Village Gamer

eReading leader Kobo invites you and its over 3.6 million readers to participate in a new $10 million fund designed to inspire readers of all ages to read more and make a difference in their community. For every 10 million minutes read with Kobo up to one trillion minutes, Kobo will support an initiative suggested by Kobo customers to bring eReading to schools and communities in need.

“At Kobo we believe in the power of reading. Today, the average person spends five times more time watching TV than reading, schools continue to be underfunded and libraries are disappearing. We have an opportunity to change that with Read On,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo. “At a time when technology is taking the printed word through an evolution, we are starting a revolution – a reading revolution.”

Kobo has created the One Trillion Minute Challenge to inspire people to make reading a bigger part of their lives, and make a difference in their local community. Every minute read with Kobo counts towards achieving this epic challenge and funding eReading programs in schools and community organizations.

Readers can get started with Read On today by signing up online and then:

• Name your cause: A school, or community organization dedicated to learning
• Start reading with Kobo: Every minute read counts
• Track progress: Using Kobo’s innovative social platform Reading Life
• Tell friends: Use Facebook, Twitter, Reading Life, blogs and podiums at schools and community centers to spread the word, and help make a difference
• Check the one trillion minute counter which will be updated in real-time

For every 10 million minutes read, Kobo will make a contribution of eReading valued between $1,000 and $20,000 to a recipient chosen through the Read On program. Recipients will receive Read On kits including eReaders, eBooks and the materials needed to start digital reading programs in their community. Kobo is contributing the first million dollars and will work to enlist additional partners inspired by this innovative new program.

“With Read On, our goal is to bring reading to more people in more places, inspiring people to read more and make a difference in their schools and communities. Over 500 years ago, it took only one person and a printing press to start a revolution. Imagine what we could accomplish today if we just Read On,” said Michael Serbinis, CEO, Kobo.

DHX Media would like North American parents to know that S2BN, in association with The Magic Store and DHX Media’s W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, are bringing the successful live stage version of the hit television series YO GABBA GABBA!, created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, back on the road this fall for a 50-city North American tour. The tour will kick off in Minneapolis on Thursday, September 15 and will wrap on Sunday, December 11 in Fort Lauderdale, featuring multiple shows in many cities. Visit Yo Gabba Gabba Live for complete tour, ticket and VIP package information. Please note that the tour schedule can be subject to change.

At this time here are only two Canadian dates on the tour, Toronto’s Sony Theatre on September 22nd and Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre on November 11th.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! Presented by Kia Motors promises to be a memorable experience, featuring a mix of classic YO GABBA GABBA! favorites, as well as new songs and new performances. The state-of-the-art, high-energy production features DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee, and a mix of music, animation, games, singing and dancing. The 2010 YO GABBA GABBA! live show played to 300,000 fans in sold out theatres in all major cities, including Radio City Music Hall in New York and NOKIA Theatre/ L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.

Vancouver’s Exploding Barrel Games and THQ Inc. have officially announced Margaritaville Online, an everyday escape to a tropical paradise inspired by the lifestyle of author and singer-songwriter, Jimmy Buffett, will be available on Facebook and iOS devices Fall 2011. Soon, friends will be able to play and party in an immersive 3D paradise, filled with frozen concoctions, music and adventure. The game will be unveiled in THQ’s booth at E3.

“The Margaritaville laidback state of mind is inherently social, and THQ has captured the spirit of that lifestyle in this game,” said Buffett. “With Margaritaville Online, fans across the globe can party together any time and any place.”

Throughout his more than 40-year career, Jimmy Buffett has welcomed fans into his carefree world where remarkable characters are around every corner, and it’s always happy hour. By creating their own online beach oasis, Margaritaville Online players can party in paradise with friends, build a bar, form a band, throw parties and embark on tropical adventures in an open world full of island entertainment and playful mini-games. A virtual trip to the tropics set to a soundtrack of classic Buffett tunes, Margaritaville Online allows players to interact with characters from Buffett’s own literary works including Captain Tony, first introduced to fans in Buffett’s song “Last Mango in Paris.”

FreshBooks announced earlier today at the mesh conference that the company has recruited experienced internet Executive Stuart MacDonald to a newly-created “C” level role, responsible for Marketing, Sales, Support and Revenue. FreshBooks.com, the leader in online invoicing, has experienced impressive, ongoing growth, doubling its number of users each year, which is now at more than 2.5 million.

