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Archive for the 'award' Tag

Sleek laptop stand for non Macs? O.C. start-up gets noticed

November 11th, 2009, 8:27 am by

AViiQ portable laptop stand from Costa Mesa startup AViiQ.Most laptop stands aren’t very interesting, especially ones for PCs. But a new one from Costa Mesa-startup AViiQ, which launched this week, manages to look nice, offer an innovative design and win a national award. Plus, the stand is not just for higher-designed Macs.

The company’s plain-named Portable Laptop Stand is made from a thin slice of aluminum that folds up like an accordion when done. Last night, it was named an International CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering honoree, joining a bunch of other companies.

You really have to see how it works to understand why a laptop stand is getting noticed by the tech industry. Here’s the YouTube video:

YouTube Preview Image

The stand works with all laptops, up to 17 inches. The company says it also decreases screen glare because of the 12-degree angle. Like most laptop stands, this props up the computer to dissipate heat. When folded, the stand is a mere 1/4-inch thick.

AViiQ was founded by Alan Yeung and Chris Bryce, who came up with the idea because they traveled a lot and needed something portable. Yeung, a producer at Costa Mesa’s CRISP brand agency, brought in the agency’s senior product designer, Cezanne Farris-Gilbert, to help create the product.

While no electronics are inside the stand, this is really a gadget’s gadget. Also interesting to me is that this reinforces Orange County as a hub for gadget companies, with leaders like Targus and Mobile Edge calling Anaheim home.

AViiQ laptop stand

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Posted in: Computers • Gadgets • • • • • • • • | 3 Comments »

Help your favorite local charity win $10k from Cox Cable

July 6th, 2009, 5:19 pm by

Cox Cares, the community-grant-giving arm of Cox Communications, is offering $10k to local charties.Interesting little contest from the local office of Cox Communications: The Rancho Santa Margarita company is giving away grants of $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 to a deserving charity that gets the most public votes.

Through its Cox Cares charity program, the cable TV provider wants to reward local organizations who are doing something to make life better for its local customers and employees. 

Charities that wish to be considered need to apply by midnight on Friday, July 10, 2009. Organizations need to be based in Orange County, North Camp Pendleton and Palos Verdes and can apply at www.cox-cares.org/grants. A tip: The committee will judge non-profits on ”the quality of the program and its impact on the areas of youth, education and seniors.”

Cox will then review applications and choose the finalists. And on August 14, Cox Cares will post the finalists online at www.cox-cares.org/grants and start tallying votes from the public on which organization is most deserving of a grant. The winners will be notified at an awards ceremony in September.

Much of the money, says Cox, was donated by its 1,000 employees in Rancho Santa Margarita. The local office has donated $600,000 over the years to 95 local nonprofit organizations.

Previous Cox Cable news:


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Posted in: Video & TV • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

Time Warner Cable gets O.C. Black Chamber award

June 25th, 2009, 2:58 pm by

Time Warner CableThe Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County just named Time Warner Cable its 2009 Corporation of the Year.

Bobby McDonald , the chamber’s president and executive director, said the award each year goes to a company that “has implemented and maintained outstanding diversity leadership in promoting and enhancing the quality of life of African Americans and other minorities.” Prior winners include Disneyland, AT&T and the Metropolitan Water District.

This year, Time Warner was that company. But the award isn’t just for the company’s contributions to the chamber in the past year, but in the past.

“I can also say that even when it was Adelphia, whenever the Black Chamber needed someone to help promote their dinners, health initiatives or Black History month, Time Warner has always been willing and helpful with our programs,” McDonald said. ”We wanted to reward those corporations that not only give us money but are doing something in the community and taking care of African Americans, women and minorities in the community.”

The awards ceremony, which also celebrates the Chamber’s 25th anniversary, will be held on August 27 at the Disneyland Grand California Hotel.

Earlier this year, Time Warner Cable was among the top 50 companies nationwide to be honored by Diversity Inc. magazine.

Recent Time Warner Cable news: HERE


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Posted in: Video & TV • • • • | 1 Comment »

O.C.’s TV, phone companies land in top 50 for diversity

March 24th, 2009, 1:54 pm by

The latest press release from Time Warner Cable touts the company’s achievement for being named the 38th most diverse company in America. 

This is according to a list by DiversityInc., a magazine that tracks race/culture, gender, orientation, disability and age at corporations. Approximately 401 companies with at least 1,000 employees answered 200 questions to become the most diverse company in America. That 2009 honor went to Johnson & Johnson.

Time Warner’s rank made me wonder how the rest of the telecom companies did. Most of them did better:

2. AT&T

12. Verizon Communications

17. Cox Communications

38. Time Warner Cable

Missing from the list are DirecTV, Dish Networks and all other cable companies outside of Orange County. Plus, no Sprint or T-Mobile.

Over the years, Verizon has been the standout, landing at No. 1 last year and in 2006, and placing in the top 25 every year since 2001. 

If anyone’s counting…

  • Time Warner last made it on the list in 2004, at No. 49.
  • Cox was No. 6 last year, No. 25 in 2007 and No. 32 in 2006.
  • Verizon was No. 1 last year, No. 6 in 2007, No. 1 in 2006, No. 9 in 2005, No. 4 in 2004 and 2003, No. 10 in 2002 and No. 24 in 2001.
  • AT&T was No. 22 last year, No. 3 in 2007, and No. 23 in 2001. 

To read more about the list and diversity, see the magazine’s special page at diversityinc.com/top50.

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Posted in: news • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Blizzard CEO honored for gaming work

December 12th, 2007, 11:25 am by

Irvine’s Blizzard Entertainment CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime (on the right in the photo) has been honored as the 11th inductee in the Hall of Fame by the Academy ofBlizzardfounders Interactive Arts & Sciences.

The academy said Morhaime was selected “for his role in expanding the MMOG audience beyond the hardcore.” He will receive the award Feb. 7 in Las Vegas:

“The success that Blizzard Entertainment has had over the years would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of players around the world, and the passion and dedication of our employees, so I thank all of them for contributing to this achievement,” said Morhaime in a statement.

Other Hall of Famers include Trip Hawkins, Peter Molyneux, Yu Suzuki, Will Wright, John Carmack, Hironobu Sakaguchi , Sid Meier, Shigeru Miyamoto, Richard Garriott and Danielle Bunten Berry.

This is Blizzard’s biggest nod from the academy, which previously gave the game company one award in 2005 for “Massively Multiplayer/Persistent World Game of the Year.” That same year, Half-Life 2 was given three awards in categories that included World of Warcraft as a nominee.

Posted in: Blizzard • Blizzard/Warcraft/Star Craft • WoW • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

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