Starfish Software Announces Sidekick 95 Deluxe; The first Windows 95 product offering direct access to America Online!

Business Wire, Oct 17, 1995

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 1995--Starfish Software today announced the first Windows 95 multimedia solution for anyone who wants to get or stay organized.

Sidekick 95 Deluxe is a multimedia CD-ROM which includes Sidekick 95, the recently released 32-bit version of the most popular personal organizer in the world, plus Dashboard 95, the essential utility for Windows 95, plus America Online software and two interactive organizational videos. As a bonus, the CD-ROM also includes over 40 useful content files called Sidekick Companions, and electronic versions of the product manuals in Adobe Acrobat format.

Sidekick 95 Deluxe will be on store shelves nationwide by the end of this month, and is expected to retail for $79.95.

"One of the keys to our success has been making it easy for consumers to access America Online," said Ted Leonsis, President of America Online Services Company. "So we're very pleased to have complete access to America Online included in Sidekick 95 Deluxe."

"Sidekick 95 Deluxe is a total multimedia solution for people who need help getting organized," said Starfish Software chairman Philippe Kahn. "Our two interactive videos, The Starfish Five Point Plan and Getting the Most from Your Day with Sidekick 95, introduce customers to the principles of getting organized. The videos are fun and informative, using innovative multimedia techniques to demonstrate how to get -- and stay -- organized."

William G. Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, said, "We're pleased that Sidekick 95 and Dashboard 95 are available in this innovative new CD-ROM format as well as stand-alone products, so that millions of Sidekick and Dashboard users won't have to wait to take advantage of all the features of Windows 95."

Sidekick 95 Deluxe Features

Highlights of Sidekick 95 Deluxe include:

Sidekick 95 -- Specially designed for Windows 95, Sidekick 95 is more than just a calendar or address book. It's a simple, powerful personal organizer that keeps you on top of your schedules, contacts, To Do's, and expense reports. With four calendar views, fast-access cardfiles, handy reminders and alarms, phone dialer, worldwide clock and essential word processing features, Sidekick 95 is the simplest way to stay organized.

Dashboard 95 -- The essential utility for Windows 95, Dashboard 95 is the key to driving Windows 95. Launch applications, organize your desktop, print and fax with drag-and-drop simplicity, monitor system resources, access Windows 95 tools -- all from one powerfully simple utility panel.

America Online software -- Connect to America Online and the Starfish Software area and World Wide Web home page without leaving Sidekick. New America Online customers will receive 10 hours of free connect time.

Two interactive videos -- The Starfish Five Point Plan, featuring Philippe Kahn, chairman of Starfish Software, and Getting the Most from Your Day with Sidekick 95 describe a simple program to help customers get and stay organized as well as how to make maximum use of Sidekick 95. The latter video features an innovative, on-screen tour guide who literally walks you through the product highlights.

Sidekick Companions -- Dozens of information files, including schedules of sports events and cultural exhibitions.

Electronic User Guides -- In addition to the printed User Guides, Sidekick 95 Deluxe includes these manuals in Adobe Acrobat format, too.

Sidekick 95 Features

Sidekick 95 has been earning rave reviews since it shipped in August, 1995. InfoWorld Magazine reported that Sidekick 95 "organizes even the incorrigible" (August 28, 1995), while the Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg wrote (August 25, 1995), "Sidekick 95: My favorite calendar and address book program... remains speedy and useful, but now boasts an expense account tracker, a surprisingly powerful mini-word processor, and a graphical world time screen."

Program highlights include:

Write view -- Document editing with improved mail merge, rich text editor (including fonts and color support), spelling checker and interface with contact cardfiles.

"This is an area users will really notice the craftsmanship and software design work our team put in," Ray Love, Director, Sidekick Product Management, said. "For instance, we provide a visual list of fonts to pick from, so you can see what the font looks like rather than trying to remember font names."

EarthTime view -- Tell the time anywhere in the world, at a glance. "A world map, which shows where it's daylight and where the sun has set, is the most visual part of this module," Mr. Love explains. "But that's just one element. You can also display real-time clocks for eight of 370 world capitals and commercial centers."

Expense view -- Simplified record keeping for expenses that allows users to categorize receipts and print a finished expense report. "Anyone who has ever sat on an airplane, sorting receipts from a business trip, will understand intuitively how to use this expense view," Mr. Love said. "It's simple, fast, and powerful and it works the way people really keep track of their expenses."