Genealogy.com Ships New Version 8.0 of its Top-Rated Family Tree Maker® Software

With Over 4.5 Million Copies Sold, Latest Version Offers New Publishing Features That Make it Even Easier to Build and Share Your Family Tree

September 19, 2000 (FREMONT, CALIFORNIA) — Genealogy.com, LLC today announced the release of Family Tree Maker 8.0, the latest version of its #1-selling genealogy program. Family Tree Maker 8.0 offers a host of publishing tools, consolidated into a new publishing center. Users can create heirloom-quality printed family books and professional-quality family home pages that showcase family trees and related information. Built-in wizards and templates make information entry, management, research and editing as easy as answering a few questions or clicking a button. Family Tree Maker 8.0 is offered in a Deluxe 24-CD set, Deluxe 35-CD set, and a Collector's Edition which retail for $59.99, $79.99 and $99.99, respectively. All versions include genealogically valuable records on CD such as immigration, Census, marriage, birth and military data.

"We are constantly improving our programs to make genealogy research easier and more enjoyable," said Rob Armstrong, Genealogy.com CEO. "Family Tree Maker 8.0 makes everyone an expert whether it's doing research, publishing family tree information or creating designer-quality Family Home Pages on the Web."

Expanded New Features

Family Tree Maker 8.0 has new features to help users research their ancestors, create heirloom-quality printouts and create a family home page to share. Key new features include:

Publishing Center: The publishing center consolidates Family Tree Maker's array of publishing tools and makes it simple to create heirloom-quality family books and personal family home pages that look professionally designed. The publishing center offers the following tools:

• Create-a-Home-Page Wizard guides users step-by-step through the process of creating a family home page on the Web. Once the user answers a few questions, the wizard automatically takes the information from the family file and converts it into a personalized, easy to navigate Web site complete with pictures, an index of individuals, and an internet family tree.

• Edit-Your-Home Page Wizard allows for quick and easy updates of family home pages. A special e-mail feature lets users notify family members on their personal e-mail list when the page has been updated.

• Add a Tree or Report to the Family Home Page helps to customize the family home page even further by adding a family tree or favorite reports with a few simple clicks. This wizard takes users through a three-step process for selecting and adding personalized printouts created in Family Tree Maker.

• Create a Family Book makes it easy to assemble family trees, reports, maps, and stories into an heirloom-quality book, which can be posted online or printed for sharing at a family reunion. Family books can be customized with a variety of borders, colors, fonts, captions and photos and organized with a table of contents and index, all automatically created by the wizard.

FamilyFinder(r) Tips: For researchers who are not sure where to look next, one click of a button in Family Tree Maker 8.0 reviews what the user has already entered and suggests where to research next. Sources include vital records, national and international archives, and a list of online resources. In addition pre-formatted letters make it easy to contact agencies and request information.

FamilyFinder Report: To make the user's search for ancestors as effortless as possible, the Family Finder Report utilizes a star rating system to automatically prioritize search results. A five-star match is 95% likely to contain information about the researcher's family. A five-star source will also state the name of the oldest ancestor that appears in the source, their relationship to the searcher, plus additional relatives to add to his or her family tree from this source.

Find and Replace: Users can quickly make corrections throughout the Family File with this new feature. Family Tree Maker 8.0's new find and replace feature makes the process of correcting misspellings much easier.

Improved Family Group Sheets: A wider variety of options allow users to include much more information on the family group sheet. This standard form becomes a more useful reference, easy to bring along when you do research away from home.

About Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker is the easiest and most complete resource for building your family tree. The #1 selling and favorite family history program for over a decade, more people trust their family history to Family Tree Maker than to any other genealogy program. Family Tree Maker features sophisticated research tools, the widest variety of heirloom-quality printouts, easy-to-use home page wizards, and the largest Internet genealogy community. Since 1989, Family Tree Maker has won reviews and awards for excellence from leading industry publications such as PC Magazine and Family PC. It sets the standard for quality, value, and ease of use.

Pricing, Availability and System Requirements

The Family Tree Maker 8.0 Deluxe 35-CD set is available now for an estimated street price of $79.99. Upgrades from previous versions of Family Tree Maker are available for $29.99. All are available in retail stores worldwide, through www.genealogy.com, or by calling 800-548-1806.

Family Tree Maker 8.0 requires Windows 95 or Windows 98, Pentium 90 minimum (166 recommended) or higher IBM PC or compatible, 16 MB RAM minimum (32 MB recommended) 100 MB of free hard disk space, 2X CD-ROM drive or faster, 640x480 display, 256 colors. Works with most popular printers (monochrome and color) supported by Windows. Modem for Internet functionality (28.8 kbps recommended); video-capture board and soundboard (for video and audio clips); scanner (for digitizing images); and digital camera are optional. Internet Service Provider account required for Web site connection. User is responsible for all Internet access fees and phone charges. As with all Windows programs, a faster processor, more RAM and more free disk space will enhance performance.

About Genealogy.com, LLC

Genealogy.com, LLC was launched with $37.5 million in funding from major media corporations in November 1999. Genealogy.com, which previously operated under the corporate umbrella of Broderbund Software, is acknowledged as a decade-long leader in the genealogy technology space. The company is based in Fremont, California, and has approximately 90 employees. Information on Genealogy.com and its services and resources can be found at www.genealogy.com. All of its award-winning products and services are offered online and through direct sales; its software programs are also distributed at retail by the Broderbund Software unit of Mattel Interactive.

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