If you want to glimpse the future of gaming and entertainment software, check out the presentations at the world’s largest and most prestigious graphics conference. This week, at the annual SIGGRAPH meeting (in New Orleans this year), researchers from Microsoft and elsewhere are presenting cutting-edge techniques in computer animation, image and video processing, interactive interfaces, … Continue reading “Microsoft Researchers Present Next-Gen Graphics and Software Tools at SIGGRAPH”
Author: Gregory T. Huang
Greg is a veteran journalist who has covered a wide range of science, technology, and business. As former editor in chief, he overaw daily news, features, and events across Xconomy's national network. Before joining Xconomy, he was a features editor at New Scientist magazine, where he edited and wrote articles on physics, technology, and neuroscience. Previously he was senior writer at Technology Review, where he reported on emerging technologies, R&D, and advances in computing, robotics, and applied physics. His writing has also appeared in Wired, Nature, and The Atlantic Monthly’s website. He was named a New York Times professional fellow in 2003.
Greg is the co-author of Guanxi (Simon & Schuster, 2006), about Microsoft in China and the global competition for talent and technology. Before becoming a journalist, he did research at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. He has published 20 papers in scientific journals and conferences and spoken on innovation at Adobe, Amazon, eBay, Google, HP, Microsoft, Yahoo, and other organizations. He has a Master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
SplashCast to Shut Down
Portland, OR-based SplashCast, a digital media and social TV startup, is closing down in the next few weeks, according to a blog post from founder and CEO Michael Berkley. In June, we reported the company was looking for a buyer after struggling to raise a Series B funding round. SplashCast was founded in 2006 and … Continue reading “SplashCast to Shut Down”
EnerG2 Wins $21.3M in Stimulus Funding to Build Ultracapacitor Materials Plant in Oregon
Seattle-based EnerG2, an advanced materials startup focused on energy storage, has scored a $21.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a new manufacturing plant in Albany, OR. The funds are part of a total of $2.4 billion in federal stimulus grants announced today to speed up the manufacturing and development of … Continue reading “EnerG2 Wins $21.3M in Stimulus Funding to Build Ultracapacitor Materials Plant in Oregon”
Microsoft to Pay Yahoo $150M, Hire 550—and Watch the Firms’ Combined Market Share
So that’s what all those late-night phone calls were about. In the weeks leading up to the Microsoft-Yahoo search deal announced last Wednesday, executives from both companies would gather (virtually) at 9:30 pm PT every night, including weekends, for a conference call to discuss the latest developments. Dinners, baseball games, and camping trips were interrupted. … Continue reading “Microsoft to Pay Yahoo $150M, Hire 550—and Watch the Firms’ Combined Market Share”
Verdiem Reaches More Than a Million Desktops, Doubles Customers for Energy-Saving Software
When we last checked in with Verdiem back in June, the Seattle energy-IT firm was reporting encouraging results from its product trials in Seattle, Chicago, and Honolulu. Today, Verdiem is announcing that its personal computer power-management software has reached a new milestone, having been installed on more than one million desktops. What’s more, the company … Continue reading “Verdiem Reaches More Than a Million Desktops, Doubles Customers for Energy-Saving Software”
Cray Shares Rise on Unexpected Profit from New Supercomputing Contracts
Seattle-based supercomputing company Cray (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRAY]]) surprised analysts this morning by turning a modest profit in the second quarter, and was rewarded with a 12 percent bump in its stock price today. Cray said today its revenues for the quarter ($62.7 million) increased by 34 percent compared with the same period last year ($46.7 million). … Continue reading “Cray Shares Rise on Unexpected Profit from New Supercomputing Contracts”
