Thursday, December 18, 2008


Yonkly Creates New Microblogging Site
Orange County-based startup Yonkly launched a beta of its site this week, focused on creating a Twitter-like, branded microblog service. The service is looking to allow people to create their own microblogging site combined with features like posting photos, ability to custom brand the site, and integration with other social sites like Twitter, Picasa, and Flickr. Yonkly is one of a number of local startups -- including Yammer.com and BeenUp2.com -- looking to tap into the popularity of Twitter' (More info...)
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Woz Joins Axiotron
El Segundo-based Axiotron, a manufacturer of table computers running Apple's Macintosh OS, said Thursday that it has added Steve Wozniak to the firm's board of advisors. Axiotron's tablet PC takes existing Macintosh computers and converts them into a tablet, based on Apple's MacBook systems. Axiotron is angel backed by the Tech Coast Angels, and was a winner of the Tech Coast Angels' Fast Pitch in 2007. The firm allows users to order pen-based, tablet PCs based on Apple's MacBook, or allows user (More info...)
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Box Office Mojo Acquired By Amazon
Los Angeles-based Box Office Mojo, an online site which provides information and tracking of box office receipts for the movie industry, has been acquired by Amazon.com's IMDB.com subsidiary. The firm's founders announced the sale to users on Wednesday. Financial terms of the buy was not disclosed. In the letter, founder Brandon Gray and Sean Saulsbury said the firm will remain headquartered in the Los Angeles area.
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Kingston Rolls Out Free Mobile Games
Fountain Valley-based memory manufacturer Kingston Technology is aiming at the mobile phone market, saying this week that it has launched a free daily game download offering on its Mobile Phone Village microsite. According to Kingston, it will offer a free mobile game every day from BustedThumbs.com, which provides mobile content. Kingston is looking to attract mobile phone users as customers of its flash memory products--the firm develops memory products that expand capacity of mobile phones fo (More info...)
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Yellowpages.com Links With Krillion
Glendale-based Yellowpages.com has inked a deal this morning with shopping site Krillion, a Silicon Valley startup which provides information about whether merchandise is available at local stores. According to Yellowpages.com, it will let consumers know what products are available and on sale at local brick-and-mortar retailers when they search the site. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Yellowpages.com said it will provide information about products in stock or on sale at local (More info...)
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Irvine Sensors Sells Patents
Costa Mesa-based Irvine Sensors, which develops image processors, electro-optic cameras, and other sensor technology, said this morning that it is selling a number of its patents and patent applications to Aprolase Development Co., LLC. The firm said it will receive up to $9.5M in cash for the patents. Irvine Sensors said the assets, which have not yet been finalized, are based on its systems, sensors, and electronic packaging technologies. The firm will license back the patents for royalty-free (More info...)
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Machinima.com Snags Hollywood Comedy Writers
Los Angeles-based Machinima.com, a venture-backed online site which centers around video games and entertainment, said this morning that it has tapped fifteen writers from popular comedy television series such as The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, and Seinfeld, for a series of original comedy plots on the site. Machinima is venture backed by MK Capital and other investors, and recently scored $3.85M in funding. Machinima's content uses video game animation to create online movies and videos. The (More info...)
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ActionAllStars Launches Sports Virtual World
Marina Del Rey-based Six Degree Games is targeting youngsters for its new sports-themed virtual world, Action AllStars, aimed at six to 14 year old kids interested in sports. The new virtual world--which was developed in association with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLB.com), allows children to play games, socialize with friends, and interact with a sports-themed community. According to Six Degree, the site will allow kids to participate in (More info...)
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Cymer Loses CFO
San Diego-based Cymer, a manufacturer of laser light sources used for the semiconductor industry, disclosed Wednesday that the firm's CFO, Nancy J. Baker, has resigned. Cymer said that Baker left the firm to pursue other opportunities. The company said it has appointed Paul B. Bowman, the firm's Vice President of Investors Relations, as its interim Chief Financial Officer. Baker had been at Cymer since 1998, having started at the firm as VP Finance and Treasurer. Bowman has been at Cymer since M (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 18, 2008(Full story)