A
touch screen system combines the function of a jukebox,
an MP3 player and a videoke machine
After
being involved in the music business for 35 years,
20 of which were spent heading the music retail chain
Odyssey Records, former radio disc jockey Bambi Fonacier
had amassed a formidable collection of CDs. Thing
was, it became daunting to physically look through
thousands of titles. He was also frustrated by the
lack of listening choices when he browsed through
current music stores.
Without
a ready solution in sight, Fonacier decided to create
his own. He combined the functions of a jukebox, an
MP3 player and a karaoke or videoke machine, and invented
the Touch Music Video home entertainment system or
TMV. The first of its kind, TMV’s music and
video system is integrated in a single touch screen
monitor.
Stores
more than 20,000 songs
It
features a graphic display of your personal CD collection
plus a range of onscreen options including CD classification.
There’s also an alphabetical search function
by song, genre or album title. You can create your
own playlists, or opt to “shuffle” or
have your collection played in random order.
Unlike
conventional MP3s which store as many as 5,000 songs,
TMV is capable of holding more than 20,000 songs.
In addition, you can download your collection into
your MP3 player almost instantaneously. Compared to
a conventional download from, say, Apple iTunes, which
takes from 2 to 3 minutes per song, TMV loads your
MP3 player in 1.5 to 2 seconds. It also has a CD burning
capability.
The
complete system, with the lowest-end model costing
around $1,800, comes with the software, complete hardware,
a 17-inch touch screen flat panel LCD, 120GB hard
disk, 512MB of memory, free uploading of up to 750
personal CDs, as well as all the features listed above.
A
second product, a new project
TMV
also has a second product, the CD Listening Station
with a graphic interface of CD covers that change
every five seconds. Suitable for music retail stores
and service-oriented establishments, the TMV Listening
Station has been awarded a Global Excellence Award
and the National Product Quality Excellence Award
for being the most innovative entertainment system
and listening station technology.
While
TMV just launched in November, Fonacier is onto his
next ground-breaking project – launching Pinoytunes.net
in February. The website aims to make the latest Pinoy
music available on the Internet which can be download
for P25 or 50 cents a song. It’s also the springboard
for Fonacier’s bigger dream: getting the entire
Pinoy pop music catalogue online. Fonacier reveals
that this early Ivory Records and Vicor Music Corporation
have agreed to support his grand ambition. Vicor holds
the catalogue of the Juan dela Cruz Band and Basil
Valdez, among others. With 240 million music downloads
the world over, Fonacier is confident Pinoytunes will
cut into that potentially lucrative pie.
To
contact TMZ, email tmv05@touchmusicvideo.com.ph or
visit their site at www.touchmusicvideo.com.ph. You
can also call (632) 726.8249, 724.5308, (63) 915.900.7162
and 917.479.9594. TMZ is located at 1504 Annapolis
Wilshire Plaza Bldg., 11 Annapolis St., Greenhills,
San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines. |
