tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296130922011-10-06T05:56:53.166-07:00The Technology and Start-up Company Blog for the Sac Metro Market including Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Natomas, Rocklin, Roseville, and Lincoln.<br><br> Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.comBlogger891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-26811014261784647782011-01-07T09:50:00.000-08:002011-01-07T09:58:38.092-08:00

It's been a while since I've blogged on this site and I thought I'd add a little update. Still have this Blogger based blog after all these years even with the new upstarts Tumblr and Posterous doing some interesting innovation in the micro blogging space. It seems Twitter has grabbed my attention and become a real source for curated content and social networking.Built a little side project this

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-13345822170078324092009-09-17T06:23:00.000-07:002009-09-17T07:13:03.497-07:00

Recently, my wife and I decided to clean out our guest bedroom. The closet was overflowing with photos collected over two lifetimes and one seven year marriage. Among those photos were some relics from my high school past. My father came for a visit a few months back and brought me a box of photos and old school records.As we began sorting through photos of yesteryear I can across some old high

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-73626712172364273982009-09-15T08:15:00.000-07:002009-09-15T08:25:07.275-07:00

Feedly, the new Firefox addon is absolutely fantastic. Admittedly, I'm still trying to figure out how this beast works, but it is so easy to use, fast, powerful that it is most surely a game changer in the news reading world. Feedly has quickly become my default start or home page.Just recently heard about Google Fast Flip from the TC50 conference. Tried it and just don't get it. I use Netflix

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-20702668265870086692009-07-31T06:20:00.000-07:002009-07-31T06:21:24.495-07:00

"McClatchy continues its transition to a successful hybrid print and online company. Our digital audience continues to grow impressively. Average monthly unique visitors to our websites were up 30.1% in the second quarter following 26.7% growth in the first quarter of 2009. Still, the recession is impacting our digital business. Our digital advertising was down 2.9% in the second quarter of 2009,

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-32006476285537795672009-07-19T06:36:00.000-07:002009-07-19T08:46:40.320-07:00

Inspired by Jeff Jarvis and his recent book WWGD and his saga with Dell Sucks I was compelled to share my story. I'll cut to the point here. Advertise.com provides a platform for affiliates to steal your hard earned traffic. Want to know how? Read on...A few months ago I began running display ads on my site using OpenX hosted and three ad networks; Google Adsense, Yahoo Affiliates, and Adbrite to

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-2919784085098810112009-07-13T17:29:00.000-07:002009-07-13T17:47:14.216-07:00

It was bound to happen. Google unveils an OS to compete with Windows. I've always thought that Open Source was the Enterprise Software Giant Killer. It's like viral coding. The open source community provides the coding muscle and Google provides the marketing, sales, and professional services. If Microsoft didn't see this train coming ten miles away they were blinded by their OS monopoly. The PC

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1849151797009226302009-06-13T06:41:00.000-07:002009-06-13T06:55:38.108-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about how successful startups get started. Is it the founders or is it the product/service or the region they operate in and I think it's all of these.To begin a successful startup needs great founders. Where do you find these people? Usually they are friends, former co-workers, or business partners at some point. This ties into the region concept as well. If there is a

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-35145576497467063902008-08-16T11:17:00.000-07:002008-08-16T11:18:32.270-07:00

From Crackle: Signature Series, Ep 14: Memphis, Tennessee

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-54300461127999174362008-06-07T08:09:00.001-07:002008-06-07T08:09:46.146-07:00

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-901023038399451302008-05-05T20:29:00.000-07:002008-05-05T20:32:45.783-07:00

Fastcompany.com is transforming itself into a social media company and avoiding the pitfalls of magazines like Business 2.0 and Prosper. Will it be able to sustain for the long term. I say YES!

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-38061881510029223702008-05-02T07:49:00.000-07:002008-05-02T07:55:51.549-07:00

Is technology the new dividing factor? If you're not Tech Savvy and socially connected on the web are you soon to be left out of the new economy? With tools like twitter and facebook and linkedin and meebo and skype and beenup2 and on and on.... do others get left behind in the technodust so to speak?

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-12025731450023074132008-04-25T06:53:00.000-07:002008-04-25T06:54:12.692-07:00

"What's funnier than a gorilla chasing bananas through a school? Nothing," Leinonen said. "It was a harmless prank."

