Wednesday, August 22, 2012


International Rectifier To Close El Segundo Plant
El Segundo-based International Rectifier, a developer of analog and power ICs, said Wednesday that it is shutting its El Segundo, California fabrication facility, and laying off staff. The firm did not say how many employees would be affected by the move. The firm blamed weak demand in its markets for the move, which came after it its results showed a 15 percent decrease in year-to-year, fourth quarter results. The firm cited weak end-market demand, particularly in Asia and Europe, for the move, (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

My Damn Channel Raises $1.0M
Los Angeles-based My Damn Channel, the online comedy site headed by Rob Barnett and Warren Chao, has raised $1.0M as part of an ongoing, $3.0M funding round, according to a regulatory filing from the firm. Details on the new funding have not yet been announced by the company. The site produces original content for the web, both on its own site as well as distributed through other sites, including Wainy Days, Horrible People, You Suck at Photoshop, and other series. The firm is one of a number of (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

Report: Fisker Automotive Delays Surf
It looks like Anaheim-based electric car manufacturer Fisker Automotive is buckling down and trying to smooth out the rough ride it has had launching the Karma sedan, and has decided to "back burner" efforts on the Surf, the wagon version of the Karma. According to a report from Green Autoblog, Fisker said--although it might build a Surf as a one-off to buyers--it had otherwise decided to "back burner" the car to bring its high volume, Atlantic to market. Fisker has been working through some ver (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

AudioMicro Inks Deal For Windows Live Movie Maker Link
In a move which expands its distribution, Los Angeles-based AudioMicro, the provider of stock audio clips and music, said it has inked a partnership with Microsoft to include a link to its service via Windows Live Movie Maker. AudioMicro said Microsoft is including it in the newly updated release of the software, used by Windows users to create their own videos. The deal is the second with Microsoft for AudioMicro, which is headed by Ryan Born; the firm already has a deal with Microsoft Office 2 (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

Fuhu Finds Funding For Android Tablet For Kids
El Segundo-based Fuhu, which is developing an Android tablet specifically aimed at kids, has raised $10M in venture debt. The funding was announced by venture debt provider ORIX Ventures. Fuhu develops the nabi tablet, which it says is specifically designed for teaching kids state-standardized, core curriculum for kids in the K-5th grade. Specific terms of the venture debt deal were not announced. Fuhu's nabi is based on Android 4.0, and is bundled with educational material, games, ebooks, and o (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 (More)(Full story)

Hulu Refreshes Site, Focuses on More Vivid, Graphic Experience
Hulu, the online video site, has made a major update to the site today, rolling out a more vivid, graphical interface which highlights scenes, TV shows, movies, and more on the service. Among updates made by Hulu, the site is now highlighting new additions to the site, the previous evening's TV episodes, and editorial picks by its team through full-page, eye-catching graphics. in addition, the site has enhanced its search tools and layout, made it easier to follow series through its video player (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

MaxLinear Cashes Out Venture Capital Investors
In an unusual move, Carlsbad-based MaxLinear said today that it has reached a private deal to repurchase a significant number of its shares from its venture capital investors. The publicly held firm said it will repurchase 1.65M shares of its own stock, including 1,152,338 shares of its Class C common stock from Mission Ventures, and 500,000 shares of Class B common stock from US Venture Partners. The deal will completely cash out Mission Ventures, which will no longer hold any ownership interes (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

Local Corporation Debuts New Digital Marketing Service
Irvine-based Local Corporation has debuted a new digital marketing software suite aimed at local businesses this morning. The firm said its new Launch by Local product is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, and helps customers with digital marketing. The product includes web hosting, social media, mobile, content creation, website creation, SEO, and other services for those businesses. The new tool will start at $249 per month for SMBs.
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

BlackLine In Expansion, Opens Five New Offices
Los Angeles-based BlackLine Systems, the developer of financial close software used by companies to automate balance sheet reconciliation for companies, is in a major expansion, saying today that it has opened up offices in five cities worldwide. The company said it opened up offices in Atlanta, Chicago, London, New York City, and Portland, Oregon, on top of existing offices in Sydney and in Los Angeles. The firm said the new offices come as a result of international growth for the company. The (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

GraphEffect Rolls Out API, New Release
In an outreach to developers, Santa Monica-based GraphEffect, the developer of social marketing software headed by James Borow, is announcing today that it is opening up an API to its platform for developers. The firm said that its platform APIs, which will be initially available to select developers, will allow developers to build additional tools on top of the company's platform for managing social marketing. GraphEffect said the API is part of a new release of its platform. The company's soft (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)

Paragon Sees OEM Demand For Drivers
Irvine-based Paragon Software, the developer of data storage and mobile applications and software, says that it is seeing "unprecedented growth in demand" for its file sytsem driver technology from Android, Linux, and embedded device manufacturers. According to the firm, it has seen a significant number of OEms using its drivers to support exFAT, NTFS, and HFS+ file systems as a part of a move by manufacturers to support SDXC and Windows/Mac USB drives as part of their devices. Paragon did not s (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2012(Full story)