THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ Virtual Museum Brings Canadian Works of Art Home
+++ Innovative New Game Hopes to Play With Your Mind
+++ Wired Company Launches Wireless Web Directory
+++ JumpTV Lands in Hot Water with U.S. Broadcasters
+++ TVO to Offer Film Course Online
+++ OSC Web Site Stunt Illustrates Internet Fraud
+++ Urban Music Radio Web Site Scores One Million Hits
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Relax... Canada's New Media Industry Is Alive and Well!
+++ Rogers Internet Division Shuts Site and Sacks 40
+++ Scholarships for Top Gun Teachers at CDIS
///// INFRASTRUCTURE /////
+++ Canada's Finance Minister Keen on E-Government
+++ High-Speed Access May Spell Disaster for Small ISPs
///// MARKETING //////////
+++ Scotiabank to Offer Banking Via Television Sets
///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ New Report on Canadian Data/Internet Market
+++ StatsCan Survey Says 13 Million Canadians Are Wired
[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ DigitalEve Vancouver Happy Hour
+++ IAB Canada Professional Development Seminars
+++ Sheridan New Media Design Graduate Show and Open House
+++ Third Annual Wireless Internet Conference
+++ Canadian New Media Awards
[-- HARD-WIRED: TOUGH TALK FROM A SKEPTIC --]
+++ In Search of Some Respect
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[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ Virtual Museum Brings Canadian Works of Art Home
The notion of taking art to the masses has taken on an
entirely new meaning with the launch of The Virtual Museum
of Canada (VMC) Web site. Minister of Canadian Heritage
Sheila Copps recently inaugurated the site that will
celebrate the stories and treasures that have come to
define Canada over the centuries. "One click and we will
be able to explore exhibits, visit the Web sites of
hundreds of Canadian museums, gain access to an activities
calendar and to a gallery containing over 200,000 images,"
Copps said. The Canadian Government will invest $75
million over the next three years to create and broadcast
Canadian cultural content on the Internet.
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca
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+++ Innovative New Game Hopes to Play With Your Mind
Do you have a few brain cells to spare? The folks at
Electronic Arts (a U.S. company with a large production
studio in Burnaby, B.C.) have decided that since we only
use 12 per cent of our brain, they've got dibs on the
rest. Their new game, Majestic, is being touted as a game
that plays you, rather than the other way around. The
"episodic online entertainment experience set against the
backdrop of a grand and sinister conspiracy" will use "the
Internet as a canvas for its story, weaving the player
through both real and fictional experiences in real-time."
So there. The game will utilize everything from
telephones, fax machines, instant messages, e-mail and
more to blur the line between fiction and reality.
http://www.majestic.ea.com
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+++ Wired Company Launches Wireless Web Directory
wap4itall.com is a handy new Web site devoted to all
things WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), the underlying
syntax of the wireless Internet. It launched recently with
the rather modest goal of becoming "the Yellow Pages of
the WAP." The brainchild of Sharron Swan and Lorna Lyons,
wap4itall.com is a Canadian-owned company situated in the
Kootenay region of B.C., a region, it so happens, that is
not-yet WAP accessible! Says Swan of the challenge: "At
the moment we can't see the [Web] pages we develop unless
we drive to Calgary or Kelowna... or contact our
associates in Europe. In fact, we are so virtual we can't
even see what we're doing!"
