Rogers Cable To Go Fully Digital

I have just received an email from Rogers saying that they “will soon be fully upgraded to an all-digital format for improved picture and sound quality”, which means that they will be dropping all of their analog channels soon.

Customers that use digital set top boxes will not require additional equipment. But Rogers will be providing digital adapters free to customers that have simply connected their televisions to their outlets via rogers.com/digitaladapter and their customer service department at 1-800-530-4034.

The other cable networks may choose to follow Rogers’ example so keep an eye out on your statements and emails.

November 12th, 2015 Comments Off on Rogers Cable To Go Fully Digital Consumer Information, Events, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

Bad News For Betamax Fans

It looks like Betamax is officially dead, according to a Sony press release that was released today.

Yes, the video format was not killed off during the format Betamax/VHS war and actually lived on in the video production and broadcasting industries until digital video. But Sony has now decided to stop making their blank beta format videocassettes.

Unfortunately that means that some of you hardcore beta fans will no longer have easy access to blank videocassettes for your classic videotape cameras, including those micro MV video cassettes that you’ve used in the 90’s and early 2000’s. And although I don’t have an official Sony betamax videocamera it appears that i’ve used the format several times to film some of my older Youtube videos and have a few of the discontinued Sony micro MV videocassettes in storage.

My format of choice is now of course those digital SDHD cards but hard drive and solid state hard drive camcorders are getting more and more affordable as time goes by.

November 10th, 2015 Comments Off on Bad News For Betamax Fans Consumer Information, Music Industry, Random Bump Rob McIntyre

Better Late Than Never

Was sick yesterday so the 35th Anniversary of this album, my very favourite Abba album, completely slipped my mind.

I was ten years old when it was released and although I pretty much hated disco and dance music at the time this album appealed to me for some reason.

I loved every track, from the title track to the live performance of “The Way Old Friends Do”, and couldn’t get enough of the vinyl LP and 8-track.

This was of course also one of my parent’s favourite english pop albums so I grew up listening to it and “Greatest Hits Vol 2”, which was released the year prior to this album’s release. And I believe it was almost as popular here in Canada as it was it Europe, charting at the 6th position.

November 4th, 2015 Comments Off on Better Late Than Never Random Bump Rob McIntyre

40 Years of Bohemian Rhapsody

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”

It was released on this date in 1975, the first single off the above album.

It topped the charts in the U.k for nine weeks.

It introduced the world to a new promotional medium – The music video.

It charted again as a single in 1992 in Australia, The USA and U.K because it was featured
in the Wayne’s World soundtrack.

It is one of the most downloaded recordings in rock history with over
3.8 million downloads in the United States alone.

A cover of this single by the Muppets has had over 47 million views on Youtube.

October 31st, 2015 Comments Off on 40 Years of Bohemian Rhapsody Events, Random Bump Rob McIntyre

Jagged Little Disappointment

Twenty years have passed since the release of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill”. And to celebrate this anniversary a four CD collector’s edition will be released today.

This boxed set of course includes the original recordings, remastered, ten unreleased demo tracks from that period, the acoustic album that was released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the release of Jagged Little Pill and a dozen live recordings from a performance recorded at London’s now defunct “Subterranean” rock club. And I’d say this is an acceptable collection, overall. But it is missing something that would have had me running to the store to buy it.

Upon hearing of this release I had hoped her label would consider including a bonus DVD containing all of the album’s music videos and several live recordings. But it appears that they have chosen to pass on another opportunity to do this.

They could have added these music videos to the “Jagged Little Pill Live” DVD in 1999, or “Feast on Scraps” DVD in 2002 or on the bonus DVD included with “The Collection” in 2005. And although I can view them on Youtube i’m still puzzled as to why I can’t purchase all of these videos on iTunes.

I will probably end up purchasing the unreleased demo recordings and a few live performances from the collection on iTunes. But still, I can’t say i’m satisfied with this release because it didn’t include a DVD.

October 30th, 2015 Comments Off on Jagged Little Disappointment Events, Random Bump Rob McIntyre

Update : Community Mailboxes On Hold

In case you haven’t heard, Canada Post issued a press release today saying it will place the upcoming conversion of door to door deliveries to community mailboxes on hold, temporarily.

I suspect public consultations will probably be conducted in the near future.

October 26th, 2015 Comments Off on Update : Community Mailboxes On Hold Consumer Information Rob McIntyre