Inside the Microsoft-Yahoo Deal, Covance Buys Merck’s Rosetta Lab, Delve Teams Up with Akamai, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Last week’s heat wave did nothing to slow the deal announcements in the Northwest. We saw plenty of action in software, Internet, and biotech. —The big news was the Internet search deal finally announced between Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) and Yahoo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:YHOO]]), who have been hammering out the details for months. As Eric and I … Continue reading “Inside the Microsoft-Yahoo Deal, Covance Buys Merck’s Rosetta Lab, Delve Teams Up with Akamai, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
You Talkin’ To Me? Seattle Tech Scene Takes on All Comers
Beneath the friendly, laid-back veneer, the Seattle tech community is a rough-and-tumble lot ready to throw down at a moment’s notice. That’s what you might surmise after the past week, anyway. And this is not necessarily a bad thing. (Though the heat wave might have had something to do with it.) Here’s a quick update … Continue reading “You Talkin’ To Me? Seattle Tech Scene Takes on All Comers”
Indigo Soul, Lions Ambition Take Top Prizes in Seattle Tech Band Battle; Thanks to WTIA and All Our Sponsors
The rock and roll moment of the night came when James Dixon broke a bass string during the first song from his hard-driving metal band Juda’s Wake. Let me tell you, it’s not that easy to break a bass string unless you really shred it. It’s also not easy to describe Juda’s Wake beyond killer … Continue reading “Indigo Soul, Lions Ambition Take Top Prizes in Seattle Tech Band Battle; Thanks to WTIA and All Our Sponsors”
See You Tonight at Battle of the Tech Bands
We’re all still running around covering the fine art of innovation this afternoon, but soon we’ll be heading over to the Pyramid Alehouse next to Safeco Field (see map here), where the stage is being put together for tonight’s big event, as we speak. Xconomy and the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) are partners on … Continue reading “See You Tonight at Battle of the Tech Bands”
Cray’s Comeback: CEO Peter Ungaro on Clouds, Exaflops, and the Future of Supercomputing
Where I grew up in the Midwest in the 1970s and early 80s, Cray was synonymous with supercomputing. Back then, a supercomputer was a top-flight machine that could perform a few hundred million floating point operations per second (“flops”). That was good enough to help scientists do intensive calculations in areas like weather forecasting, climate … Continue reading “Cray’s Comeback: CEO Peter Ungaro on Clouds, Exaflops, and the Future of Supercomputing”
Reports: Microsoft and Yahoo Close Search and Advertising Deal, Will Announce Today
It might all turn out to be anticlimactic. After a tumultuous year of on-again, off-again talks to strike an Internet search and advertising deal, Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) and Yahoo (NASDAQ: [[ticker:YHOO]]) are about to tie the knot, according to several media outlets. The Wall Street Journal‘s All Things Digital blog, citing multiple sources close to … Continue reading “Reports: Microsoft and Yahoo Close Search and Advertising Deal, Will Announce Today”
Amazon Buys Zappos, General Fusion and Finsphere Get $9M Each, Big Fish Partners with People.com, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
From Amazon to Zappos, it was an exciting week for deals in the Northwest. A lot of the news was dominated by Amazon’s biggest acquisition to date ($920 million), but there was plenty of other action in energy, biotech, software, and gaming. —Xconomy broke the news that General Fusion, a Burnaby, BC-based clean energy company, … Continue reading “Amazon Buys Zappos, General Fusion and Finsphere Get $9M Each, Big Fish Partners with People.com, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Gearing Up for Battle of the Tech Bands: Beer, Prizes, and One More Cartoon
After a scorching week of 90-degree temperatures, what could be better than kicking back with a nice cold one, catching up with friends and colleagues—and seeing five of Seattle’s top rock bands with tech affiliations duke it out for prizes and the adulation of the crowd? It’s all happening this Thursday evening at Xconomy’s Battle … Continue reading “Gearing Up for Battle of the Tech Bands: Beer, Prizes, and One More Cartoon”
Microsoft Opens App Store for Developers
Microsoft (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MSFT]]) announced today it has opened its Windows Mobile marketplace for developer submissions from 29 countries. The Redmond, WA, firm is also running a “race to market challenge” in which mobile app developers will receive prizes for categories like most free downloads, most valuable app, and most useful app. The contest will officially … Continue reading “Microsoft Opens App Store for Developers”
