THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Last Call for 2002 Canadian New Media Awards Nominations!
+++ Rating North America's Least Expensive High-Tech Cities
+++ Rogers Goes Hunting for Bandwidth Hogs
+++ Canadians Go Online for Drugs
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ New Funding from Canadian Heritage
+++ Will Virtual Reality Replace Cadavers?
///// MARKETING //////////
+++ Grocery Gateway Adds New Products
///// INFRASTRUCTURE //////////
+++ CANARIE Part of Next-Generation Internet
+++ Alberta Creates SuperNet Broadband
///// DEALS //////////
+++ VisualFrenzy Scores Online Video Deal
///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ Canadian Data Market Continues to Grow
///// LATEST LINGO //////////
+++ Have you Been Up-tilted Recently?
[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ The 4th Dimension: Genesthetics
+++ Information Highways 2002 Workshops
+++ Internet Marketing Strategists
+++ Canadian New Media Awards
[-- GEEKERS' CORNER: EDITORIAL --]
+++ Gremlin in the Machine?
Return to Table of Contents
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Last Call for 2002 Canadian New Media Awards Nominations!
The nomination period for the 2002 Canadian New Media Awards is
drawing to a close. Have you submitted a nomination yet? There's no
need to be shy! Let the world know about your amazing achievements
and those of your friends and colleagues. The organizers of the
Canadian New Media Awards especially want to hear about nominees for
categories such as Lifetime Achievement, Graduate of the Year,
Employer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Programmer of the
Year. A nomination form and full explanation of each of the award
categories is available at the Canadian New Media Awards Web site
located at http://www.cnma.ca.
Nominations close March 18, 2002 at 4:00 PM EST, so submit a nomination today!
http://www.cnma.ca/nom_form.html
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Rating North America's Least Expensive High-Tech Cities
Which North American city would you guess would rate as the least
expensive to run a high-tech business? According to a survey by US
research firm Boyd Co., the top prize goes to Calgary. With an
estimated annual business cost of USD $27.7, Calgary topped the next
best, Ottawa ($30.4 million) and Toronto ($31.6 million). These three
centres were cheaper than all of the 16 US cities in the survey, with
Baltimore rated as the least-expensive US city at $34.4 million per
year. The most expensive US city was, naturally, San Francisco at $43
million annually. (Source: Silicon Valley North)
http://www.siliconvalleynorth.com
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Rogers Goes Hunting for Bandwidth Hogs
After many months of sporadic email service, some of Rogers Cable
customers may have found themselves pining for the good old days of
empty mailboxes. In its fervor to seek out "high speed Internet hogs"
Rogers recently sent out email notices threatening to disconnect
thousands of legitimate users. The emails, according to the Toronto
Star, were sent to anyone "suspected of running servers on their
computers." Rogers now claims that one per cent of its high speed
customers are responsible for up to 30 per cent of its traffic and
conceded that the "wording of that email left something to be
desired." (Source: Toronto Star)
http://www.rogers.com/english/corporate/press/press_releases.html
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Canadians Go Online for Drugs
A Globe and Mail-CTV investigation has revealed that Canadians can buy
a vast array of medical drugs online with &qout;virtual impunity." The
drugs, including "human growth hormone, steroids, narcotic
painkillers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, antibiotics, weight-loss
pills, cancer treatments, Viagra, birth control pills and acne
medication" were purchased online by reporters. The items were then
delivered to Canada via mail. Even items deemed illegal in Canada
were easily accessible. (Source: The Globe and Mail)
Return to Table of Contents
************ Please Support Our Advertisers ***************
NEED an Oracle DBA, Biz Dev Director, or Senior Producer?
LOOK NO FURTHER! PixelScout fills the tough jobs.
