by The Editors on May 27, 2008
Carlsbadistan’s annual brush with digiratti stardom kicked off today at the Four Season’s Aviara as Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher host the Wall Street Journal’s D6: All Things Digital.
Today was golf day, but over the next three days (May 27-29, 2008) D6 will play host to the the biggest names in business. And they’ll all be right here in Carlsbad. See if any of these names ring a bell: Bill (and Melinda) Gates, Steve Ballmer, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, Howard Stringer, Jeff Bezos, Barry Diller, Jeff Bewkes, Kevin Martin, Tom Glocer, Jerry Yang and Sue Decker.
Tonight Walt and Kara will interview Bill Gates and Steve Balmer, but we’re not really into Microsoft so we’re going to skip it. But please stay tuned over the next couple days as we bring you some “unofficial coverage” of everything that’s going on at D6. And if we can get any of them to come surfing, we’ll let you know.
[Link: D6 All Things Digital]
by The Editors on May 23, 2008
Carlsbad-based computer monitor company Ostendo Technologies has an ultra-wide curved display for those of us who need a little wider, undistorted view of the Internet.
The CRVD display has a 42.4″ diagonal and provides a 2880 x 900 pixel resolution (double WXGA+), greater than 300 nits of brightness, and a contrast ratio of greater than 10,000:1, and relies on the DLP image-creating MEMS (microelectromechanical-systems) engine developed by Texas Instruments (Dallas, TX).
Sign us up, we’ll test two of them for free, no problem.
[Link: Laser Focus World]
by The Editors on May 21, 2008
In early March when Chrysler’s new owner Cerberus Captital Management LP announced that they were closing the Carlsbad-based Pacifica Advance Design Center we were kind of bummed for all the talented auto designers who worked there.
Now, we learn that Daimler AG, the owner of Mercedes (and former owner of Chrysler) recently purchased the design center for $7 million.
The German car-maker will take over the Chrysler Pacifica Advance Design Center in Carlsbad, California, within weeks, and in turn will close its own design centre in Irvine, California, the report said.
This means that we’ll see some new “Carlsbad inspired” auto designs coming from Mercedes (and maybe even some prototypes sneaking around town.
[Link: Forbes]
by The Editors on May 21, 2008
It’s strange to see Carlsbadistan imagined as a pair of sunglasses, but Columbia Sportswear has done it with their Hyper-lite TR90 Framed The Carlsbad. The glasses feature a “revolutionary new high-tech thermoplastic material that is extremely strong and shock resistant. . . triacetate cellulose formulated lens offers superior visual clarity.”
We’re not sure it matches our particular style, but they’re not exactly ugly. Right?
[Link: Zappos.com]
by The Editors on May 14, 2008
The Carlsbad-based fish taco restaurant chain Rubio’s announced their first quarter 2008 results yesterday and while revenues rose 2.9% for the quarter comparable store sales decreased by 3 percent and the company actually lost $745,000.
“Our first quarter results are indicative of the overall challenging macroeconomic environment, and in particular, higher gasoline prices and the weak housing markets in Arizona, Nevada and parts of California. Over the past several months, we have undergone a vigorous assessment of the opportunities to better leverage our resources and gain efficiencies in our cost structure, while continuing to focus on delivering unique products and an unsurpassed guest experience. Notably, we reduced our corporate support staff by just over 10% at the end of April and have several initiatives underway to lower food and labor costs while maintaining the integrity of our brand. We believe this balanced approach will better position us to achieve our profit goals in the near term and still execute our longer term strategy,” said Dan Pittard, Rubio’s President and CEO.
Sounds like Dan is blaming everything but the food. We’re slowly learning that if your only big idea is to reduce production costs, you might want to re-think your business strategy entirely.
