Minnov8

Showcasing Minnesota Technology Innovation

Digi’s New XBee® Wi-Fi Cloud Kit

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digi-kitDigi International today announced their new XBee® Wi-Fi Cloud Kit which “Brings the Internet of Things to Everyone.” Their objective with this ‘kit’ is to “Add cloud connectivity to any device or sensor–create your own Internet of Things ASAP.”

Check out their press release below and go to the “XBeeCloud” and see examples here.

New XBee® Wi-Fi Cloud Kit by Digi International
Brings the Internet of Things to Everyone

Add cloud connectivity to any device or sensor–create
your own Internet of Things ASAP (#IoTASAP)

MINNETONKA, Minn., Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) today released the XBee® Wi-Fi Cloud Kit, a development kit that allows anyone to build, connect, and control their own Internet of Things. The kit recently won an Editor’s Choice ribbon at World Maker Faire New York 2013.

Built around Digi’s new XBee Wi-Fi module, which wirelessly connects devices to the cloud, the kit integrates with Device Cloud by Etherios™ using a sample internet-based application, and includes a new development board with sensors, actuators, a USB cable, and a variety of electronic prototyping parts for creating custom circuits.

“The new XBee Wi-Fi Cloud Kit is the fastest and easiest way to explore and develop devices and circuits that connect to the Internet of Things,” said Rob Faludi, chief innovation officer and author of Building Wireless Sensor Networks. “Through its straightforward integration with Device Cloud by Etherios, makers, educators, electronics engineers, software designers, and innovators of all kinds can now create their own Internet of Things through easy-to-use web applications.”

The XBee Wi-Fi Cloud Kit features a sample web application that lets users remotely activate various outputs on the development board including LEDs, a vibration motor, a bar graph gauge and an audio buzzer.

In addition, users can build their own circuits on the development board to sense temperature or light, switch on and off other devices via a relay, turn on and off additional LEDs and more. The web application code is open-source, available for anyone to download and use as a learning tool.

The XBee Wi-Fi Cloud Kit is now available for $149 MSRP. For more information or to buy your kit, visit: http://www.digi.com/xbeecloud. See examples here and take part in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #IoTASAP.

About Digi International

Digi International is the machine-to-machine (M2M) expert, combining products and services as end-to-end solutions to drive business efficiencies. Digi offers the widest range of off-the-shelf M2M hardware. Etherios, a division of Digi International and a Salesforce.com platinum partner, helps organizations of all sizes achieve their business goals with capabilities encompassing advisory, CRM, wireless design and M2M services. Etherios also offers cloud-based products, Device Cloud by Etherios and The Social Machine. Together, Digi and Etherios offer the only complete end-to-end M2M solution. More information can be found atwww.digi.com and www.etherios.com.

All brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

SOURCE Digi International

Copyright 2013 PR Newswire

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More Fuel for NGIN

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TST Media, the creators of the NGIN software platform has scored a round of financing led by El Dorado Ventures. When the ink dried on the agreement last week TST had secured $3.5 million to “grow existing business partnerships, drive software innovations and expand their talent base.”

TST Media CEO and co-founder, Justin Kaufenberg noted the fundraising as “transformational”. He notes that “To a degree, prior growth has been consciously checked in favor of reinvesting in our technology core…that patience and focus has set the stage for us to efficiently deploy these proceeds and exponentially enhance a proven platform and business strategy” In plain speak…TST has got plenty of fuel to power growth to the next level.

That point is further driven home as Kaufenberg commented on El Dorado Ventures. “As a venture partner, El Dorado brings an impressive track record of successfully aiding and nurturing the rapid growth of innovative technology companies.” With TST boasting 100% growth over the past three years and some 200 clients in 50 states and six different countries, Jeff Hinck of El Dorado was happy to note, “In TST Media, we found a company with a best-in-class technology platform. Unlike other players in the space, their NGIN platform has been architected for extendibility and growth.”

Also providing fuel for the local job market, TST Media will be adding more than 20 new positions this year including Software Engineers, UI/UX Designers, Development Operations, Project Managers, Technical Support and Sales.

Local start-up growth, more jobs, a growing platform. Light this candle!

Internet Broadcasting Unit Acquired by Cox Digital Solutions

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Another of my new year’s predictions a year ago (Minnov8 Gang episode 62, January 2010) came true today, sort of, when news came out that at least a part of Internet Broadcasting (IB) has been acquired.  NY-based Cox Digital Solutions announced it acquired the IB Local Network business and advertising sales group of St. Paul-based Internet Broadcasting, in a deal I learned was effective January 1, 2011.

For those who may not be familiar with IB (it has not had a high profile locally), it describes its overall business as “building and growing digital business for local media and advertisers.” Its web site says it “partners with media outlets (TV, newspapers, cable and radio) as well as advertisers, ad agencies and media buyers to build site usage and increase revenue.”

