EMU grads' Web widget gets Prescription help Web site gets financing If you haven’t heard George Washington recite the preamble to the constitution or a hamster speak French, you probably don’t know about Blabberize.com. Don’t worry, word of mouth is helping turn the Internet oddity, created by Eastern Michigan University graduate Mo Kakwan, into one of the most talked about Web widgets around. “I wanted to make a talking picture you could send as a postcard,” said Kakwan, 25, of Ann Arbor. The idea was unveiled at Yahoo! Hack Day in 2005, Despite a rocky start, Kakwan came up with a picture of Captain Picard from Star Trek and made his mouth move. "I figured that if I could just get the crowd to laugh, it would be okay,” said Kakwan of his presentation. They did and it was the hit of the event. More.
Grand Blanc's Azentek introduces in-vehicle PC to Australia Grand Blanc-based Azentek LLC has teamed up with Sydney, Australia-based computer distributor Westwell to bring the world's first fully integrated in-car PC to Australia. The new Azentek CPC-1200 and CPC-1100 in-dash car computer systems provide users with all the features of a high-end car stereo, as well as GPS navigation, mobile phone integration via Bluetooth, multimedia playback and automobile diagnostics capabilities. Westwell is also launching the Azentek SmartMirror GPS navigation rear view mirror, complete with reversing camera. The SmartMirror is designed to replace a car's standard rear-view mirror and provide drivers with a GPS system that is easy to see and simple to use. More.
Roush Enterprises enters life sciences market
Livonia-based Roush Enterprises Inc. announces the establishment of Roush Life Sciences. Roush recently purchased the assets of the life sciences division of Nypro, a Massachusetts-based global supplier of precision plastics parts for the consumer, electronics, healthcare, packaging and automotive industries. Dean Massab, vice president of Roush Enterprises and CEO of Roush Life Sciences, says the acquisition fives Roush the opportunity to boost sales in health care and laboratory research markets. More.
Wayne State's RNA research could be breakthrough
Wayne State University announced this week that the research of one of its professors could lead to new therapies for many of the world's most deadly diseases and provide new information on the origin of genetic diversity in humans. The work of David Rueda, assistant professor of chemistry, involves new thinking into the 'folding' of RNA, a close relative of DNA that is intimately involved in many cellular processes. Eventually those folds might be used to stop disease organisms or cancer cells from reproducing. More.
UM nuclear engineering turns 50 with record enrollment
A record number of students are enrolled in the University of Michigan's Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in an age of renewed interest in nuclear power. The popularity of the field comes at a convenient time for the industry, as earlier generations of engineers retire and the globe gears up for an expected swell of new plants.For 2008, NERS has 120 undergraduates and 102 graduate students, with 39 new graduate students having started their studies this fall. The total is a significant jump from just 2007. Last year, 99 undergrads and 87 graduate students were enrolled in the department. In 1996 and 1997, for comparison, just 26 undergraduates were enrolled. More.
Startup uRefer hopes to help companies get referrals right
An Ann Arbor tech startup aims to help corporate America develop more effective referral systems.
URefer has five full-time employees and four-part time, and CEO Jonn Behrman said the company should at least double that by the end of 2009. The company already has a blue-chip client list that locally includes American Laser Centers, the laser hair removal chain, which offers past customers $100 for new referrals.
Behrman is a serial entrepreneur who has grown several Web-based companies, including Ann Arbor-based Beyond Interactive and Spirit Shop.
His partner in the effort is Richard Beedon, another serial entrepreneur, who now runs MacBeedon Partners LLC in Ann Arbor, an investment and management consulting firm. The company's vice president of technology, Michael Burba, is a West Point graduate with long experience at Sun Microsystems Inc. and Compuware Corp.
URefer's product automates and systematizes the referral process, allowing people who want to make introductions of a company or organization to their friends -- uRefer calls them "connectors" -- to make introductions of companies or organizations to prospects, who receive relevant information from people they trust.
URefer also offers a variety of other tools, including link management and more.
The company also offers the uRefer Give Back Program, which allows connectors and prospect the option of donating a portion of their referral reward to charity. Supported charity organizations include the American Red Cross, Conservation International, the Humane Society of the United States, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the One Laptop Per Child project.
