DV Companion for Final Cut Pro 3 Shipping with new features, format, additional content and free TestDrive

Los Angeles, February 15, 2002

Intelligent Assistance, Inc announced today that the DV Companion - The Intelligent Assistant for Final Cut Pro 3 was now shipping. The DV Companion has been completely revised for Final Cut Pro 3 and had substantial additional content added to cover Final Cut Pro 3's features. It has been converted to the Intelligent Assistance developed always-floating interface for enhanced features and functionality. New features include a simplified interface, registration and automatic updating all handled from within the Intelligent Assistant and a demonstration mode that allows 50 pages views as a TestDrive.

"Updating the DV Companion to the new format was a massive job because it has so much content," says CEO and content writer Philip Hodgetts "but it is worth it to be able to add the new functionality and to have a future on OS X." Hodgetts went on to say that many of the components of the earlier DV Companion did not continue to OS X so Intelligent Assistance needed to develop a new interface to take the DV Companion to OS X. "We have put all the groundwork in place and will deliver an OS X version as soon as we have the necessary components from our development environment" Hodgetts said.

Every one of the 600+ individual How2s, Abouts and Troubleshooting pages had to be revised and reformatted - equivalent to a book of more than 800 pages. This release has approximately 2 hours 40 minutes of movies and the entire DV Companion is always available when it's needed.

"And that's not all" says an enthusiastic Hodgetts, "we're still adding to the DV Companion and all the extra content and additional movies will be available through the new 'automatic update' feature as it's added". "We currently have an extra half an hour of movies and at least another 20-30 How2s in production.""

"We've added an entirely new 'Chapter" on Color Correction alone", says CEO Philip Hodgetts "as well as added 90 minutes of new or revised movies so there's now nearly 3 hours of movies covering all the basic Tasks in Final Cut Pro."

Intelligent Assistance is delivering the DV Companion for Final Cut Pro 3 within the new Intelligent Assistant interface developed. The Intelligent Assistant interface always floats over Final Cut Pro, so it is always available to work-along with. The new interface changes size according to the function. "The new delivery interface was first deployed with the Intelligent Assistant for Boris RED" says Executive Vice President of Technology Dr Gregory Clarke, "and while converting it over required substantial effort because of the amount of content, it was worth it for the benefits that weren't available before."

The most exciting new feature is the demonstration mode. Once installed, the DV Companion is available fully functional for 50 page views. TestDrive any 50 pages to get a feel for the way the DV Companion works and evaluate it for yourself. "A demonstration mode was our most-requested feature," says Dr Clarke, "But until we developed our own technology and established a secure technology, it wasn't possible." TestDrives can converted to the full product, even after 50 page views, by purchasing an Activation code.

Finally, the DV Companion has been renamed to "Philip Hodgetts' DV Companion - The Intelligent Assistant for Final Cut Pro". The name slight change to the name was made to better communicate that the DV Companion contains the accumulated knowledge and experience of one of the most experienced Final Cut Pro "gurus".

"I've always resisted having my name on the product," says CEO of Intelligent Assistance, Inc and content creators Philip Hodgetts, "but so many people told us that it would make it clearer where the content was coming from and the quality of that content, that eventually I gave in."

Philip Hodgetts' DV Companion - The Intelligent Assistant for Final Cut Pro 3 is shipping now for a new low price of $99. The lower price reflects the conversion of the Troubleshooting Guide into a separate package so that either the DV Companion or the Troubleshooting Guide can be purchased individually. "We wanted to reformat, expand and improve the functionality of the Troubleshooting Guide," says Technology VP Clarke, "This way we can provide a better interface, the ability to update to the latest problems and solutions over the web and more user flexibility."

The improved Troubleshooting Guide is targeted for early in Q2 2002 and will carry a independent price of $69.95 although the combined price for the two improved products will be $149 if purchased together.

New purchases, upgrades and bundles (including bundles with DVCreators.net products) are available from IntelligentAssistance.com. You can request a free TestDrive from the IntelligentAssistance.com website. "We are arranging to distribute free TestDrives through Apple Certified Training Centers, Value Added Resellers and our existing Dealer Network" says CEO Hodgetts. "We want everyone to try out the DV Companion because we know that once you've tried it, you'll want an Activation Code to keep it."


About Intelligent Assistance
Intelligent Assistance, Inc is the leading developer of Electronic Performance Support Systems for Digital Media software and is at the cutting edge of developing new ways to provide what users want to know, when they want to know and in ways that are useful to them.

Intelligent Assistance, Inc is a unique blend of professional experience and theoretical understanding among its tight operating core and has built on the experience and insight gained from more than 20 years of production, postproduction and educational experience across two Continents.

For more information contact Intelligent Assistance, Inc at 19531 Ventura Blvd #3 , Tarzana CA 91356. Phone 818 609 1091; Fax 818 609 1306. info@IntelligentAssistance.com website: www.IntelligentAssistance.com.


Press Contact
Philip Hodgetts, President/CEO (Office) 818 609 1091
Review copies and Reviewer's Guide available. Dealer enquires welcome