Cloud Film/TV Distribution

Six major film and television studios have partnered to bring a new technology to the market, allowing users to view television episodes and film on multiple devices with the ability to share this programming with six friends or relatives.

Ultraviolet is the industry’s response to a reduction of sales of DVDs and Blu-rays in the United States in 2010, down 3% to 18.8 billion.

Starting this summer, they’re hoping to transition from DVDs to this more flexible online distribution to take advantage of the booming digital downloads and streaming sales and rentals. And they have 46 retailers and device manufacturers on board, including Best Buy, Comcast, Samsung, and Toshiba.

There are two major hold outs at the moment though : Apple and Disney.

Apple had its own service but they are expecting to sign on because they allow Netflix already on some onf their devices.

Disney, on the other hand, has their own plans, for a similar technology called KeyChest, which is partly owned by Steve Jobs.

According to Mitch Singer of Sony, Ultraviolet will be fully implemented by 2011, allowing people to view material on cell phones, tablets, video game consoles and computers. And by 2012 they expect to have Ultraviolet software built into portable devices.

January 7th, 2011 Comments Off on Cloud Film/TV Distribution Consumer Information, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

Warning for Android Users

Do not download software from China ! They may be infected with a virus and these are the known infected titles :

  • Monkey Jump 2
  • Sex Positions
  • President vs. Aliens
  • City Defense
  • Baseball Superstars 2010

Always download aps from Android Market.

January 2nd, 2011 Comments Off on Warning for Android Users Consumer Information Rob McIntyre

Interesting Move by Quebec Government

Appearently it is the Quebecan provincial government’s opinion that the recession can be counteracted by higher sales taxes.

Today the provincial sales taxes in Quebec went up 1% to 8.5%. And another 1% hike is scheduled on New Years Day 2012.

I guess they got this brilliant idea from the provincial governments of Ontario, BC and Nova Scotia, who all hiked and/or extended their taxes in July.

In my opinion these additional taxes hinder our recovery.

They burden smaller retailers, who will probably consider this the last nail in their coffin, and force larger retailers to cut expendatures and staff.

It is obviously counterproductive.

January 1st, 2011 1 Comment Canadian Law, Consumer Information Rob McIntyre

Diner Dash – Free

I don’t own an iPhone or iPad but I love Diner Dashicon. It’s fun. And the ap is being offered for free for iPhone and iPad users for New Years Day.

Thought i’d bump it.

January 1st, 2011 Comments Off on Diner Dash – Free Random Bump Rob McIntyre

Song Previews & Royalties

SOCAN is again back in court, attempting to obtain royalties for those 30 second previews online retailers use on their sites.

Three years after the Copyright Board rulled that fair dealing applies because consumers use these previews as research, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers have taken the case to Surpreme Court.

The Federal Court of Appeal has concured with the Copyright Board last May. But SOCAN insists that these previews be subjected to royalties because they would want the definition of the term research limited to format settings.

So SOCAN want online retailers to pay royalties so their customers have the priviledge to preview the music they’re selling, even when no actual sale occurs.

Where exactly does SOCAN think the funds would come from ?

The recording artists, composers, lyricists and music publishers they represent are already legally entitled to royalties from the sale of recordings, so the previews work in the favor. And online retailers are in no way obliged to offer previews, which results in expendatures for maintenance and bandwidth.

You would think SOCAN would appreciate the value of promotion but they seem to be quite insistant on this counterproductive, counterintuitive cash grab.

SOCAN obviously want to nickle and dime legal music download services, whose previews are used regularily by consumers. After all, the legal music download services can pass those extra expendatures on to their customers, right ?

But of course SOCAN would rather emphesize the benefits that would allegedly result from this scheme. You know, how artists and composers would get royalties when in reality the majority of funds would be forwarded to the music publishers they represent.

December 25th, 2010 Comments Off on Song Previews & Royalties Consumer Information, Music Industry, Music Technology Rob McIntyre

I Need That Record

I just rented this documentary on Netflix and I thought i’d bump it on this blog.

Basically it’s about the rise and fall of record stores in the United States, which was unfortunately mirrored here in Canada.

The record store is a rarity now outside of the major cities of Canada because of the conveniences of the internet but vinyl has retained a charm and sound that people still enjoy to this day.

Additional information on this film can be found on the film’s official site.

December 24th, 2010 Comments Off on I Need That Record Music Industry, Music Technology, Random Bump Rob McIntyre