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Canada's CBC is the latest to leave Twitter in objection to 'goverment-funded' label
Canadian broadcaster CBC is halting its use of Twitter in objection to the implications of the 'government-funded' label.
Canada rules that all new cellphones must be unlocked
Canadians pay some of the highest wireless rates of any G7 nation, and to add insult to injury, they often have to shell out $50 or more to unlock cellphones when switching operators. However, the nation's wireless regulator, the CRTC, has now ordered carriers to unlock devices for free and decreed that all new smartphones must be sold unlocked. The move was prompted by excoriating public criticism on unlocking fees after the CRTC requested comment on new wireless rules.
Netflix will offer an 'Anne of Green Gables' series in 2017
Netflix is fond of rekindling childhood memories, and its latest nostalgia trip is a big one. The streaming service is partnering with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Anne, a TV series based on the classic Anne of Green Gables novels you may well have read growing up. It'll revolve around its namesake fiery, imaginative orphan and the effect she has on her small town. It won't be shot on Prince Edward Island, alas (Ontario will have to do), but it will have some veterans aboard. Breaking Bad writer Moira Walley-Beckett is penning the first eight-episode season, while Whale Rider's Niki Caro is directing and Beginners' Miranda de Pencier is producing. You should see Anne both on Netflix and CBC TV in 2017.
Scientists built a book-sized, protein-powered biocomputer
Supercomputers are absurdly impressive in terms of raw power, but it comes at a price: size and energy consumption. A multi-university team of researchers might've sidestepped that, though, with protein-powered biocomputers. Lund University notes that where this should really be helpful is with cryptography and "mathematical optimization" because with each task it's necessary to test multiple solution sets. Unlike a traditional computer, biocomputers don't work in sequence, they operate in parallel -- leading to much faster problem solving.
Canadian middle-schoolers rank pretty high for computer literacy
In addition to making excellent poutine and maple syrup, our friendly neighbors to the north are also pretty adept at prepping students for the future we live in too. The International Computer Literacy Study recently looked at 60,000 eighth graders from Ontario and assessed their proficiencies at copying and saving a document in addition to modifying info and using a handful of applications simultaneously. The CBC says this is the first international test of its kind, and that the Canucks scored 547 out of 600 in computer literacy -- much higher than the average score of 500. What's more, it's in a "statistical tie" with Australia and the Czech Republic for the top spot. If the CEO of the Education Quality and Accountability Office is to be believed, this is a direct result of Ontario's investments in putting technology in the classroom. Maybe SimCity can move into the Great White North's classroom and train up the next set of civil engineers, too.
RIM's Thorsten Heins denies company's 'death spiral,' predicts successful transition to BlackBerry 10
RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has the unenviable task of, well, being the CEO of RIM. Still, in spite of some gloomy numbers, the exec thinks the company is on the right track. Heins told CBC Radio that, since taking over, the company has been implementing changes that are helping Research in Motion transition to BlackBerry 10, adding that "there's nothing wrong with the company as it exists right now." Heins told the Metro Morning radio show, "This company is not ignoring the world out there, nor is it in a death spiral," adding, "Yes, it is very, very challenged at the moment - specifically in the U.S. market. The way I would describe it: we're in the middle of a transition." It's a transition from which, Heins insists, RIM "will emerge successfully." What's more, Heins also has an op-ed in today's Globe & Mail, where he mostly reiterates that stance and flatly says "don't count BlackBerry out." You can find it at the source link below.
Netflix adds streaming content for Canadians including The Kids in the Hall
Forget any press conference shenanigans, the real problem for many Canadian subscribers to Netflix Watch Instantly since its launch has been a lack of content, a problem that should be eased slightly by today's news it has reached a licensing deal with CBC and FremantleMedia Enterprises, and extended existing deals with New Video, Maple and Sony. That means there's lots of new content available now and arriving soon on the service, consisting of TV shows like The Tudors, Saturday Night Live, Weeds and The Kids in the Hall, check the press release after the break for more details.
Hockey Night in Canada will go 3D for two games this winter
Considering how well MSG's 3D broadcast of the Rangers / Islanders game was received, CBC Sports' decision to air two Hockey Night In Canada games in 3D this winter is splendiferous news for fans in Mountie land. The first-ever 3D Canadian hockey game broadcast is set for December 11th, when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens, while the second will come later during the 2010-11 NHL season on February 20th, when the Calgary Flames host the Canadiens in the Heritage Classic. To pull it all off HNIC has partnered with Panasonic -- who conveniently will be the official 3D and HD sponsor for the series when it premiers this season on October 7th, too. In terms of potential audience, Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports shared they "don't even know how many 3D TVs are out there", but it's not a coincidence the games are scheduled around Christmas when many of our neighbors to the north will be looking to upgrade. Moore was also clear that these games don't guarantee 3D HNIC is here to stay given its costs over standard HD. But if you and your puck-loving friends can put more than $55 million worth of 3D equipment under the tree, we bet that tune could change.
