e-Vue Launches the Industry's First MPEG-4 Based Imaging Tools for the Internet; Enables Content Providers to Speed Up the Internet for the Bandwidth-Challenged.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ISELIN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000

e-Vue, the leader in MPEG-4 multimedia tools, today announced the availability of the first MPEG-4 still image encoding and decoding products in the marketplace.

e-Vue products employ state-of-the-art MPEG-4 compliant technology to provide fast, high quality encoding and decoding of still images for Web and graphic design. Web designers can use the e-Vue products to create high quality, highly compressed image files that Web surfers can view in different display modes, including progressive by size, block or resolution.

e-Vue Still Image products are especially useful for the bandwidth challenged viewer connected to the Internet via a slow dial-up modem connection. The progressive display modes allow the viewer to immediately see the full image, at a smaller size or with gradually increasing resolution, before the entire image file is downloaded. This unique instant preview feature facilitates fast browsing of high quality images on the Internet, as the viewer is able to quickly decide whether or not to interrupt the download and click through to a different Web page. The benefits of e-Vue's image compression technology are most pronounced at lower bandwidth connections, which typically require more time for downloads.

In addition, MPEG-4 encoded images are generally of higher quality for a given file size, especially for photographic images. For example, MPEG-4 files are 2 to 5 times smaller than JPEG-compressed images of equal resolution. The significant reduction in file size lowers hosting and networking costs by decreasing storage and bandwidth requirements, and reduces the time required to download and view images The superior file compression also allows content providers to offer larger images for any given file size.

"e-Vue Still Image products are the first in a line of MPEG-4 products that we will provide to the creative community," said John Lynch, COO of e-Vue. "Our road map also includes a variety of streaming multimedia tools and products that promise to revolutionize how multimedia content is created and securely delivered, and how end users view and interact with multimedia over the Internet."

e-Vue's MPEG-4 still image technology is being used online by firstVIEW (http://www.firstview.com), the largest international fashion Web site, which features photos and videos from the runways of the world's top designer fashion shows. "Providing high quality images and a positive user experience is critical to our business," said Don Ashby, CEO of firstVIEW. "Since we've started using e-Vue's image compression technology, we've gotten nothing but positive feedback from our viewers who enjoy the excellent image quality and faster image viewing capabilities. We plan to continue to use e-Vue's technology for all our upcoming collections."

The e-Vue family of MPEG-4 Still Image products includes:

e-Vue Image Studio -- Encoding and authoring tools that allow you to convert existing image files to MPEG-4 compressed image files, which can be displayed over the Internet using the e-Vue Image Viewer. This set of tools also provides a mass encoder and generates HTML syntax for greater efficiency and easy integration into Web pages. Image Studio is available for Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000. $89.95

e-Vue Image Viewer -- Browser plug-in that enables Web surfers to download and view MPEG-4 images quickly and efficiently, without waiting for the entire file to be downloaded. Images can be displayed in several modes, including progressive viewing by size or quality. Image Viewer works with Windows and Macintosh operating systems, in addition to Internet browsers from AOL, Netscape and Microsoft. Free.

e-Vue Image Tools for Photoshop -- Photoshop plug-in that enables Adobe Photoshop users (of both Macintosh and Microsoft Windows versions) to convert and edit existing image files (of any format supported by Photoshop) to MPEG-4 compressed image files, that can be displayed over the Internet using e-Vue Image Viewer. $29.95

Demo and Free Software for Download

All e-Vue Still Image products, as well as a demo and free downloadable trial versions of the software, are available online at e-Vue's Web site at http://www.e-vue.com. e-Vue Still Image products are the first in a line of many MPEG-4 multimedia tools that e-Vue will be releasing.

About MPEG-4

The e-Vue product family is compliant with the universal MPEG-4 standard and utilizes proprietary image encoding/decoding technologies that have been developed in conjunction with e-Vue's partner, the Sarnoff Corp.

Developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group, MPEG-4 is the internationally recognized ISO standard for creating and delivering multimedia content over networks. Unlike proprietary streaming technologies, MPEG-4 provides a streaming standard that promotes interoperability between vendors. MPEG-4 defines a baseline standard for streaming a broad range of digital multimedia: audio, video and still images; natural and synthetic; 2-D and 3-D. Key features include highly efficient compression, object-based interactivity, error resilience, bandwidth scalability (5 kbps to 20 Mbps), network and transport protocol independence, and content security.

About e-Vue Inc.

e-Vue is the leading provider of MPEG-4 solutions for the creation and viewing of high-quality digital multimedia and its secure delivery over networks. A spin-off and partner of the Sarnoff Corp., e-Vue has 36 MPEG-4 related patents and technical expertise in developing MPEG-4 standards-based technologies. The company provides MPEG-4 software products and licenses technology to strategic partners.

For more information on e-Vue's MPEG-4 products and technology, contact e-Vue at 33 Wood Avenue South, 8th Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail]. Or visit us on the Web at http://www.e-vue.com.