http://www.wap4itall.com
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+++ JumpTV Lands in Hot Water with U.S. Broadcasters
JumpTV, the Montreal firm that hopes to succeed where
renegade Webcaster iCraveTV failed, has run afoul of the
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). NAB, a
powerful lobby group that represents the interests of over
1,000 U.S. broadcasters, has filed a motion with the
Canadian government to stop JumpTV's plan to broadcast
television signals over the Internet. Last year, JumpTV
filed an application with the Copyright Board of Canada to
create a new tariff for Internet retransmissions. NAB
claims that JumpTV's technology is untested and fears
there will be widespread leaks of television signals to
the U.S. [About time they got a taste of their own
medicine! -- ED.] (Source: The Globe and Mail)
http://www.jumptv.com
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+++ TVO to Offer Film Course Online
For 27 years, Elwy Yost, the host of TVOntario's Saturday
Night at the Movies, talked to some of Hollywood's most
legendary filmmakers and actors. Now that archive of
material is about to take on a new -- and decidedly modern
-- look as TVO prepares to combine the interviews with
other material to create an online, for-credit film
studies course. Rudy Buttignol, creative head of
documentaries, drama and network for TVO recently told
Playback Magazine that TVO will work with The Film Studies
Association of Canada to create a Web site that "film
students can use for a degree or diploma credit for a
first-year course in film history." "The Web has been
available [to us as an educational broadcaster]," he said,
"but we've never been able to use its enhanced components
to such a great extent until now." (Source: Playback
Magazine)
http://www.tvo.org
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+++ OSC Web Site Stunt Illustrates Internet Fraud
As with most things in life, investors should be aware of
code words that almost certainly spell trouble. According
to The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) the tell-tale
phrases are low risk, variable term and high return. To
warn potential investors about possible Internet scams the
OSC recently took the rather unusual step of setting up a
"fake" investment Web site. Those using the site were only
too happy to supply information about themselves,
including how much money they would be willing to invest.
In fact, in just six weeks, would-be-investors were
prepared to invest over $50,000 through the fake site.
http://168.143.66.214/osc.html
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+++ Urban Music Radio Web Site Scores One Million Hits
To say that Flow 93.5's Web site has exceeded expectations
is certainly an understatement. When Canada's first Urban
music radio station hit the air in February the station
also launched a Web site. Within five weeks the site had
reached the one million hits mark, all with very little
promotion. Flow 93.5's site is averaging about 32,000 hits
a day, with the streaming version of the on-air station
featured as its primary attraction. "We created the site
knowing that people needed an online Urban source, but
even we were surprised when we saw the number of users,"
says Aisha Wickham, Director of Spoken Word & New Media.
http://www.flow935.com
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///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Relax... Canada's New Media Industry Is Alive and Well!
Despite all the high-tech layoffs and overuse of that
pesky "R" word, it would appear that rumours of the demise
of Canada's new media industry have been greatly
exaggerated. During the 30-day nomination period for the
second annual Canadian New Media Awards, event organisers
received over 500 nominations from across the country -
more than double the amount received last year. Companies
and individuals hailing from every province in Canada have
been submitted for their accomplishments in new media.
Entries will be judged online by a selection committee
comprised of over 100 industry professionals from across
the country, and winners will be announced on May 28, 2001.
http://www.cnma.ca
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+++ Rogers Internet Division Shuts Site and Sacks 40
Rogers iMedia has announced it will be laying off 40
people in a restructuring move intended to ensure that
each of its Internet businesses will be profitable within
the next 12 months. [No, that last bit is NOT an April
Fool's joke. - ED.] "We have taken a hard look at our
business and have taken the necessary steps to accelerate
its progress towards profitability," said Brian Segal,
President and CEO, Publishing and Online Services. As part
of the restructuring Rogers iMedia will close its recently
launched Canadian women's Web site, Springboard.ca. Other
(still operating) Web sites in the Rogers iMedia portfolio
include Excite.ca, Electric Library Canada, Quicken.ca,
and Advisor.ca. Rogers iMedia is a division of Rogers
Media.
http://www.rogers.com
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+++ Scholarships for Top Gun Teachers at CDIS
We've all heard about scholarships for students, but
here's one designed just for teachers. B.C. new media
school the Center for Digital Image and Sound (CDIS) is
offering scholarships to experienced teachers who are
"tops in their field." Dubbed "Top Gun Teachers," the CDIS
and Edco scholarship program is a collaborative initiative
designed to get leading trainers involved in educational
technology. The full scholarship is to CDIS's Media Arts
program where, over 12 months, teachers will master
"digital tools designed to produce sound, images,
graphics, animation, streaming media and interactive
content."
http://www.artschool.com/topgun
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///// INFRASTRUCTURE /////
+++ Canada's Finance Minister Keen on E-Government
Finance Minister Paul Martin has said that Canadian
governments "must embrace and invest in electronic
government or risk extending the 'generational' digital
divide." [We're assuming he is including his own
government in that appraisal! - ED.] "Today's young people
take the power of new technologies as a given and they use
it automatically, they use it instinctively," he told a
gathering of mostly government officials. "They expect
government to be as Web-wise and active as they are."
