Zagg Your Way to Extra Power for USB Devices is a post from Chris Pirillo
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The people at Zagg asked me if I wanted to take a look at the ZAGGsparq.Their claim is that it is the world’s most powerful battery backup and charger. They aren’t kidding, folks. This thing packs 2000mA hours inside of it! The 6,000 mAh Lithium Polymer Battery has enough juice in it to fully charge an iPhone four times.
The ZAGGsparq plugs into a regular old wall outlet and allows you to charge two devices by way of USB while plugged in. The cool thing, though, is that it will hold charge inside when you unplug it from the wall. You can throw it into your pocket or bag and then use it to charge any personal electronic device that requires a USB plug for connectivity. It’s small and lightweight, so it’s easy to take with you when you’re traveling or attending a conference. If you fully charge your ZAGGspark before you head out for the day, you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet to recharge your gadgets while you’re busy and on the run. Just pull out the ZAGGspark and get the go-go juice you need.
The ZAGGsparq does have UK adapters in case you’re traveling abroad. There is also a lit-up indicator on the side that will tell you exactly how much juice you have left. This thing will definitely be a part of my accessory kit from now on. I’ve done reviews on what I use when I’m moving around, and this is going to be a perfect addition to the mix.
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Interesting, Baynote and Lithium partner up. http://bit.ly/aa3JIC
[Direct Link]At the Lithium conference, it's sold out #linc http://twitpic.com/1ni855
[Direct Link]What does the Lithium and Scoutlabs mean for Social CRM, see @rwang0 #scrm http://rt.nu/e20rko7fe
[Direct Link]Lithium acquires Scoutlabs http://bit.ly/9aVCQx Make way for enterprise software to expand into new SCRM use cases
[Direct Link]Creative Zii D5 Bluetooth Wireless Sound Speaker Review is a post from Chris Pirillo
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If I want to listen to audio on my iPhone, it’s not usually a great experience. It’s not practical to walk around with my hand cupped to my ear. Unless external speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, it’s a pain in the proverbial rear to hook them up and tether it. I have to thank the folks at Creative for sending along the ZiiSound D5 Bluetooth Wireless Multimedia Speaker System for me to review.
The ZiiSound D5 is a high-quality device that can dock your device, charge it and act as a wireless speaker system. The wireless transmitter will instantly turn your iPhone, iPod or iPad into a remote control. You’ll get superior Bluetooth stereo performance with their apt-X audio codec.
I found out about this at the recent Bluetooth Sig event. I didn’t even realize there was such a thing that would look nice and work well. I can connect any Bluetooth device capable of transmitting audio to this setup. It doesn’t “only” work with my Apple portable devices.
The speaker system is touch-enabled. I can control the volume in two different places… and it has seriously rich sound. I don’t sound quite so whiny when my voice comes out through these speakers. The bass sounds excellent, which is surprising with a set of speakers such as these.
This is the reason I like to get out of the house every once in awhile. I tend to find out about some very cool new pieces of technology when I venture out to attend functions and conferences. What new things have you discovered recently?
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As more and more companies seem to be jumping on the social media bandwagon, Lithium Technologies is beefing up its services with the acquisition of a startup called Scout Labs.
The news was first reported yesterday in TechCrunch, prior to any official announcement. Chief executive and cofounder Lyle Fong confirmed the acquisition to VentureBeat today, and also said that the rumored price of between $20 and $25 million is correct.
Lithium builds customer communities for businesses like Barnes & Noble and Lenovo, but Fong said companies are increasingly interested in monitoring what customers were saying on social services like Twitter. So Emeryville, Calif.-based Lithium went looking for a social media monitoring service. It settled on Scout Labs, Fong said, because the two companies shared a philosophy that these tools shouldn’t just be used by marketing and customer service teams: “Every person in the company should be closer to the customer.”
Lithium will continue selling Scout Labs’ products, but will also be looking into ways to integrate the services.
Scout Labs raised more than $4 million from Minor Ventures, El Dorado Venture Partners, and Javelin Ventures. Lithium has raised $44 million, with a recent valuation, according to Fong, of $160 million. The company is open to more acquisitions
“There’s always something new in horizon with the social web,” Fong said. “As new technologies pop up, we’ll have to decide whether we should buy it or build it. For now, I think we have our hands full.”
Companies: Lithium Technologies, Scout Labs
People: Lyle Fong
louisgray.com: Scout Labs Acquired By Lithium to Combine Social, CRM http://bit.ly/b62Jdz
- Maddie GrantNew Blog Post: Scout Labs Acquired By Lithium to Combine Social, Web, CRM Data http://goo.gl/fb/YffUK
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Scout Labs, a startup that lets brand owners track what’s being said about them on new and social sites, has been acquired by Lithium Technologies in a stock and cash transaction, we’ve confirmed from multiple sources. We believe the purchase price is $20 million – $25 million.