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-43322008788434257812008-04-23T20:56:00.000-07:002008-04-23T20:57:45.727-07:00

Is Twitter activity an indicator of a thriving tech community for a given city?

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-39681337240398544442008-04-23T18:37:00.000-07:002008-04-23T18:38:42.326-07:00

What's metadata worth?

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-9298729112422868592007-11-02T23:00:00.000-07:002007-11-02T23:08:20.619-07:00

Today Mike Teel announces the demise of Prosper magazine. Not surprising considering their transition into a lifestyle magazine. The baby blue chips were great, but recently the magazine strayed from it's birth as a business magazine. New Digital strategy? Didn't you have one already? Comstocks still survives and it has no content, commerce, or personalization much less a digital strategy.Think

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-37322202686685052102007-06-27T06:38:00.000-07:002007-06-27T06:44:58.975-07:00

What began as the pet project of a few enthusiastic users has grown into a corporate-backed initiative demonstrating Google Earth's potential as a live-saving humanitarian tool. The Crisis in Darfur project is a downloadable set of layers for Google Earth which combines high-resolution satellite images of Darfur with photographs and first-hand accounts of the genocide currently underway in the

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-27548307105385751022007-05-09T14:54:00.000-07:002007-05-09T14:55:41.676-07:00

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- In a whale-sized project, the world's scientists plan to compile everything they know about all of Earth's 1.8 million known species and put it all on one Web site, open to everyone.The effort, called the Encyclopedia of Life, will include species descriptions, pictures, maps, videos, sound, sightings by amateurs, and links to entire genomes

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-3658888176686975122007-05-09T08:56:00.000-07:002007-05-09T09:02:32.278-07:00

Local guys Michael Ivanov and Philip Neustrom of Davis Wiki fame have launched Wikispot a wiki creation platform for local community wiki's. It's a non-profit effort to let communities anywhere in the world initiate, maintain, publicize and fund wikis.Great concept, I'll be looking forward to watching this grow.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-43726442033948257122007-04-29T07:48:00.000-07:002007-04-29T07:59:32.209-07:00

I'll start by saying I usually don't write about my little projects, but I think this one can be really fun if it takes off big. I was looking for an interesting web project and happened on an open source project called Pligg which is a clone of Digg, the more famous news site. Well, I had just visited El Dorado wine country enjoying some fantastic wine tasting and thought, you know - it would be

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-59588991836860106642007-04-13T16:38:00.000-07:002007-04-13T16:51:33.154-07:00

-As Google expands into more advertising mediums they get closer and closer to becoming the Advertising Agency of the future. The real question is who should be running scared, is it the advertisers who will be at the mercy of Google or media companies who will be begging for a share of the ad dollars?Ending weeks of a bidding battle with Microsoft, Google reached an agreement to buy online

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-34061816965228318042007-04-06T07:28:00.001-07:002008-11-13T03:01:42.629-08:00

Here is another great can't miss event for tech exec's in the Sacramento region. For entrepreneurs looking for cash, this is the place you need to be with the following angel and VC firms in attendance: DFJ Frontier, Innovature Capital Partners, Hummer Winblad, Venture Partners, Garage Technology Ventures, T-Ventures, Sierra Ventures, Trinity, Ventures, Outlook Ventures, Keiretsu Forum, American

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-49467195640653431732007-02-27T16:14:00.000-08:002007-02-27T16:26:22.816-08:00

In 2006, venture investors pumped $1.28 billion into clean technology companies in China, Europe, Israel and the U.S., the group said today. That’s about double the $664.1 million invested in 2005, according to the research, which was compiled the data with help from Ernst & Young.Today, Dow Jones Venture One has released a more precise definition to what is meant by “clean technology.” Companies

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-21828021768949356882007-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:43.204-08:00

Derek Parham makes the big announcement today:Now, I'm excited to tell you that our baby has finally graduated and is entering the business world. Google Apps Premier Edition is a new version designed to take on all the challenges presented by businesses with complex IT needs. For $50 per account per year, you get the whole Google Apps package plus many new business-oriented features, including

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-21778511058525238592007-02-22T07:45:00.000-08:002007-02-22T07:48:39.472-08:00

A Rancho Cordova-based health information technology company has signed a deal with an online pharmacy communications network to provide software tools to help drug manufacturers and pharmacies evaluate whether their programs are effective.The agreement between MedInitiatives Inc. and ChainDrugStore.net was announced Tuesday. No financial details were given. Founded in 2000, MedInitiatives is one

