Thursday, February 19, 2009Report: ManiaTV On The BlockLos Angeles-based ManiaTV, which produces and distributes online content, is reportedly looking for a buyer, and has hired investment bank Updata Advisors. According to a report in TVWeek, the firm is hoping to find a buyer by the end of the month. Neither Peter Hoskins, the firm's CEO, or the firm's public relations firm responded to emails for comment on the report as of press time. Hoskins had told socalTECH earlier this month that the firm was "actually selling and living off what we do," an (More info...)
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United Online: Dialup Shrinks, Classmates GrowsWoodland Hills-based United Online reported its results Thursday, saying that the firm's revenues from its communications segment decreased by 17% in the fourth quarter, made up by a similar 17% increase in its Classmates Media business. The firm announced it had revenues of $256.2M for the quarter, including results from its recently acquired FTD business. Excluding results from FTD, the firm had revenues of $122.5M, compared with $125.4M in the prior year. United Online purchased FTD last year (More info...)
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STEC, Seagate Settle Patent LawsuitSanta Ana-based STEC, a manufacturer of solid state disk drives and flash memory, said Thursday afternoon that Seagate has dropped a patent infringement lawsuit against the firm. According to STEC, Seagate dropped all of its claims against the firm, with neither company exchanging money or patent licenses on their technology to each other. Seagate and STEC had been locked in a lawsuit over STEC's flash memory-based solid state disk drives since April of last year. At that time, Seagate had claim (More info...)
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Docstoc Adds Preview FeatureSanta Monica-based Docstoc rolled out a new feature for the firm's web-based document sharing service Thursday, which allows users to embed preview links into their web pages of documents on the site. The firm's new Docshots service allows any Docstoc user to include pop-up previews of their documents, by including Javascript code on their web page. The feature is only available to users registered with the Docstoc site. Docstoc is venture backed by Rustic Canyon Partners, and also has scored fu (More info...)
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Buzznet Puts Focus On CelebritiesLos Angeles-based Buzznet, the venture-backed operator of a network of entertainment-focused social media sites, is making the rounds with a new feature on its Celebuzz celebrity web site this week. The firm rolled out a "zoom" feature that allows users on the site to magnify celebrity photos on the site. According to the site, the new feature will allow its members to see closeups of things like their designer handbags--and "wardrobe malfunctions." The feature is available on the firm's more re (More info...)
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Global Fitness Media Names CTOLos Angeles-based Global Fitness Media, which is developing a number of fitness-related online web sites, has hired on a new Chief Technical Officer, according to the firm's search agency, NeoHire. According to the firms, Daniel Auld has been appointed to the position. Auld was most recently Senior Operations Architect at Yahoo, and has also served at IBM Corporation and Alchemy Communications. Global Fitness Media recently launched GoodFoodNearYou, an online site which helps consumers find heal (More info...)
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SOMARK Innovations Sets Up Shop In San DiegoSOMARK Innovations, a firm which is developing chipless, RFID tattoo technology used for animal identification, is setting up shop in San Diego, the firm disclosed earlier this month. The company--which also landed a venture capital round from Finistere Ventures and T2 Venture Capital--said the new location will be based at the Center for Emerging Technologies. SOMARK is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Finestere is based in San Diego, and also has ties to Missouri through the management of the Mis (More info...)
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Geni Connects With FacebookHollywood-based Geni, the venture-backed firm which has developed an online, Web 2.0-style genealogy and social networking web sites for families, has connected the company's service with the popular Facebook social networking web site. Geni said that users can now connect their Facebook account to Geni, allowing users to use Facebook's standard invite tools to invite relatives to join Geni's family tree serviecs. The new Facebook connection also allows users to post their Geni activity to their (More info...)
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Borrego Solar Sells Residential Solar Installation BusinessEl Cajon-based Borrego Solar Systems, a installer of solar power systems, announced Thursday that the firm is selling off its residential business and will focus exclusively on its commercial and government customers. The firm, which is fresh off a $14M round of funding, said it is selling its residential business to fellow, venture-backed solar installer groSolar. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. Vermont-based groSolar is venture backed by NGP Energy Technology Partners, SJF Vent (More info...)
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FlipGloss.com Targets Fashion MarketVenice-based FlipGloss Media announced this morning that it has launched a web site targeted at the fashion, design, travel, and lifestyle photography markets. The new site--funded by Forbes Media--said it is looking to create a "new visual discovery experience" for consumers. The advertising-driven site said it was founded by Yahoo! Music veterans Kerry Trainor, Mike Randall, Robyn VanTol and Christopher Shattuck. The firm also said its advisors include Forbes Media COO Tim Forbes, Elevation P (More info...)
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Universal Electronics Buys Zilog AssetsCypress-based Universal Electronics, a manufacturer of wireless remote control technology for home entertainment, digital media, and other devices, said this morning that it has purchased the universal remote control software, intellectual property, and related assets and personnel from Zilog, Inc. San Jose-based Zilog is a developer of embedded systems-on-a-chips. The acquisition was part of a bigger divestiture of Zilog's wireless control business. Zilog also sold two of its product lines to M (More info...)
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