E-government is being touted as laying the foundation for
a fundamental shift in the way governments act and
interact with citizens. (Source: The Globe and Mail)
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+++ High-Speed Access May Spell Disaster for Small ISPs
The fast lane of high-speed Internet access may lead to
disaster for many smaller Internet Service Providers
(ISPs). Although it will soon be technically possible for
smaller ISPs to offer high-speed access via cable or modem
lines, "the high costs and slim profit margins may deter
many from doing so." "We're going to see a pretty big
shakeout in the next couple of years," says Joe Greene,
vice-president of Internet solutions research with IDC
Canada. If the smaller providers, who have a lower base of
customers, don't find it financially feasible to offer
these services, they risk losing customers, Greene added.
(Source: CP)
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///// MARKETING //////////
+++ Scotiabank to Offer Banking Via Television Sets
The Bank of Nova Scotia will become the first Canadian
bank to offer customers access to their accounts via
Rogers Interactive TV. The service will offer standard
banking options, such as checking account balances,
transferring funds and paying bills to those who subscribe
to Rogers Interactive TV. [Good luck trying to skip paying
your cable bill now! - ED.] Michael Lee, vice president
and general manager for Rogers Interactive Services, told
Newsbytes that they have enrolled 140,000 customers since
they launched the service last fall, and that they have
the potential to reach 1.6 million cable subscribers.
(Source: Newsbytes)
http://www.rogers.com
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///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ New Report on Canadian Data/Internet Market
A new report from Convergence Consulting Group provides a
comprehensive assessment of data/Internet access in
Canada. Drawing on over three years of collecting and
assessing data, the report indicates that Bell Canada and
its partners are the clear market leaders, with over 40
per cent of the market; that access sales to businesses
account for over 50 per cent of the market; and that
multiple dwelling units, multiple tenant units and small
buildings have become a target for access providers.
http://www.convergenceonline.com/report1.html
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+++ StatsCan Survey Says 13 Million Canadians Are Wired
A new survey from Statistics Canada indicates that during
2000, an estimated 13 million Canadians, or 53% of those
aged 15 and over, used the Internet at home, at work or at
some other location in the 12 months prior to the survey.
Not surprisingly, this was three times the 1994 rate of 18
per cent. The survey also found that while 11.6 million
Canadians 15 or older were not yet using the Internet in
2000, 27 per cent expressed an interest in doing so. In
another interesting aside, the survey found that about
"three-quarters of the population felt that access to the
Internet should be universal," but there was little
consensus on who should be responsible for said
universality, whether individuals, private sector or
government.
http://www.statcan.ca:80/Daily/English/010326/d010326a.htm
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[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ DigitalEve Vancouver Happy Hour
April 9, 2001 in Vancouver, B.C.
DigitalEve Vancouver holds a co-ed networking event on the
second Monday of each month at Vinnie's Spaghetti Bar at
910 Granville Street. Members of the local new media
community are invited to attend. Please register in
advance at the DigitalEve Vancouver Web site.
http://www.digitalevevancouver.com/events.cfm
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+++ IAB Canada Professional Development Seminars
April 18, 2001 in Toronto, ON
IAB Canada is launching a series of professional
development seminars to help educate and inform the
advertising community about the latest issues and
opportunities in the Internet world and how it directly
relates to their business. The first seminar will address
Online Privacy, followed by others during the year. The
seminars will be open to members and non-members of IAB
Canada. For more information, please call Antonella
Armenti at (416) 410-0366 or contact iabevents@yahoo.ca.