Stuart MacDonald joins the FreshBooks team as a proven entrepreneur and marketer with several start-ups under his belt, including founding Expedia.ca, Canada’s most successful online business. Stuart went on to be the CMO of Expedia.com in Seattle, and has worked with numerous other organizations as a consultant, advisor, investor and mentor. Stuart is a co-founder of the mesh Conference now in its 6^th year, together with FreshBooks.com CEO Mike McDerment and other partners.

“Stuart has already built one category from the ground-up, which makes him a perfect choice to build the online invoicing category,” said Mike McDerment, CEO of FreshBooks.com. “It’s never easy to find the top talent required to build a world class online company in Canada, so naturally we’re thrilled to bring Stuart on board, bringing with him the energy and expertise we need to seize the opportunities in front of us.”

Mike McDerment co-founded FreshBooks eight years ago in Toronto. Despite seeing many other Canadians move south to start or join up-and-coming companies, Mike committed himself to building a world-class company where he grew up, and to supporting Toronto’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“Continuing to build FreshBooks.com into a global online business powerhouse right here in Canada is a top priority for me too” says Stuart. “What Mike and the FreshBooks.com team have accomplished so far is a huge step in that direction. On top of that, the FreshBooks team loves what they do and loves their customers. It’s a pretty special thing to be a part of.”

“I’ve worked with Stuart for over five years now on the mesh Conference, and I’ve always known him to do the right thing,” Mike continued. “He has the FreshBooks.com values in spades, and no one loves customers like Stuart.”

FreshBooks.com also recently hired Gary Mirsky, former Director of Sales at Intuit Canada, and has currently has over 20 different positions open in Toronto, including another “C” level role as Chief Technical Officer.

Via the Canadian Media Production Association:

The CMPA has successfully negotiated, on behalf of its members and the entire Canadian independent production sector, a Terms of Trade (PDF) agreement that comes into effect June 1st 2011. This is a historic deal that will redefine the relationship between producers and broadcasters.

The agreement has been signed between the CMPA and Astral, Bell Media (CTV), Corus, Rogers and Shaw Media. Negotiations with the CBC will begin later this year. Canadian Producers and Broadcasters will be required to adhere to Terms of Trade on a go-forward basis – it will apply to all independently produced projects developed and commissioned by the private broadcast groups. Please note that while Corus (PDF) signed a separate Terms of Trade agreement, it contains no substantive differences from the agreement signed with the other broadcasters.

The deal applies to the entire life cycle of a show – from first pitch, through to development, production and broadcast on all platforms. Key areas covered by the deal include:

The agreement will come into the force as of June 1, 2011 with the exception of certain parts related to the financing of programs, which will come into force as of August 1, 2011. Please see section 13 for specifics relating to the timing of implementation of the various elements of the agreement.

The CMPA will shortly be providing a guide regarding key provisions of the agreement to assist producers in understanding its interpretation and application.  The Association will also be organizing a series of workshops across the country, through the summer – to be informed about dates and venues please contact Emma Grace.

In celebration of Towel Day (no, this is not related to the Canucks’ victory over the Sharks last night), Megadodo Publications has announced that they are working with Vancouver’s Hothead Games to bring The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the standard repository for all knowledge and wisdom, to the farthest uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy. This new edition of The Guide will be available not only on your planet but also on all nearby systems including Alpha Centauri.

“We’re super excited to be involved with such a legendary creation as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The quirky and hilarious universe that Douglas Adams created became an instant classic for so many. All the hoopiest froods here at Hothead jumped on the chance to work on the project,” commented excitable Hothead human, Joel DeYoung.

Zarniwoop Vann HarlaHarlH, president of Megadodo, was unavailable for comment as he is far too cool to add quotes to press releases, but for up-to-the-Earth-minute communications on this exciting new addition to the Guide, Megadodo would like you to use your fleshy digits to prod your plastic board of keys and visit the New Guide’s official site.

CarrotLines, an iPhone application developed by Vancouver’s PortaLife Solutions, Inc. that helps Canadians make healthier choices is partnering with local food brands in the natural, health and organic segments after attending Grocery Showcase West and Canadian Health Food Association Expos, where the app received overwhelming interest. In conjunction with its one year anniversary, CarrotLines invited select local health and specialty brands – including Bremner Foods, Maggie’s Gluten Free, and Hansells Foods Canada – to join its platform.

