Google co-founders Sergey Brin, Larry Page plan big stock sale

GoogleGoogle’s two co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are going to cash out a large block of their company stock.

Google said Friday that Brin and Page each plan to gradually sell about 5 million shares of stock, “as part of their respective long-term strategies for individual asset diversification and liquidity,” according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

With that sort of liquidity, Page and Brin certainly won’t have any trouble paying the light bill. Even with Google stock dropping almost $33 a share Friday to $550.01, following a strong fourth-quarter earnings report that apparently wasn’t quite as sterling as investors wanted to see, 5 million shares would be worth about $2.75 billion to each Google founder.

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Bsquare Prepares Ford SYNC for 15,000+ Possible Uses

Ford and Bsquare Add New Touch Screen UI to Develop

Most Advanced Auto Entertainment Communications System Ever

Las Vegas, NV and Bellevue, Wash. – Jan. 7, 2010 – Start it up, adjust the volume, turn up the heat, check the traffic and call ahead. That’s just one of the more than 15,000 possible combinations Bsquare Corporation (Nasdaq: BSQR), had to plan for and test to develop the newest version of the Ford SYNC, the most advanced in-vehicle infotainment system ever implemented.

Ford SYNC offers an unprecedented number of features – such as navigation, hands-free calling, phone book, text to voice messaging and CD, DVD, radio and media player control – through a single touch screen or by voice command.  Using Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Auto software platform, Bsquare worked closely with Ford and integrated the technologies of other Ford partners to develop the system that makes all of these features function as a single integrated solution. The work included managing hardware and software integration.

“From the amount of information SYNC controls to how it can receive software updates, this truly is a ground-breaking product that will change the auto industry,” says Carey Butler, Bsquare’s vice president of professional engineering services. “Ford SYNC is the ultimate converged device.  It is far and away the most advanced in-vehicle infotainment system to be implemented and has made Ford cars best in class for technology. The first version of SYNC was impressive, but this blows the doors off.”

Bsquare estimates that average drivers perform two- to three-thousand possible combinations of actions in every trip—from opening the door to making a left-hand turn.  Bsquare’s integration of Ford SYNC had to plan for those thousands of possible actions, integrate many technologies and test all the functionalities of SYNC across hundreds of phones, portable media players and other devices to ensure a seamless experience for consumers.   Additionally, Ford required a new level of integration among all the possible applications through a very easy-to-use touch screen or voice control.

“A key challenge facing automakers is how to bring these innovative solutions to their customers quickly and affordably, while maintaining a competitive edge,” said Ilya Bukshteyn, senior marketing director for Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Business division. “Ford SYNC transforms the user experience for both driver and passenger and Bsquare has shown expertise and innovation on the Windows Embedded Auto platform. The development of a state-of-the-art, in-vehicle communications and entertainment system for a mobile and rugged environment with an outstanding user experience is a great engineering feat.”

From Part to Art: Bsquare Combines New Technologies for Breakthrough Developments

Bsquare Integrated several new technologies for the project, including:

Custom User Interface: Bsquare implemented the entire user interface designed by Ford, including integration of Adobe Flash, to provide state of the art graphic and multimedia capabilities.  It also integrated several other technologies including speech recognition, navigation, media, climate controls and phone for a seamless user experience.

Single Point of Navigation (Voice and Touch): Bsquare combined applications from  other Ford partners into its customized user interface to provide a single point of control, whether driven by speech commands or a touch screen.

About Bsquare

Bsquare is an industry leader with a proven track record in providing engineering services and production-ready software products for the smart device market.  Bsquare is involved with the automotive industry at all levels including automotive manufacturers and after-market infotainment OEMs. With an automotive consulting practice that encompasses deep technical knowledge of Windows Embedded Auto platform and the technologies needed to integrate speech recognition, hands free phone support, entertainment and navigation, Bsquare enables OEMs to select, adopt, develop and ship best in class products.  Since 1994, Bsquare has provided device manufacturers with software solutions for personal navigation devices, point-of-sale terminals, handheld data terminals, smart phones and many other device categories allowing them to get to market more quickly and cost effectively.

For more information, visit www.bsquare.com.

Bsquare Contact:           Investors:
Barbara Leavitt                   Brett Maas
Bsquare Corporation         Hayden IR
1.425.519.5258                    1.646.536.7331
BarbaraL@bsquare.com Brett@haydenir.com

Echo Therapeutics Corporate Profile

Echo Therapeutics
Echo Therapeutics

Echo Therapeutics is a transdermal medical device company developing its needle-free Symphony™ tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring (tCGM) system and its Prelude™ SkinPrep System as a platform technology for transdermal drug delivery. Echo believes that the Symphony tCGM System will change the paradigm of invasive, needle-based, episodic glucose testing in the diabetes consumer and hospital critical care markets to one of continuous, needle-free monitoring. Echo is also developing its needle-free Prelude SkinPrep System as a platform technology for enhanced skin permeation to allow for transdermal drug delivery of a wide range of FDA-approved products.

