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<title>Haaze.com / germkaammg / Published News</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 07:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[LastPass forcing members to change passwords]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lastpass-forcing-members-to-change-passwords</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lastpass-forcing-members-to-change-passwords</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 07:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lastpass-forcing-members-to-change-passwords</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Users who manage and store their passwords through password management service LastPass are being forced to change their master passwords after the site noticed an issue this week that raised the spectre of a possible security breach.As described in a blog yesterday, LastPass (download) recently followed a string of breadcrumbs that pointed to an anomaly in its network traffic on Tuesday. Though such anomalies aren't unusual, LastPass found a matching anomaly in one of its databases. Unable to identify a root cause for either anomaly, the company made the decision to assume the worst--that some of its data had been hacked.Although LastPass hasn't identified a specific breach, it's erring on the side of caution by now forcing its members to change their master passwords. For you non-LastPass users, what exactly does that meanServices like LastPass and rival RoboForm let users create and manage passwords to more easily log in to the vast array of secure Web sites they visit. Those passwords can be stored on a PC or mobile device as well as online. As one means of protection, both companies typically urge users to create a single complex master password that can unlock the key to accessing their passwords. Of course, if that master password is compromised, hackers potentially can gain access to all the individual passwords, one reason why these companies advise users to employ complex master passwords.In this case, LastPass said it believes that users with complex non-dictionary master passwords were probably safe even if any data was compromised. But the company knows that many users out of force of habit often choose simple, easily decipherable passwords. Though it sees the need to require all users to change their passwords as an overreaction, as LastPass says, &quot;we'd rather be paranoid and slightly inconvenience you than to be even more sorry later.&quot;In the meantime, LastPass says that it's taking further precautions against the anomaly by shutting down and moving certain key services and verifying all of its source code. The company is also enhancing the encryption used to protect its data.Update 9:30 a.m. PT: LastPass is now reporting on its blog that the company is being overwhelmed by support requests and is having trouble keeping up with the number of password changes. The company has since set up a way for users to confirm their e-mail addresses without having to change their passwords. As a result, LastPass is urging people who are using the service from the same computer or IP address to hold off on changing their passwords for a few days. &quot;We're asking if you're not being asked to change your password then hold off--we're protecting everyone.&quot;The company further suggests accessing your LastPass data offline by disconnecting from the Internet and then logging in or by downloading its LastPass Pocket software, which lets you carry around your data on a USB stick.Update 11:07 a.m. PT: Security researchers at Duo Security have also offered their take on the LastPass security anomaly with recommendations on what LastPass users should do at this point.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[iOS 4.3.3 arrives, patches location database]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ios-4-3-3-arrives-patches-location-database</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ios-4-3-3-arrives-patches-location-database</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 07:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ios-4-3-3-arrives-patches-location-database</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:CNET)Apple today released, as promised, an iOS update addressing location-tracking behavior, and the security of that information on its portable devices.iOS 4.3.3, which is a free update delivered through Apple's iTunes software, reduces the size of the &quot;crowdsourced&quot; location cache, no longer backs up the cache to iTunes in the form of a device recovery image, and deletes the cache when a user turns Location Services off. Two of those issues--the size of the database, and the failure to delete the cache from the device--Apple had called &quot;bugs&quot; when addressing the issue in an open letter exactly one week ago. In that same note, Apple described the purpose of the location information stored on its devices as helping to speed up location fixes, saying that the database itself was part of a larger and anonymized one the company maintained to improve its location services. Apple also promised the next major version of the iOS software would fully encrypt the portion of that database on the device itself. Focus on the cache reached a fever pitch last month following a high-profile report by two researchers demonstrating ways to visualize the data it contained. Lawmakers and privacy advocates alike targeted the company, wanting to know why the file was there and what the company was up to. Apple countered queries that it was &quot;tracking&quot; users by saying it wasn't, and that it &quot;has no plans to ever do so.