Applied Microsystems Offers Developers for Windows CE Run-Time Control of PPC, And MIPS Processors Through CodeTAP(TM) for Windows CE Platform Builder 3.0

NEW ORLEANS, April 25 -- Applied Microsystems Corporation (Applied) today announced a new version of its AMCTAP(TM) integration utility for Microsoft Windows CE Platform Builder 3.0. AMCTAP for Windows CE Platform Builder 3.0 gives application developers working in the Windows CE development environment run- time control of Motorola 8xx processors, and NEC MIPS processors.

The announcement was made here at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC), an event for developers who use Windows as the operating system for their products.

Engineers developing Windows CE 3.0-based applications for PPC or MIPS processors will be able to access those targets with Applied's emulators through AMCTAP. Other processors will be supported in the near future. AMCTAP is a hardware debugging application program interface (API) now included in the latest version of Windows CE Platform Builder. With this utility, any Applied emulator (such as CodeTAP), or any third-party emulator that conforms to Applied's API, will now work with any tool in Windows CE Platform Builder development environment.

``The integration of AMCTAP with Windows CE Platform Builder 3.0 will allow users for the first time to get direct run-time control of the target processor,'' said Bill Veghte, vice president of the Embedded and Appliance Platform Group at Microsoft Corp. ``This capability will help application developers of Windows CE to accelerate their development cycles and improve the innovation of their product offerings,'' he added.

AMCTAP software provides a connection to the target through a robust JTAG interface to Windows CE, and operates in two distinct modes: hardware debug and software monitor mode. Developers can switch from hardware debug mode to software monitor mode once the target is stable enough to support a monitor.

In hardware debug mode, AMCTAP is at its most versatile. In situations where a hardware target is not yet stable enough to support a software monitor, AMCTAP provides a hardware debug path for Windows CE Platform Builder tools to communicate with the target through an Applied emulator (CodeTAP, for example) via the JTAG interface, thereby guaranteeing absolute processor control.

When developers are working with hardware that is stable, but does not have a convenient, high-speed connection to the target, AMCTAP provides constant, consistent communication with a software monitor through the same JTAG interface.

``The connection that AMCTAP provides through a JTAG interface is by far the most robust one available, and will enable developers to use Windows CE Platform Builder earlier in the development effort,'' said Mark Budzinski, Applied's vice president of marketing.

Because the AMCTAP connection will remain viable from early in development through completion, some developers will find value in staying with the robust hardware debug functionality for the duration of their projects, he explained. AMCTAP supports both task-mode and system mode debugging, providing the user the desired visibility, flexibility, and control within the debug environment.

Availability

AMCTAP for Microsoft Windows CE Platform Builder 3.0 will be available within 30 days of the release of Windows CE Platform Builder.

About Applied Microsystems

Applied provides high-level software development tools and development solutions that expedite complex software projects. Applied's products help OEM customers bring products to market faster by providing innovative tools to develop, debug and test products faster, more reliably and at a lower cost. The company can be reached at P.O. Box 97002, Redmond, Wash. 98073-9702. Telephone: 800-426-3925. E-mail info@amc.com. Web: www.amc.com.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Julie Nusom of McClenahan Bruer Communications, 503-643-9035 or julie@mcbru.com, for Applied Microsystems Corp.; or Mark Budzinski, markb@amc.com, or, investor relations, Rob Bateman, Rob.bateman@amc.com, both of Applied Microsystems Corp., 425-882-2000.