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-4673301662260352782007-02-22T07:31:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:43.552-08:00

Vision Service Plan President and CEO starts a company blog and opens up communication to employees, partners, and customers. In the initial entry on his new company blog Rob Lynch says:In guiding VSP through our future growth and success, I plan to use this blog to share my thoughts and ideas about eyecare, total wellness, the insurance industry, leadership and managing good people. I look

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-80207361670665867222007-02-16T12:38:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:43.800-08:00

FACING down stiff competition to win fame and big prize money? Forget singing for Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. Try sequencing DNA for a panel of technology investors.Yes, something like an “American Idol” for the technorati may be coming to Silicon Valley.Venture capital firms are considering contests that offer competing engineers and entrepreneurs multimillion-dollar prize purses if they come

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-14552425602109494392007-02-14T07:43:00.000-08:002007-02-14T07:52:52.141-08:00

Lipomics Technologies Inc. and Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced that they will collaborate to develop research and diagnostic assays combining Agilent analytical platforms with Lipomics' expertise in biomarker discovery and validation.The assays will focus on metabolic diseases, a family of related disorders driven in large part by subtle, long-term dysregulation of lipid metabolism.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-67711798393641292552007-02-14T07:24:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:44.190-08:00

WebRaiser Technologies, which makes software for kiosks, has been snapped up by Flextronics International Ltd. of Singapore.No details are being released. But Mark Breunig, WebRaiser's senior VP and general counsel, confirms the sale and says a formal announcement is set for a trade show in April. "We don't want to tip our hand to competitors," he says of the company's taciturn stand.He does note

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-3778833320148160212007-02-14T07:21:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:44.395-08:00

Sacramento, CaRevionics Inc., a company that provides software to help small- and medium-size grocery stores price products, has added C&K Markets to its list of grocery retail customers.Brookings, Ore.-based C&K Markets is implementing Granite Bay-based Revionics' Advanced Pricing System at all 59 of its stores, including those under the Ray's Food Place, Shop Smart, and Price Less Foods

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-17100747470315505082007-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:44.552-08:00

On the Google Blog today they reveal more details on the Google Video & YouTube integration:YouTube, as we've stated previously, will remain an independent subsidiary of Google, and will continue to operate separately. Google will support YouTube by providing access to search and monetization platforms and, when/where YouTube launches internationally, to international resources. YouTube

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-82627166831608069562007-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:002007-01-25T09:42:53.606-08:00

A very cool tool for finding good domain names is Instant Domain Search. The website is simple, clean and easy to use. Just start typing in your name and the website tells you instantly if it is available for .com, .net, or .org with easy to view green and red shading. If your preferred name is taken then you can get suggestions for other names from GoDaddy, request SEDO to aquire it, or

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-11289462083280100642007-01-25T07:30:00.000-08:002007-01-25T07:36:48.689-08:00

Join a couple of geeks and entrepreneurs for food, fun, and conversation. The next SacStarts dinner is planned for February 22 at Hoppy.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-70980909340549595102007-01-25T07:13:00.000-08:002008-11-13T03:01:44.712-08:00

Sacramento based Revionics, is moving up in the world. Up to Granite Bay exactly. The company announced this week that along with the move effective February 12th, that they have tripled their base of subscribing customers in the last six months. The company recently closed a round of series A funding in December.Keep an eye on this company, they are going places.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-4880465603090839392007-01-24T06:52:00.000-08:002007-01-24T07:38:22.184-08:00

Corn is a "Low Carbon" Fuel, Join the Clean Energy Diet and Lose Unwanted CO2Last night, President Bush, in his State of the Union called for more intensive use of ethanol and other alternative fuels in an attempt to cut gasoline use by 20 percent by 2017. This initiative could boost the prospects of many Sacramento Clean Energy companies. Shares of Sacramento-based Pacific Ethanol Inc. jumped 6

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1165938444213886542006-12-12T07:34:00.000-08:002006-12-12T07:51:03.553-08:00

It was announced today that Net Music Makers has acquired My Virtual Band, which allows bands and musicians to make music online. The combined company plans to launch a social networking website in early 2007.The website will allow bands and solo artists to create personalized websites, join a band, collaborate, and mix tunes. The new site will also provide a multi-channel internet radio station

