Monday, March 26, 2012Mobile Roadie Powers New Madonna iPad AppAnother high profile, celebrity app has rolled out from Los Angeles mobile app developer Mobile Roadie today--this time, from Madonna. In conjunction with the launch of her new album MDNA, Madonna debuted her new iPad app in the iTunes App Store, which Mobile Roadie said was developed using its self-service mobile app platform. The free app features photos, videos, music, fan posts, and news from Madonna fans. Versions of the app also run on iPhone and Android. Mobile Roadie powers a significant (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
Fandango Breaks Record With The Hunger Games Ticket SalesLos Angeles-based Fandango said today that this weekend's release of The Hunger Games, the movie based on the book of the same name by Suzanne Collins, broke its sales records, with 22 percent of domestic opening weekend ticket sales being made through its system. The company said that the sales represent the largest share of sales for any movie in its 12-year history. Fandango said the sales were bolstered by popularity of both online and mobile ticketing options. The Hunger Games broke the rec (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
Fisker Automotive Upgrades Warranty Due To A123 Battery IssueResponding to the news that high voltage battery supplier A123 Systems has found a manufacturing issue with its battery cells, Anaheim-based Fisker Automotive said today that it has enhanced its warranty and will provide complete battery replacement to owners of its 2012 Fisker Karma. The firm--which has been seeing some major stumbling blocks as it looks to spin up deliver of its electric cars--said it has launched the "significant upgrade" to its VIP Customer Care Coverage as a result of the A (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
enXco Buys Texas Wind ProjectSan Diego-based enXco, a developer of renewable energy projects which is backed by EDF Energies Nouvelles, said this morning that it has acquired a wind power project from Element Power US. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. enxCo and Element said that enXco purchase the Bobcat Bluff Wind Project, located in Archer County, Texas, which includes 14,000 acres, and is expected to deploy up to 150 megawatts of capacity. Element Power is owned by private equity firm Hudson Clean E (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
TrueCar Tops 500,000 Cars SoldSanta Monica-based TrueCar, the online automotive purchasing program and technology developer, has just topped 500,000 cars sold on its platform, the firm reported this morning. The company, which is disrupting the automotive sales industry with its upfront pricing software, said that 100,000 of those vehicles were sold in just over the last four months. TrueCar, which is led by Scott Painter, powers affiliate buying programs from USAA, a number of auto clubs, and others, allowing car shoppers t (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
Interview with Aigerim Duiseneyeva and Shana Zheng, TripTrottingHave you ever traveled to a foreign country, and wish you had a local friend who could show you around? Tired of packaged tours where you really don't get to experience the local culture? That's what TripTrotting (www.triptrotting.com) is hoping to fix. The Los Angeles startup is looking to help connect travelers with local guides and hosts. Aigerim Duiseneyeva and Shana Zheng are the co-founders of the firm, and told us more about the service.
First, for people who have never used your serv (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
LifeCrowd Expands, Launches Out Of MuckerLabSanta Monica-based LifeCrowd, the social activity discovery site headed by Bong Koh, said Friday that it has expanded into three new regions, and launched officially out of Los Angeles accelerator MucherLab. The startup said it has launched into San Francisco, Orange County, and San Diego, in addition to Los Angeles, and is also now part of the MuckerLab accelerator. LifeCrowd operates an online site which makes it easier for users to find group activities, such as classes and activities. The id (More info...)
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Row 44 Installs 250th PlaneWestlake Village-based Row44, the developer of in-flight, broadband entertainment and Wi-Fi access devices, reported today that it has installed its 250th plane for its commercial airline partners. Row44 develops a Wi-Fi access system which uses satellite access to provide connectivity to users. Row 44 said its systems have been installed for commercial airlines in North America, Europe, and Africa. The firm's customers include Southwest Airlines and Norwegian Air.
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
Jessica Alba's The Honest Company Scores $27MOnline, eco-family products company The Honest Company, started by celebrity Jessica Alba and Los Angeles e-commerce master Brian Lee, said late Friday that it has raised $27M in funding. The funding was led by General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Institutional Venture Partners (IVP). The retailer is offering up subscription e-commerce products focused on parents, including diapers, wipes, baby bath, skin care, and home cleaning products. According to The Honest Company, the funding (More info...)
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Verenium Gains $37M From Asset SaleSan Diego-based Verenium Corporation, a firm developing industrial biotechnology, said today that it as sold off its oilseed processing business to DSM Food Specialties B.V., a unit of Royal DSM, for $37M. The deal also included licensing of certain enzymes for use in the food and beverage market, and access to gene libraries being developed by Verenium. Verenium said it will continue to focus on developing novel enzymes for use in animal health and nutrition, grain processing and oilfield servi (More info...)
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Morphlabs Takes On Solid State StorageManhattan Beach-based MorphLabs is rolling out a new piece of cloud software today, focused on solid state drive (SSD) storage. The software startup--the latest run by WInston Damarillo--said its new mCLoud Data center Unit (DCU) software is an end-to-end, SSD cloud platform for data centers, service providers, and enterprise customers. The new solid state storage product is based on technology from computer maker Dell, and its Dell PowerEdge C portfolio. The cloud-based storage software is spec (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)
MacMall Launches Retail Store In ChicagoEl Segundo-based MacMall, the online and catalog retailer of Apple computers and software, is expanding its retail stores, saying that it has opened up a new retail store in Chicago. The catalog retailer--which is a subsidiary of PC Mall, Inc.--said the store is its first in the Chicago area. The firm also runs three stores in Southern California. PC Mall did not say if the new store is a start of a national expansion of its retail efforts, or if it has further retail plans. The company has prim (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 26, 2012(Full story)