&quot; Devices that are eligible for the update include the GSM model of theiPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, first- and second-generationiPad models, as well as third- and fourth-generationiPod Touch models. Users with Verizon (CDMA) iPhones are getting iOS 4.2.8, which brings similar fixes to the location cache. A report surfaced earlier this week from Boy Genius Report with accurate information about the version number of the update, and the adjustments, as well as a note that Apple planned to improve battery life with the update. Such a fix is not mentioned in the release notes from the software. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[CES: AOC announces new 3D display]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-aoc-announces-new-3d-display</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-aoc-announces-new-3d-display</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-aoc-announces-new-3d-display</guid>
<description><![CDATA[AOC's 2436wz' a 23.6-inch monitor with 120Hz 3D support.(Credit:AOC)LAS VEGAS--While 3D monitors have been around for a few years now, atCES 2011 we saw an even bigger 3D push than last year.This week, both Samsung and LG introduced new 3D monitors, each using their own proprietary 3D technology, and now AOC has unveiled its 2436wz' a 23.6-inch monitor with 120Hz 3D support. The monitor also includes VGA, DVI, and USB 2.0 ports.No pricing or release date info has been confirmed yet by AOC.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[DIY Weekend: Zippy zip-tie bike tire snow chains]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=diy-weekend-zippy-zip-tie-bike-tire-snow-chains</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=diy-weekend-zippy-zip-tie-bike-tire-snow-chains</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Dec 2010 08:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=diy-weekend-zippy-zip-tie-bike-tire-snow-chains</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Ha ha, that looks... OK, that&amp;39's actually pretty badass.(Credit:Dutch Bike Co.)There's this notion that it never snows in Seattle. Let me tell you, it does. And the snow in Seattle can be especially treacherous, due to a combination of steep hills, a lack of enough snowplows, and the fact that the snow thaws and refreezes, effectively locking the city under a 2-inch thick sheet of super-slick ice. It can get dangerous.It's quick and cheap.(Credit:Dutch Bike Co.)Seattle, like most major cities in the U.S., has a thriving bike community, despite the hills, but the snow renders most non-major streets unrideable for many bikers. So Fritz Rice, who works at Dutch Bike Co., a shop in the Ballard neighborhood, employed a novel way of getting around.The bike shop doesn't stock studded tires because it really doesn't snow enough in Seattle to warrant them' when it does snow, it's intense and brief, like my relationships. So to get around, Rice installed 62 zip ties (the kind that come 35 to a pack at any drug store) on the rims of his favorite bike. They acted the same way snow chains do, allowing an almost tank-tread-like purchase in the ice and snow.He told me the first few rides popped a few of the ties. The two packs gave him 70 total, but he only needed 62, so he had some room for error. The trick is to get the tension of the tie to the wheel just right with a little trial and error. Once it's dialed in, it works fine. Sure, it looks kind of silly, but it seems to work. Rice was able to ride, corner, and even brake without slipping intocars.Rice stressed that he didn't invent this method--he'd seen some fix hipsters employing the same DIY method last year. But he documented it on Dutch Bike's blog, and we're hoping it makes the rounds so people can use it when snow falls where they are.I wondered about possible damage to the tires or frame, but Rice told me that when the snow melted and he clipped off the ties there was no damage to either. The trick, he said, is taking care not to cut a chunk out of your tires when clipping the ties off.It's possible this hack has been known to bike culture for a while, but it's news to this geek, and I'm guessing to most of you. Who else has a neat DIY bike (or other) hack they'd like to share Go ahead and e-mail us at crave at cnet dot com with DIY Weekend in the subject line. We'd love to see what you've got.When clipping the ties off, the trick is not to take a chunk of your tires out, too.(Credit:Dutch Bike Co.)<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Google Groups gets a revamp]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=google-groups-gets-a-revamp</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=google-groups-gets-a-revamp</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:10:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=google-groups-gets-a-revamp</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Google)Google has spruced up Google Groups in a bid to make the service more user friendly.Google Groups offers a wide variety of discussion forums where users can read and post messages on their favorite topics. But the current interface has been showing its age, so a revamp has been long overdue.As one enhancement, Google has made it easier to search for and browse both groups and individual postings by entering a topic in a single search bar. Once users find a group they want to