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1165332580175622812006-12-05T07:23:00.000-08:002006-12-05T07:38:51.116-08:00

Revver CEO interview about business models, open api, and copyright protections.Sacramento, CaWith Google buying video sharing site YouTube and a dozen other video sharing webites popping up everywhere, it may be safe to say that the video revolution is here. Tivo recently announced that it's Tivo service will now allow users to take their video to go on any computer or mobile device, similar to

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164814465184691532006-11-29T07:31:00.000-08:002006-11-29T07:34:27.076-08:00

Today, I added a map from Platial to show where in the Sacramento region emerging businesses are located. If you would like to add a startup or high growth business please do. As I find time to add portfolio companies to the map the view may become more interesting as we see visually where companies are starting and locating.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164810498594837802006-11-29T06:26:00.000-08:002006-11-29T06:28:18.796-08:00

Roseville, CAInternational DisplayWorks, Inc. (IDW) (NASDAQ:IDWK) announced that its stockholders approved Flextronics International Ltd.'s proposed acquisition of IDW at a special meeting of IDW stockholders held today.Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, assuming the transaction closes on November 30, 2006, as currently scheduled, holders of IDW common stock will receive 0.5653

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164728287175943792006-11-28T07:35:00.000-08:002006-11-28T07:38:07.786-08:00

Sacramento, CANet Music Makers.com today announced plans to launch its online collaborative website in March 2007. In preparation for its launch, NMM will make its site available in January to allow bands to create a personal website and access a virtual studio that allows public and private collaboration to create new music available for international podcast and internet radio

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164725793584892652006-11-28T06:51:00.000-08:002006-11-28T06:57:32.130-08:00

Sacramento, CARaging Wire announced it has initiated an 89,000 sq. ft. expansion of their data center due to strong market demand for high-density, Class "A" Tier IV data center floor space. "Today’s Fortune 500 companies have recognized that designing and managing a top-tier data center is a core competency in itself. These companies are not interested in traveling down an intensive capital

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164686231623516372006-11-27T19:41:00.000-08:002006-11-27T19:57:18.203-08:00

The premier issue of Sactown magazine hit the mailbox today. Check it out here. More to come...

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164640153923632262006-11-27T07:01:00.000-08:002006-11-27T07:09:14.683-08:00

The Sacbee.com now offers online text adlinks from Quigo through a technology called Adsonar. Advertisers are able to bid on positions, only the top three ads show on any page, and improve their positioning through improving the click thru rate. The system provides automated ad tracking for impressions and clicks. The ads generally appear at the bottom of the page. Advertisers are able to target

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164155140732744382006-11-22T11:00:00.000-08:002006-11-22T11:18:10.943-08:00

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164212323337054802006-11-22T08:15:00.000-08:002006-11-22T08:18:43.536-08:00

Great blog post from Scott Hildebrand. I agree.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164208346026049252006-11-22T07:05:00.000-08:002006-11-22T07:13:43.983-08:00

Circuit-design startup hires a CEO who's been there, done thatEl Dorado Hills-based Mutant Logic Inc., an angel-backed startup that's developing technology to streamline circuit design, has hired a chief executive officer who has experience with another El Dorado Hills startup that landed a big payday.Bob Bennett, the company's new CEO, was a vice president for ShareWave Inc., which made

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164206722702955102006-11-22T06:41:00.000-08:002006-11-22T06:57:01.563-08:00

Funtastic, which started locally last year, has six new centers in the worksWhen Jim and Suzanne Kerr opened their Funtastic Play Center in El Dorado Hills last year, parents were so impressed with the children's activities center they assumed it was part of a chain."Everybody was asking, 'Where did you buy the franchise?' " Jim Kerr recalled.A year later, on the first day the Kerrs had state

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164205870763390152006-11-22T06:27:00.000-08:002007-01-14T19:32:50.113-08:00

In 1989, Shari Fitzpatrick opened her first retail store, Shari’s Berries Inc., in Sacramento, CA. What began as a hobby and gift idea years before soon became a passion and a booming business, resulting in four successful retail locations in the greater Sacramento area.I can't wait to try her new delightful creations. Perfect for the holidays.Shari has refocused her creative energies by

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164153334058388172006-11-21T15:53:00.000-08:002006-11-21T16:03:54.963-08:00

