Monday, January 12, 2015Activision, Tencent Tie On Call of Duty Launch In ChinaSanta Monica-based Activision and Chinese game maker Tencent said today that the two are launching the popular Activision title Call of Duty into China, releasing the game as a free-to-play -- and also adapting the game to Chinese customs. Activision said it is looking to expand its series into the world's largest gaming market by specifically tailoring the experience for the Chinese market. In addition to new free-to-play model, the new game also apparently tones down violence and removes the u (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 12, 2015(Full story)
SpaceX Dragon Docks Successfully At ISSHawthorne-based SpaceX has successfully docked its Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station again this morning, attaching to the ISS Harmony module at 8:54 a.m. EST. The Dragon is scheduled to be opened Tuesday, to offload supplies and payload to the ISS, as well as collect experiments and trash from the ISS for return to earth. This is SpaceX's fifth mission--out of twelve scheduled by NASA--to provide resupply to the International Space Station.
posted on Monday, January 12, 2015(Full story)
What Startups Can Learn From The Pizza Business: Samit Varma
In our interviews, we normally talk to entrepreneurs, investors, and others involved in the technology startup industry. However, for today's interview, we've decided to venture a bit farther afield--talking to Samit Varma, founder of Los Angeles-based pizza franchise Pizza Studio (www.pizzastudio.com). Varma is actually a former technology investor at Santa Monica-based venture capital firm Anthem Ventures, and we thought it would be great contrasting his experience starting and running a res (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 12, 2015(Full story)
SpaceX Sees Successful Launch, Not So Great LandingHawthorne-based SpaceX saw another successful launch of a mission ot the International Space Station on Saturday, taking off at 4:47 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. However, SpaceX saw less success in its attempt to land its first rocket booster on a floating platform off the Florida coast--part of its efforts to develop a reusable rocket--as the booster "landed hard" and damaged the platform. SpaceX had originally planned to launch the miss (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 12, 2015(Full story)
Shopatron Wins Canadian Hardware ChainSan Luis Obispo-based e-commerce software developer Shopatron is reporting a big customer win this morning, with a big hardware chain in Canada. Shpatron, which is led by Ed Stevens, said that 1000-store chain Home Hardware has completed an implementation of the company's e-commerce fulfillment software. Shopatron's software allows Home Hardware's customers to place online orders for pickup or delivery. Financial impact of the win were not announced.
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Allergan, Actavis See Early Termination of Antitrust Waiting PeriodIrvine-based Allergan and Actavis plc said this morning that the two have received an early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust act. The two agreed in November to a $66 billion takeover bid by Actavis. The two companies said that it still needs shareholder and other regulatory approval on the deal. Actavis plc is based in Dublin, Ireland. Very few local Alleran executives are expected to gain a new role at Actavis.
posted on Monday, January 12, 2015(Full story)
ViaSat Selects SpaceX For Satellite LaunchCarlsbad-based ViaSat, which develops high speed communications satellites, said this morning that it has selected Hawthorne-based SpaceX to launch its next high capacity, broadband satellite, ViaSat-2. Financial details of the deal were not announced. ViaSat said that SpaceX will launnch its payload aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in late summer of 2016. SpaceX is in the midst of the development of the Falcon Heavy, which is expected to be able to lift twice the payload of the Delta IV Heavy---cur (More info...)
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Alorica Names New CFOIrvine-based outsourcing service provider Alorica said late Friday that it has named James Molloy as the company's new Chief Financial Officer. Molloy was most recently Alorica's Chief Accounting Officer, and also has served at Vanguard Logistics Services, BAX Global, The Brink's Company, and Deloitte & Touche. Molloy replaces Jack Pollock, who the company said will continue on as an advisor to the company. Alorica offers up customer support and management outsourcing, and will have over 48,000 (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 12, 2015(Full story)