MultiMediator PixelScout ... 'Great People - Great Careers'
email info@pixelscout.com or call (416) 410-7704
http://www.pixelscout.com
************ Please Support Our Advertisers ***************
Return to Table of Contents
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ New Funding from Canadian Heritage
Canadian Heritage has launched a series of initiatives over the past
two years to encourage the development of Canadian cultural content on
the Internet, including the Partnerships Fund and the Canadian Memory
Fund. These two programs, along with many others, made up the
Canadian Digital Cultural Content Initiative (CDCCI). Toronto-based
interactive brand solutions firm Delvinia Inc. is currently in the
midst of holding industry briefings across the country on behalf of
Canadian Heritage to provide the industry with information on the
Canadian Culture Online Program. Cities where briefings are taking
place throughout March include Toronto, Moncton, Halifax, Winnipeg,
Edmonton, Vancouver and Montreal. The presentations, delivered by
Ren Bouchard, Director General, New Media Content, Canadian Heritage,
provide information on how these funds will be used to increase
Canadian culture online. For a copy of Mr. Bouchard's presentation,
click on the link below:
http://www.delvinia.com/ccop.html
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Will Virtual Reality Replace Cadavers?
An odd question, to be sure, but the answer may well be... yes.
According to an article in The Globe and Mail, the University of
Calgary's 3D models of cells and organisms could one day preclude the
use of cadavers and lab animals for research and training. The $6
million facility - known officially as Sun Center of Excellence for
Visual Genomics - "uses Java 3D technology to project realistic images
on the walls of a cubic room, which measures 2.5 metres on all sides,
known by its trademark name, the CAVE." CAVE was designed by
Fakespace Systems of Kitchener, Ontario. (Source: The Globe and Mail)
http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/unicomm/news/Feb_02/genomics.htm
Return to Table of Contents
///// MARKETING //////////
+++ Grocery Gateway Adds New Products
First they offered milk, bread and eggs at 1950s prices. Then they
outdid Warhol by offering Campbell's Tomato Soup for only 9 cents.
Now the popular and award-winning online food retailer is selling and
delivering alcoholic beverages. So far the list includes a variety of
domestic and imported wines, beers, spirits and aperitifs. The LCBO
products can only be delivered Tuesday through Saturday, during LCBO
retail hours of operation and an $8 delivery fee is applied to all
orders. To quote Grocery Gateway's tagline, now this is progress.
http://www.grocerygateway.com
Return to Table of Contents
///// INFRASTRUCTURE //////////
+++ CANARIE Part of Next-Generation Internet
Industry leaders recently announced the formation of the Global
Terabit Research Network (GTRN) an international partnership charged
with establishing a "a true world-wide next generation Internet to
interconnect national and multinational high speed research and
education networks." The partnership will include Internet2 in the US
and CANAIRE in Canada, along with partners in Europe and the Asia
Pacific. Global availability of services such as quality of service,
multicast and IPv6 are an important prerequisite for a truly converged
and scalable global research network," said Andrew Bjerring, President
and CEO of CANARIE. (Source: CAnet-3-NEWS)
http://www.indiana.edu/~gtrn
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Alberta Creates SuperNet Broadband
It is a rare combination of government and private industry joining
forces for the common good of everyone. Alberta's SuperNet will one
day see broadband Internet access made available to "every hospital,
library, school, and provincial government office in Alberta - some
4,700 facilities in 422 communities." It will also allow ISPs to
effectively tap into the network, thereby allowing them to offer
remote areas affordable high-speed Internet access. It is expected
that the massive network should be operational in about three years.
(Source: Cisco IQ)
http://business.cisco.com/app/tree.taf?asset_id=83016
Return to Table of Contents
///// DEALS //////////
+++ VisualFrenzy Scores Online Video Deal
Toronto's VisualFrenzy Media, a provider of streaming marketing videos
to the lodging industry, has announced a new milestone with MeriStar,
the largest independent hotel management company in the US.
