couple of months. Shöwboat for BeOS can be ordered online from BeDepot at www.bedepot.com.

Shöwboat and Baröque will be on display in the Be, Inc. booth at the upcoming MACWORLD Expo/Boston 1997 being held at the Bayside Expo and World Trade Center, August 6-8, 1997. Screenshots of Shöwboat can be seen at www.rodesign.com.

About rö design, Inc.

rö design, Inc. specializes in next generation media creation tools using the Baröque framework. Shöwboat is the first in a line of products to make the creative process quick, easy and fun. rö design was founded and is lead by Richard Oesterreicher. Mr. Oesterreicher has worked for 12 years developing in the imaging and special effects field. His development experience includes three years with SOFTIMAGE - which continues to develop the premier special effects and animation software used by the motion picture industry. Most recently he has worked at Microsoft where he led the development teams in the Digital Imaging and Graphics Group.