Seattle Layoff Update: Targeted Genetics, Wetpaint, Google, and Others Cut Staff
Don’t let this summer heat wave fool you. It’s still bitterly cold in job land. Despite Wade’s optimistic report this morning on local companies with open positions, a lot of Seattle-area tech and life sciences firms are still heading in the opposite direction. In the past month, we’ve seen layoffs, big and small, across the … Continue reading “Seattle Layoff Update: Targeted Genetics, Wetpaint, Google, and Others Cut Staff”
UW Profs, Tech Execs Talk Next-Generation Graphics, Imaging, and Interfaces for Games
Four professors from the University of Washington’s department of computer science and engineering recently presented their cutting-edge research to a private audience of tech executives and investors active in the game industry in downtown Seattle. The Interactive Media Technology Showcase was hosted on Wednesday by UW TechTransfer and enterpriseSeattle, and coincided with the Casual Connect … Continue reading “UW Profs, Tech Execs Talk Next-Generation Graphics, Imaging, and Interfaces for Games”
Report: OVP’s M2E Sold to Motionetics
Boise, ID-based M2E Power, an energy startup funded by OVP Venture Partners, has been acquired by fellow Idaho firm Motionetics for an undisclosed price, according to VatorNews. OVP said it is not disclosing details at this time. The Kirkland, WA-based venture firm led an $8 million Series A investment in M2E in 2007.
Are You Ready to Rock? Listen to Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands Finalists Here
It’s all about the party. It’s all about the networking. No. For today, at least, it’s all about the rock. Seattle’s first-ever Battle of the Tech Bands is happening one week from tonight, on July 30, at the Pyramid Alehouse. The music starts at 6 pm. Xconomy is teaming up with WTIA to bring this … Continue reading “Are You Ready to Rock? Listen to Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands Finalists Here”
Wetpaint Lays Off 15, Report Says
Seattle-based Wetpaint has laid off 15 employees, or 27 percent of its staff, according to a report in TechFlash. The startup, which has raised about $40 million in venture capital, focuses on social publishing. The company was not immediately available for comment.
Finsphere Scores $9M to Fight Fraud
Bellevue, WA-based Finsphere, a security and authentication startup, has closed $9 million in equity funding, according to a regulatory filing. The investors were not disclosed, but the form lists Paul Bialek of Frazier Technology Ventures, William Ericson of Mohr Davidow Ventures, and Ravi Mohan of Shasta Ventures as directors. Finsphere is trying to help banks … Continue reading “Finsphere Scores $9M to Fight Fraud”
R.W. Beck Aligns with SAIC, Blackbox Republic Gets Seeded, Bio Architecture Lab Raises Cash, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
With the start of real summer weather in the Northwest, we’ve seen some good deal action heating up in Internet software, biotech, and energy in the past week. —Seattle-based consulting firm R.W. Beck is being acquired by government contractor SAIC (NYSE: [[ticker:SAI]]) in San Diego for $155 million. It’s one of the Northwest’s bigger tech … Continue reading “R.W. Beck Aligns with SAIC, Blackbox Republic Gets Seeded, Bio Architecture Lab Raises Cash, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Insights into SAIC’s Acquisition of R.W. Beck for $155M—and Beck’s Strategy in Energy, Water
It may be one of the great untold success stories of the Seattle technology scene. For the past decade, R.W. Beck, an engineering and business consulting firm, has been quietly making a name for itself in key technical areas like energy and water management. Now the Seattle-based firm with 550 employees is becoming part of … Continue reading “Insights into SAIC’s Acquisition of R.W. Beck for $155M—and Beck’s Strategy in Energy, Water”
Former Googler Launches Sharein, a Social Tool for Twitter, Facebook, and E-mail
Colin Wong called me from Malaysia last night. His startup, Bellevue, WA-based Sharein (formerly ZoeCity), has rolled out an interesting new product and website today—a bookmark tool for sharing links with friends, family, and customers to Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail, all from your Web browser. It’s not earth-shattering technology, but it’s part of a new … Continue reading “Former Googler Launches Sharein, a Social Tool for Twitter, Facebook, and E-mail”
