Monday, November 10, 2008Quartics Snags AMD Exec As CEOIrvine-based Quartics, which is developing semiconductors for media processing, said Monday that it has named former AMD Executive Vice President Mario Rivas as the firm's new CEO. Quartics, which was started by former AST Founder Safi Qureshey, is developing media encoding and decoding semiconductors which support 1080p HDTV and related processing. Rivas was most recently in charge of AMD's Computing Solutions Group, and was Corporate Vice President at AMD's Office of Strategy Management. Rivas (More info...)
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Zhiing Launches Mobile Navigation AppA new, Santa Barbara-based startup ZOS Communications, has launched a GPS-enabled, mobile phone application it is calling Zhiing, the firm said Monday. According to the firm, its service allows users to send turn-by-turn directions to addresses to users of iPhone, Blackberry, Nokia N-Series, and Dash in-car navigation devices. The application allows friends to send directions to other people via a cell phone. ZOS is backed by around $1M in Series A funding, and was founded in 2007.
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Geni Expands Virtual GiftsLos Angeles-based Geni.com said today that the firm has enhanced its virtual gifts feature, the ability of the users of the family tree site to send each other birthday greetings and other gifts on the site. According to Geni, it has completely revised its gifts, adding better quality graphics, more selection, and a focus on holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events. Geni also said that it has connected its birthday and anniversary features on its site to allow people to inclu (More info...)
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Boingo Buys Airport Wi-Fi ProviderLos Angeles-based Boingo Wireless, which operates a network of Wi-Fi hotspots, said this morning that it has acquired Opti-Fi Networks, which provides Wi-Fi implementation and management for airports in North America. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Opti-Fi Networks is owned by Parsons Transportation Group and ARINC. According to Boingo Wireless, the acquisition adds 25 new airports to its coverage area. The firm explained that the addition of the airports brings its total airpor (More info...)
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Evolution Robotics Scores $13.88MPasadena-based robotics technology firm Evolution Robotics has scored another $13.88M in venture funding, the firm disclose today. Evolution Robotics said the funding was led by CMEA Ventures, and also included Vodafone Ventures, Idealab, and the Quercus Trust. Faysal Sohail of CMEA will join the firm's board along with the funding. Evolution Robotics develops technology for the robotics market, including image recognition, navigation systems, and other control software. The company's software i (More info...)
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Activision Buys Budcat CreationsSanta Monica-based Activision Publishing, a publisher of video games, announced this morning that it has acquired Budcat Creations, a video game developer based in Iowa City, Iowa. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. Budcat Creations develops Wii and Nintendo DS titles for the home video game market. Activision said that it has worked with Budcat Creations for the development of multiple games in its Guitar Hero franchise. Budcat Creations will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Ac (More info...)
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Tickets.com Goes MobileCosta Mesa-based Tickets.com, a provider of ticketing products and software, has expanded its service into the mobile market. The firm said today that it has launched ProvenueMobile, a mobile version of the firm's consumer-facing website. The firm said the new offering will allow users to buy tickets from a mobile phone. Tickets.com also said it will be offering the technology to its clients in early 2009. The new mobile phone support can be used by smart phones such as the Blackberry, iPhone, a (More info...)
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RoyaltyShare Expands In EuropeSan Diego-based RoyaltyShare is expanding its efforts in Europe, saying Monday that it has added executives in the region plus added support for multiple currencies in its software. The firm, which develops software used to track digital royalties in the music industry, said that Steve Johnson, Asa Palmer, and Andrew Hudson to represent the firm in Europe. Johnson was most recently at MCPS-PRS Alliance; Palmer was most recently at Musicalc; and Hudson was most recently at Counterpoint Systems. I (More info...)
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Ixia Adds Security OfferingsCalabasas-based network testing tools firm Ixia has launched a new product, focused on the network security market, the firm announced today. Ixia said that it has launched IxDefend, which is says is a comprehensive security analysis tool that can assess the security and robustness of software applications, network appliances, and information systems. The firm said its product can be used to identify known and zero-day threats to systems, programming errors, and other security exposures in appli (More info...)
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