High-Tech Direct 2006Registration Form People around the globe are applying technology in astounding ways, and you'll hear about it at this year's High Tech Direct gathering on Thursday, December 7th from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento. When: Thursday, December 7, 2006 4:00 - 7:30 p.m.Where: Radisson Hotel Sacramento, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA 95815The featured

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164153066798110432006-11-21T15:48:00.000-08:002006-11-22T07:30:30.663-08:00

The Sacramento-based digital music and video distributor signed agreements ranging from two to 10 years with the independent music labels. Digital Music (Nasdaq: DMGI - News) will distribute the tracks to online stores, as well as through ringtones, mastertones and wireless phone service.Digital Music's new catalogs are from:Hacienda Records, out of Corpus Christi, Texas, which includes tejano,

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164143672500487682006-11-21T13:13:00.000-08:002006-11-21T13:18:02.843-08:00

Merger & Acquisition activity, Downtown K Street redevelopment

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164122228711039342006-11-21T06:55:00.000-08:002006-11-21T07:32:23.133-08:00

Today the State of California approved for release $181 million in funding for stem cell research. This funding which was approved by the voters of California in the landmark proposition 71 will go to fund research grants across the state.The funding today alone makes California's Institute for Regenerative Medicine the largest program in the world.Learn more here Professor Larry Goldstein and

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164140733387410372006-11-21T06:25:00.000-08:002006-11-21T12:27:38.083-08:00

Unify Corp. on Monday announced that its aquisition of Redwood City based Gupta Technologies has been completed.Unify paid $6.1 million in cash to acquire Gupta from Halo Technology Holdings, Inc.Unify stock closed at 24 cents, down 3 cents on the OTC Bulletin Board.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164126276113222382006-11-20T15:16:00.000-08:002006-11-21T08:24:36.270-08:00

This reminds me of when Michael Jordan retired and they replaced him with that one guy. What's his name? If you can tell me I'll send you a free gift.Sacramento is getting another professional basketball team.The Fresno Heatwave of the American Basketball Association is relocating to Sacramento, where it will play at Cosumnes River College. The new Sacramento Heatwave will play its first home

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164038920559580102006-11-20T08:06:00.000-08:002006-11-20T08:12:17.496-08:00

Are your Web surfing fingers getting tired?There may be a reason. Netcraft, an Internet monitoring company that has tracked Web growth since 1995, says a mammoth milestone was reached during the month of October."There are now 100 million Web sites with domain names and content on them," said Netcraft's Rich Miller. "Within that, there are some that are busy and updated more often, and that

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164038308954088052006-11-20T07:56:00.000-08:002006-11-20T07:58:29.116-08:00

In its fourth quarter, Hewlett-Packard's business divisions pulled together to deliver solid revenue and profit growth. Watch out, Big BlueHewlett-Packard (HPQ) has taken a big step toward laying official claim to the title of world's biggest tech company. On Nov. 16 the Palo Alto (Calif.) company reported fourth-quarter earnings that, thanks to all its business units performing well, exceed the

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164037586422306382006-11-20T07:44:00.000-08:002006-11-20T07:50:18.806-08:00

A Silicon Valley startup is announcing a new cell phone mapping service to let users know when their friends are nearby.The so-called social mapping service by Palo Alto-based Loopt Inc. was to announce Tuesday it has teamed with Sprint Nextel Corp. 's Boost Mobile LLC, to launch the feature for the carrier's youth-oriented Boost-branded phones.The service is free through the end of 2006 and will

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164037424093364702006-11-20T07:42:00.000-08:002006-11-20T07:43:44.626-08:00

In a first of its kind deal between a major search provider and a large wireless carrier, Sprint has tapped Microsoft to provide search and pay-per-call ads to its subscribers.The deal will make Microsoft's fledgling Windows Live Search for mobile product available to Sprint wireless users. Along with Sprint ring tones, games, screen savers and other services, Sprint users will be able to use the

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164003200615237252006-11-19T22:12:00.000-08:002006-11-19T22:13:20.686-08:00

Telecom company SOS expects 40% more revenue this year; has added staffTelecommunications company SOS is on track to boost its annual revenue by almost 40 percent and has hired 12 employees as more small and midsized businesses in the Sacramento area embrace Internet-based phone service.SOS -- formerly Special Order Systems Inc. -- has 35 employees, compared to 23 a year ago. Its annual revenue