The End of Sampa
Redmond, WA-based Sampa, a startup that helps people build family websites, announced it is shutting down on August 17, 2009. Sampa founder and former Microsoftie Marcelo Calbucci, who also leads the Seattle 2.0 startup site, says that the company ran out of money and its business models didn’t work out. Calbucci also has an extensive … Continue reading “The End of Sampa”
Previewing Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands
With just under two weeks to go until Seattle’s first-ever Battle of the Tech Bands, I thought I’d give you a quick preview of the event. It’s all taking place on July 30 at the WTIA Summer Celebration, at the Pyramid Alehouse (registration and ticket info here). The music will start at 6pm, and we’ll … Continue reading “Previewing Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands”
Mpire CEO Matt Hulett to Step Down, Become Executive Chairman—and Join RealGames
Matt Hulett, the chief executive of Seattle-based Mpire, is stepping down as of August 14 to become executive chairman of the firm. Mpire runs the popular online advertising network Widgetbucks, and in April the firm rolled out an ad-optimizing service called AdXpose. The company is actively recruiting for a new CEO with expertise in advertising … Continue reading “Mpire CEO Matt Hulett to Step Down, Become Executive Chairman—and Join RealGames”
AboutUs Adds $1.2M from Voyager, Others
Portland, OR-based AboutUs, an Internet startup focused on information discovery and sharing, has closed $1.2 million in financing, according to an SEC filing. CEO Ray King confirmed the funding, saying it rounds out the company’s Series A. Back in January, AboutUs announced a $2.5 million commitment from Seattle-based Voyager Capital. The latest tranche closing includes … Continue reading “AboutUs Adds $1.2M from Voyager, Others”
More Than a Cherry on Top—Microsoft Search Honcho Harry Shum on Why Bing is Different from Other MS Products
A wise man once told me, “Engineers don’t lie.” So when I wanted to find out the real story behind Bing, Microsoft’s new search engine, I went to Harry Shum. Shum is Microsoft’s vice president of search product development. He runs the engineering team responsible for Bing, among other duties. He was formerly the managing … Continue reading “More Than a Cherry on Top—Microsoft Search Honcho Harry Shum on Why Bing is Different from Other MS Products”
Bio Architecture Lab, a UW Spinout, Raises $3.4M for Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels
Seattle-based Bio Architecture Lab, a stealthy spinout from the University of Washington, has raised $3.4 million in equity funding out of a $6 million offering, according to a regulatory filing. Michael Borrus of Menlo Park, CA-based X/Seed Capital is listed on the form as a director, which suggests that X/Seed participated in the funding round. … Continue reading “Bio Architecture Lab, a UW Spinout, Raises $3.4M for Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels”
OVP Leads $15M Series C Round for Limerick BioPharma
Kirkland, WA-based OVP Venture Partners has led a new $15 million investment round in Limerick Biopharma, a drug development company based in South San Francisco. Existing investors Arch Venture Partners, Sevin Rosen Funds, and Altitude Funds also participated in the Series C round. Limerick is a new portfolio company for OVP, and OVP managing director … Continue reading “OVP Leads $15M Series C Round for Limerick BioPharma”
Blackbox Republic, Led by Ex-Jive Exec, Gets Seed Funding for Sex-Positive Social Network
First of all, Blackbox Republic is not a hook-up site. Let’s just get that out of the way. It’s also not a porn site, sex site, or dating site. It’s a niche social network, looking to fill the void between Facebook, Match.com, and Amazon, and it’s starting out by targeting members of an emerging community … Continue reading “Blackbox Republic, Led by Ex-Jive Exec, Gets Seed Funding for Sex-Positive Social Network”
WhitePages Gets $2.5M Overhaul
Seattle-based WhitePages, the Web and mobile online directory, announced today it has redesigned its website for $2.5 million. The site is meant to help customers across the U.S. connect with each other by phone, text, e-mail, or snail mail. It includes new privacy controls and a user interface intended to improve services for customers and … Continue reading “WhitePages Gets $2.5M Overhaul”
