Village Gamer

Vancouver’s HootSuite has acquired “What the Trend” (WTT), a web service which shares user-defined explanations of trending topics on Twitter.  Branded as “The Front Page of the Real-Time Web,” this tool provides constantly updating, crowd-sourced definitions and explanations for why the topic is trending.  WTT will complement HootSuite’s social media management system and builds on the recent funding announcement and acquisitions of Twapper Keeper, TwitterBar and Swift App. Read the rest of this entry »

Astral Media Inc.’s Astral Out-of-Home division has announced the Toronto deployment of its new Signature Columns. The highly refined backlit columns offer prime advertising space in the heart of downtown Toronto to advertisers as well as information to passersby. The network of Signature Columns will consist of 120 structures (240 advertising faces) with two LED (light-emitting diode) backlit faces distributed in downtown core locations, strategically selected for their high capacity to reach both vehicular and pedestrian traffic with minimal site obstructions. Their frameless vertical advertising faces measure 6 feet by 4 feet in a clean and elegant design by Kramer Design. Read the rest of this entry »

TenXc Wireless, an Ottawa company which designs and supplies state-of-the art phased array antenna solutions to major wireless operators worldwide, today announced the introduction of its new Multi Band Bi-Sector Array antenna. An industry first, the advanced solution significantly improves cellular capacity from a single antenna, and provides the functionality equivalent to 4 antennas. Read the rest of this entry »

SmartSource.com is one of the most popular online couponing sites in the US, with 10 years of experience and millions of coupons redeemed. Until now, Canadian consumers looking to save money on everyday products were mostly limited to coupon inserts in their local paper, the arrival of coupon packs in the mail, or the delayed gratification of third party savings sites. To provide Canadian families the savings they need when they need them, News Marketing Canada, the company behind the SmartSource brand of consumer savings products and services, has launched SmartSource.ca, a website devoted to providing instantly available printable coupons on hundreds of products, ranging from food items to household goods to electronics and more. Read the rest of this entry »

CBC has announced significant new initiatives to improve local services for thousands of Canadians across the country, continuing its “Everyone, Every Way” strategic plan unveiled earlier this year. New radio and internet services will be introduced for the London and Kitchener-Waterloo areas of Ontario and new weekend news programming will be introduced in Edmonton, Ottawa, the Maritimes and St. John’s through the spring and fall of 2012. Read the rest of this entry »

CIBC Mellon has announced the Canadian release of Workbench^SM Mobile for the iPad®, a new app enabling the firm’s institutional clients to authorize instructions and securely view key reports and account information while on-the-go. To access the new app, registered CIBC Mellon Workbench users can download Workbench Mobile at the App Store through the BNY Mellon Connect^SM Mobile portal. Read the rest of this entry »

Montreal software publisher Strategy First Inc. has announced a publishing partnership with Berlin studio Just A Game GmbH for the 3rd person shooter title Deep Black. Strategy First will publish Deep Black to North American retail outlets as well as work with Just A Game on a worldwide digital release strategy for Deep Black with all participating outlets. Strategy First and Just A Game will provide further updates about some of the innovations that they are bringing to Deep Black that will allow Gamers an opportunity to experience the game on a whole new level. Read the rest of this entry »

The Langley Social Media Meetup Group and We Make Stuff Happen are hosting two events this week with guest speaker Kevin Knebl, dubbed “the most recommended man on LinkedIn. The first is a Meetup tonight at the Guildford Sheraton, which is located at 15269 104th Avenue in Surrey. Tickets are $39.20 (+HST) per person, and the doors open at 7:00 p.m. Your ticket price includes a copy of Kevin’s latest book, The Social Media Sales Revolution. Read the rest of this entry »

EA BioWare™ has announced the opening of a state-of-the-art customer service center in Galway, Ireland. The new facility, BioWare’s first outside of North America, will provide 24/7 support for Star Wars™: The Old Republic^™, the award-winning story-driven massively multiplayer online game from BioWare and LucasArts. BioWare Ireland is recruiting another 200 jobs in preparation for one of the biggest game launches of the year. Star Wars: The Old Republic will be released in North America this December 20th. Read the rest of this entry »

Mobile game developer XMG Studio and the National Post are calling all Canadian college and university students to bring their game-ideas to life at Great Canadian Appathon². Over the weekend of September 30 “HUBS”, where students can gather, will be set up at over 20 participating colleges and universities, across the country, to give student game developers and designers the chance to work around the clock and compete for $50,000 in prize money.

Similar to the Great Canadian Appathon, the largest ‘hackathon’ to be held in Canada, GCA² guarantees participants 48 hours of intense fun, meeting new people, learning stuff, and building a game on top of the world’s leading mobile API’s. Some of the talented designers and developers from XMG will be on-site at the major universities’ “HUBS” to motivate and mentor the teams. All other coders can rely on a 48-hour support line for questions and advice on how to work with the latest interfaces. Read the rest of this entry »