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ROYAL'S Linux-based PDA Brings power and flexibility at a breakthrough price

ROYAL'S $299.99 Lin@x Debuts at CES

Las Vegas, NV -- Royal Consumer Information Products, a recognized leader in affordable office and consumer electronic products, is now bringing its familiar formula of making high-end products with aggressive price points to the handheld PDA market with its announcement of the Royal Lin@x, the company's first Linux-powered PDA. The Lin@x features an advanced Intel 206MHz StrongARM processor, outstanding color graphics, built-in expandability, and the power and customization of Linux. With 16MB flash ROM and 32MB of RAM it's the perfect platform for the most demanding PDA applications. Royal's Lin@x is being displayed at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show, January 8 to 11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Booth #11223 in the South Expansion.

The Royal Lin@x offers consumers a fully featured Internet Browser, for quick and easy access to the Web, Personal Information Management (PIM) features that include an Address Book, Calendar with Scheduler, Notes, Calculator, and customizable display. The user interface is enhanced by the presence of hardware specific interfaces, virtual keyboard, and handwriting recognition software. The Lin@x will also ship with an MP3 player application and will support multimedia functions such as stereo headset and built-in microphone.

The Royal Lin@x includes desktop PIM software for Microsoft Windows-based PC systems and also Linux -based PC systems as well as software that offers one touch synchronization for Microsoft Outlook. Expansion capability via Type II CompactFlash technology will support wireless Internet access so anyone from road warriors to students can send and receive e-mails, consumers can utilize e-commerce and business users will be able to check stock quotes or get the latest news anywhere and anytime.

The unit supports a dial-up modem permitting wired access to e-mail, e-commerce and all that the Web has to offer. Network connections for the Lin@x support standard TCP/IP configurations and additional capabilities include Universal Serial Bus (USB), IrDA port for Infra Red transfers, an RS-232 serial port for desktop synchronizing.

The Lin@x is a product of Royal's strategic partnerships with Century Embedded Technologies and Applied Data Systems. Applied Data Systems (ADS) is a leading designer and manufacturer of RISC-based embedded single board computers and Century Software Embedded Technologies is a leading developer of core applications technologies for the worldwide-embedded Linux applications market.

"This launch makes Royal the first and only consumer device manufacturer to break a significant price/performance barrier and puts us at a advantage for offering a complete, stable Linux-powered PDA," said Todd Althoff, Vice-President of Marketing and New Development for Royal Consumer Information Products. "The Lin@x provides immediate consumer value and delivers the features customers want in an affordable, open environment that can accommodate emerging technologies and applications."

"Royal's release of the Lin@x validates Linux as the operating system of choice for the next generation of full featured, and lower cost handheld devices," said Greg Haerr, CEO Century Embedded Technologies. "As Linux offers a power and performance combination that surpasses other operating systems in the handheld market today, we are proud to be partnering with Royal and to bring Linux-based technology to Royal's customers."

"Royal's significant marketplace presence along with its ability to develop low-cost, high quality products is perfectly matched with ADS' expertise in wireless, battery-powered single board computer technology. Together we have created a powerful and richly featured PDA with broad market appeal," said Bob Olsen, CEO of Applied Data Systems.

Royal, long known for it's innovative form factors in everything from calculators to shredders, continues that tradition with the Lin@x. Its sleek design gives consumers an attractive yet powerful tool for staying productive, staying connected, and for personal entertainment.

The Graphical User Interface for the Lin@x is based on Nano-X, the Linux de facto standard embedded graphical windowing system targeted for small flat panel devices. Founded by Century CEO Gregory Haerr, as well as maintained and certified by Century Software, Nano-X is an award winning Embedded Development Tool that has been integral to Linux-powered designs for several years. Software Development Kits for the Lin@x, using these tools are presently available. The rapid adoption of PIXIL into the open source community enables tens of thousands of Linux developers to innovate technologies and applications for handheld devices freely and openly.

PIXIL, based on Nano-X, is central to the design of the Royal Lin@x. This modular solution provides a foundation for end-to-end solutions for advanced Internet appliances. Developed for multiple form factor flat panel devices with requirements for wireless communications, networking, web browsing, power management and GUIs. PIXIL's modular framework is easily optimized for specific applications ensuring ease of use, compatibility, and application maintenance. As a result, SDK and development tools employing PIXIL-based applications can be developed quickly allowing rapid deployment of reliable, secure, and highly scalable applications for leading edge devices such as the Royal Lin@x.

The Royal Lin@x is expected to be released at a $299.99 price-point and will be available 2nd quarter, 2002 in stores across the country.

The Royal Consumer Information Products line includes PDAs, personal organizers, shredders, calculators, desk accessories, time and cash management systems, laminators and postal scales. Headquarters for Royal Consumer Information Products are located at 765 U.S. Highway 202, Bridgewater, NJ 08807-0945.

About Century Embedded Technologies
Century Software Embedded Technologies, a newly created 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; embedded and Internet appliance multimedia technologies, including MP3 audio and MPEG video players and recorders; PDA/WebPAD runtime and development suites, PIM suites; and set-top boxes. These core technologies are designed specifically to allow chip manufacturers, hardware board vendors, and their customers to build embedded applications on x86, PowerPC, StrongARM, MIPS, SH and other microprocessor architectures running on either the Nano-X or the X Window System. Based in Salt Lake City, Century Software was founded in 1985 and is privately held. Century Software's CEO, Gregory Haerr, is the founder and chief maintainer of the Nano-X Project, and founder of the ViewML Project.

About Applied Data Systems
Applied Data Systems (ADS) is a leading developer of RISC-based embedded solutions, employing Intel's StrongARM processor and microprocessor core technology and supporting a wide range of operating systems. ADS' solutions are ideally suited for mobile and Internet-enabled applications requiring wireless connectivity. ADS solutions enable numerous applications including process control, GPS, fleet management, and point-of-sale / kiosk. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, ADS has been a leading provider of single board computer technology for the embedded systems market since 1984. For information about ADS, see www.applieddata.net or call 301-490-4007.

Linux is a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. Intel and StrongARM are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Century Software, Century Embedded Technologies, and PIXIL are trademarks of Century Software, Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.