For Cox, it’s been a busy time, as it just announced two days ago the merger of Adify (a firm it acquired in 2008) and Cox Cross Media to create Cox Digital Solutions, which it said now has more than 150 employees in 10 U.S. cities, after the IB deal, who “will deliver a unique mix of local and vertical content blended with industry-leading targeting and provide a truly differentiated offering through (the company’s) deep publisher relationships.”

In a phone interview I did today with Jeff Kimball, IB’s chief operating officer (photo from StarTribune), he reiterated that Cox just bought “an arm of our business,” and called the deal “a focusing event for us.”  He said that selling ads, with the sales staff now going to Cox, was just one of IB’s technology and revenue solutions. Although that staff previously competed with Cox, it will now help them scale that part of their business. He noted that the sale is not just about Cox gaining people, but that they’re “buying publisher relationships.”  The number of IB’s employees going to Cox is just under 50, with about 36 of those in New York City, three in Chicago, one in San Francisco, and “less than 10” here in Minnesota. It remains to be seen if Cox will relocate any of these employees. Cox Digital Solutions said it has begun the integration of the products, customers, and employees it acquired from IB to ensure a smooth transition that will deliver value to customers and partners.

The total number of employers remaining at IB is now 240, Kimball said, 160 of which are located in Minnesota at the company’s headquarters just off Shepard Road near downtown St. Paul. …  [Read More…]

Bloomington Firm Expects to Add 300 High-Tech Jobs

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Twin Cities Business (TCB) magazine reported today that Polar Semiconductor Inc. (PSI) is planning to build a new facility, adding to its existing 200,000-square-foot facility in Bloomington, just East of the Mall of America on Old Shakopee Road.  It cited documents recently filed with the City of Bloomington’s planning division.  But the biggest news is it the firm expects the expansion will add 300 jobs eventually when the facility is completed.

Bet you didn’t know that we had a big-time semiconductor fab practically in the shadow of MOA, did you now? And it’s been there for more than 25 years, actually, under previous ownership. (More on that below.)

The current 200,000-square-foot facility at 2800 East Old Shakopee Road includes 62,000 square feet of cleanroom space. where the company performs semiconductor wafer fabrication.  Chips cut from these wafers are used in a variety of electronic devices.

TCB reported that company officials are not yet disclosing information about the expansion. Quoting from the story: “Sources close to the deal said the initial phase of construction will likely result in the addition of about 80 new employees, and when completed, ‘the addition will have generated need for about 300 additional employees’.”  No target date was stated for the expected completion of the new facility.

A report by the City of Bloomington’s planning and economic development division, said TCB, indicates the company hopes to expand on its existing property by adding 98,000 square feet. The building would occupy space north of the existing facility. (Shown above in an aerial photo.)

TCB said the planning division voted unanimously in favor of the expansion, and the City Council will vote Monday to make the final decision. “I have no reason to believe they won’t approve, but of course, can’t know for certain,” a representative of the planning division told TCB.  She said PSI plans to begin construction in early 2011, and once the “shell” of the addition is complete, it will likely finish the interior through additional construction phases….  [Read More…]

Andy Morgan Leaving Internet Broadcasting to Join Godengo as CTO

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A longtime local technology infrastructure guru and head of development at one of Minnesota’s largest Internet firms has joined an emerging Bay Area startup — but will continue to live in the Twin Cities. Godengo Inc. today announced that Andy Morgan is joining the firm as Chief Technology Officer (PR Newswire).  Andy has been with St. Paul-based Internet Broadcasting (IB) for the past five years, most recently as Vice President of Platform Technologies, where he was responsible for delivering 500 million page views and 70 million on-demand and live video streams per month, to 15 million monthly unique visitors.  He also led a development group at IB that has numbered more than 40.  You also may remember Andy as the key tech guy who managed two Olympics sites for IB client NBC.

Morgan joins a former colleague at Emeryville, CA-based Godengo: Peter Stilson, CEO.  Stilson served for several years as COO and Chief Revenue Officer at Internet Broadcasting during it strongest period of growth.  He moved from the Twin Cities to the Bay Area in September 2008 to take the reins at Godengo. Andy tells me he starts his new position July 16.

Godengo provides print and web publishers a strong online presence and networked advertising inventory, enabling them to more effectively compete online.  Godengo’s Rivista™ content management system (CMS) is designed from the ground up for multiplying traffic volume, enhancing search engine optimization, and increasing profits at magazine publisher’s web sites. The Godengo™ Online Ad Network harnesses an affluent, upscale consumer audience that reads the premier city & regional and lifestyle publications, providing advertisers national reach with deep expertise in local markets. One of Godengo’s investors also has a Minnesota connection. Chairman George Lawson was VP of Corporate Development for Dayton Hudson Corporation earlier in his career, and also held senior operating and corporate positions with Levi Strauss & Co. and General Mills.

Newsbytes for Tuesday, May 4, 2010

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Newsbytes graphicNewsbytes is a collection of links to articles and posts from around the ‘net of interest to Minnov8 readers:

  • Governor Pawlenty says Minnesota needs to be more competitive. Healthy state economies will play a critical role in future job creation, but Minnesota does not rank among the nation’s top 10 “growth performers,” according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce study rolled out Monday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.