Tuesday, December 16, 2008Tsavo Launches Search Engine Marketing ArmSanta Monica-based Tsavo Media, the new startup founded by Userplane founder Michael Jones, has launched a new division, focused on search engine marketing. The firm announced the division Tuesday afternoon, saying that its new Tsavo Agency will provide search engine marketing and content monetization services for companies. The new unit comes shortly after Tsavo Media's acquisition of Better Inc, which runs the DONE! search engine marketing business. Jones said in a statement that the new divis (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Midway Games Cuts In San DiegoMidway Games, a Chicago-based video games developer, announced Tuesday afternoon that it has cut 25 percent of its staff, in a move that also affects the firm's San Diego locations. Number of San Diego employees affected by the move was not disclosed. Midway made the announcement saying that the moves were necessary in response to both challenges the firm is facing, as well as the current economy. The cuts in San Diego came in conjunction with closure of the firm's Austin operations and similar (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Two Teams Join Lunar X PRIZE CompetitionThe Playa Vista-based X PRIZE Foundation has added two new teams for the group's Google Lunar X PRIZE competition, the group said Tuesday. The Google Lunar X PRIZE competition is a $30 million competition to land a robot on the surface of the Moon, travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and send images and data back to the Earth. The teams include Euroluna, which is based in Demanrk and Italy, and SELENE, which is from China and Germany. SELENE is the first team from China to compete for the (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
WebVisible Bolsters SalesIrvine-based WebVisible said today that it has hired on a new Vice President of Sales, Bill Lupo, as the firm's industry, online advertising, continues to thrive. The firm, which provides local online advertising services for businesses, said that Lupo joins the firm from Yodle. Lupo has also served at AltaVista/Shopping.com. WebVisible works with Yellow Pages and other publishers to help their small business clients to place search engine advertising and other Internet advertising. The firm is (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Image Metrics Gains $6.5MLos Angeles-based Image Metrics, which is developing facial animation products for the entertainment industry, announced Tuesday that it has raised $6.5M in a Series B funding round. The firm said the round came from Saffron Hill Ventures, its original investor. Image Metrics develops technology for facial animation, being applied to the film and video game industry. The firm's products were used in Rockstar Games' GTA IV. Image Metrics said the new funding will go towards developing new technol (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (More)(Full story)
PowerGenix Deploys At Camera ChainSan Diego-based PowerGenix, a developer of rechargeable nickel-zinc batteries, is supplying its technology to retail camera and photo chain Ritz Camera. Irvine-based Ritz Camera said it has introduced a new, Nickel-Zinc AA rechargeable battery and charger set it is calling the Quantaray Super Z, which taps the PowerGenix nickel-zinc technology to provide better power for high drain digital cameras. The firms said the new Super Z batteries are better than existing rechargeable batteries, and do n (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Special Devices Files For BankruptcyMoorpark-based Special Devices, a manufacturer of devices for the automotive industry, has filed for bankruptcy. The firm said late Monday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and will continue to operate all of its business units during the restructuring. Special Devices is a major manufacturer of airbag deployment devices, defense and aerospace products, and mining and blasting products. Special Devices said it has received $20M in "debtor-in-possession" financing from Wayzata Investme (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Dexcom Hires ExecutiveSan Diego-based DexCom has appointed a new Chief Administrative Officer, the firm disclosed this morning, saying it had hired Steven R. Pacelli. The firm, which designs glucose monitoring systems for the healthcare industry, said that Pacelli has served at the firm since July of 2007; prior to that, Pacelli was a corporate attorney at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. Pacelli has also served at Axcelerant and Flashcom. Pacelli will be responsible for the firm's administrative functions, including (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Bluebeam Taps European DistributorPasadena-based Bluebeam Software, which develops software used to generate PDFs for the architecture and engineering market, has tapped a distributor for the UK and Ireland. Bluebeam disclosed today that it has inked a deal with QBS Distribution, to distribute the firm's software to value added resellers in those countries. Bluebeam's software is used to create linked, easily viewable PDF documents for blueprints and other CAD output. The firm's products are used by architects, engineers, in the (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
CallFire Rolls Out Personal Call Broadcast Service For iPhoneLos Angeles-based CallFire, a provider of call broadcasting services, launched a new iPhone application Tuesday, saying that it has launched a new service it is calling FriendCast. The new application allows users to use their iPhone to broadcast their personal voice messages to many contacts simultaneously. According to the firm, the new, free service allows users to send a single voice-recorded message to a list of contacts--for example, for informing members of a club or reaching a group. The (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)
Gizmocall Launches Browser-based Calling ServiceMichael Robertson, founder of MP3.com and head of SIP calling service Gizmo5, has rolled out a new browser-based calling service called GizmoCall. Robertson said that the new service allows users to make phone calls to any phone number, SIP address, or Gizmo5 user. According to Robertson, the idea behind the new service is aimed at allowing people to make phone calls from their computer, without having to download, install, and configure bulky PC software. The new Flash-based call service is fre (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008(Full story)