VisualFrenzy will produce and distribute streaming marketing videos
for more than half of MeriStar's 120 full-service properties,
including Sheraton, Hilton, and Marriott properties throughout North
America. "The 50 percent penetration milestone with MeriStar is
indicative of the increasing importance of streaming videos as a hotel
marketing tool and of the value of VisualFrenzy's product and service
offering," said Hugh Agro, president and CEO of VisualFrenzy
http://visualfrenzy.com/cgi-bin/dynamic?page=press03042002
Return to Table of Contents
///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ Canadian Data Market Continues to Grow
Convergence Consulting has released its latest survey of the Canadian
market entitled The Canadian Data/Internet Market report. The study
shows that the market for access grew by 17 per cent in 2001, a rate
that they expect will be duplicated both this year and next. The
study also found that residential high-speed Internet access continues
to make strong revenue gains and also concluded that although Internet
dial accounts will continue to decline, the failure of free Internet
access should slow such losses. (Source: Convergence Consulting)
http://www.convergenceonline.com/report1.html
Return to Table of Contents
///// LATEST LINGO //////////
+++ Have you Been Up-tilted Recently?
British workers, much like workers everywhere, are finding very little
to cheer about in their new year pay packets. But many are finding
themselves the proud owners of bigger job titles in lieu of bigger pay
cheques. Called 'up-titling,' a receptionist becomes "Head of Verbal
Telecommunications" and a window cleaner would become "Optical
Illuminator Enhancer." (Source: REUTERS)
Return to Table of Contents
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ The 4th Dimension: Genesthetics
March 20, 2002 in Toronto, ON
DEsign Exchange
The Canadian Film Centre's Interactive Arena presents Joe Davis
who will discuss his latest projects in the field of genesthetics.
http://www.interactivearena.ca
Return to Table of Contents
+++ +++ Information Highways 2002 Workshops
March 25-27, 2002 in Toronto, ON
These free workshops are about the complex business of delivering
dynamic content that creates real value for knowledge workers and
their enterprises.
http://www.informationhighways.net/conf/2002/workshops.html
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Internet Marketing Strategists
April 2-4, 2002 in Vancouver, BC
The fifth International Internet Marketing Conference will discuss
ways businesses and entrepreneurs can build their brand and sales
through the Web.
http://www.internetmarketingconference.com
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Canadian New Media Awards
May 27, 2002 in Toronto, ON
Bluma Appel Theatre, Saint Lawrence Centre
The nomination period for the 2002 Canadian New Media Awards has
almost ended! Visit the Web site to nominate your colleagues,
friends and even yourself for any of 12 categories!
http://www.cnma.ca
The Canadian New Media Awards would like to thank two of its Bronze
Sponsors, Macromedia and RBC Royal Bank:
Macromedia's mission is to make the development of dynamic content
more efficient, more affordable, and more accessible to millions of
customers. With products that range from Web development and graphics
creation to server software that powers innovative Internet
businesses, Macromedia enables its customers to realize what the Web
can be. For more information about Macromedia, please visit:
http://www.macromedia.ca
RBC Royal Bank is the leading financial institution serving the needs
of Canadian film, television and digital media producers. Services
include production financing, tax credit financing, equipment
loans/leases, foreign exchange and interest rate management, and
investment and cash management services. In addition, RBC Financial
Group offers a full range of media and entertainment financing
products including asset based lending, subordinated debt, venture
capital and investment banking. To learn more email kbi.media@rbc.com
or visit the RBC Royal Bank Web site at:
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/kbi
Return to Table of Contents
************ Please Support Our Advertisers ***************
"WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT?"
Get the job YOU want! Call PixelScout. (416) 410-7704
MultiMediator PixelScout ... 'Great People - Great Careers'
email info@pixelscout.com or call (416) 410-7704
http://www.pixelscout.com
************ Please Support Our Advertisers ***************
Return to Table of Contents
010011101001000101010101011100111010010010010011100100010001001110101
[-- GEEKERS' CORNER: EDITORIAL --]
+++ Gremlin In the Machine?
By Bart Steward
bsteward@delvinia.com
What's that you say? Computer problems got you down? You've run your
anti-virus software, come up clean and your PCs still flaking out on
you?
It might be Gremlins.
Yeah, that's right, I said Gremlins. They have names too, like VX2,
Aureate and TSADBOT. See, Gremlins. I told you so.
Actually, those "gremlins" are really a handful of the sixty or so
spyware programs currently being tracked by Lavasoft. More on them
later.