Want to learn more? Open, Print, and Read the full corporate profile and power point presentation below.

Echo Therapeutics Corporate Profile Link

Echo Therapeutics Power Point Link

Sarah Palin ‘Going Rogue’ New Book

Not sure if you know yet or not, but Sarah Palin has a new book called “Going Rogue” and from what I heard so far it is her becoming the Chief of Complaining.

Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin

Check out the NY Daily News

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Brett Maas Dot Net, Brett Maas Dot Org, Brett Maas Facebook and Brett Maas Twitter!

Samsung Profit Soars!

SEOUL—Samsung Electronics Co.’s third-quarter profit more than tripled from a year ago —to 3.72 trillion won ($3.14 billion), its highest quarterly profit ever—as its chip business soared to its highest operating profit in two years, joining strong performances in its other divisions after a prolonged slump.

Check it out on the Wall Street Journal

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Silicon Valley venture capitalists nurturing growth of green technology

Brett Maas suggests you – Check out this story on the LA Times

Silicon Valley venture capitalists nurturing growth of green technology.

What green technology stocks are you looking at right now?

Let me know and at my Brett Maas Facebook, Brett Maas Twitter or at my Brett Mass Charity site – BrettMass.org

Raser Technologies Unveils 100+ MPG Plug-In Hybrid Hummer

Here is some information about the 100 + MPG Plug-in Hybrid Hummer from their website.

Technology in New Electric Hummer Could Drive Bold Leap Ahead for U.S. Automakers, Making Popular Trucks & SUVs ‘Greener Than a Prius’

Raser Technologies, Inc. unveiled a 100+ mpg Hummer H3 powered by Raser’s plug-in hybrid E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) at the 2009 SAE International World Congress, Cobo Center, Detroit, MI.

Raser developed the 100+ mpg Electric H3 demonstration vehicle working closely with Hummer.  Just one year ago at the 2008 SAE World Congress, Raser and its development partner FEV Inc., Auburn Hills, MI, a leading automotive integrator, introduced Raser’s E-REV power train, similar in function to the Chevy Volt but designed for use in a variety of larger full-sized SUVs and light trucks.  The vehicle was developed in association with the Plug-in Hybrid Development Consortium, co-founded by Raser along with leading electric utilities, lithium ion battery companies and other automotive technology companies.

hummer_stats2

Raser CEO Brent M. Cook said, “The technology in this electric-powered Hummer is a leap ahead for U.S. Automakers.  It could make the nation’s popular light trucks and SUVs greener than a Prius.”

Estimated Electric Hummer H3 Fuel EconomyEstimated Electric Hummer H3 Fuel Economy

The vehicle has performed well in initial test drives and dynamometer testing conducted by FEV.  Video from recent test drives of the 100+mpg H3 is available online:  http://rasertech.com/hummer

The plug-in electric Hummer H3 has a range of about 400 miles, driving its first 40 miles exclusively on batteries before turning on its combustion generator. Most vehicles drive fewer than 40 miles a day, most drivers would rarely use gas and average more than 100 mpg in gas fuel economy over time.

Raser’s E-REV power train was designed for most full-sized 4WD SUVs and light trucks, which represent nearly half of the vehicles on U.S. roads today because of their versatility and wide application in fleets.

“We chose the Hummer H3 and H3T as demonstration vehicles because trucks and SUVs are the best-selling vehicles in America and can benefit the most from increased fuel economy and reduced emissions,” said Cook.

The Electric Hummer H3 is propelled entirely on electricity by Raser’s 200kW advanced AC induction motor connected to a 4WD transmission. A small high efficiency EcoTech engine uses Raser’s 100KW electric generator to recharge the batteries while driving and provides additional electric power when needed.

“Our goal was to demonstrate that electric vehicle technology is a viable solution for a variety of vehicle platforms,” said Gary Rogers, president and chief executive officer of FEV. “This full-sized SUV extended-range electric vehicle shows that fuel economy in larger vehicles does not mean sacrificing power and utility.”

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Investor Relations defined by Wikipedia

Here is a great link to what Wikipedia defines as Investor Relations.

Investor Relations (IR) is a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance to enable the most effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, and other constituencies, which ultimately contributes to a company’s securities achieving fair valuation. (Adopted by the NIRI Board of Directors, March 2003.) The term describes the department of a company devoted to handling inquiries from shareholders and investors, as well as others who might be interested in a company’s stock or financial stability.

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