"We have several customers who want to really incorporate the idea of charity into their referral program so that people feel all the money isn't just a self serving act," Behrman said. ""A big part of what we try to do is improve the sort of stigma that some referral programs have to them."
URefer is compensated for its services through setup fees, ongoing subscription fees, and a variable reward processing fee.
Note: For information on how you can sponsor content in the Blue Box, contact Jeff Lasser at (248) 455-7200 or jeff.lasser@cbsradio.com.
MSU Land Policy Institute launches expert online forums The Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University has launched Ask The Expert, a series of nine online discussion forums. The forums are intended to equip Michigan communities to meet today's challenges and to provide the public with an easy-to-use tool to better understand topics ranging from the new economy to renewable energy, and urban redevelopment to ecotourism. More.
Domino's Pizza political poll: Republicans buy more, use more plastic
The third weekly Pizza Tracker Poll from Ann Arbor-based Domino's Pizza shows that once again, Republicans spend more money per order and are more likely to use credit cards for payment. The poll also found independents more likely to buy sandwiches, vs. pizza. More.
Chrysler hybrid SUVs EPA-rated at 20 mpg city, 24 highway The hybrid-electric versions of Chrysler LLC's Aspen and Dodge Durango (at right) full-size SUVs have been government-rated as 40 percent more fuel-efficient than the standard versions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency rates the two full-size SUVs at 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, according to both AutoBeat Daily and AutoTech Daily. Both vehicles use the “dual-mode” hybrid system co-developed at a laboratory in Troy by Chrysler with General Motors Corp. and BMW. More.
THE WORLD IN TECH
Review: New MacBook puts style over affordability Plastic used to be the sexy material of the future. Now, it's the cheap, ugly material of the past. Just look at the effort Apple Inc. put into getting rid of plastic when designing its new $1,300 MacBook laptops, which went on sale last week. Apple now is machining the upper part of the chassis from a single block of aluminum, shaving it down to perhaps one-tenth of its original mass. The result is a laptop with the stark elegance of a Modernist skyscraper, all glass and metal. The only things that are still plastic are the keys, the Apple logo on the lid, the bumpers on the bottom and some cladding on the hinge between the bottom and the display. Unfortunately, with the laptops it released last week, Apple chose to make the hardware slicker and more stylish, rather than push the price down. More.
Salvation Army tries text donations in Ohio
A pilot program will allow Ohioans to donate to the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign this holiday season by sending a text message to a number posted near 80 kettles in the Columbus area. The program is aimed at younger, tech-savvy donors who are less likely to carry cash. When the campaign begins in late November, people will be able to make a $5 donation, which is then posted to cell phone bills. Salvation Army officials have talked about creating a texting program for about three years and hope it will be successful enough to expand nationally, spokeswoman Melissa Tomme said. More.
Amazon profit soars, but stock plummets on iffy outlook
Amazon.com Inc. said Wednesday that its profit climbed 48 percent in the third quarter, but the company reduced its full-year sales outlook, showing that the online retailer cannot escape the weak economy. Its shares dived. The company now anticipates 2008 revenue of $18.46 billion to $19.46 billion. That means the high end of its forecast is below the $19.52 billion that analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting. In July, Amazon had predicted sales of $19.35 billion to $20.1 billion. Amazon shares fell $5.89, or 12 percent, in extended trading, after finishing regular trading down 24 cents at $49.99. In the third quarter, Amazon earned $118 million, or 27 cents per share, compared with $80 million, or 19 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose almost 31 percent to $4.26 billion. More.
SanDisk sinks after Samsung drops buyout bid Shares of SanDisk Corp. sank to their lowest level in five years Wednesday, after Samsung Electronics Co. dropped a buyout bid for the maker of flash memory components. The South Korean electronics giant withdrew a $26-per-share offer, saying it hasn't made any headway with SanDisk for nearly six months. But Samsung suggested it may be interested in buying SanDisk for a lower price. For its part, SanDisk has rejected the bid, worth $5.85 billion, as too low. But the company said Wednesday it has "repeatedly outlined a clear path to hold further discussions" on a possible buyout. More.
