by The Editors on July 18, 2007
It’s good to know that Carlsbad’s military industrial complex is alive and well. ViaSat, Inc., a Carlsbad-based producer of “innovative satellite and other digital communication products” just won a $44.9 million contract to deliver “Multifunctional Information Distribution System terminals from The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego.”
The hard work by our team to provide innovation and best value continues to pay off,” said Paul Baca, vice president of Tactical Data Links at ViaSat. “We feel we are a technology leader in both the airborne and ground based terminal markets because we work closely with our customer and the end users to provide products that best meet their needs.”
And anything that helps our boys stay alive while they’re out killing the enemy is a plus as well:
By gathering information into a digital view of the battlefield, MIDS provides greater situational awareness in combat for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and for U.S. defense partners.
[Link: TMCnet.com]
by The Editors on July 14, 2007
i-Safe, a Carlsbad-based non-profit organization dedicated to educating to “responsibly take control of their Internet experiences” has enlisted the blackmailed, scandal ridden, and newly crowned Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo to “help raise awareness about victimization of children on the Internet.”
A group called “The Committee to Save the Miss America Peagent” threatened to go public with the photos if Polumbo did not resign her title. Instead, she went public herself and retained the title.
Amy is a very courageous young woman,” says i-SAFE CEO and Program Director Teri Schroeder. “Online victimization like bullying, predation, even child pornography is far too common on the Internet. Amy’s celebrity will have an impact on students and parents as she raises awareness about these disturbing online issues.”
It’s nice that i-Safe can look past the photos and see the true headline-grabbing promotion they can get from being involved with this salacious scandal.
[Link: Marketwire.com]
by The Editors on July 14, 2007
In these days of Oceania vs. Eurasia style threats from almost fictional sounding terrorist organization it’s nice that local Carlsbad companies are doing their part to make the world a safer place. Invitrogen, the Carlsbad based provider of “essential life science technologies for disease research and drug discovery” has announced:
. . . that their subsidiary Invitorgen Federal Systems has recently signed a $3.9 million contract with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency for the development of a prototype hand-held device for the detection of multiple biothreat agents in a single sample.
Sounds a lot like a Tricorder to us.
[Link: GovCon.com]
by The Editors on July 11, 2007
While announcements of hotels featuring Wi-Fi wireless is beginning to remind us of the old motel signs that advertised, “FREE Color TV,” it is good to know when planning a Carlsbad timeshare vacation that Grand Pacific Resorts has signed a deal with 5G Wireless to provide wireless Internet service it all of its resorts.
That means the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Carlsbad Seapoint Resort, and the currently under construction Sheraton Carlsbad Resort will have solid wireless Internet coverage all over their grounds. So bring your laptops and annoy your family by working on your vacation. . . because now you can.
[Link: Timeshare Owner’s Blog]
by The Editors on July 10, 2007
MaxLinear, Inc., a Carlsbad-based technology company which develops radio frequency systems-on-a-chip has announced that they have partnered with UMC to produce the world’s smallest silicon tuner produced to date for mobile TV applications.
We are very excited about our cooperation with UMC as we were able to produce the MxL7001 on CMOS rather than in SiGe, an industry breakthrough,” noted Kishore Seendripu, MaxLinear’s CEO and president.
We have no idea what this really means, but if it brings broadcast TV to our cellphones, well, that’s pretty cool.
[Link: Business Wire]
by The Editors on June 30, 2007
For those following along here’s how it went: we did not make an Apple iPhone purchase, yet. We chose Sue Palmer over standing inline at AT&T. We do, however, have a friend who made a run for the border and pulled into an undisclosed AT&T Store in Vista at 4 PM. After waiting in line for two hours he was able to snap some photos and snag a 4 gig, which immediately sent him into the throws of an inferiority complex. In a late evening email he said: “I have not broken the seal yet. I have decided to swap it for the 8 gig.”