Joining CarrotLines allows for the brands’ products to be scanned by the CarrotLines App – giving customers the ultimate tool to get informed about their products, and while more than half of consumers check food labels before buying a food product for the first time, reading food labels can be downright deceptive. CarrotLines isn’t about judging brands and products. Its goal is to help shoppers make educated decisions on food products that suit their lifestyle. Shoppers have been scanning products using the CarrotLines App for nearly one year, and the platform contains information on over 20,000 Canadian Food Products and 2000 brands. Carrotlines is available in the iTunes App Store for $2.99 USD.

Toronto-based Asigra Inc., a cloud backup and recovery software provider since 1986, has joined with Intel to offer hybrid cloud backup as part of the Intel® AppUp™ Small Business Service. The new solution delivers the advantages of offsite backup with the security and performance of an onsite server for both local and remote recovery. Asigra Cloud Backup™ is one of a select group of applications pre-loaded for shipment with the new Intel solution.

A strong endorsement for cloud computing, the Intel AppUp Small Business Service is a subscription-based service for providing a locally-hosted server on a pay-as-you-go basis. The new hybrid cloud solution allows small businesses to rent the application server and software they need at very affordable rates. The Intel AppUp Small Business Service features a mix of local and cloud software with an Intel® Xeon-based server that comes pre-loaded with tools for remote management, firewall, VoIP/PBX and backup. Expanding this pre-loaded toolset is as simple as selecting from an ever-expanding list of applications, using Intel’s cloud-based service.

“We developed the Intel AppUp Small Business Service to create a foundation on which industry leaders like Asigra can add their own innovations,” said Bridget Karlin, General Manager, Intel Hybrid Cloud. “The goal is to give small business customers a better user experience. This solution offers an attractive new way to take business to the next level of IT, without buying their own server or hiring their own IT staff.” Read the rest of this entry »

Vibes IT Dance & Urban Video Remix Community launched this month, providing a unique video service catered to Dance and Urban music lovers.  The Vibes It website contains over one hundred channels for every type of dance & urban music genre, with over 30,000 video remixes. The core focus of the company is to provide its visitors with the best video remixes, megamixes, and mashups available, and current technology has made it possible for amateur and pro Dj’s alike to easily create video mixes. The popularity of Video Mixing is growing at a rapid pace, and many night clubs, such as Rumours in Niagra Falls, remix videos all weekend long.

DJ’s have the ability to upload their entire video mixes directly to the Vibes IT website, without the worry of time limitations, like what Youtube imposes on its members. Members can create their own playlists, and can interact with other members on the site similar to Facebook or Myspace. Each member can customize their profile, share their playlists, join and create chat rooms, share their mixes instantly with all of the popular social networking sites and much more. DJ Bobby Ryan, the Vibes IT CEO promises a lot of cool modifications and new features over the next few months.

Vibes It encourages Dj’s to upload as much as possible, new or old video mixes, rewarding them for their hard work through weekly and monthly giveaways for best uploaded video mixes.  The Vibes IT unique platform has already generated much interest from Dj’s around the globe, and they hope to become the leader in Dance & Urban Video Remixes. Vibes It has a broad range of music. From Top 40 and the latest Lady GaGa, Rihanna or Britney Spears remixes to the hardcore techno or Trance, there are many channels catered for specific niche genres. Vibes IT believes that content is king, and they work night and day to find the best remixes from around the globe.

Digital Leisure has released a new title to WiiWare. Overflow is a quick-fire puzzle game that challenges you to take control of the lab and keep everything flowing smoothly. Available now, Overflow is rated E for Everyone and costs 500 WiiWare Points.

Professor Lexis just finished his greatest and most energy-efficient machine yet. However, the moment he flipped the switch for the first official test, the machine exploded and sprayed all of the professor’s new multicolored fuel everywhere. He now needs your help to collect the precious fuel and repair the damage before the worldwide energy symposium begins.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMqcJfYXEh0]

Twist your Wii Remote™ controller to place wooden planks, funnels and particle transportation portals to guide the fluids back to the correct collection channels and repair the damage in 30 warped levels. The professor will even have you tackling the dangerous task of mixing fluids to create new fuel colors. Just be sure to contain the spill before you cause an overflow.