CNM Short Takes

ClarificationsA brief item in the November 16 issue of Canadian NEW MEDIA incorrectly stated that Macromedia was responsible for the software development behind the CBC ZeD nomination for an Emmy award. The software development was performed by New Toronto Group. We apologize for the error. The November 16 issue of Canadian NEW MEDIA online was initially posted without including a full-length article about the video games industry and the Montreal Games Summit, which was included in the print and PDF versions of the newsletter. That article is now available online. Beer.com T&A attracts two million in ten daysA new "virtual bartender" feature on the Beer.com web site attracted 2.3 million visitors in its first 10 days, with over 35 million page hits. The attraction features video footage of a woman who responds to visitor requests to perform various actions, including some as arcane as "fight like a Jedi." Beer.com says the visitors were drawn to the site after an email to just 10 people was forwarded quickly to millions. "The Virtual Bartender shows what the Internet can really do," says Paul MacLaren, director of Beer.com. "For too long, the web has mimicked other media such as magazines and television. Interacting with video by typing in commands is something unique to the web and is one vital component for its future as an entertainment medium. The Virtual Bartender encourages repeat traffic and prolonged stays on the site, which is good news for us and our advertisers," he continues. Sarbakan, Breakthrough New Media to develop gameQuebec City-based Sarbakan and Toronto’s Breakthrough New Media have inked a deal to develop a downloadable multiplayer game inspired by Breakthrough Film and Television’s six-part documentary series on the Second World War, For King & Country. The game is scheduled to release a gold master, or final beta version, next spring. The turn-based gameplay will emphasize strategy and stealth/action objectives, according to a media release. Etraffic named a British Columbia exporter of the yearVancouver-based Etraffic Solutions Inc. has won a BC Exporter of the Year award for demonstrating outstanding contributions to the growth of international trade and to the economy of British Columbia. Sasktel, Aliant to offer Puretracks-powered storesAliant and SaskTel are the latest two telcos to offer white label music download services using a back-end from Moontaxi Media Inc.’s Puretracks. Both sites will feature local artists, free 30-second previews and prices starting at $0.79 per track, or $7.99 per album. EA Canada sponsors student national art competitionElectronic Arts Canada has launched a contest for graduating post-secondary students to create a five-minute three-dimensional animated short in contention for a $25,000 cash prize. The shorts will be judged by EA Canada staff. Further, a matching grant will be made to the winning student’s school. Apple launches iTunes store in Canada on December 2The long-promised iTunes music store from Apple Corp. was launched on December 2 with all of the same features as its worldwide counterparts. Apple had promised that the store would be available in November, despite the company not having deals with the record labels or music publishers and songwriters. It was not known at press time if those rights had been secured. Further details will follow in an upcoming issue of Canadian NEW MEDIA on the copyright dimensions of this story. Musicrypt donates DMDS system to deliver Live AidMusicrypt Inc. has partnered with Warner Music Canada to deliver key Live Aid tracks to radio stations across Canada. Warner has just released footage and tracks from the massive July 15, 1985 Live Aid concert, some of which will now be distributed to radio stations using Musicrypt’s digital media distribution system. Revenues from the sale of DVDs and music tracks of the concert footage will support the Band Aid Trust. Shaw says speed trumps other considerations for InternetShaw Communications Inc. says speed is the key factor behind consumer choices for Internet service. The company says 72% of 1,341 respondents to a survey conducted by Ipsos-ASI cite speed as an important factor in their decision to choose Shaw as their ISP. 97% of customers use email, and spend an average of 7.4 hours a week on the Internet. Research (89%) and general entertainment (58%) were also popular uses. Ontario police arrest suspect in Internet luring caseMembers of the Ontario Provincial Police child pornography section arrested a 73-year-old Ottawa man on November 26 in connection with a two-month long Internet luring investigation. The man was arrested at a hotel in Brockville ON where he believed he was to meet a 13-year-old male. Officers seized three computer systems, computer peripherals and CD ROMs from a Meadowlands Drive property in Ottawa. Alex Frye of Ottawa is charged with using a computer to communicate to a person under the age of 14 years to facilitate the commission of an offence, including sexual interference, and invitation to sexual touching. Digital Rooster launches new Internet hosting serviceToronto-based Digital Rooster.com Ltd., which made its name hosting and selling development services to adult web site operators, is now launching a similar service to a more general audience aimed at small- and medium-sized enterprises in the United States. Rooster has an unnamed marketing partner involved with the initiative. Canadian Internet body consults on new WHOIS policyThe Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is proposing to offer greater privacy safeguards to all .ca domain name holders in line with new Canadian privacy laws. CIRA invites stakeholders to review its new policy on its web site at www.cira.ca. Under the plan, only a small amount of information about domain name holders would be available to the general public using the WHOIS lookup function. CIRA says the new protections, if adopted, would be greater than those for domains such as .com.

CNM Short Takes

News | 12/06/2004 5:00 am EST

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