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1164002501175483112006-11-19T22:00:00.000-08:002006-11-19T22:03:40.416-08:00

Sacramento startup KeyEye Communications Inc. is banking on the enormous rise in the use of computer data and on demand from companies to move that data more cheaply and efficiently."We expect a huge amount of growth in the market for high-speed," said Chuck Fox, the company's new chief executive officer, citing a recent surge in demand for data such as Web-based videos, huge files that increase

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1163996347288276192006-11-19T20:17:00.000-08:002006-11-19T20:19:08.076-08:00

Trash-handling company Waste Connections Inc. has agreed to acquire some Southeast U.S. assets of a unit owned by Waste Management Inc. The purchase price was not disclosed.Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) said the assets, which provide waste collection, transfer and disposal services, represent about $22 million in additional annual revenue, bringing the Folsom-based company's year-to-date

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1156985539743179322006-08-30T17:50:00.000-07:002006-08-30T18:13:55.716-07:00

This begs the question, What Vision? I'm an optimistic person, many times overly optimistic but the truth is with this message to the voters of Sacramento County the reply will be NO, NO, NO! and NO some more. Let's be upfront. I support, yes support public financing for an arena and I cannot possibly see this passing even with 50%.The real issue here is that the campaign for the tax measure is

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1156984879130408872006-08-30T17:39:00.000-07:002006-08-30T17:41:39.766-07:00

KVIE’s New Valley series features PfP KVIE’s New Valley series explores the challenges and opportunities associated with ensuring sensible development, keeping pace with a diversifying economy, and protecting the environment. The upcoming New Valley series will feature Partnership for Prosperity and the outlined objectives to maintain and improve our quality of life. The first episode is called

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1155740422334370432006-08-16T07:54:00.000-07:002006-08-16T08:04:07.786-07:00

Calling all entrepreneurs, small business owners, inventors, and dreamers. The Tech Tomato would like to feature your idea, startup company, or invention. If you live in the greater Sacramento region and would like your company featured on the Tech Tomato send us an e-mail and we will consider profiling your company. Are you in the embryonic stage still tinkering in your basement or garage?

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1155739961967439232006-08-16T07:47:00.000-07:002006-08-16T07:52:46.390-07:00

What is stabilized rice bran exactly?NutreaCea enjoyed record revenue in the second quarter, benefiting from its merger with RiceX and increased direct-to-consumer marketing efforts -- leading to a profitable three months.El Dorado Hills-based NutraCea (OTCBB: NTRZ), a producer of stabilized rice bran, reported $4.17 million in revenue in the three months ended June 30, a 1,290 percent increase

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1155501628775968652006-08-13T13:38:00.000-07:002006-08-13T13:52:00.400-07:00

Driven in part by a larger library of music available for sale, Sacramento-based Digital Music Group Inc. racked up second-quarter revenue of $840,000, more than 15 times the revenue it posted in the year-earlier period.Even considering the second-quarter 2005 revenue of all three businesses that were combined early this year when Digital Music Group went public, revenue still rose nearly

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1155500956694904072006-08-13T13:29:00.000-07:002006-08-13T13:33:45.896-07:00

Here is an interesting moral dilema. You are trapped in a burning research center with one way out and only have 30 seconds to escape with your hands full. On your lap is a newborn child and in the refrigerated storage room to your right is a box with 1,000 fertilized eggs. You can only take one, the newborn or the fertilized eggs. Which do you choose? Most people would say of course you take the

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1152500874816382182006-07-09T20:02:00.000-07:002006-07-09T20:07:55.073-07:00

Partnership for Prosperity championed by Valley Vision of Sacramento releases most recent updates:Partnership for Prosperity’s Action Teams making progressPartnership has launched five Action Teams to identify the specific tactics, timelines, and measures of success that will be used to carry out the five strategies in our regional business plan. Here are updates for each of the Action Teams:

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151418596588077462006-06-27T07:23:00.000-07:002006-06-27T07:30:15.016-07:00

Farecast seems to be a great concept which could really add value to consumer airfare buying. If it can tell me the best time to buy to save the most money, I will use it everytime I fly.Farecast.com is the first airfare prediction website. We help online travel shoppers save money by answering the question; should you buy now or wait? Our beta version is available to travelers departing from

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151416818041632232006-06-27T06:55:00.000-07:002006-06-27T07:00:18.043-07:00

