Escient Convergence Corp. Introduces TuneBase 200

13-Sep-01

Escient Convergence Corp., a leading force in developing innovative products that combine consumer electronics with the Internet to enhance home entertainment, introduced the TuneBaseô 200. The latest in the line of state-of-the-art music-control systems, TuneBase 200 enables users to instantly access their entire CD collection through a simple, yet powerful, graphical interface, which can be displayed on any standard television, and is compatible with touch-panels and leading industry control and audio distribution systems. The product provides the most convenient and technologically advanced CD access and management available today, at an accessible price point.TuneBase 200 leverages the existing physical CD music collections that many consumers have built over the past nineteen years and manages, catalogs and recognizes the contents of entire music collections. The product also offers a powerful interface with the popular Escient graphic color scheme, allowing consumers to easily find, select and play any CD in their collection by name, rather than number, with the simple touch of a button on a handheld remote control. Additionally, TuneBase 200 offers three ports for full RS-232 external and touch-panel control. TuneBase 200 is also compatible with a variety of leading changers including Sony, Denon, Pioneer, Integra by Onkyo, Marantz and Kenwood. The TuneBase 200 is now capable of mixing and matching different changer brands on one unit to accommodate over 1,200 CDs. This is the first model in the TuneBase line with this capability.TuneBase 200 adds several compelling, new, dealer-requested features including the ability to connect to the Internet for disc recognition services, and software updates over not only a normal phone line, as past TuneBase models have, but also an ISP, HPNA Home Network, optional Ethernet connection. The product also encompasses the most advanced platform technologies and architecture, being the first of two new products from Escient to reside on a completely embedded platform.Additionally, TuneBase 200, along with Escient's new FireBallô, delivers upon the Escient vision of providing an enhanced entertainment experience with in-depth information about artists and their music. Through a close partnership with Escient's sister company, OpenGlobeô, TuneBase 200 provides new OpenGlobe services, which give users the ability to look up an artist's discography and influences, to explore and purchase new music, and to gain music recommendations based upon their preexisting CD collection. These powerful services also help music lovers to easily fill gaps in their music collection. The OpenGlobe entertainment services are expected to expand in the first quarter of 2002.Bob Pankratz, President of Escient Convergence, said, ""This product further builds upon our past four years of defining and leading the music management category. With the growing awareness and demand for easier access to CDs, we are now in a position to best address a broader base of music lovers who have heard about TuneBase. This model has specifically been designed and priced to be the ideal CD source for today's music enthusiasts. Capable of addressing the greatest number of new clients and installations, TuneBase 200 successfully removes cost barriers for Escient dealers and customers, while still delivering the highest quality, leading-edge technology, and a multitude of user-friendly features.""TuneBase 200 has an integrated Escient SX-300 interface for Sony changers on board the product and integrates a 3x1 digital audio switch inside, offering a heightened level of convergence by removing the need for additional boxes and adapters. The product comes with a blue, back-lit handheld IR remote, and Escient's ETP-1000 high resolution touch panel and wireless IR keyboard are offered as optional accessories.TuneBase 200 will be available in December 2001 at a suggested retail price of $1,199.For more information about Escient, visit www.escient.com.

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