DSP56xxx Developers to Benefit From Restyled GUI and Support for Latest Derivatives and Evaluation Boards

SYDNEY, Australia - February 18, 2003 - Altium Limited (ASX: ALU), a leading developer of Windows-based electronic design and development software, announced today the release of version 3.5 of the TASKING embedded software development toolset for Motorola's DSP56xxx architecture. Developers for the wide range of DSP56xxx applications will benefit from a redesigned user interface and support for all the latest derivatives and evaluation boards.

"The optimizing capabilities of the TASKING DSP56xxx compiler and the extensive debug functionality of the DSP56xxx CrossView Pro debugger enable the development of highly efficient, reliable and powerful applications for the DSP56xxx," says Jeroen Verheijen, Altium's product manager for the DSP56xxx toolset. "The new version of the toolset increases the tools' ease of use and enables developers to take advantage of all the latest DSP56xxx derivatives and evaluation boards."

Extensively redesigned interfaces for both the Embedded Development Environment (EDE) and the CrossView Pro debugger in v3.5 result in a more intuitive environment and increased ease of use for developers. The re-arranged menu structures, the improved dialogs, and the new context-sensitive help features in the CrossView Pro debugger make it both easy to learn and use. For example, the new dialog design in the CrossView Pro debugger allows more flexible breakpoint configuration, and probe point support allows data to be retrieved from and injected into an application at run-time using I/O simulation.

With this version, developers can now take advantage of the latest DSP56xxx derivatives and evaluation boards including DSP56366, DSP56367, DSP5637x and DSP5637xEVM. A full listing of supported derivatives and boards, is available on the TASKING website.

Pricing and availability

The TASKING DSP56xxx Software Development Toolset v3.5 is a complete and integrated toolset consisting of the TASKING EDE, DSP56xxx C/C++/EC++ compiler, assembler, linker / locator and CrossView Pro simulator debugger.

Version 3.5 is available for PC/Windows and SUN/Solaris platforms and is priced from US$3,290 for the complete C/C++/EC++ compiler and debugger toolset. Also available is the 'CrossView Pro ADS/EVM' debugger package which supports all the latest DSP56xxx evaluation boards. The price for a PC/Windows single node-locked license is US$1,990.

For demonstration version of this toolset or more product information, visit www.tasking.com or contact your local Altium Sales and Support Center.

About Altium Limited

Altium Limited (ASX: ALU), trading as Protel International Limited (ASX: PRI) prior to August 6, 2001, is a leading global developer and supplier of desktop Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and embedded software design tools for the Microsoft Windows environment.

Since the company's foundation in 1985 and its release of the world's first Microsoft Windows-based EDA tool in 1991, Altium has continued to apply the most advanced software design methods to provide powerful, easy-to-use and affordable design software to engineers and electronics designers worldwide.

Altium's current product brands include Protel, P-CAD, TASKING, Accolade, CircuitMaker and CAMtastic!. These products offer tailored solutions covering a range of hardware and software design processes.

Altium is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and operates a number of sales and support offices in Australia, the United States, Japan and Europe, as well as maintaining a large reseller network in all other major markets. More information about the company and its products and services may be obtained from our website at www.altium.com.

Altium USA Media Contact
Sarah Seifert
Edelman
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Email: sarah.seifert@edelman.com

Corporate Media Contact
Jessica Maxwell
Altium Limited
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Australia
www.altium.com
Telephone: +61 2 9975 7710
Fax: +61 2 9975 7720
Email: jessica.maxwell@altium.com.au

Altium, Protel DXP, DXP, Design Explorer, nVisage, P-CAD, TASKING, Accolade, CircuitMaker, CAMtastic, Situs and Topological Autorouting and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altium Limited or its subsidiaries. All other registered or unregistered trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners, and no trademark rights to the same are claimed.