Slate Announces Support for Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing

June 10, 1991 — Slate Corp. Monday announced support for Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing, the upcoming pen-based operating system from Microsoft Corp.

Slate’s first product under Windows for Pens will be PenApps, an application development environment for pen-based computers.

”With PenApps, Slate is demonstrating that great pen-based applications can be built for Windows for Pens,” said Vern Raburn, chairman of Slate.

”PenApps is our first step in a long-term commitment to provide pen-specific applications for Windows for Pens,” continued Raburn.

PenApps is currently available in a developer’s release version for GO Corp.’s PenPoint operating system. PenApps is the first application development environment to give system developers excellent pen-oriented user interface capabilities and simple access to centralized corporate data.

System integrators, VARs, MIS groups and consultants can use PenApps to automate the data collection and field service functions of a corporation in order to help achieve improved customer service and improved productivity — all at a lower overall cost than with manual systems.

With PenApps, developers can dramatically accelerate the construction of prototypes and the creation of full-fledged custom applications that take advantage of the pen interface and Windows for Pens.

”Applications created with PenApps are truly tuned to the pen interface,” said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. ”Windows for Pens allows applications the total flexibility to exploit the pen while leveraging Windows’ success. Slate is focused on the pen-based market and I think we’ll continue to see important pen innovations come from Slate.”

PenApps applications are ”pencentric,” which means they take advantage of the specific capabilities of the pen to speed and enhance user input. The PenApps Developer’s Release features Slate innovations such as deferred translation, targeting and SmartFields. The commercial release of the product will build on Slate’s expertise in pencentric interfaces by offering a host of features aimed at capturing data conveniently with the pen.

Applications created in PenApps for PenPoint can be migrated to PenApps for Windows for Pens and vice versa. Though transferrable, the applications take full advantage of the strengths of each platform and, therefore, are not hindered by a least common denominator look and feel.

”One of the great opportunities for mobile pen-based computers is corporate fleet applications,” said Raburn. ”Now internal corporate developers have the ability to create great pen-based applications without worrying about whether PenPoint or Windows for Pens will dominate, and external vendors can create specific, vertical solutions that run on either platform.”

Additional information regarding PenApps for Windows for Pens will be released as it becomes available.

Slate Corp., headquartered in Scottsdale, was founded in February 1990 to develop software applications for pen-based computers. Slate shipped PenApps, the first applications software package for the PenPoint operating system, on March 11, 1991.

Note to Editors: PenApps and SmartFields are trademarks of Slate Corp. Other brands and products are trademarks of their respective holders and should be noted as such.

CONTACT:
Slate Corp., Scottsdale
Dottie Hall, 602/443-7322
Wilson McHenry Co., Redwood City, Calif.
Julie McHenry or Michelle Dann, 415/592-7600