http://www.iabcanada.com
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+++ Sheridan New Media Design Graduate Show and Open House
April 25, 2001 in Oakville, ON
This annual showcase provides a rare opportunity to view
the Web design work of Sheridan College's 25 graduates and
see the new SCAET (Sheridan Centre for Animation and
Emerging Technologies) facilities. For more information,
please contact Gillian Chubb at
gillian.chubb@sheridanc.on.ca.
http://www.sheridanc.on.ca
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+++ Third Annual Wireless Internet Conference
April 25-26, 2001 in Toronto, ON
Gain first-hand knowledge and insights from the companies
who have built the wireless industry and who are driving
the innovation, ideas and technology.
http://www.developer.bellmobility.ca
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+++ Canadian New Media Awards
May 28, 2001 in Toronto, ON
The nomination period for this year's Canadian New Media
Awards (CNMA) is now over, and organisers of the event are
pleased to report that the response to the call for
nominations was tremendous. Over 500 submissions were
received from across Canada, more than double the amount
from last year. The winners of this year's Canadian New
Media Awards will be announced at a special gala awards
ceremony to be held on May 28, 2001 in Toronto, Ontario.
For more information, visit the Canadian New Media Awards
Web site http://www.cnma.ca or
e-mail: info@cnma.ca.
The Canadian New Media Awards would not be possible without
the support of its generous sponsors:
Hewlett-Packard Company, a silver sponsor of the CNMA, is
a leading global provider of computing and imaging
solutions and services. Hewlett-Packard is focused on
making technology and its benefits accessible to
individuals and businesses through simple appliances,
useful e-services and solutions for an Internet
infrastructure that's always on.
http://www.hp.com
Envoy, a bronze sponsor of the CNMA, is an international
company, committed to delivering "best-of-breed" services
in each of its core disciplines: design, marketing and
technology. Through the convergence of its core
disciplines, the Envoy Communications Group of companies
provides innovative business building solutions for
marquee, international clients that include Adidas-
Salomon, BASF, CIBC, Castrol, CDNOW, FedEx, Hewlett
Packard, Honda, Microsoft, Panasonic, Pizza Hut,
Prudential (USA), Safeway, SalomonSmithBarney, Sprint
Canada, Steelcase, TD Waterhouse (USA) and Wal-Mart.
http://www.envoy.to
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[-- HARD-WIRED: TOUGH TALK FROM A SKEPTIC --]
+++ In Search of Some Respect
By 'The Hacker'
bitstreamhacker@bigfoot.com
Have you seen the new print ads for the Sympatico Web
site? I have, and I nearly puked. For reasons I cannot
fathom, the folks responsible for marketing Sympatico.ca
have decided to promote it as, get this, "The search
engine for Canadians." Now I don't know about you, but
anyone who is even remotely familiar with Sympatico.ca
(a group that apparently doesn't include their marketing
folks) knows that it is way, way more than a search
engine. To position Sympatico.ca as a "search engine" is
idiotic and confusing, since one look a the Sympatico.ca
home page shows it's nothing like an AltaVista or Google.
Sure, Sympatico.ca comes from a troubled childhood, having
been raised in an environment of endlessly changing
corporate presidents and, in my opinion, way too much
'strategic re-vectoring' (read: tinkering) by its telco
parents, but it has emerged relatively unscathed to become
one of the crown jewels of the Canadian Internet scene.
Growing pains aside, Sympatico.ca is a pioneering Canadian
Internet portal and the home page (and home base) for
millions of Canadians. It's also one of the few truly
national Web sites (alongside CBC.ca and GlobeandMail.com)
you can rely upon to get tons of high-quality Canadian
content and services (including, yes, a search feature).
While it's great to (finally) see some money being spent
to promote it, Sympatico.ca deserves a more accurate --
and respectful -- tagline.
/////
'The Hacker' is a veteran of the Canadian interactive
scene who, for obvious reasons, wishes to remain
anonymous. The statements and opinions expressed in Hard
Wired are solely those of the author and not BitStream's
publisher, its affiliates or advertisers. So don't kill
the messenger, OK?
Want to get something off your chest? We welcome opinion
pieces about Canada's interactive industry. Please submit
your 250-word items to bitstream@multimediator.com.
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