Wednesday, November 17, 2010ThisNext Unveils New Homepage, Adds Editor-in-ChiefSanta Monica-based ThisNext, the online social shopping site headed by Matt Edelman, unveiled a new home page Wednesday, and said it has hired an Editor-in-Chief for the site, as part of a slew of changes around the firm's strategy to become a leading social shopping company for women. According to ThisNext, it has hired Marc Alice Haney, a celebrity stylist and women's magazine veteran, as Editor-in-Chief of the site, and also created a "Tastemaker" program which taps celebrity stylists for rec (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
Novatel MiFi Hits AT&TSan Diego-based Novatel Wireless, the maker of wireless access cards and the popular MiFi personal Wi-Fi hotspot device, is set to deploy with AT&T, AT&T announced late Wednesday. According to AT&T, it will be releasing the AT&T Mobile Hotspot, MiFi 2372 from Novatel Wireless on November 21st, priced at $49.99 after $100 mail-in rebate. Novatel's MiFi device turns a cell phone connection into a mini, wireless hotspot supporting up to five computers or WiFi devices; until recently, the devices on (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
WebVisible Enhances Ad PlatformIrvine-based WebVisible, the provider of local online marketing software for small and medium sized businesses, said Wednesday that it has enhanced its technology platform, adding new mobile optimized landing pages, use of Amazon Cloud Front for video, and expanded listings in business directories. WebVisible said the mobile landing pages will make it easier for consumers to find local results from their mobile phones, and the use of Amazon Cloud Front will provide "near-instant" load of complex (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
Stacking Up The Online Film Submission SitesLast night, Amazon.com jumped into the movie business, with its own, online film submission site, Amazon Studios, backed by the help of a number of notable USC Film School advisors. Amazon is not the only company looking to make a business out of online film submissions: We dug up some of the other local competition in this space, mined from our database of startups, with brief details below:
Amazon Studios
(http://studios.amazon.com)
Hollywood Heavyweights: Jack Epps, Jr. (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
Buy.com Looks To Spur Sales With Affiliate BoostAliso Viejo-based online retailer Buy.com looks to be in the midst of an effort to drive more holiday sales, by boosting payouts to the firm's affiliate marketing partners. Affiliates get a cut of sales driven by their links to products and web sites. According to a note from LinkShare to affiliates, Buy.com has significantly increased its percentage on sales from the site for the month of November. LinkShare said that the commissions are the highest Buy.com has ever offered, and range from 4 pe (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
LIVESTRONG.COM Challenges Users To Quit Smoking via iPhone AppSanta Monica-based LIVESTRONG.COM, the online health and fitness site joint venture of Demand Media and Lance Armstrong, said this week that it has launched a new, iPhone application geared at helping users quick smoking. Livestrong said its new MyQuit Coach iPhone application--which costs $3.99 in the Apple App store--will provide a customized quitting plan, track daily tobacco use and allowance, provide quitting facts and motivational information, plus allow users to earn badges and rewards. T (More info...)
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CoolPlanetBioFuels Gets Funding From GECamarillo-based CoolPlanetBioFuels, a developer of technology for converting low grade biomass into biofuel, said today that it has added GE Financial Services as an investor. According to CoolPlanetBioFuels, the funding came as part of an $8M funding round for the company, which was led by North Bridge Venture Partners. CoolPlanet develops technology for converting cellulosic plant material such as grass and wood into gasoline. The firm is headed by Mike Cheiky.
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VIZIO Goes 3D, Uses RealDIrvine-based HDTV maker VIZIO announced this morning that it has launched a new, 3D television line, in addition to 3D glasses, 3D Blu-ray players, and other accessories. VIZIO said it is launching three new, full HD 3d televisions in 42", 47", and 55" screen sizes, initially online and later this month at retailers. VIZIO is tapping Beverly Hills-based RealD for its 3D technology.
VIZIO said that the new units are available at Amazon.com, SamsClub.com, Target.com, and its own web site, with (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
PixelActive Acquired By NAVTEQCarlsbad-based PixelActive, a developer of 3D modeling software used for urban modeling in video games, simulation, and urban planning, has been acquired by map and traffic data provider NAVTEQ. NAVTEQ said the acquisition will support its move to a 3D-based architecture. PixelActive had 16 employees prior to the acquisition by NAVTEQ. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to NAVTEQ, it has been using PIxelActive's Cityscape product to develop new product offerings. St (More info...)
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Interview with Zach James and Rich Raddon, MOVIECLIPS.COMLast week, Los Angeles-based MOVIECLIPS.COM (www.movieclips.com) announced the firm's Series A funding round, worth $3M, from Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital, and a number of Silicon Valley angels. We caught up with Zach James and Rich Raddon, co-founders of MOVIECLIPS, to learn more about the company and also hear about the firm's funding round. Zach--who is the brother of Omniture founder Josh James--has served at Credit Suisse and Hummer Winblad, and Rich previously ran the Los Angeles F (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
Vokle Powers Al Gore Town MeetingLos Angeles-based Vokle, a provider of an online platform to host interactive broadcasting and discussions, is powering an online town hall meeting hosted by former Vice President Al Gore for Time Warner Cable, according to the firm's investors, the Tech Coast Angels. Financial details of the win were not disclosed. The TCA said Vokle's technology platform is being used as part of Time Warner's "Math, Science and the Future of Our Nation" global town hall meeting, which includes Gore, astronaut (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
ClimateMinder Deploys At McGrath Family FarmsGlendale-based ClimateMinder, the developer of crop and irrigation monitoring and control products, reports this morning that it has deployed its products at Oxnard's McGrath Family Farms. According to ClimateMinder, McGrath is using the firm's system to collect and monitor field, environmental, and crop conditions from field sensors. Financial detail sof the win were not disclosed. ClimateMinder operates an Internet-based, software-as-a-service system for monitoring crops, using wireless sensor (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
Hulu Plus Officially LaunchesLos Angeles-based Hulu, the Internet video streaming site, announced today that it has officially launched its premium service, Hulu Plus. Hulu said the service will cost $7.99 a month--$2 less than what the company had originally launched in its Hulu Plus preview--and that it will be providing a credit to users who subscribed during the preview period.
In addition to the formal launch, Hulu said that it has or will soon be adding additional device support for Hulu Plus, including connected TV (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)
Qualcomm Backs Visage MobileSan Diego-based wireless technology firm Qualcomm is backing a developer of enterprise mobile device management software, Visage Mobile, via its Qualcomm Ventures arm. According to Visage, it has just received $3.6M in a Series C funding round led by Qualcomm Ventures, and also including Worldview Technology Partners, ATA Ventures, Vesbridge Partners and Emergence Capital Partners. Visage develops software which is used to manage the usage of smart phones, cell phones, and other devices in compa (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, November 17, 2010(Full story)