Microsoft ends support for IE8, IE9, IE10, and Windows 8

Microsoft today ended support for old versions of Internet Explorer, including IE8, IE9, and IE10 […]

End of support does not mean the software stops working. When a given deadline is reached for its software, Microsoft simply stops releasing security updates and offering technical support.

At the end of 2015, the combined market share for IE8 (8.95 percent), IE9 (6.67 percent), and IE10 (4.18 percent) was 19.80 percent, according to Net Applications. IE11, by comparison, held 25.57 percent of the pie.

Today’s move means Microsoft only supports the latest version of IE for any version of Windows. In most cases, that’s IE11, which ships with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

Source:
http://venturebeat.com/2016/01/12/microsoft-ends-support-for-ie8-ie9-ie10-and-windows-8/

Music Industry Activity

Is it just me or is there something happening in the music business recently?

Google acquires Songza
https://plus.google.com/+GooglePlay/posts/9FotaTDAw34

Rdio acquires TastemakerX
http://blog.rdio.com/us/2014/06/company-news-rdio-tastemakerx.html

Apple acquires Beats
http://blog.beatsmusic.com/apple-to-acquire-beats-music-beats-electronics/

Spotify acquires The Echo Nest
http://press.spotify.com/us/2014/03/06/spotify-acquires-the-echo-nest/

I'm sure I'm missing some.

Le numérique est profitable chez Météo Média

My notes are too long for a tweet ;-)
http://affaires.lapresse.ca/opinions/chroniques/jean-philippe-decarie/201206/05/01-4531747-le-numerique-est-profitable-chez-meteo-media.php

La chaîne spécialisée Météo Média et son pendant anglophone The Weather Network retirent aujourd'hui davantage de revenus publicitaires de leurs différentes plateformes numériques que de leurs publicités télévisées traditionnelles.
[...]
Malgré un achalandage toujours en hausse et une diminution de leurs revenus traditionnels, les versions en ligne des grands groupes de presse n'ont généré, l'an dernier (en 2011), que 13% de leurs revenus publicitaires totaux.[...]

[Pelmorex] (Météo Média et The Weather Network) a consacré et consacre encore beaucoup de ressources pour développer et proposer des outils qui lui sont propres. «On a une cinquantaine de personnes qui ne font que travailler au développement de nouveaux logiciels pour nos différentes plateformes, que ce soit pour les tablettes, les iPhone ou les téléphones Android. On fait tout à l'interne[…]» explique Pierre Morrissette [PDG et propriétaire de Pelmorex].

Mandatory inclusion of FM tuners in mobile devices

Spin doctors are setting the agenda for the upcoming NAB Radio Show.

Broadcasters defend push for mandatory FM tuners

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20014874-38.html

An interesting summary of the streaming music royalties saga in the US and the inclusion of FM chips in mobile devices. Undoubtedly this will be a hot topic at the upcoming NAB Radio Show in Washington D.C. And might influence how Canada handles these issues.

Will Terrestrial Radio Save Its Streaming Counterpart?

http://streamingmedia.com/Articles/News/Featured-News/-69553.aspx

Adobe Video File Format Specification

F4V Supported media types

H.264 (or AVC) is the video codec that Flash Player plays back when the media is encapsulated inside an F4V file.

Flash Player Update 3 (9,0,115,0) and higher can play F4V files. The F4V format is based on the format specified by ISO/IEC 14496-12: ISO base media file format.

The FLV container format supports 6 video codecs (VIDEODATA)

• Sorenson H.263
• Screen video
• On2 VP6
• On2 VP6 with alpha channel
• Screen video version 2
• AVC

http://adobe.com/devnet/flv/pdf/video_file_format_spec_v10.pdf

List of codecs supported by Adobe Flash Player

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/402/kb402866.html

Web Performance

Exceptional Performance

http://developer.yahoo.com/performance/

Let's make the web faster

http://code.google.com/speed/

Any other resource I should be aware of?

Arcade Fire live on YouTube

Unstaged is a YouTube series of live events sponsored by American Express
Arcade Fire live from Madison Square Garden
On August 5, 2010
The show started around 22:00 Eastern and ended at 23:50
(3 minutes after the end of the live show, they streamed the whole show (playback from tape) as if it was live.)

http://youtube.com/ArcadeFireVevo
Or shortened URL:
http://pub.vitrue.com/CeS

or

http://go.vevo.com/5LU

Sponsored by: American Express
In partnership with: Vevo and YouTube

shot in HD
16:9 aspect ratio
Interesting option in player for end users to pick from another program feed (alternate view)

The piece of info I'm curious about is what encoding gear they used. Did they encode on site and if so, what type of connection did they have?

encoded at 640x385 pixels in 4 different bitrates (automatically selected)

• 200 Kbps
• 500 Kbps
• 1000 Kbps
• 1500 Kbps

live RTMP video streams delivered by Akamai

Social networking "shoutbox" from Bonnaroo (running on Google's clouds)
Twitter and Facebook
http://bonnaroo-2010.appspot.com
Weird since Bonnaroo is not a web app developing shop. It's a concert.

AkamaiPlayerAnalyticsConfig
http://csma82240.analytics.edgesuite.net/config/beacon-421.xml

Link to buy Arcade Fire's latest album
http://www.arcadefireyoutube.com

Directed by Terry Gilliam

Twitter
http://twitter.com/AmericanExpress
Join the conversation by using hashtag #AmexArcadeFire

CDN monthly data transfer costs

Dan Rayburn has been tracking CDN pricing on his blog for a while.
I just felt like procrastinating and use Google to calculate monthly data transfer costs:

CBS Radio's DLAB

http://dlab.cbsradio.com

That’s what DLAB is all about – the most important resource for local interactive advertising where businesses can learn, interact, find great ideas, be inspired, and ask questions about effective on-line strategy. Additionally, we’ll link to great articles, case studies, bloggers and useful information that will hopefully be helpful as you think about your advertising needs and trends. Ultimately, we want an open dialogue with you as we both explore new ways to grow our audience and business.

Canadians and Streaming Radio

Statistics Canada : 22% of canadian home internet users between 45 and 64 years old listen to the radio over the Internet.
Internet activities performed at home in the last 12 months by Internet users, by age group, 2007
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2009002/t/10910/tbl001-eng.htm