We first covered Scout Labs, which was created in the Minor Ventures incubator, in late 2007 when it was still in private beta. More recently they updated their UI and improved on the product. We’ve found it to be best in class in auto-determining sentiment and giving brand managers a good real time overview of what’s being said about them.
Scout Labs has raised $4+ million from Minor Ventures, El Dorado Ventures and Javelin Venture Partners.
Lithium Technologies was founded in 2001 and focuses on a broader range of social CRM solutions. To date though their product suite has focused on retaining and communicating with existing customers. Scout Labs brings in the new dimension of seeing what the Internet in general is saying about your products and services. The company has raised $44 million in venture capital.
We expect the deal to be announced shortly.

Scout Labs is a great company with a great product. What a steal!
- Louis GraySharing: Lithium Technologies Picks Up Scout Labs For $20+ Million http://bit.ly/ddVi57
- Rob Diana
- It's quite the environmentally-friendly device:
* Arsenic-free display glass
* BFR-free
* Mercury-free LCD display
* PVC-free
* Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
- The display assembly comes off fairly easily, no need for a heat gun!
- The main board is secured to the back panel by T3 Torx screws. "We have never seen Apple use screws with a bit this small before."
- The logic board was made by AT&S. We haven't seen "Apple's PCB manufacturers brand their boards before."
- The markings on the A4 processor: N26CGM0T 1007 APL0398 33950084 YNL184A2 1004 K4X2G643GE.The K4X2 is a Samsung DRAM part number! This means the A4 processor is probably being manufactured by Samsung.
- The WiFi/Bluetooth card is integrated into the dock connector cable.
- Dual speakers provide mono sound. Two small sealed channels direct sound toward three audio ports carved into the bottom edge of the iPad. The audio-out jack provides stereo sound, of course.
- "Confirming our suspicions from yesterday, the battery integrates two separate 3.75V lithium polymer cells wired in parallel for such ample battery life."
- The display seems to be glued around its perimeter but can still be removed from the plastic framework.
More:
The Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is set to be released in a few months, with Nissan pushing it ahead of their original 2011 release date, and even ahead of the official release of the Chevy Volt in November. Some industry insiders are wondering whether Nissan has cut a few corners in order to get the Leaf to market – unlike the Tesla Roadster or the Chevy Volt, the Leaf does not have an active thermal management system for its lithium ion battery pack.

Read the rest of Will the Nissan Leaf Battery Deliver All It Promises?
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Post tags: active thermal management system, electric car, electric vehicle, green design, green transportation, Nissan Leaf, nissan leaf battery, sustainable design
Lithium placing bets on Social CRM, seeks new hires http://bit.ly/cBMy75 #scrm
[Direct Link]"As with cocaine in Coca-Cola, lithium was widely marketed as one of a number of patent medicine products popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, and was the medicinal ingredient of a refreshment beverage, 7 Up. Charles Leiper Grigg, who launched his St. Louis-based company The Howdy Corporation in 1920, invented a formula for a lemon-lime soft drink in 1929. The product, originally named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", was launched two weeks before the Wall Street Crash of 1929.[12] It contained the mood stabiliser lithium citrate and was one of a number of patent medicine products popular in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. The beverage was marketed specifically as a hangover cure. Its name was soon changed to 7 Up. According to Gary Yu (UCSB) and researchers for the "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader", the name is derived from the atomic mass of lithium (approximately seven daltons). Lithium citrate was removed from 7 Up's formula in 1950.[13]"
- bob
"The battery was surgically removed the next day, and Aidan was sent home. But what neither the doctors nor his parents realized was that the damage had been done. The battery’s current had set off a chemical reaction in the child’s esophagus, burning through both the esophageal wall and attacking the aorta. Two days after the battery was removed, Aidan began coughing blood, and soon died from his injuries."
- Kamilah GillThey're in singing greeting cards, DVD remotes, hearing aids, all over the place. They're those little coin- or pill-looking batteries.
- Kamilah GillOMG, how awful.
- Stephen MackIf these batteries were just in things used by adults, I might think this was an overreaction. However, kids get those greeting cards with sound, too...and think about how easy those are to take apart. Manufacturers need to consider this when using these batteries.
- Bubba's Bustin' HumpThis is awful. It's a good reminder to keep items with those batteries away from kids and critters.
- vicster is oldYeah, battery ingestion is pretty much a medical emergency. The main thing is that parents should really never learn to underestimate a kid's ability to open up electronic devices.
- Victor Ganata