follow, they can now add it to a list of favorites easily accessible on the left side of the window. As a result, the overall interface has a cleaner and more streamlined look and feel.New keyboard shortcuts offer a way to quickly cycle through the different forum threads and topics. To find a list of all the new shortcuts, users can press  on their keyboard. Also, tapping into a new toolbar of icons, users can more easily format text and add hyperlinks and images.The redesigned Google Groups will roll out as an option over the next week, giving users the opportunity to preview the new look and features. Google is also promising other enhancements, including better spam control, forum moderators, and improved search. The spam control is especially needed since Google Groups, like so many other public discussion forums, gets hit by a fair amount of spam postings.Designed as its own take based on Usenet newsgroups, Google launched Google Groups in 2001 when it bought the Usenet archives from Deja News. The service offers access to public Usenet newsgroups as well groups created by users themselves. Some groups are open to join while others are invitation-only. Customers of Google Apps can also create their own groups to use within a company or other organization.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Bing updates its movie search]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bing-updates-its-movie-search</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bing-updates-its-movie-search</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:10:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bing-updates-its-movie-search</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Bing)Those of you planning to catch a film this holiday weekend may want to check out the latest changes at Bing Movies.The search engine's movie site has updated its lineup with some new features to help you decide what you want to see.Users can now more easily see all the local theaters showing a particular picture rather than bouncing from one venue's site to another. Just search for or click on a title like the latest Harry Potter movie, and Bing lists all the theaters in your area where it's playing along with their showtimes and driving distances.A new trailers page provides a host of clips, previews, and interviews on new movies. You can watch each video full screen and share it with other people via Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.Bing now combines a variety of reviews on each film from both the critics and other users, giving you one page where you can decide if the movie is worth your hard-earned dough.Finally, the Bing Movie home page ties all the new features together nicely, providing a single spot where you can view trailers, read a synopsis, and check out local show times.Bing's revamped movie page is now similar to the one offered by Google. Searching for a movie at Google also shows you local show times, links to reviews, and a video of the movie's trailer all in one spot. But Bing offers a greater variety and number of reviews and a wider selection of trailers and other clips.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Renault/Nissan chief likes EV odds]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=renaultnissan-chief-likes-ev-odds</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=renaultnissan-chief-likes-ev-odds</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=renaultnissan-chief-likes-ev-odds</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Renault/Nissan expects to produce 500,000 electriccars annually worldwide at the end of 2013 and does not need a successful launch of the General Motors Volt to help spur interest in the newest green technology and sell its vehicles, Renault/Nissan's chief executive said yesterday.Carlos Ghosn told reporters that the Nissan Leaf, the alliance's signature all-electric vehicle due out in the United States and Japan in December, will be capacity-constrained in the first years.But the company expects to ramp up production as battery costs come down and believes that, within several years, its electric fleet can stand alone against conventionally powered cars without subsidies and at an annual sales of between 500,000 and 1 million vehicles.The Nissan Leaf electric vehicle.(Credit:Martin LaMonica/CNET)The figure is more ambitious than first thought and partly driven by the realization that government assistance, especially the U.S. consumer tax credit of $7,500, cannot last indefinitely.Ghosn also said the success of the Volt, a mostly electric hybrid also due out next month, is not necessary for his company to capture the public's imagination about electric vehicles and generate sales.&quot;I welcome competition for electric cars. It's part of the health of our industry,&quot; Ghosn told reporters, stressing that the Leaf will attract buyers with its own attributes. &quot;I don't think one can depend on the other.&quot;Ghosn believes electric vehicles will account for about 10 percent of the market by the end of the decade. Gas/electric hybrids command a fractional segment now.Renault/Nissan is not taking a stake in GM's public offering this week.Global auto sales should grow by about 3 percent next year over 2010, Ghosn said, noting the United States, China, and India should see gains, while questions remain about Europe and Japan.He also expects more industry consolidation through alliances and cooperative agreements partly due to a priority among automakers to be conservative with cash following the recession-fueled downturn.Ghosn said automakers face sweeping pressures in an increasingly global and greening market. Expertise and production capacity needed to compete is varied.Automakers, Ghosn said, cannot do everything at once to develop hybrids, electric cars, or diesel engines because of steep investment costs, time constraints, and the logistics of engineering and production.