Stocks: Tech shares plunge with broader market on recession fear
The technology sector closed with broad losses Wednesday as the overall market continued to worry about weakness in the economy and outweighed anything upbeat that might have come from the gains of Apple Inc., Yahoo Inc. and EMC Corp. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (COMP) plunged 80.93 points or 4.8 percent to 1,615.75. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) tumbled 514.45 points or 5.7 percent to 8,519.21. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index ($SOX) fell 14.39 points or 6.1 percent to 219.7 and the Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) fell 12.87 points or 3.5 percent to 349.72. The Amex Pharmaceutical Index ($DRG) fell 11.79 points or 4.5 percent to 252.67, while the Amex Biotech Index (BTK) fell 27.66 points or 4.2 percent to 638.13. The S&P 500 (SPX) fell 58.27 points or 6.1 percent to 896.78, its lowest level in more than five years. Despite this bad news, the dollar strengthened and both oil and gold fell.
A busy day for me today: I'll be at the Engineering Society of Detroit's economic outlook, then at the Hispanic Business Expo, then Compuware announces its earnings! Thus, I have to skip a very worthy event: the TechKnow Forum on plug-in hybrid cars at the University of Michigan. Tell ya what -- why don't you go, and tell me how it was? Now, on to the local extras: Consumers Energy says Michigan's new energy laws, which include mandates for renewable power, will mean more utility jobs; a Troy consulting firm says that despite tax breaks and oil prices, wind power will have a hard time getting off the ground in the near term; a minority study program at Flint's Kettering University gets a grant; KVCC's automotive technology program offers free winter car 'physicals'; and the Oakland Schools will soon show off their renovated tech education centers; Elsewhere in Techland: Profits at data storage company EMC Corp. fall, but beat Wall Street estimates; AT&T's profit rises but misses Wall Street estimates; a new startup makes picture messaging into a security tool; Comcast startles its customers with actual cyberteam help; the Internet's key oversight agency has proposed allowing all sorts of new suffixes for the Internet -- but to get one, get ready to pay $200,000; MySpace makes a bid for socializing on the Google phone; Aetna will offer records on Microsoft's HealthVault; AT&T says its long-delayed flagship BlackBerry will go on sale Nov. 4; Apple, Google and RIM battle for smartphone developers' hearts and minds; Bill Gates' new venture might be a think tank; Sun's largest investor ups its stake, seeks active role; there may be mobile phone malware in our future; Florida (yes, of course, Florida) is testing Internet voting from overseas; and new reports say Social Security numbers are still widely available.
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Grand Blanc-based Azentek LLC has teamed up with Sydney, Australia-based computer distributor Westwell to bring the world's first fully integrated in-car PC to Australia. The new Azentek CPC-1200 and CPC-1100 in-dash car computer systems provide users with all the features of a high-end car stereo, as well as GPS navigation, mobile phone integration via Bluetooth, multimedia playback and automobile diagnostics capabilities. Westwell is also launching the Azentek SmartMirror GPS navigation rear view mirror, complete with reversing camera. The SmartMirror is designed to replace a car's standard rear-view mirror and provide drivers with a GPS system that is easy to see and simple to use. 
Startup uRefer hopes to help companies get referrals right
The hybrid-electric versions of Chrysler LLC's Aspen and Dodge Durango (at right) full-size SUVs have been government-rated as 40 percent more fuel-efficient than the standard versions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency rates the two full-size SUVs at 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway, according to both AutoBeat Daily and AutoTech Daily. Both vehicles use the “dual-mode” hybrid system co-developed at a laboratory in Troy by Chrysler with General Motors Corp. and BMW. 
Plastic used to be the sexy material of the future. Now, it's the cheap, ugly material of the past. Just look at the effort Apple Inc. put into getting rid of plastic when designing its new $1,300 MacBook laptops, which went on sale last week. Apple now is machining the upper part of the chassis from a single block of aluminum, shaving it down to perhaps one-tenth of its original mass. The result is a laptop with the stark elegance of a Modernist skyscraper, all glass and metal. The only things that are still plastic are the keys, the Apple logo on the lid, the bumpers on the bottom and some cladding on the hinge between the bottom and the display. Unfortunately, with the laptops it released last week, Apple chose to make the hardware slicker and more stylish, rather than push the price down. 
