Wednesday, August 26, 2009Google Gets Into Ad Optimization, Takes On Rubicon ProjectIn what might be some new competition for Santa Monica-based Rubicon Project, the high profile ad optimization firm headed by Frank Addante, search engine giant Google told its publishers late Wednesday that it will begin to offer similar capabilities in its AdSense program. Google said it will open its door to third party advertising networks, allowing the ads in those networks to compete with AdWords advertisers for ad space on publishers. Google said it will be certifying those networks, and (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009(Full story)
Hydra Executives Clash, End Up in CourtBeverly Hills-based Hydra LLC, an Internet advertising company which has been seeing major growth in the last couple of years, has apparently hit a major snag, as the company has become embroiled in lawsuits associated with the departure of three of the four founding partners at the firm.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Business Journal, the lawsuits stems from the firing of three of four of the firm's founding partners--Doug, Jason, and Adam Walker--by CEO Zac Brandenberg and investme (More info...)
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Green Sherpa Launches Personal Finance SiteSanta Barbara-based Green Sherpa said Wednesday that the firm has officially launched its online personal finance software. The company said that its software offers expense tracking, budgeting, and planning, as well as ways to collaborate with spouses, CPAs, and financial planners. The firm competes against similar Web 2.0 personal finance sites like Mint.com and Wesabe. Green Sherpa said one of its main differentiators is its ability to forecast future cash flow based on not only historical sp (More info...)
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Rubicon Opens Office In Australia, Hires Away GooglerLos Angeles-based Rubicon Project announced Wednesday that the firm has opened up an office in Sydney, Australia, as part of an expansion in the Asia Pacific region. According to Rubicon, which provides online advertising optimization software and services, it has hired on Kaylie Smith as Managing Director in Sydney to head up its Australian and Asian operations. Smith was most recently Head of Platform Japan + Asia Pacific at Google, and has also served at DoubleClick, Red Sherrif, and Pearson. (More info...)
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Google Maps Adds More SoCal Traffic InfoSearch engine giant Google is now pulling more traffic information from local streets around Southern California, saying Tuesday that it has added major traffic arteries and local street data to the firm's Google Maps service. Google is tapping data that the firm is gathering from cell phone users who use Google Maps on their mobile devices; the firm says that it is collecting GPS data from those users, who give it permission. That information is being used by Google to calculate speed and traff (More info...)
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Xirrus Adds Another Education CustomerThousand Oaks-based Xirrus, a developer of Wi-Fi networking hardware, has scored another education customer, the firm announced today. Xirrus said that Penola Catholic College, located in Melbourne, Australia, has deployed the firm's 802.11n Wi-Fi arrays. Financial details on the win were not disclosed. Xirrus develops Wi-Fi equipment which combines multiple wireless access points and switching, to provide better coverage and higher bandwidth to wireless deployments. The firm has been announcing (More info...)
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Kingston Gets Spotlight In Amazon Packaging EffortFountain Valley-based memory manufacturer Kingston Technology is the centerpiece of an effort by online retailer Amazon.com to use more "eco-friendly" packaging. According to Amazon.com, it has been taking aim at frustrating and wasteful packaging with a new "Frustration-Free Packaging Initiative." As part of that effort, consumers can provide feedback to the firm about how difficult it is to use packaging from manufacturers, and how appropriate Amazon's own packaging is. Amazon also said it is (More info...)
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ColdSpark Taps KasperskySan Diego-based ColdSpark, the email infrastructure provider owned by BakBone Software, said today that it is in an OEM agreement to use Kaspersky's Anti-Virus engine in its offering. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. ColdSpark develops an enterprise email transport platform used by the financial industry, and was purchased by BakBone in May. ColdSpark said that it will use Kaspersky's Anti-Virus engine for protection against viruses, Trojans, worms, and malware.
posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009(Full story)
Asymtek Names Reseller In MexicoCarlsbad-based Asymtek, a developer of dispensing and coasting systems for the semiconductor and other industries, said today that it has signed on a manufacturer's representative company in Mexico. The firm said that the Rich Sales Company, which has thirty years of experience in the Mexican market, will support its Mexican installed base, and will provide sales, technical expertise, service, and parts for its products. Asymtek said that the Rich Sales Company already supports the firm's custom (More info...)
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DivX Powers FilmFresh.comSan Diego-based DivX said today that it is powering a download-to-own movie store run by Los Angeles-based FilmFresh.com. According to DivX and Film Fresh, Film Fresh will provide major motion picture titles from Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, all in DivX format. Financial details of the arrangement were not disclosed.
posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009(Full story)
Outcast In Content Deals with CBS, CNET, HGTVSanta Monica-based Outcast, an operator of at-the-pump digital displays, said this morning that it has inked new content partnerships with CBS, CNET, and HGTV. Financial details of the content relationships were not disclosed. Outcast runs a network of digital displays at gas stations, which feature both content and advertising. The firm says it now has 12,600 of its screens deployed.
posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009(Full story)