News Release

Websoft International Releases Version 2.2 of its Esprit™ Embedded Browser Platform, Adds Advanced Interface Features for Richer User Experiences

September 4, 2009

Tokyo, Japan － September 4, 2008－ Websoft International Inc. (Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Shintomi － CEO: Chikara Shinomiya) today announced the immediate availability of version 2.2 of its Esprit embedded browser platform. In addition to numerous performance and feature improvements, this release adds advanced user-interface features such as page zoom in/zoom out, thumbnail view, page mode, and a menu interface to the DirectFB window system.

As the Esprit browser platform is provided as a source code package, all features added in this new version, as well as the complete Esprit architecture, are entirely customizable, allowing manufacturers and operators of connected devices to imagine truly unique user experiences.

Highlighted features include:

Page zoom in/zoom out

allows to zoom in and out of a web page from 10% to 500%. The zoom ratio can be set independently for each tab.

Thumbnail view

specially handy on size－constrained displays, allows to reduce an oversized web page to a thumbnail view, then to select and magnify any area of choice with a pan and zoom graphical tool, offering a smooth user experience.

Page mode

allows to simultaneously display all image and text content of a web page, offering a dynamic user experience.

DirectFB menu interface

allows direct interaction through a simple menu interface which enhances the DirectFB window system's UI (aimed primarily at set-top boxes).

Websoft International President and Chief Executive Officer, Chikara Shinomiya, said: "We are releasing this new version of the Esprit browser platform only three months after its predecessor. While the Esprit browser is gaining momentum in the marketplace, OEMs, ODMs, and operators of internet devices will certainly welcome the new features included in version 2.2, but first and foremost the high customizability of a source code technology that will greatly facilitate their product development."

About the Esprit browser plaform

Esprit is a market-proven, high-performance, feature-rich, W3C standards-compliant embedded browser platform used by OEMs, manufacturers, and operators, of mass market connected devices in the mobile, digital home, digital office, and automotive arenas.
Typical applications include mobile phones, smartphones, portable multimedia players, personal navigation devices, set-top boxes, digital picture frames, office printing and projection devices, and car navigation systems.

Esprit 2.1 browser platform core features

• W3C standards-compliant
• supports CSS 2.1 (passed Acid2 test)
• supports the RSS 0.91, 1.0, and 2.0 specifications
• supports the FrameChannel™ web services platform from Frame Media, Inc.
• features an entirely modular architecture
• fully customizable (source code provided)
• supports external plug-ins: e.g. Flash® Lite 3 / VP6 supported.
• secure (integrated BSAFE® SSL-C Micro Edition binary module from RSA)
• supports the DirectFB, GTK+, and other window systems
• available on Linux®, Windows® CE, Windows Mobile, real-time operating systems (RTOS) and other environments. (as it is OS-independent, the Esprit platform can be ported to other environments).
• hardware-independent