Data Domain Founder Talks EMC Deal, Arzeda Teams Up With Dupont, EndoGastric Takes In $7.5M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
It was a fairly quiet week for deals in the Northwest, with some activity in biotech, software, materials, and devices. —Seattle-based Arzeda, a developer of artificial enzymes, formed a partnership with DuPont to create new crop seeds that incorporate Arzeda’s technology, which should increase the productivity of the plants for food, as Eric reported. Financial … Continue reading “Data Domain Founder Talks EMC Deal, Arzeda Teams Up With Dupont, EndoGastric Takes In $7.5M, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Craig Mundie of Microsoft on the Future of Software: Digital Assistants, Natural User Interfaces, and Room Computing
When you’ve been at Microsoft for 17 years, you’ve seen a few things. This morning, Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, shared some of his hard-earned wisdom in a keynote talk at company headquarters in Redmond, WA—helping to kick off Microsoft Research’s 10th annual faculty summit. Mundie outlined his broad thoughts on the … Continue reading “Craig Mundie of Microsoft on the Future of Software: Digital Assistants, Natural User Interfaces, and Room Computing”
Microsoft Rolls Out Tools to Help Scientists (and Eventually Companies) Manage Data Deluge
From the seas to the stars, Microsoft Research is trying to increase its impact. The Redmond, WA-based computer science research organization is releasing new software tools aimed at helping scientists manage and visualize huge amounts of information, and make discoveries in fields as diverse as astronomy and oceanography. The announcement of the free tools, called … Continue reading “Microsoft Rolls Out Tools to Help Scientists (and Eventually Companies) Manage Data Deluge”
TeachStreet Launches Payment System
Seattle-based TeachStreet, an Internet startup that connects students and teachers in seven metro areas around the U.S., announced last night it has rolled out a new payment system powered by PayPal. Teachers get paid by their students, and TeachStreet collects a percentage of the enrollment fee, and a registration fee for new students. The startup … Continue reading “TeachStreet Launches Payment System”
Thoughts on the Naked Truth, from Picnik’s Jonathan Sposato
Yes, I’m taking the day off and letting other people (the actual participants) tell you what they took away from the inspiring tech events in Seattle last night. I asked panelist Jonathan Sposato, the CEO of Seattle-based Picnik, for his thoughts on the Naked Truth spectacle at Olympic Sculpture Park, which was organized by Glenn … Continue reading “Thoughts on the Naked Truth, from Picnik’s Jonathan Sposato”
A Yotta Insights on Making Money in Mobile, from Dan Shapiro of Ontela
While a lot of people were out enjoying the sunset and discussion at Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park last night—see TechFlash and TechCrunch for a nice recap of the Naked Truth startup gathering (and thanks to Seattle 2.0 TV for broadcasting it)—there was another compelling event happening on the Eastside. This one, hosted in Bellevue by … Continue reading “A Yotta Insights on Making Money in Mobile, from Dan Shapiro of Ontela”
Evri Gets New CEO, Will Hunsinger
Seattle-based Evri, an Internet startup backed by Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, announced a new chief executive today, Will Hunsinger, the former CEO of San Francisco-based Adeze and entrepreneur-in-residence at Seattle venture firm Maveron. Hunsinger succeeds Neil Roseman, who is leaving Evri to become an entrepreneur-in-residence at Vulcan Capital. Evri focuses on information discovery and browsing, … Continue reading “Evri Gets New CEO, Will Hunsinger”
Data Domain Founder, Kai Li, on EMC Acquisition and the Future of Data Storage
Now I know why venture capitalists walk the halls at the University of Washington—you never know who you might run into. My timing was impeccable yesterday as I sat down with Kai Li, the co-founder and chief scientist of Data Domain (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DDUP]]), the Santa Clara, CA-based data storage company that just got bought by … Continue reading “Data Domain Founder, Kai Li, on EMC Acquisition and the Future of Data Storage”
EndoGastric Gets $7.5M