&quot;What you see at the top of the industry are companies coming together and trying to put synergies together,&quot; Ghosn said of deals that center on exchanges of technology and markets.The electric-car all-stars come out (photos) Story Copyright (c) 2010 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Zynga Is &''Extremely Pleased&'' With Playdom/Disney Litigation&nbsp'Settlement]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=zynga-is-8220extremely-pleased8221-with-playdomdisney-litigationnbspsettlement</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=zynga-is-8220extremely-pleased8221-with-playdomdisney-litigationnbspsettlement</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=zynga-is-8220extremely-pleased8221-with-playdomdisney-litigationnbspsettlement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A little over a year ago Zynga sued rival game startup Playdom for, among other things, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, breach of the duty of loyalty, tortious interference with contracts, tortious interference with existing and prospective economic advantage and unfair competition. The defendants included four ex-Zynga, then Playdom employees as well.It&amp;'s been a fairly dramatic year of legal maneuvers. The day Zynga filed the lawsuit a judge issued a temporary restraining order against Playdom that prohibited Playdom from using any Zynga data. In March a different judge issued a preliminary injunction against Playdom that prohibited them from releasing a specific game (whatever game that was has been kept confidential). And then in August the big slap down against a former Zynga employee who had been found to have acted inappropriately.The case continues, but the drama has reached its peak. The court today held one former Zynga and Playdom employee, Raymond Holmes, in contempt and sentenced him to ten days in county jail and a $4,000 fine. Fortunately for Holmes, Judge Mark Pierce then suspended the sentence. That means Holmes wona4a4t do the time unless he continues to, well, piss off Judge Pierce. The full order is embedded below.What did Holmes do Lots of things apparently: destruction of evidence on laptop, destruction of Mozy backup, failure to identify other storage devices with Zynga documents and the signing of two false court certificates. The court says Holmes admitted to his improper actions and apologized.Worse still for Playdom is the last sentence of the court document. It says ita4a4s a4Aappropriate to impose a non rebutable evidentiary presumption in favor of Zynga regarding the meta data lost when Def Holmes erased his hard drive.a4In the middle of all this Playdom got bought by Disney. And so it&amp;'s not surprising that Disney has settled this with Zynga before it actually went to trial, they don&amp;'t have any emotional investment in the feud.What&amp;'s the settlement No one&amp;'s talking, and Disney for whatever reason is always completely paranoid about specific financial terms leaking out. Just a few bland statements. A joint statement:&amp;''Today, Zynga Game Network, Inc. and Playdom announced that they have reached a confidential resolution of their litigation.&amp;'' -Zynga and PlaydomAnd Zynga&amp;'s statement with a little more color:&amp;''Zynga is extremely pleased with the final resolution of its trade secret suit against Playdom and various individuals.  The settlement reflects the very serious nature of the conduct involved, as reflected by the preliminary injunction, restraining orders, and contempt order issued by the Santa Clara Superior Court.  We have great respect for Disney and are thankful that following its acquisition of Playdom, Disney resolved the matter to our satisfaction.&amp;''   Reggie Davis, General Counsel, ZyngaCrunchBase InformationZyngaPlaydomThe Walt Disney CompanyInformation provided by CrunchBase<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[YouTube acquires Irish tech shop to fix your blurry videos]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=youtube-acquires-irish-tech-shop-to-fix-your-blurry-videos</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=youtube-acquires-irish-tech-shop-to-fix-your-blurry-videos</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=youtube-acquires-irish-tech-shop-to-fix-your-blurry-videos</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Google&amp;'s YouTube division confirmed today that it is buying Green Parot Pictures, an Ireland-based video technology company.The site, which gets over 35 hours of video uploaded every minutes, says it hopes to use the technology by the Irish firm to improve the quality of the many blurry, jerky, and unsteady amateur videos uploaded to the site daily &amp;8212' as those shared recently, for example, by political protestors in Libya.When a video is uploaded to the site, it is processed by YouTube and converted to the various sizes and formats offered by the site. The integration of this technology, which would act as an additional filter for restoring and improving quality, could be instrumental to the millions of YouTube users who watch and share videos on the site.Green Parot Pictures was founded by