Applix Announces Early Access Download of Applixware 5.0
Feb 1st, 17:20 UTC
Applix Linux Division embraces open source technology and release practices Westboro, MA, February 1, 2000 -- Applix, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLX), a leading provider of applications for Linux and UNIX desktops, announced today that they have established a pre-release program to provide early access to the next version of their office suite for Linux.
Under the terms of the program, users in the Linux and open source community can freely download the first milestone pre-release of Applixware Office Version 5.0. This version represents a significant evolution of development direction to incorporate the advantages of open source software. Specifically, Applixware Office now uses the GTK+ widget kit to provide a modern, themable and extensible user interface.
Applix is the only commercial integrated office suite for Linux to base its look and feel on an open source widgets set. Additionally, version 5.0 provides closer integration for Linux desktops with its support for the dragging and dropping of files from the GNOME and KDE desktop environments into Applixware Office documents. These advances clearly differentiate Applixware Office from its competitors in its alignment with leading edge Linux desktop technologies.
Asked why Applix had chosen to make the pre-release widely available to the Linux community, Bernie Thompson, President of the Applix Linux Division responded, "Applix has based its success on providing native, fast and stable applications specifically for Linux and Unix environments. With this release, we are building on these traditional strengths by integrating open source technologies and adopting proven open source practices such as public problem tracking. The result is a software company and product line especially suited for the Linux platform."
To support the version 5.0 milestone program, Applix will be leveraging their www.SmartBeak.com support and collaboration website as an interface for people wanting to post issues or questions and track bugs. By visiting the SmartBeak.com website users will have full access to a full list of reported problems and questions and they will be able to track the progress that Applix is making towards fixing reported issues.
"The emergence of the open source software model has taught us that by empowering users with full and open access to information concerning the use and quality of a vendor's software application benefits both the customer and the author," said Richard Manly, Director of Product Marketing. He continued, "We plan to continue to use and promote these practices in future product developments."
The Applixware Office 5.0 Milestone download page can be found at http://www.SmartBeak.com/M1. Visitors to the Applixware booth at the upcoming Linux World Expo at the Javits Center, New York (2nd-4th February) will receive a free CD of the software.
About Applix, Inc.
Applix, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLX), headquartered in Westboro, Mass., develops, markets and supports web-based, front office business solutions, which allow organizations to improve decision-making and corporate productivity. The Front Office Business Solutions include the Applix iCustomer.Advantage suite of thin-client Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and real-time Business Intelligence applications: Applix iEnterprise, Applix iHelpDesk and Applix iTM1. In addition to its Front Office Business Solutions, Applix also provides a set of Decision Support applications, consisting of Applixware and Applix Anyware products. The Company's products are available on a variety of software platforms, including Windows, Windows NT, UNIX and Linux environments. More information can be found at www.applix.com and linux.applixware.com.
Notes to Investors
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Specifically, comments related to the demand for, revenue from and acceptance of the Company's products and the Company's position in the markets, may be considered forward-looking and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the rate of growth in market demand for the products; the acceptance of the Company's products; intense competitive conditions; rapid technological change; frequent new product introductions and evolving domestic and international standards which may render existing products and services obsolete. Refer to the Form 10-K for the year ended 1997 for a list of factors as discussed under "Risk Factors ".
(Submitted by Geoffrey S. Zub of VistaSource)
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