Tower Records trys again to pull itself out of a tailspin by resurrecting online downloads. It is sad to see a company with little vision die a slow death.Seeking to expand its online offerings in the digital world, Tower Records enters the music downloading business todaywith a service that will initially feature more than 1.2 million tracks.The iconic music retailer, based in West Sacramento,

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151416481566261112006-06-27T06:51:00.000-07:002006-06-27T06:54:41.576-07:00

Digital Music Group Inc., which distributes songs to online music stores, announced Monday that it has acquired Chancellor Records, a label that recorded such '50s and '60s pop stars as Frankie Avalon and Fabian.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.The purchase includes some 2,000 tracks in Chancellor's library, which DMG plans to sell through download sites like Apple's iTunes Music

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151334863483188482006-06-26T08:07:00.000-07:002006-06-26T08:14:23.490-07:00

Web upstart Digg which displays and ranks stories based on user rankings or "diggs" unveils a new look and some expanded categories today. The previous tech only website has expanded into other categories to broaden appeal.Based on many web analytics reports Digg is gaining ground on the NY Times and fast. With the new categories, new look and cross over appeal to a more mainstream audience Digg

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151135036473484802006-06-24T00:31:00.000-07:002006-06-25T13:46:59.276-07:00

Just another in a long list of information security breeches.Insurance provider American International Group has confirmed the theft of a file server and other hardware that held the personal information of approximately 970,000 potential customers.Company officials said an intruder entered one of its Midwest offices sometime after business hours in late March and walked off with a file server

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151078964055837272006-06-23T08:55:00.000-07:002006-06-23T09:09:24.066-07:00

SunEdison founders Claire Broido Johnson and Jigar Shah have differentiated themselves by creatively packaging solar panels and reselling them to corporations. What was once unaffordable is now providing a nice return on investment for Goldman Sachs.The company, founded in 2003, has developed a financing model that helps large companies like Whole Foods Market Inc. and Staples Inc. install

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1151012365525025022006-06-22T14:02:00.000-07:002006-06-22T14:43:55.180-07:00

If McClellan Business Park is the model for converting a former military base into a viable community, could the same process happen at Mather Field in Rancho Cordova, Ca.After five years of redeveloping McClellan Park, its owners announced Tuesday that they are ready to probe a red-hot commercial real estate market and find out how much they can capitalize off their investment.This doesn't

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150923247744010042006-06-21T13:51:00.000-07:002006-06-21T14:01:59.620-07:00

About halfway between San Jose and Lake Tahoe. Click on the headline above for a regional map. Zoom in to find surrounding communities like Rancho Cordova to the east, West Sacramento to the west, Roseville to the north, and Elk Grove to the south.Or for more detailed information take a look at the Wikipedia reference of Sacramento or the community information website for Lyon Real Estate.

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150922252083634402006-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:002006-06-21T13:37:32.083-07:00

This is probably the most comprehensive data on technology in the US available. The price is reasonable and the info could provide a boost to your market research. The AEA is the former American Electronics Association founded in 1943. They also have an office in Sacramento.AeA is delighted to bring you Cyberstates 2006: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry. This

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150901551127369032006-06-21T07:43:00.000-07:002006-06-21T09:20:25.403-07:00

If you haven't heard about Techcoire before today you may not be alone. It is one of the best kept secrets of the Sacramento region. This group of over 1200 technology executives, entrepreneur's, and venture capitalists is composed of the who's who in Sac Valley technology circles.Events are planned throughout the year and this Thursday's should be a good one. Titled "Winning your first customer:

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150812095436357002006-06-20T06:50:00.000-07:002006-06-20T07:03:16.010-07:00

Davis, Ca based Central Valley Fund received a nice shot in the arm from Sacramento based CalPERS, the nations largest pension fund with over $200 billion in assets.The Central Valley Fund will receive an additional $30 million from the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the state public pension fund said Monday.The Central Valley Fund is a venture capital fund that targets

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150730272167796172006-06-19T08:08:00.000-07:002006-06-19T08:17:52.176-07:00

A new player in the SacMedia Market announces a Fall debut. They are so new you can't even Google them yet!Sacramento's crowded magazine market is about to get a new entry -- a city mag called "Sactown" that, its backers say, will be as "smart, sophisticated and sexy" as the region it's covering. - Bob ShallitBehind the new venture are a couple of magazine veterans, Rob Turner and his wife,