Anil Kokaram, an Associate Professor at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Its technology, which improves video quality by offering tools to stabilize an image and remove flickers, noises, and blotches, has been used in movies such as Lord of the Rings, X-Men, and Spider-Man.A couple weeks ago, the site also announced that it is buyingNext New Networks, a video production and distribution company to help content partners an emerging talent. The price of both acquisitions have not been disclosed. MotionDSP&amp;'s vReveal software can also sharpen and stabilize blurry videos.Previous Story: LinkedIna4a4s Reid Hoffman explains the brave new world of dataPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: compression, ireland, online video, video quality, videosCompanies: Google, Green Parot Pictures, Next New Networks, YouTubePeople: Anil Kokaram          Tags: compression, ireland, online video, video quality, videosCompanies: Google, Green Parot Pictures, Next New Networks, YouTubePeople: Anil KokaramSid Yadav is a contributor to VentureBeat. He currently studies computer science and psychology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He is also the creator of Memiary, a micro-diary utility. You can reach him at sidyadav@gmail.com (all story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com), and on Twitter at @sidyadav. Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Scvngr finds 1 million users willing to complete location challenges]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scvngr-finds-1-million-users-willing-to-complete-location-challenges</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scvngr-finds-1-million-users-willing-to-complete-location-challenges</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scvngr-finds-1-million-users-willing-to-complete-location-challenges</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Scvngr, the maker of a check-in app that asks users to complete activity challenges,  is defying the conventional wisdom that services which broadcast one&amp;'s location to friends aren&amp;'t ready for the mainstream. Just yesterday, the app has reached 1 million users, founder and chief executive Seth Priebatsch tells VentureBeat, and added nearly 10,000 new users since then.If it sustains that pace, Scvngr could quadruple its user base in a year.Recent studies have suggested that some users of check-in services drop out after a period of experimentation, a phenomenon known as &amp;''check-in fatigue.&amp;'' Scvngr differentiates itself from other location services by adding activities and challenges to the mix. The idea is that this added layer may counter users&amp;' ennui with just sharing their location with friends.Scvngr may be benefitting, too, from larger services that are popularizing the idea of the check-in. Facebook doesn&amp;'t give out user numbers, but notes that its Places check-in feature is available to more than 150 million mobile users. And popular app Foursquare has almost reached 7 million registered users to date. That company reached its own millionth-user milestone almost a year ago in April 2010.These services are finding a bunch of ways to add users, including most recently getting themselves preloaded on smartphones. Foursquare partnered with Japanese telecommunications company KDDI to give users a shortcut for downloading the mobile application on several of its Android smartphones. Scvngr also announced that its app will appear on Virgin Mobilea4a4s new pre-paid Android device.  Loopt, another location service, is also available on several MetroPCS  smartphones, including the LG Optimus M, Huawei  Ascend and BlackBerry   Curve 8530. Loopt, an early location app, got a big boost through a deal with Sprint, the wireless carrier.Boston-based Scvngr, founded in 2008, previously raised a second round of funding of $15 million as well as a first round of $4 million, bringing the total funding to around $20 million.Previous Story: Fisker to release Karma hybrid (finally), with an extra $150M and IPO hopes in sightPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: activities, challenges, check-in, location, location based services, location-based, registered users, usersCompanies: Foursquare, loopt, ScvngrPeople: Seth Priebatsch          Tags: activities, challenges, check-in, location, location based services, location-based, registered users, usersCompanies: Foursquare, loopt, ScvngrPeople: Seth PriebatschCody Barbierri is a social and digital media consultant. He works for Piehead and blogs about social media at Social Tab. (None of his posts are about clients or their competitors.) Reach him at Cody@venturebeat.com. You can also follow Cody on Twitter. Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[On the GreenBeat: Think&'s electric car gets recalled, Khosla bets against lithium-ion car batteries]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=on-the-greenbeat-thinkrsquos-electric-car-gets-recalled-khosla-bets-against-lithium-ion-car-batteries</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=on-the-greenbeat-thinkrsquos-electric-car-gets-recalled-khosla-bets-against-lithium-ion-car-batteries</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=on-the-greenbeat-thinkrsquos-electric-car-gets-recalled-khosla-bets-against-lithium-ion-car-batteries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Here&amp;'s the latest action we&amp;'re following today on the GreenBeat:Think City electric car recalled &amp;8212' The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recalled