SMART's most popular software now compatible with all three major operating systems

Dubai, UAE--January 21, 2009 -- SMART Technologies has announced that SMART Notebook 10 software is now available for the latest core distributions of the Linux® operating system. SMART is currently the only interactive whiteboard manufacturer to provide full versions of its whiteboarding software for all three major operating systems - Linux, Windows® and Mac.

SMART Notebook 10 software now supports five core Linux distributions, including Ubuntu 8.04, openSUSE™ 10.03, Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 5.1, Fedora™ Core 9, and Debian™ 4.0 (Etch) r3. SMART Notebook ships with all SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards, Sympodium™ interactive pen displays, AirLiner™ wireless slates and SMART Document Cameras.

SMART Notebook software has been available for the Linux operating system since 1999, and this release marks the sixth iteration that is Linux compatible. Aside from minor variations to accommodate different development languages for each platform, SMART Notebook software for Linux offers all the core features available to Windows and Mac users. For example, teachers and students can search the software's Gallery for learning resources, write in freehand on a SMART Board interactive whiteboard and then use the handwriting recognition feature to turn handwriting into digital text. A large variety of file types can also be easily dragged and dropped onto and off SMART Notebook pages. SMART Notebook for Linux is as intuitive and flexible for delivering lessons as the Windows and Mac versions. SMART Notebook for Linux is also currently available in 12 languages. Italian, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish were recently added, reflecting growing worldwide adoption of the software. In early 2009, SMART will support five additional languages - Albanian, Macedonian, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Valencian.

"The Linux operating system continues to gain in popularity, with about 29 million users around the world," says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's CEO. "Many SMART customers are using the Linux platform, and SMART is committed to ensuring our software products work effectively for these users."

Jeevan Bhingarkar, Director, Intmark Distribution, SMART's authorised Middle East distributor, said, "Even in the Middle East, Linux as an operating system is growing in popularity, which makes SMART's latest announcement about the Notebook 10 software all the more significant." 

New features of SMART Notebook 10 software:

Table Tool - Easily create a table from the SMART Notebook toolbar, and then insert, or drag and drop text, images and objects into any cell. Add or delete individual cells to create asymmetric tables.

Object Animation - Animate any SMART Notebook object with effects such as fading in, flying in or spinning.

Magic Pen - Use this tool to spotlight, magnify or zoom in on an image, or write notes that will disappear in 10 seconds.

Active Alignment - Format a SMART Notebook page to accurately align objects to other objects.

Shape Pen - Draw a freehand shape on the SMART Board interactive whiteboard, and SMART Notebook recognizes and perfects it.

Themes ? Create design features such as font, background color and images, and apply them to SMART Notebook pages.

Page Groups ? Organize the pages of a SMART Notebook file into groups. Drag pages into the groups, add new pages and show one group at a time in the Page Sorter.

Properties ? Use the new Properties Tab to change an object's line style, fill effects and animation options, all from one accessible location.

Enhanced support ? An updated teachers' resource hub is directly accessible through SMART Notebook's Welcome Center. The hub contains access to hundreds of lesson activities and other resources to help teachers easily create lessons.

New languages ? In addition to English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Basque, Gaelic and Catalan, support for Italian, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish have recently been added. Albanian, Macedonian, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Valencian will be available soon.

Enterprise Tools ? SMART Notebook 10 includes a group of tools that makes it easier for system administrators to install the software on networked computers and monitor its use.

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About SMART
SMART Technologies invented the touch-sensitive SMART Board interactive whiteboard in 1991. It was just the first of many innovative, easy-to-use products that have earned SMART worldwide recognition and made it the undisputed global leader in the interactive whiteboard product category. Its strategic alliance with Intel® Corporation and strong commitment to research and development has accelerated SMART's growing line of technology solutions. Thanks to their simplicity and powerful ability to connect people, SMART products have put collaboration and learning at the fingertips of millions around the world.

For more information, please contact:
Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications
P.O. Box 23345, Dubai UAE
Tel : +971 4 3988901
Fax : +971 4 3988941
Email : info@orientplanet.com    
Website: www.orientplanet.com  

© 2009 SMART Technologies ULC. SMART Board, Sympodium, AirLiner, smarttech and the SMART logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies ULC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other third-party company names and products are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

© Press Release 2009