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150660541078084082006-06-18T12:23:00.000-07:002006-06-18T13:47:44.813-07:00

After watching a PBS documentary on KVIE Sacramento this afternoon on the search for intelligent life it got me thinking. Many scientists have attempted to develop a formula to predict the likelihood of intelligent life in our universe. This formula contains many variables which are not currently solvable and therefore the percentage of planets with the probability of containing intelligent life

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150556980352926562006-06-17T07:55:00.000-07:002006-06-17T08:21:01.186-07:00

Weekend WrapupIt's Saturday morning and I have decided unofficially that on the weekends I will blog about the weeks events. A summary or recap if you will about the things I learned the people I met and the general state of the Tomato. You are probably asking why is this blog called the Tech Tomato. Well Tech for technology, and Tomato because the Sac region was known for its agricultural output

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150462139138072262006-06-16T05:47:00.000-07:002006-06-16T06:09:12.903-07:00

Volcano Corp. had a very successful IPO Thursday raising $52 million dollars and creating the 10th Sacramento publicly traded company."It's great to see a local high-tech company actually go public here versus getting acquired," said Oleg Kaganovich, chief executive of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance."If Volcano stays independent, this could be another nice shot in the arm for

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150460995671649182006-06-16T05:12:00.000-07:002006-06-16T05:31:25.853-07:00

Paul Otellini says goodbye to communications and cell phone chip units in Folsom. In the past few years Intel has faced mounting competition from Advanced Micro devices for PC based microprocessors and continuing losses from its communication and cell phone chip businesses. These losses and a new CEO have compelled Intel to review its money losing divisions. Intel simply has not been able to

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150382525964544762006-06-15T07:33:00.000-07:002006-06-15T07:42:05.966-07:00

Volcano Corp., a Rancho Cordova medical-device maker, had expected to launch its initial public offering of stock early Thursday. Today it was announced that Volcano Corp. has dropped its offering price to $8 a share, a move that could cut as much as $30 million from the proceeds of the IPO.The lower share price still could pump close to $55 million into the Rancho Cordova, CA company. Volcano

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150235487353849332006-06-13T14:46:00.000-07:002006-06-13T16:12:29.753-07:00

With all the discussion about the MobilePro pullout of the WiFi deal with the City of Sacramento it made me think maybe there is a better solution than blanketing the entire city with WiFi.MobilePro Corp, which won a contract from the City of Sacramento last year to set up a wireless broadband network downtown, says it is withdrawing from the project after the city tried to change the terms of

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150141164039622072006-06-12T12:25:00.000-07:002006-06-15T07:30:36.016-07:00

Read an interesting essay from Paul Graham on the ingredients for a successful Silicon Valley Souffle. "How to be Silicon Valley", May 2006.To sum it up Paul says you need a few key ingredients; nerds, rich people, world class universities, the right attitude (fun & business friendly), and a youthful culture to attract entrepreneurs."Like any good recipe, leaving out one key ingredient can turn a

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150139180655751712006-06-12T12:02:00.000-07:002006-06-12T12:06:20.656-07:00

Sacramento ranks 30th in the Business Journal's ranking of America's Smartest Cities.Which community boasts the highest concentration of brainpower -- and therefore can claim to be America's smartest big city?The answer is Seattle, according to a new study by Bizjournals.com.An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data puts Seattle's No. 1 ranking in perspective:-- Forty-seven percent of Seattle's

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150138680262520612006-06-12T11:56:00.000-07:002006-06-12T12:00:42.716-07:00

Digital Music Group Inc. has hired its first investor relations firm, the latest move in its evolution as a publicly traded company.Digital Music Group (Nasdaq: DMGI), a content owner and distributor of digital music, has hired Allen & Caron Inc. as its investor relations firm. The Irvine-based company's clients include Align Technology and Top Tankers Inc."As a newly public company operating in

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29613092.post-1150138172498028402006-06-12T11:49:00.000-07:002006-06-12T12:08:39.283-07:00

This is the first post of the Tech Tomato from Sacramento, CA and surrounding communities to engage local entrepreneurs, tech geeks, venture capitalists, angel investors, and others in discussion focused on the Sac Metro region start-up culture.Hopefully this will be a place to get a quick weekly dose of what's happening in the Sac Metro region start-up community. I would like to profile some

Tech Tomatonoreply@blogger.com0