all 39 of the 2011 Think City two-seater electric cars (pictured), Green Car Reports writes. Sixteen of the models have an issue with a seatbelt missing the component to properly hold a child&amp;'s seat, while 23 may have inadequate defroster systems. The recall calls for the removal and replacement of the insufficient parts.Khosla predicts disruptive new energy sources &amp;8212' Cleantech venture capitalist Vinod Khosla recently told an audience that he doesn&amp;'t believe there will be a lithium ion battery by 2025 because there isn&amp;'t enough available lithium in the world to power the batteries needed for electric vehicles. He&amp;'s also betting that a cheaper alternative to the silicon-based solar cell will have emerged by that time, Forbes reports.Power-One opens plant in Phoenix &amp;8212' The facility is thefirst North American manufacturing plant for Power-One, the second-largest power inverter maker in the world. Inverters are a key part of renewable energy, converting the direct current (DC) energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines into the alternating current (AC) electricity for the grid. The plant will reach a capacity of 1 gigawatt in production by the end of the year.Control4 lands NV Energy deal for home energy management-- Control4 will deploy its home energy management devices as part of a smart grid project for Nevada utility NV Energy. The devices (example pictured, right) will allow NV Energy to manage residential energy load and in particular deploy demand response solutions on a large scale. Demand response offerings allow residents to opt into programs to earn rebates for dialing back electricity use during peak load times.Solar player Heliovolt raises $8.5 million in debt &amp;8212' The Austin, Tex.-based thin-film solar panel manufacturing startup has $1.5 million to go before it reaches its $10 million goal, according to an SEC filing. The company plans to begin shipping modules in the second quarter of this year, Earth2Tech reports.OriginOil lands deal with MBD Energy &amp;8212' Carbon capture company MBD Energy said it will test out OriginOil&amp;'s algae oil extraction system at three of Australia&amp;'s largest coal-fired power plants. The pilots will take concentrated CO2 emissions to produce oil-rich algae via MBD&amp;'s technology. OriginOil&amp;'s technology will then harvest algae oil and biomass from the mix, which can be used to produce oil and petroleum-based products like plastics. If all goes well, the projects have the potential to grow to commercial-scale.Next Story: Intel&amp;'s billion-dollar mistake: Why chip flaws are so hard to fix Previous Story: IBM, Intel, TechStars and the White House start up AmericaPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: algae fuel, algae oil, batteries, biofuels, demand response, electric cars, electric vehicles, home energy management, inverters, lithium-ion batteries, Solar, thin film solar, windCompanies: Control4, HelioVolt, Khosla Ventures, MBD Energy, NV Energy, OriginOil, Power One, ThinkPeople: Vinod Khosla          Tags: algae fuel, algae oil, batteries, biofuels, demand response, electric cars, electric vehicles, home energy management, inverters, lithium-ion batteries, Solar, thin film solar, windCompanies: Control4, HelioVolt, Khosla Ventures, MBD Energy, NV Energy, OriginOil, Power One, ThinkPeople: Vinod KhoslaIris Kuo is the VentureBeat's lead GreenBeat writer. She has reported for The Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong, Houston Chronicle, the McClatchy Washington Bureau and Dallas public radio. Iris attended the University of Texas at Dallas and lives in Houston. Follow Iris on Twitter @thestatuskuo (and yes, that's how you  pronounce her last name). Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Bloom Energy &''not focused&'' on fuel cells IPO, no plans for a mini-Bloom Box]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bloom-energy-8220not-focused8221-on-fuel-cells-ipo-no-plans-for-a-mini-bloom-box</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bloom-energy-8220not-focused8221-on-fuel-cells-ipo-no-plans-for-a-mini-bloom-box</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bloom-energy-8220not-focused8221-on-fuel-cells-ipo-no-plans-for-a-mini-bloom-box</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Bloom Energy is toning down talk of its much-speculated IPO plans this year and looking to expand its reach with a new, more affordable offering that sells electricity generated from its fuel cell-packed Bloom Box, without requiring customers to pay for any of the pricey Bloom hardware.&amp;''We&amp;'re not focused on an IPO, we&amp;'re focused on building a company that can deliver clean, reliable affordable energy, and we&amp;'re quite happy with our ability to finance our company through the private markets,&amp;'' said Bill Kurtz, CFO. (Pictured left is Bloom Energy CEO KR Sridhar.)Last year, peHUB reported Bloom was attempting toraise $50 million pre-2011 IPO, on top of $400 million already raised from venture firms like Kleiner Perkins. It&amp;'s unclear whether Bloom successfully raised the money or not &amp;8212' SEC filings are scant, and the company hasn&amp;'t made any announcements regarding additional funding.Bloom burst onto the scene last year with high-profile clients like Walmart, Google and eBay, who all installed the Bloom Box, a fuel cell unit that converts natural gas into electricity, powerful enough to supply up to 100 American homes.I wondered if the new electricity program, called