Monday, August 16, 2010


CalAmp Gets $1.1M NOAA Contract
Oxnard-based CalAmp, a developer of wireless communications products, reported Monday afternoon that it has won a $1.1M order from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to CalAmp, the order is for the firm's advanced wireless modems, which will be used in the NOOA's Automated Surface Observing System. CalAmp provides wireless communications products for the utility, enterprise, and government market, along with direct broadcast satellite components.
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NewEgg Loses CEO
City of Industry-based Newegg, the online retailer of electronics, computer, and other items, said Monday afternoon that CEO and Director Tally Liu has departed the firm. The firm said that Foudner and Chairman Fred Chang resumes his role as CEO of Newegg, with S.C. Lee, EVP and company director, now appointed as acting President of Newegg North America. No reason for the executive change was given. Newegg said it has retained an executive recruiting firm to find a new CEO for Newegg's non-China (More info...)
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Clicker Launches Comments, Partnership With Showtime
Los Angeles-based Clicker, the online video guide site run by former Ask.com CEO Jim Lanzone, said today that it has launched a new comment feature, and also partnered with Showtime on a new promotion. Clicker said that as part of its site, users who "check-in" to watch shows can comment on shows and episodes with other check-in users. In the Showtime deal, it said it has partnered to provide exclusive awards for users who check-into the new Showtimes series The Big C, season 6 of Weeds, Dexter, (More info...)
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Former VC Edmund Shea Jr. Dies
Edmund H. Shea, Jr., 80, the co-founder of Shea Homes and a former venture capital investor at Hambrecht & Quist, died August 13th at his San Marino home, according to J.F. Shea & Co. Shea was a former venture capital investor and investment banker at Hambrecht & Quist in San Francisco in the 1960's. J.F. Shea said that Mr. Shea was an investor in such firms as Activision, Adobe, Altera Corporation, Brocade, Compaq Computer, Genentech, Affymax, America West Airlines, AES Corporation, and Peet's (More info...)
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Solarflare Claims OEM, End Customer Wins
Irvine-based Solarflare Communications, which develops 10 Gigabit Ethernet semiconductors, is claiming today that it has "multiple" OEM customers who are designing products based on its 40nm, SFT9104 transceiver. The firm also said it is shipping its 10GBASE-T server adapter to multiple Fortune 100 customers. Names and financial details behind the various wins were not announced by the company. Solarflare is run by Russell Stern, and has recently been pursuing a strategy of both shipping its chi (More info...)
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WiSpry Gets $6M More
Irvine-based WiSpry, a maker of radio frequency (RF) semiconductors, has raised $6.0M as part of an ongoing $7.0M funding round, according to a regulatory filing by the firm today. Details on the funding have not yet been announced by the firm. According to the filing, among the investors are L Capital Partners, Paladin Capital Group, and Chart Venture Partners. The firm last announced a funding round, a Series C, in June of 2009 from Chart Venture Partners and Acadia Woods Partners, in addition (More info...)
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MySpace Names Corporate Communications VP
Los Angeles-based MySpace, the online social networking site, said today that it has named Rosabel Tao as its Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications. Tao was most recently running her own consulting practice, serving clients such as Current Media, PopSugar Media, Spot Runner and REVShare. MySpace said she also served as VP of Corporate Communications at Spot Runner, as well as served in roles at Bank of America, Golin Harris, Weber Shandwick, and Fleischman-Hillard.
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Tech Coast Angels Hail Exits, Disclose Q2 Investments Numbers
The Tech Coast Angels, Southern California's largest angel investment group, is hailing its latest exits today, saying that the recent IPOs for Green Dot and Trius Therapeutics, as well as the sale of Language Weaver to SDL, have left members "smiling". The angel group also said it made investments in OLFactor, a firm developing technology for insect repellent and trapping, HitFix, an entertainment news site, and Vokle, a live video site. Financial terms of those various deals were not disclosed (More info...)
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Central Desktop Officially Launches Office Collaboration Tool
Pasadena-based Central Desktop said today that it has officially launched its Microsoft Office collaboration tool, Central Desktop for Office. The software, which connects to Microsoft Word via a toolbar add-on, allows users to open online files through Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The firm's software has been available to users since at least May. Central Desktop said the software is available in both free and premium versions, wit the premium ersion costing $30/user/year for extended (More info...)
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eHarmony: More Than 542 People Married Every Day Through Site
Pasadena-based eHarmony, the online dating site, said today that it has run a study which determined that on average, there are 542 people married every day in the U.S. due to the web site. The firm said it it studeied marriages between January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, and concluded 542 people were married every day in the United States due to the site's efforts. The study was conducted by Harris Interactive for eHarmony. eHarmony said that for the study period, there were more than 148,31 (More info...)
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Hulu Eyes IPO
Los Angeles-based Hulu, the online video streaming site, is apparently in efforts to file for an IPO, as a long line of Southern California firms heads towards the public markets. According to a report in the New York Times, Hulu is in discussions with investment bankers about pursuing an IPO in the fall. No details of the potential IPO have been released. Hulu would be just one of more than a handful of local firms headed towards an IPO. The latest firms with Southern California connections to (More info...)
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REVA Medical Looks To Australia For IPO
San Diego-based REVA Medical, a developer of stents used for treating coronary artery disease, has filed for an IPO in Australia. According to REVA, it is looking to raise up to $63M in an offering on the Australian Securities Exchange. REVA is venture backed by Domain Partners, Saints Capital, Cerberus, Brookside Capital Partners Fund, and others. The firm has raised over $57M in funding.
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Tweetup Ties Twitter Client To TweetPhoto
Pasadena-based TweetUp, the Twitter advertising firm owned by Idealab, said today that it has linked its Twitter Client, Twidroyd, to the TweetPhoto media sharing service. Twitter said its client--which runs on Android devices--provides full integration of TweetPhoto, including uploading of photos, voting, commenting, and geo-tagging features. TweetUp bought Twidroid in July. The firm said it is among the "most used Twitter applications" across all platforms. The software, which includes both a (More info...)
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HID Global Boosts RFID Sales Efforts
Irvine-based HID Global, a developer of access control products, RFID tags and related products, said today that it has "significantly expanded" its presence in the North American RFID market, and appointed a North American sales manager to manage those efforts. The firm said it has appointed David Chose to the position, Chose has previously served at Omron, CCL Label, and Texas Instruments. The firm said Chose has over 10 years in sales, business development, and systems implementation in the R (More info...)
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REC Solar In Major Install In Arizona
San Luis Obispo-based solar project installer REC Solar said today that it has scored what it claims is the largest, solar installation on a carport in Arizona. According to REC, it has been awarded a second contract to design and install a 2.9 MW, solar electric carport-mounted system at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson. Financial details of the win were not disclosed. The system is being added to an existing 302 kW installation already being installed at the location. REC s (More info...)
posted on Monday, August 16, 2010(Full story)