Medical device firm EndoGastric Solutions, based in Redmond, WA, and Redwood City, CA, has raised $7.5 million in funding, according to a regulatory filing. The company makes devices to combat heartburn and obesity, and previously raised $79 million in venture funding from the likes of MPM Capital, Advanced Technology Ventures, and DeNovo Ventures. EndoGastric was … Continue reading “EndoGastric Gets $7.5M”
For Microsoft and Google, Battleground Shifts to Web-Based Operating Systems
The fight between Microsoft and Google for the future of computing just got more intense. Last night, Google officially announced a new project, a Web browser-based operating system called Google Chrome OS, which will initially target netbooks. Google said it would make the code available on an open-source basis later this year, and plans to … Continue reading “For Microsoft and Google, Battleground Shifts to Web-Based Operating Systems”
Northwest VCs React to Prometheus Energy’s Funding and Partnership with Shell
Last week, we reported that Prometheus Energy, the Redmond, WA-based liquid natural gas producer, closed a $10 million investment from Shell Technology Ventures in a deal that is still resonating in the local alternative energy community. Prometheus, led by co-founder and chief executive Kirt Montague, has gone through many ups and downs since its formation … Continue reading “Northwest VCs React to Prometheus Energy’s Funding and Partnership with Shell”
Let’s Rock: Five Finalists Selected for Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands
And then there were five. Here at Xconomy, we have made our selections for the five finalists who will compete at our inaugural Battle of the Tech Bands in Seattle, to be held on the evening of Thursday, July 30 at the WTIA Summer Celebration at the Pyramid Alehouse. We are looking forward to putting … Continue reading “Let’s Rock: Five Finalists Selected for Xconomy’s Battle of the Tech Bands”
Prometheus Partners with Big Oil, Qliance Raises $4M, Microsoft May Sell Razorfish, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
The activity in the Northwest picked up a little bit around the holiday weekend. In the past week, we’ve seen some interesting deals in alternative energy, healthcare, and software. —Seattle-based Qliance Medical Management raised $4 million in venture capital led by Second Avenue Partners, with participation from New Atlantic Ventures and Clear Fir Partners, as … Continue reading “Prometheus Partners with Big Oil, Qliance Raises $4M, Microsoft May Sell Razorfish, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Fisher Plaza Fire Felt from Seattle to East Coast: Lessons from a Data Disaster
In case you missed it over the holiday, an electrical fire and power outage at Fisher Plaza near Seattle Center late on Thursday night disrupted a number of websites and services, including those of local tech companies Redfin, Survey Analytics, and Big Fish Games, as well as Microsoft’s Bing Travel site (formerly Farecast), Verizon’s DSL … Continue reading “Fisher Plaza Fire Felt from Seattle to East Coast: Lessons from a Data Disaster”
Prometheus, $10M in Hand, Poised to Deliver Alternative Fuel for Shell Technology Ventures
Kirt Montague is the Comeback Kid of the Seattle cleantech community. We saw the fire in his eyes back in March when he rocked the room with a killer presentation on waste-to-energy at Xconomy’s cleantech forum in Seattle. And we see it again now that his company, Redmond, WA-based Prometheus Energy, which produces liquid natural … Continue reading “Prometheus, $10M in Hand, Poised to Deliver Alternative Fuel for Shell Technology Ventures”
Stealthy Ground Truth Gets $2.6M
Seattle-based Ground Truth, a stealthy startup led by Sterling Wilson and Michael Libes, has raised $2.6 million in equity funding, according to a regulatory filing. The company’s directors include Seattle venture capitalists Tom Huseby and Erik Benson, and Beau Laskey of Burbank, CA-based Steamboat Ventures.
Who’s Playing at the Battle of the Tech Bands? Stay Tuned…
We are in the final stages of selecting the five finalist bands who will perform on July 30 at the Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands, to be featured at the Washington Technology Industry Association’s Summer Celebration at the Pyramid Alehouse across from Safeco Field in Seattle. We will announce the finalists very soon, but … Continue reading “Who’s Playing at the Battle of the Tech Bands? Stay Tuned…”