Sensationalized 'Top Gun' report blames pro gaming for death of Brandon Crisp
The Fifth Estate, a Canadian investigative reporting program that's been on the air for over three decades, recently ran a piece looking into the untimely death of gaming enthusiast Brandon Crisp, who ran away from his Ontario home last October after his parents took away his Xbox 360, and was found dead three weeks later due to injuries sustained from falling out of a tree. Within the first few minutes of the short documentary, titled "Top Gun," The Fifth Estate's angle on the piece becomes clear: Some entity or cultural force is to blame for Crisp's death, and it's going to find out what it is.It settles at first on Crisp's infatuation with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which is strengthened by his active participation on the MLG-owned clan-ranking site GameBattles.com. From there, it delves into the foul underworld of competitive gaming, showing how attaching cash rewards to intense, lengthy sessions with mature video games is creating an irresistibly attractive lifestyle for those who fall beneath such titles' age restrictions. All the while, it depicts the unimaginable violence present in said games, and explain the detrimental effects it has on the lives of otherwise normal youths.We lay this outline of the 40-minute documentary before you so that you don't actually have to watch it, as the sensationalism it contains and factual liberties it takes will likely raise the gaming community's collective hackles to unprecedented levels.
CBC / Radio Canada exposé finds Tasers are unreliable killjoys
The CBC and Radio Canada have run a bunch of Taser tests recently, and the results aren't likely to reassure anyone. US-based testing lab National Technical Systems pulled 41 X26 units out of 7 random police stations across the nation, and fired each at least six times. What happened? Well, four of them threw off a current "significantly" higher than a stun gun is supposed to, including some that were 50 percent higher than normal, while three didn't fire at all. All the faulty units were manufactured pre-2005, but the company that makes them (which makes almost all US police employed stun guns), couldn't provide someone for the CBC to interview, so no one seems to be sure of the cause. Of course, it goes a long way toward explaining why so many people need to head to the hospital after getting a taste of the taser. Not cool guys, not cool. [Thanks, Tony A.]
Taxpayer-funded CBC spends $24 million on HD broadcasting trucks
Rest assured, Canadians -- your tax dollars are hard at work. So long as you consider the delivery of more HD hockey "work," that is. Believe it or not, the taxpayer-funded CBC has thrown down nearly $24 million on a pair of broadcasting trucks "so it can show hockey games and cultural events in high-definition." According to CBC spokesman Jeff Keay, it decided to purchase them because doing so provided "better value for the taxpayers" given that it would "cost more to lease them." Granted, it does cost around $55,000 total to broadcast a hockey matchup in high-def, but still, $24 million is a lot of cheese. Ah well, one more reason to buy into HD, right? Wait, you sort of already have if you're Canadian...[Image courtesy of Flickr]
CBC plans 282 hours of HD Olympic coverage
Our friends in the Great White North can expect some great HD coverage of this summer's Olympic games, as the CBC recently laid out its broadcast schedule, planning 282 hours of high definition coverage, while TSN promises 150 hours of HD coverage. CBC will also throw in 400 hours of SD coverage, which, may not equal NBC's numbers, but anyone who's viewed both can tell you without a doubt their presentation has trumped NBC's in its ability to satisfy sports fans (with the exception of their curling obsession during the Winter Olympics) with live action for many years. Online streaming of 1,500 hours of event coverage including live events will also be available, so we don't expect Canadians will miss a minute of the action from Beijing.
CBC torrenting Canada's Next Great Prime Minister, DRM-free
Everyone knows you can find torrents from plenty of TV shows on the internet, but it's usually not seeded by the broadcaster. Taking a page out of mariposaHD's book, the CBC is putting a "high quality" DRM-free copy of Canada's Next Great Prime Minister online (no wonder they think HDTV has no business model) after it airs March 23. No idea yet if this is a one time thing or the start of a trend, but we applaud the Canadians for one-upping Her podcasting Majesty in getting with digital distribution. Hopefully, the reasoning behind selecting political leaders soliciting ideas for a better country via a reality TV show (and why the U.S. isn't), will also be answered.[Thanks, Sukhminder]
CBC declares HDTV to have "no business model"
While we've seen plenty of HD expansion in our northern extension, it seems that Robert Rabinovich -- president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation -- feels that broadcasters are getting the short straw. Contrary to the UK's Freeview system, which gives the public a bevy of cost-free SD channels and is seeing a mutual, unforced push to go HD, we here in North America tend to let content guardians keep a tighter grip on how things are done. Essentially, the prez stated that HDTV "has no business model," claiming a complete lack of motivation for advertisers to pay more to have their plugs shown during an HD show verses an SD show. Apparently his feathers are all ruffled because advertisers are saying that the choice to broadcast HD is "none of their business," leaving broadcasters that do pump out that HD goodness no actual way to recoup the costs. Although we can (kind of) see where ole Robert is coming from, claiming that HD doesn't influence the amount of viewers (which advertisers certainly are interested in) is a tad absurd, and if more companies would actually offer up HD commercials, we might actually slow down and pay attention. [Warning: Read link requires subscription][Via Slashdot]
Canadians getting two new HD shows
Canadians love their HD just as much as us Americans do and we are happy to report to 'em that two of their best comedy's are making the switch to HD. The Mercer Report and Royal Canadian Air Farce are premiering next week on CBC and both of the premiers are going to be in wonderful high-def. We're sure that most Canadians know what these shows are about and we're also sure that most Americans don't, well, care to know what they are about. The Mercer Report debuts on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8pm and the Royal Canadian Air Farce premieres a few days later on Friday, Oct 6 at 8pm both on CBC. Don't forget that you have to be able to receive the high-def signal in order to watch the new high-def flavors of these shows, eh.
