UPDATE - 6/28@9:49AM: A few readers have informed me that the apparent glitch in the CD and iTunes version of We Hold On at 1:21 has been corrected for the MVI version. I still can't hear the glitch, but there you have it. :)

UPDATE - 6/27@12:29PM: ... and now it's been pulled from YouTube. That was fast. :)

UPDATE - 6/27@9:36AM: The whole documentary from the MVI is now up on YouTube. You can check it out here.

UPDATE - 6/26@10:13PM: Reader questrider sent me several great screenshots from the 45-minute documentary that is included on the MVI. He also compiled some useful details regarding the MVI and particularly the PC interface that I'll share with you.

SONGS
Plays the songs from 192kbps MP3s. The "Save" and "Save All" puts the MP3s on your computer.

LYRICS
Self explanatory.

EXTRAS
Video: The Game of Snakes and Arrows
41-minute making-of documentary we've all heard about.

Photo Gallery
The same six or seven photos we've seen on the Rush.com website.

Bio: The Game of Snakes and Arrows
The same essay by Neil Peart that we've read from the Rush.com website. The "Save" makes a copy from the DVD as a PDF file to your computer. The "Large View" makes it "full screen" on your monitor, just like it would using fullscreen in Adobe Acrobat.

Credits
The credits from the CD booklet.

Booklet
The booklet for the MVI. The "Save" makes a copy from the DVD as a PDF file to your computer. The "Large View" makes it "full screen" on your monitor, just like it would using fullscreen in Adobe Acrobat.

Wallpaper
Clicking on a thumbnail will copy from the DVD the wallpaper in a 1024x768 Bitmap format to your computer. The "Save All" will save all of them at once.

IM Icons
Clicking on a thumbnail will copy from the DVD the IM icon in a 48x48 2-frame animated GIF format to your computer. The "Save All" will save all of them at once.

RINGTONES
The Ringtones open up a new window where you can edit songs into :20 sec samples, but then you have to purchase them for your phone.

POSTER
This is a feature that is accessed once you register the MVI (and the only one for registering it seems). It simply downloads a 147MB PDF file of the S&A front cover with the words "Rush Snakes & Arrows" underneath it. It's not very practical because unless you have the right equipment and materials to do this, you can't really print out a poster. Registering also puts you in a drawing for a Geddy Lee bass.

----- snip -----

Finally! After numerous delays the Snakes & Arrows MVI is here. It was originally scheduled to be released on May 15th but continuous production delays kept pushing the release date back. It finally began to ship from various vendors last week and many fans already have it in hand. Today is the official release date. Here is the description of the MVI from the Rush Backstage Club:

Rush has recorded Snakes & Arrows on a new format called "MVI" (Music Video Interactive disc). Another name for this is the "DVD-Album". With a higher storage capacity than a standard CD, the MVI is loaded with exciting new features. Superior sound quality plus a wide range of video features and interactive digital content combine to bring you closer to the artists and their music. It plays in all standard DVD players, computers and game consoles with DVD drives. The MVI includes the full album in 96kHz/24 bit hi-resolution stereo audio and a 5.1 surround mix, plus bonus video and digital content. Although the MVI disc will not play in your CD player, the audio tracks are pre-encoded for easy transfer to your computer, portable music player, or recordable CD. Digital music files are compatible with all MP3 devices. Please note that this MVI will not play in CD players.

The Rush "SNAKES & ARROWS" MVI comes in a deluxe box, and includes these 13 new songs in hi-resolution audio, the entire album in 5.1 surround sound, a video documentary on the making of the album, and more

For screenshots of the MVI you can go to this link. If you've already received your copy and have a review, please share it in the comments.

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