Bloom Electrons, would mark a change in strategy for the company. Because its units are expensive (reportedly around $800,000) &amp;8212' a price some would argue is prohibitive &amp;8212' Bloom had also previously talked about producing a smaller, $3,000 Bloom Box that could power an individual home. And yep, it looks like Bloom will be focusing on the potential of the Electrons program, so it&amp;'s unlikely there will be a mini-Bloom Box on the market any time soon:&amp;''The potential (for a smaller box) is there. Right now, given the significant demand and interest we have from the commercial customers, we&amp;'re focused at this time for the next few years on satisfying the demand for commercial (installations),&amp;'' Kurtz said.Selling the electricity directly to consumers at competitive rates takes away all talk of capital-investment obstacles, and it&amp;'s a program in high demand from Bloom&amp;'s customers, Kurtz says. The cost of electricity via the Bloom Electrons program should shave five to 20 percent off energy costs and allow customers to lock in electricity costs for 10-year periods.The unit reportedly costs somewhere between $700,000 and $800,000, and Greentech Media made the case that the box&amp;'s actual price per wattcomes out to a hefty $12.50.Kurtz said the company doesn&amp;'t release those numbers because they fluctuate as the technology improves &amp;8212' saying only that the company&amp;'s shareholders and customers are happy.&amp;''We&amp;'re seeing the benefits of scaling, of manufacturing, of supply improvements in our design, which is making the box more efficient, more cost-effective,&amp;'' Kurtz said. &amp;''We&amp;'re very clear that as a company, we need to be competitive with the alternative.&amp;''Kurtz says that the Electrons program, while only available in California (all of Bloom&amp;'s installations to date have been limited to California), could easily be replicated across the country and even the world.The appeal of programs like Bloom Electrons is that they aim to mimic traditional power delivery from the grid. You doesn&amp;'t have to help finance construction of a coal-fired plant in order to turn on a light in your home, so the model allows companies to present customers a more appealing deal: No capital cost of hardware, be green and, with the help of subsidies and efficient technology, get alternative energy at prices competitive with traditional energy prices.Next Story: Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin invests in Qwiki Previous Story: Google Voice tests cellphone number porting for $20PrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: Bloom Box, fuel cellsCompanies: Bloom Energy, Credit Suisse, Kleiner Perkins, Silicon Valley BankPeople: Bill Kurtz          Tags: Bloom Box, fuel cellsCompanies: Bloom Energy, Credit Suisse, Kleiner Perkins, Silicon Valley BankPeople: Bill KurtzIris Kuo is the VentureBeat's lead GreenBeat writer. She has reported for The Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong, Houston Chronicle, the McClatchy Washington Bureau and Dallas public radio. Iris attended the University of Texas at Dallas and lives in Houston. Follow Iris on Twitter @thestatuskuo (and yes, that's how you  pronounce her last name). Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MoPub, The DoubleClick For Mobile, Gets Seed Funding From Accel &amp' Harrison&nbsp'Metal]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mopub-the-doubleclick-for-mobile-gets-seed-funding-from-accel-amp-harrisonnbspmetal</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mopub-the-doubleclick-for-mobile-gets-seed-funding-from-accel-amp-harrisonnbspmetal</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>germkaammg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=mopub-the-doubleclick-for-mobile-gets-seed-funding-from-accel-amp-harrisonnbspmetal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It&amp;'s no secret that everyone believes the mobile advertising space is going to be huge. Massively, massively huge. If you need any proof of this, just look to Android. That&amp;'s essentially the entire reason it exists. In fact, it could be a $3 billion business by 2014, MoPub CEO Jim Payne believes. Not surprisingly, the investors are right there with him in that belief.MoPub, a service which can most easily be thought of as &amp;''DoubleClick for mobile&amp;'', has just received a seed round of funding from Accel Partners and Harrison Metal Capital. The ad-serving platform for mobile apps and websites is an obvious bet as both Rich Wong of Accel and&amp;nbsp'Michael Dearing of Harrison Metal have been heavily involved in the mobile space, with companies like GetJar and AdMob.Speaking of AdMob, the connections are deep here. Everyone on the MoPub team is either ex-AdMob or ex-Google. And since Google bought AdMob a little over a year ago for upwards for $750 million, that means they&amp;'re technically all ex-Google.We first wrote about MoPub here, when they were one of the initial launch companies to come out of AngelPad, a new startup incubator (also with deep Google ties).MoPub&amp;'s bigger picture plan is to perfect mobile targeting of ads while also creating a system that is seamless for everyone to set up and use. They&amp;'re already working with mobile companies like Booyah. They also have an open source SDK to get MoPub running on your app in minutes.Financial terms of the round we not disclosed.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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