Sony Screenblast Announces New Versions of Its Screenblast Movie Studio & ACID 4.0 Software

Screenblast, a Sony Pictures Digital Inc. (SPD) company and pioneer in developing unique online service + software offerings for enhancing and sharing personal media, today announced that the new versions of its award-winning digital media software, Sony® Screenblast® Movie Studio™ and Sony Screenblast ACID® 4.0 (formerly Screenblast Music Studio software), will be available in August 2003.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030512/LAM060 )

Screenblast video editing and music creation software and its premium online service, Screenblast.com, help consumers create, enhance and share their digital images, video and music. Screenblast.com debuted in September 2001 as one of the first digital creativity solutions in the marketplace and the company introduced its first retail packaged software in October 2002.

The new version of Sony Screenblast Movie Studio software now includes DVD authoring software, professional DVD menu templates and embedded MPEG licenses, making it the most powerful video editing solution available today in the sub-$100 market. Sony Screenblast ACID 4.0 software, based on the category leader that set the standard for digital music creation, features increased format support and easy export to Sony's NetMD™ player and CLIE™ handheld PDA. The two software packages take video editing and music creation to the next level, as only a leading global electronics brand with "Hollywood connections" can do.

Both new software versions offer exceptional ease of use, with the enhancement of all new wizard-driven tutorials, plus an easy drag-and-drop interface and one-click publishing to Screenblast.com.

"Our new software products meet the needs of today's digitally-connected consumer," said Andrew Schneider, senior vice president and general manager, Screenblast. "As people of all ages experiment more with digital images and music, they expect more from the software they use. They're no longer content to just insert a title and simple effects. Instead, consumers want professional-looking results that are easy to create, and that's what our software provides."

Screenblast Movie Studio

The new version of Screenblast Movie Studio software lets users get even more from their digital cameras and camcorders than ever before, bringing the power of Hollywood to their desktops.

Screenblast Movie Studio software includes integrated DVD authoring software and features over 40 pre-made, lifestyle and entertainment-themed DVD menu templates -- including weddings, birthdays and other special events -- from the Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center. The software also supports today's most popular video and audio formats, such as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 import, editing and export, which allow users to play their projects on most VCD and DVD players.

  Other new features include:

  *  A more extensive interactive tutorial for video capture.  This makes
     the process of capturing video from camcorder to PC easier and more
     integrated into the video editing process.

  *  A sixth track on the timeline specifically for text effects.  This
     feature provides greater flexibility to personalize digital media.

  *  An increase to 177 customizable transitions.  The new transitions --
     including page peel, page roll, and Venetian blinds -- let users
     connect scenes with professional polish.

  *  An increase to 125 special effects.  Effects such as border, black
     restore, deform, lens flare, light rays, linear blur, mirror, quick
     blur, radial blur and threshold, have all been added so that users can
     enhance their images with Hollywood style.

For the professional videographer, Screenblast Movie Studio includes many features found in higher end professional editing software that offer increased device support, such as:

  *  A wide range of output formats.  These include Windows Media® 9 and
     Macromedia Flash™ file format (SWF).

  *  A DSR-DU1 hard disk unit.  This is used by many prosumers and
     videographers with their Sony professional DVCAM camcorders for extra
     storage.

  *  The ShuttlePRO™ MultiMedia Controller.  Many prosumers and
     videographers use this in addition to their keyboard and mouse for more
     precise editing control.

"We've made it even easier for novices to use our software, with expanded and more accessible 'Show Me' interactive tutorials, while adding sophisticated features for the videographer and hobbyist," noted Schneider.

Screenblast ACID 4.0

Screenblast ACID 4.0 software, based on the premier loop-based music creation software for creating songs and music albums, remixing loops and scoring videos, now lets users seamlessly export their creations to their Sony NetMD player and CLIE handheld devices so they can take their music with them everywhere they go.

In addition, Screenblast ACID 4.0 software offers increased support of popular audio and video formats -- including Windows Media® 9 and Macromedia Flash (SWF) -- plus a free version of Screenblast Sound Forge® for editing or modifying loops or complete songs.

The new software version also includes interactive tutorials, which provide an unparalleled level of assistance to novices for an application in this category. Topics cover CD burning, fading in/out, using pan and volume envelope, splitting an event, pitch-shifting an event, and more.

"We're bringing ACID, which set the standard in music making for professionals in hip hop, techno, electronica and other music genres, to a whole new audience," said Schneider. "Now, everyone from DJs to electronic musicians and garage bands can have access to ACID's digital production quality at an affordable price. Sony's NetMD player and Screenblast ACID 4.0 together create a perfect combination of hardware and software for the aspiring digital musician," he added.

Pricing and Availability

Screenblast Movie Studio and Screenblast ACID 4.0 software will be available by September nationwide at retailers, including CompUSA, Micro Center and Sony Gallery, as well as online at Amazon.com and Sonystyle.com. The suggested retail price for Sony Movie Studio software is $99.95 and $69.95 for Screenblast ACID 4.0 software. Included with the software will be an offer for one month's free premium membership to the Screenblast online service.

Screenblast Service

Screenblast.com recently introduced its newly enhanced Screenblast online creativity service, which makes it even easier, entertaining and more enjoyable for consumers to create, enhance and share their life moments digitally. While the service continues to let members register for free, Screenblast.com introduced a new premium subscription membership -- at an introductory price of $49.95 a year and $89.95 once the promotion is over -- for users who want to take full advantage of the site's extensive offerings and expanded storage options.

About Screenblast

Screenblast leverages its global electronics and motion picture heritage to give consumers everything they need to create personalized digital videos, music and images and showcase them for friends and family in new and entertaining ways.

  Screenblast is part of Sony Digital Networks division.

  About Sony Pictures Digital Networks

Sony Pictures Digital Networks is an operating unit of Sony Pictures Digital. The division leads the company's efforts to develop and provide new forms of online content, games, interactive programming, open-access video-on- demand, wireless and mobile entertainment to consumers worldwide. Through SoapCity, Screenblast, Sony Pictures Mobile, SPiN, the Advanced Platforms Group and GoPlayTV, Sony Pictures Digital Networks is committed to making information and entertainment available anywhere, anytime on any enabled device. Sony Pictures Digital is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. For more information please visit www.sonypictures.com .

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SOURCE: Sony Screenblast

CONTACT: Media, Ruth Thomas, +1-909-981-3846, press@screenblast.com, for
Screenblast; or Retailer, Dan McCarron, Director of Sales of Screenblast,
+1-207-828-0856, dmccarron@sonypictures.com

Web site: http://www.sonypictures.com/

Web site: http://www.screenblast.com/