MediaVoice BLOG #7

This week, Internet Radios in Stores for Christmas, the Picket line, Amazing Numbers and a Memo to Me. This is DB’s Multimedia-Radio Blog # 7

As one who truly loves learning something new every day about media platforms and technology… I remind myself often how fortunate I am that I get to teach others about the evolving and incredible world of New Media, Radio and Audio Convergence. It’s amazing to see the latest statistics and numbers. Every now and then an inside look at our changing technological world comes along that really catches our attention. Well, if you haven’t had a reality check lately, then let me direct you to one. Hold on because there are lots of numbers here and they come at you very quickly...actually too fast. That being said, the numbers are astounding.. sit back for a few minutes and be prepared to be amazed. This is our ‘Wow’ presentation of the month.

Shifting 180 degrees, a sentence or two about a potential strike at NSCC is inevitable in this week’s column. This past Friday Oct 2^nd, an anticipated day of negotiations ended with no settlement for the 1000+ Community College Faculty and Professional Support Staff across Nova Scotia. The last place I would ever expect to find myself is on a picket line so I continue to hope that a potential work stoppage can be averted, and quickly. I really hope that a speedy resolution will address the very important issue of fairness for so many hard working and truly dedicated NSCC employees. Like so many of my colleagues, I really love my job ‘and’ being a part of the amazing NSCC success story. In fact, probably just as much as our students love being in the Radio TV Arts program.

A month or so ago, I told you about the 20+ manufacturers meeting in Berlin to hammer out international standards for new Internet Radios. No sooner had they completed that task and already we’re beginning to see the rollout of several updated Internet Radio models. Let me put it in as simple a term as possible… the gate is about to open and that day that many of us saw coming years ago has arrived. If nothing else, in the months ahead, we will perhaps start moving forward with a new respect for homegrown LOCAL Radio programming. One of the first new models out is the Aluratek Internet Radio. It’s marketing promises over 10,000 possible program sources from all over the world and it comes complete with automatic Wi-Fi search and lock. Did I happen to mention this is FREE programming.…No subscription fees here. Weeks ago I received an e-mail from a friend who asked if I thought this would be the death of terrestrial Radio as we know it. In a word…NO… not at all. It likely however will as Dad used to say when I was young “deliver a swift kick in the pants” to Satellite Radio and also for those broadcasters continent wide who are overdoing generic fill Voice Tracking. So far no sign of these new Radios at Future Shop or Best Buy yet…but check this.. more than 5 of them are now available at the old Radio Shack (The Source) including the Aluratek for $169. We’ll be reading a lot about IR in the trades over the next 12 months so sit back and prepare yourself as the Internet Radio columns start to fly. Also, this internet radio movement really shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone who’s seriously into their Radio craft…. and by the way, if you consider yourself really ‘into’ your Radio craft, you shouldn’t worry about Internet Radio. Only three things will drive listeners to Internet Radio; 1) an almost limitless variety of music genre sources 2) innovative and new creative niche programming designed first and foremost for the listener and 3) a lack of relavent local content on your existing FM Radio. Yes, there are lots of new opportunities in that last sentence for a lot of content providers...know what I mean Verne ?

Finally, if you’re anything like me, there aren’t enough hours in the day to stay as organized as I need to be. I need reminders. Don’t even go there about age. I like no hassle reminders that don’t take any time to set up. Lately I’ve been using two methods and both are working quite nicely. One is the Notes App on my iTouch. It’s pretty simple. Type in a reminder and it stays there until you check it off. The other method is one I recently discovered, an online 'cloud' application called “Memo to Me’. Now here is an example of a great domain name (URL) for the exact service they provide. This desktop application is so easy to use. Just type in the reminder you want, and ‘when’ you want to be alerted. You can use this for everything from Birthdays, Bill Payments, Meetings…you name it. Best of all it’s FREE..and you only pay a small premium ‘IF’ you want to access their enhanced features like having memos sent to your mobile as text messages. I’ve been using it for a few months now and I’m really starting to like it. Check out the free program at MemoToMe.com

Until next time, enjoy the world famous Nova Scotia Fall colors. I’m heading to Cape Breton soon for Celtic Colors and can't wait….time to shoot some flora, fauna and foilage with the D50. As always I welcome your feedback and comments.

David ‘0db’ Bannerman