For Immediate Release

Century Software
Jill Ratkevic
408-209-5181
jillr@centurysoftware.com

National Semiconductor
Trish Gessner
408-721-5886
trish.gessner@nsc.com

New Web Site Delivers Linux for TV

National Semiconductor and Century Software Launch Linux4.tv to Deliver Complete Embedded Linux Set-Top Box Solution

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah and SANTA CLARA, Calif. - August 22, 2001 - Century Embedded Technologies, a division of Century Software, Inc., and National Semiconductor Corp (NYSE: NSM) today announced the launch of a new website, Linux4.tv, dedicated to supporting Linux developers and promoting open-source projects for Interactive TV and Advanced Digital Set Top Box (STB) technologies. Designed for developers and system integrators, Linux4.tv will host freely available open-source software projects and applications for a variety of electronic devices including broadcast and digital TV, web browsing, gaming, and video on demand. A complete open-source set-top box solution is available for download immediately.

Linux4.tv will advance the development and deployment of Linux-based set-top box technologies and standards. Several projects are immediately available for download, including WebMedia, Century's set-top box front-end application that provides video middleware application programming interface (API) and enhanced Video 4 Linux (V4L2) API with rich features such as alpha blending, VIP overlay and Picture in Picture (PIP) support. These APIs will streamline the implementation of TV middleware and device drivers. In addition, the web site also includes an collection of technical documentation for National's Geode™ hardware and platforms, video standards and source code.

The software available on Linux4.tv will be designed for National's Geode SP1SC10 demonstration and development platform. Based on a National® Geode SC1200 processor, the Geode SP1SC10 includes a full set of multimedia functions, peripheral and network interfaces and two PCI expansion slots. The reference platform provides an ideal development environment for manufacturers seeking to design one or more advanced capabilities into a set-top box, including interactive TV broadcast services, Internet browsing and email, time-delay recording, multimedia gateway, video-on-demand and streaming video. National has developed Linux drivers and API for the platform that provide a foundation for open-source development.

"National is taking the leadership role to address our customers' demands for an embedded Linux software solution for advanced set-top boxes," said David Pederson, set-top box business unit director for National Semiconductor. "National and Century are providing this forum to accelerate customer production schedules in this growing market."

"Open-source software development is a core part of Century's strategy and we are pleased to be joining National Semiconductor to provide an initial set of building blocks for advancing interactive digital TV set-tops for Linux. Developing a solid reference library of applications and libraries will help foster not only innovation but also reinforce consistent implementation between open-source and commercial software," said Gregory Haerr, CEO of Century Software. The Linux4.tv project provides an open-source forum to develop open-standard specifications and software API definitions for next-generation set-top box systems. An active programming staff will accept and merge contributions targeting a variety of platforms and enhancements.

The Linux4.tv Development Program is available for member companies and provides early access to new software releases, technology previews, whitepapers, and other tools for collaboration. More details on joining the Linux4.tv community are available at http://www.linux4.tv.

In addition to founding partners National Semiconductor and Century Embedded Technologies, Red Hat and Tuxia have joined the Development Partner Program.

About Linux4.tv Development Partner Program

The Linux4.tv Development Partner Program was founded to bring together developers, designers, content producers, broadcasters, cable operators, and associated technology suppliers in a united effort to rapidly deploy next-generation set-top box systems based on open-source software. To request a Linux4.tv Development Partner application, please send an email to partners@linux4.tv.

For more information on Linux4.tv, go to: http://www.linux4.tv.

Century Software will be demonstrating the Geode SP1SC10 running WebMedia on Red Hat Linux in the Red Hat booth (#653) at the LinuxWorld Expo at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, August 28-30.

About Century Embedded Technologies

Century Embedded Technologies, a division of Century Software, Inc., is a leading developer of core applications technologies for the worldwide embedded Linux™ applications market. These technologies include graphical windowing system development and runtime environments, customized Internet browsers and HTML viewers, PDA solutions, and embedded multimedia technologies. These core technologies are designed specifically to enable chip manufacturers, hardware board vendors, and their customers to build embedded applications on most popular microprocessor architectures. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at embedded.centurysoftware.com.

About National Semiconductor

National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; information appliances; information infrastructure; and display, imaging and human interface technologies. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for fiscal year 2001 and employs about 9,700 people worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.

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Century Software, Century Embedded Technologies are trademarks of Century Software, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. National Semiconductor is a registered trademark and Geode is a trademark of National Semiconductor Corp. All other products, services, companies and publications are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.