But as anyone knows, it’s nearly impossible to sit with a new piece of Apple technology without opening it. Moments later we got another email. . . “I opened the package and it is not as sleek as it looks in the ads….”
Side Note: the Fashion Valley Apple Store opens at 10 AM this morning and according to the Apple iPhone Availability Page they still have phones (as does every Apple store in California).
Below The Side Note: Our photos from the Plaza Camino Real line were picked up and included in the Gizmodo.com iPhone photo gallery. Two of them.
by The Editors on June 29, 2007
The Plaza Camino Real has been staked out. At 10:30 The Carlsbad Four had grabbed their places in line in front the AT&T store right outside Sears on the lower level. Honz (far right, blue shirt) was at the front of the line. “I got here at 6 AM,” he said. “And walked right in to the mall.” Chris (second in line), who works from home had his Macbook open and was doing work. “If I’d have known the line was going to be like this I would have slept in a little longer.” Allen and Brad (who were bringing up the rear of the line at 10:40) didn’t arrive until 10 AM.
When we asked them how many phones they were going to buy, they said, “They already told us we could only buy one each.”
If each store indeed has 20 Apple iPhones as reported, then there may still be room at the Plaza, or across the street in Oside next to Trader Joes.
Currently, Apple stock is holding at the $121 mark. Damn, we’re going to be bummed not having an iPhone tonight. Forget about what we said yesterday.
[Editors’ Note: Allen, Brad, or Chris, if you can, please update us on your progress in the comments section.]
by The Editors on June 28, 2007
Guess what? We’re over it. Only 20 hours away from the launching of the coolest tech product to ever hit the world. . . and we’re over it. A friend (who has had a Apple iPhone for over a week thanks to some strange Justin Timberlake connection) gave the iPhone the following review:
It’s pretty sweet, but off Wi-Fi the Internet application is slow as a snail. . . And making a phone call is surprisingly convoluted.”
So that’s it. Big countdown to nothing. Of course, it’s late and we’re not really in an excitable mood right now. If you’re interested in following the hoopla check in with Gizmodo’s Brian Lam. He’s waiting online at a San Francisco Apple store and he’s blogging it live. . . IM him if you want to [lnelyiphoneboy30] or you can watch JustinTV live while he waits in line.
Depending on how we’re feeling tomorrow we’ll probably roll by the Plaza Camino Real AT&T store just to see how things are shaping up. If you’re looking for a phone in Coastal North County follow the jump for a listing of all the AT&T Stores in our zone (if you don’t feel like driving to UTC or Fashion Valley).
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on June 26, 2007
AT&T has finally released the details on the pricing structure for the Apple iPhone service plans. The iPhone will have three different pricing plans identical except for the minutes. All will have unlimited data, unlimited mobile-to-mobile, and a measly 200 SMS text messages (one of the reason’s we’ve always hated Cingular) included in their price. The plans are priced at $59.99, $79.99 and $99.99.
It’s obvious that Steve Jobs did not get his way when it came to bargaining on what or how AT&T would charge for their services. Sadly, the 200 free SMS max and no built-in iChat are pretty close to deal killers for us.
For the rest of the details click the link.
[Link: electronista.com]
by The Editors on June 25, 2007
We apologize in advance for caring entirely too much about this block of electronica. We are pathetic in every way. That said, we are now five days away from the Apple iPhone’s arrival in Carlsbad. And if our math is correct there will only be 100 iPhones in all of North County (including Escondido), so factor that in on your Friday June 29th plans.
Here is the latest AT&T info from The Apple Phone Show blog:
We’ve been able to confirm (by at least two reliable sources inside AT&T and elsewhere) the following details…
1) AT&T stores will close at 4:30 pm Friday and re-open at 6:00 pm to start selling the phone.
2) AT&T employees have received special training on the iPhone averaging six hours per employee.
There are three more bullet points, however, you’ll have to click the link to get it all. And again, we’re very sorry to keep bothering you with fan-boy hype. We just can’t help ourselves.
[Link: Apple Phone Show]
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