Monday, February 22, 2016SolarReserve: Crescent Dunes Overcomes Limitation Of Battery StorageSanta Monica-based utility-scale solar power company Solar Reserve says its molten-salt based, utility-solar plants have a big advantage over battery-based energy storage, which it says "isn't exactly clean or practical". The power plant developer--whose Crescent Dunes plant started delivering energy to the grid in late 2015--says that its technology offers a "real way" to sore energy for use after dark, and overcomes the intermittency problems that face use of renewables. SolarReserve uses ther (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 22, 2016(Full story)
EcoATM Targeted By Outerwall Investor Group, Seeking Sale Or ShutdownSan Diego-based cell phone recycling kiosk operator ecoATM, which is owned by Outerwall, is being targeted by an investor group which wants Outerwall to shut down or sell off ecoATM--as well as other assets. According to Engaged Capital LLC, it believes Outerwall's current management have impaired the valuation of the company, and is demanding that Outerwall "shut down or sell" ecoATM, among other moves. Engaged Capital wants Outerwall to discontinue its share repurchases and to seek "strategic (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 22, 2016(Full story)
Nomva Raises $3M For Fruit SnacksSanta Monica-based food startup Nomva (Phenomenal Foods LLC) said last week that it has raised $3M in a Series A funding. The funding came from Evolution Media Partners and Taylor Fresh Foods. Nomva was founded by Caroline Beckman and Nina Church, and sells a blend of organic, probiotic, dairy free fruit snacks. Nomva also is backed by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, via a Thiel Fellowship grant.
posted on Monday, February 22, 2016 (More)(Full story)
MRV Gets More From Tecnonet SaleChatsworth-based optical networking equipment provider MRV Communications said the price of its sale of Tecnonet S.p.A. has increased, and that it has received an additional $4.8M in the sale. The deal now amounts to $26.4M. According to MRV, the payment relates to an intercompany obligation. MRV Communications sold the Italian subsidiary to Maticmind S.p.A.. The deal had originally been announced on December 3rd, 2015.
posted on Monday, February 22, 2016(Full story)
Ixia Targets Network Security With New DeviceCalabasas-based Ixia is aiming at the network security market with its latest product, the company said today. Ixia said its Vision ONE device collects, processes, and filters data and application flow, specifically for security and network protection. The new devie taps into corporate networks, using deep packet inspection to watch the flow of traffic across a network. Ixia said its device can even access encrypted traffic using SSL decryption, break down traffic based on application type, geo (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 22, 2016(Full story)
Qualcomm Powers Samsung Galaxy S7San Diego-based Qualcomm said its Snapdragon 820 processor is being used for Samsung's latest phone, the Samsung Galaxy S7. The win marks the return of Qualcomm to powering Samsung's Galaxy phones; Samsung had skipped the prior generation of Qualcomm's chips, using its own processor in the Galaxy S6. The two said Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 will be used in both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The Snapdragon 820 includes an integrated X12 LTE modem, which the company says provides up to 33 perce (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 22, 2016(Full story)