RedPost announces next phase of it's Ubuntu-based DIY hardware platform

RedPost announces next phase of it's Ubuntu-based DIY hardware platform
Updated all-in-one hardware running Linux is hacker-ready

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 200

Goshen, Ind. -- Today, RedPost inc. announced the next phase of its  
Ubuntu-driven hardware with the formation of a strategic partnership  
with Hurco Automation Ltd., a Taiwan-based industrial computer  
manufacturer with a twelve year history of building specialized,  
quality electronics. Hurco will manufacture RedPost's new Sign, a 19"  
all-in-one PC with the capability of a digital photo frame or as a  
digital sign when connected to RedPost's software.

Eric Kanagy, CEO, founded the company in February of 2007. "The  
hardware's industry-standard, our OS, called Wicker, is based on  
Ubuntu, and our web-based software is built with Ruby on Rails. Open  
source makes a startup like ours possible. Without it, we'd be stuck  
with a lot of money invested in Microsoft products, instead of in  
development."

The RedPost/Kit, a do-it-yourself digital photo frame kit, launched in  
June of 2007. The Sign(beta) followed this past April with the  
production grade version of the Sign shipping this October. The Sign  
includes a 19" LCD, a VIA motherboard with 1.5 GHz C7 microprocessor  
and 1 GB of memory, built-in wifi and a 1 year warranty.

RedPost also announced today a major upgrade to Wicker, the customized- 
Ubuntu that runs on every Sign. Wicker is available for download at
<http://sourceforge.net/projects/redpost/ 
 > and is now running Ubuntu 8.04 and Firefox 3.

Kanagy is an avid believer in the power of the open source community.  
"There's been a lot of buzz recently about open source hardware, with  
companies like BugLabs leading the charge and most recently an in  
depth thread on TechCrunch. We're contributing to the mix by keeping  
our hardware efforts standards-based and built on Linux. Most of our  
early adopters found us because we're not locking everything down like  
Sony."

Hurco Automation formed in 1996 as a joint venture between U.S.-based  
Hurco Companies and Taiwan-based Tycoon Enterprise. Hurco's background  
in industrial electronics engineering gives the company a unique  
advantage in producing the Sign to the highest quality standards.

Because every Sign runs Firefox, the open source web browser, anything  
that appears on the web, including text, graphics, Flash animation and  
short video clips, can appear on a Sign, organized into simple  
playlists through RedPost's software.

According to Kanagy, "One of the biggest challenges a startup faces is  
staying focused. RedPost is a software company, but by necessity,  
we've been building hardware to fill an unmet need in the market.  
After an exhaustive 18 month search process, we've finally found an  
expert hardware partner who frees us to stay focused on what we're  
good at -- our software."

The combination of Hurco Automation's industrial hardware experience  
and RedPost's easy-to-use software gives entrepreneurs, coffee-shop  
owners, retailers, non-profits, and colleges and universities an  
affordable, simple way to enhance communication at the neighborhood  
level.

According to Kanagy, "At $699, the Sign shatters the price barrier for  
digital signs, which has hovered above the $1,000-2,000 mark for the  
past 5 years. With our $59, 24 month lease program, digital signs now  
cost the same as a cell phone, instead of as much as a car payment."

Pricing on the Sign is $699. RedPost's software starts at $15/Sign/ 
month. A $59, 24 month lease-to-own option, which includes software  
costs, is also available. The Sign begins shipping in October while  
the Sign(beta) continues to ship through September, priced at $599.  
Supply on the new Sign is limited and pre-orders are currently being  
accepted.

RedPost is planning a launch party for October 3, to be held in  
Downtown Goshen.

Easy, low-cost and local

Among other uses, RedPost serves as an ideal vehicle to deliver low- 
cost advertising in a very localized way. It functions as an iTunes- 
like website through which local businesses and organizations can  
quickly and easily promote events, exhibits, products and services.  
These customers or clients essentially submit their electronic poster,  
which can consist of multiple views, pay for it online, and have it  
quickly scheduled for the signs' playlists.

The RedPost user can use the software to easily create posters and  
handle all customer payments and system management automatically. So  
it is essentially the same as giving money to someone to pass out a  
bunch of posters around the neighborhood. In fact, it's even simpler  
than that, because you don't have to print the posters!

"This is all simple, proven, off-the-shelf technology," said Kanagy.  
"We've just repackaged it in a new way that makes this kind of  
communication very easy and inexpensive. We designed the software and  
hardware components of the system to just do what they're supposed to  
do."

"We think this is a path digital signage is primed to take: the  
digital equivalent of anybody who can draw up an ink-and-poster-board  
sign and stick it on bulletin boards around town. We want grandma to  
be able to do it for her church social as well as the corporate  
officer for the company's headquarters. Museums, campuses, hospitals,  
retirement villages -- there is an endless list of institutions and  
businesses as well as neighborhood locales that can make great use of  
this. But the key is keeping it simple and affordable."

Currently a number of institutions and organizations, including Purdue  
University, Argonne National Laboratory and other retail, non-profit,  
and hospitality locations have been engaged as beta test sites for  
RedPost. The company's backyard in Goshen, Ind., has been the primary  
proving ground, where RedPost has forged a role as a new communication  
medium for community events.

More information is available at <http://www.theredpost.com/>.

About Hurco Automation

Hurco Automation Ltd. was founded by Hurco Companies, U.S.A and Tycoon  
Enterprise, Taiwan in 1996. Its core engineering team came from the  
industrial controls sector of ITRI, Taiwan. Since the first day, the  
company is targeted at growing to be a Complete PC Based Industrial  
Automation Solution Provider. More information is available at <http://www.pcbased.com/ 
 >.

About RedPost

Founded in February of 2007, RedPost inc. is a start-up software  
company out of Goshen, Ind., that aims to replace the world's bulletin  
boards with digital signs.


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For more information, contact:
Eric Kanagy, CEO
eric@theredpost.com
cell: 574-849-8881

High resolution photos are available.