[Link: PRnewswire]
by The Editors on May 14, 2008
They really don’t have any control over what NRG does with their Encina Power Station does with their equipment, but that didn’t stop the Carlsbad City Council from “opposing the proposed addition,” according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
Carlsbad’s council hopes with its vote Tuesday to emphasize concerns the city has about the project in advance of the state’s hearings. City officials have raised questions about air quality, visual blight and other issues, but their main emphasis has been that the entire Encina site ought to get out of the power-generating business. . . . At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Matt Hall called the nearly 100-acre site one of the best pieces of land along San Diego County’s coastline. Councilwoman Julie Nygaard said the future of the area was of keen interest to many people in Carlsbad.
We’d be happy seeing the power plant go as long as they leave the smoke stack standing.
[Link: North County Times]
by The Editors on May 10, 2008
We often wonder what the Carlsbad Convention and Visitors Bureau does. Not because we think they don’t do anything, but more out of plain, simple ignorance. For instance, where is the Carlsbad Convention Center? But we’re wandering from the point: The new Carlsbad Travel Planner has arrived.
The vibrant 40-page magazine-style Guide is filled with helpful information such as lodging accommodations, restaurants, shopping, local attractions (LEGOLAND, Leo Carrillo Park, The Village), outdoor fun, special events (Carlsbad 5K, ArtSplash, Village Faire, Carlsbad Marathon) and, of course, directions on “how to get to the beach!” Stunning photography and directional maps provide the perfect complement to this year’s Guide.
The CCVB printed 80,000 copies of the guide proving that at least in Carlsbad people still believe in the printed word regardless of the fact that most of the planners will probably sit in boxes all year. If anyone notices an increase in business based on their advertising in the planner, please let us know.
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by The Editors on May 7, 2008
Carlsbad-based “eco-friendly” fashion footwear company Tsubo was just purchased by Deckers Outdoor Corporation for $6 million according to a report on Just-Style.com .
Angel Martinez, Deckers president and chief executive officer, said the acquisition “represents an ideal complement to our existing portfolio of lifestyle brands,” which includes Teva, Simple and Ugg.
Tsubo sales for 2007 were reportedly around $10 million, so it looks like Deckers is getting a pretty good deal. Sometimes just buying the company is easier than luring the designers away.
[Link: Just-Style.com]
by The Editors on May 6, 2008
Ever since the Ski Dubai snow dome opened we’ve been looking for a reason to visit what many describe as the most luxurious desert city in the world. Now we’ve got one more reason: a new Legoland theme park.
Merlin Entertainment, the British company that owns our Legoland California has agreed to build an monstrous theme park in the United Arab Emirates country of Dubai.
LEGOLAND Dubailand offers families a unique opportunity to let their imaginations run free and be immersed in LEGO® experiences with its mix of kid-powered rides, cool building challenges, spectacular LEGO models, interactive attractions, family-friendly coasters, and shows that pull the audience into the action. All these elements, which bring millions of visitors to LEGOLAND Parks in North America and Europe, will be part of the LEGOLAND Dubailand experience. . . . LEGOLAND Dubailand is scheduled to open at the end of 2011, and will be a 3 million square-foot theme park project forming part of DUBAILAND™, the world’s most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment destination.
In celebration of this announcement Carlsbad’s own Master Model Designer Eric Hunter has created a 17-foot-tall Lego replica of Burj Dubai that was unveiled yesterday. When completed The Burj Dubai will be the tallest in the world when it is completed. Everyone loves building in Dubai because there seem to be no budget restrictions for anything.
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by The Editors on May 4, 2008
Carlsbad-based outdoor furniture maker Maku was recently listed in the Chicago Tribune as number 6 on a list of 20 ways to live green “Make the green scene part of your daily life with ideas that are both practical and chic”:
6 TAKE IT OUTSIDE: Maku, the Carlsbad, Calif.-based maker of contemporary earth-friendly outdoor furnishings of sustainable woods, is now here at Orange Skin, Chicago.
Congrats. It’s good to see local companies getting press for doing things well.
[Link: Chicago Tribune]
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