I first picked up on the buzz around spyware about a year ago. A
friend complained to me that his new thousand MHz PC was acting
strangely. After a little sleuthing and some help from a program
called Ad-Aware, I tracked the problem to 126 spyware components
installed on his computer. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I
used Ad-aware to delete the offending bits. His computer now runs
fine.
Over the last six months I've lost track of how many computers I've
ruthlessly blasted Gremlins from. Bang, bang! Die you scum-sucking
little beasts!
I recently started asking myself why the problem has begun escalating
so quickly. A year ago, the problem wasn't nearly so prevalent. As
it turns out, the answer is quite simple: money.
Last year when the economy started circling the drain, various
software developers began searching for new ways to bolster their
faltering revenues. The idea is simple. You install their software
free of charge in exchange for allowing them to track you online.
They then, of course, sell the information to the highest bidder.
What's that you say? You never agreed to be shadowed through
cyberspace? Actually, you did. Read the fine print in your license
agreements. Under the cryptic legalese, behind the technical jargon,
it turns out that you gave Big Brother permission to sneak a peek.
More often than not, spyware components are installed under a veil of
misdirection and confusing half-truths. In the case of one spyware
program, which up until a few months ago was being installed alongside
a popular file sharing program, Web-based forms were being
indiscriminately scanned and transmitted back to the spyware
developer. This included everything from online banking forms, stock
sites and e-commerce forms. Credit cards included. Even emails sent
using popular Web-based services such as Hotmail were subject to
prying eyes. The developer of this particular little bundle of joy
failed to mention these minor details in their license agreement.
According to Lavasoft's Tom Wilson, the problem is on the rise. Over
the past six months they've seen a substantial increase in the number
of inquiries by both individuals and companies regarding their
software. Downloads of their freely distributed Ad-Aware program have
now topped the three million mark. If you don't already have it, get
it at http://www.lavasoftusa.com. For the record, it won't spy on
you.
Victims of this disreputable practice aren't just the little guys
searching for MP3s. Software vendors have begun reporting increases
in support calls ultimately due to spyware clogging up their
customers' computers. And if you wonder where the anti-virus guys are
in all this, they consider the spyware issue to be an "unfair business
practice." Don't look for any help out of that corner.
For my part, I must admit I've probably played a part in helping to
create this problem. Like millions of other software hounds I'm not
always willing to pay if I know somebody else is giving it away for
free. Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie! Perhaps there's an old lesson to be
found in this new hi-tech space. Buyer beware, you get what you pay
for.
For more detailed information on spyware, check out the following
sites:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com
http://www.wilders.org
http://www.thiefware.com
/////
Bart Steward is Vice President of Production of interactive
brand solutions firm Delvinia Inc. The statements and opinions
expressed in this column are solely those of the author and not
BitStream's publisher, its affiliates or advertisers.
Return to Table of Contents
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
[-- ABOUT MULTIMEDIATOR'S BITSTREAM --]
MultiMediator's BitStream is a free e-mail newsletter
published every two weeks by MultiMediator - Canada's
Multimedia Guide
http://www.multimediator.com
Send your multimedia industry news and information to:
bitstream@multimediator.com
(Please do NOT send attachments.)
If you contact companies or individuals mentioned here,
please tell them you saw them in MultiMediator's BitStream.
Missed an issue? Visit the BitStream Archives:
http://www.multimediator.com/bitstream/archive.shtml
Reach thousands of Canadian Interactive professionals
with just one buy! Advertise in MultiMediator's BitStream.
It's fast, easy, and effective! For rates please contact
1-888-299-0993 Ext. 100 or sales@multimediator.com.
Copyright 2002 MultiMediator. All rights
reserved.
"BitStream" is a trademark of MultiMediator
Partnership. The content of BitStream may be reproduced
in any medium for non-commercial purposes as long as
proper credit is given.
No spyware components were installed in the making of this newsletter.
0100111010010001010101010111001110100100100100111001000100
Return to Table of Contents
Click here to return to the BitStream Archive.
Click here to subscribe to BitStream.
