Don’t miss this one, Electric Rain has a killer presentation application called “Standout,” and here we present just the highlights.

Other posts from a year ago:
Inside scoop of Electric Rain’s Standout
Talking about Home Automation with Control4 executive
Monolithic domes: perfect shelter for struggling cultures and impoverished lands

Tags: Electric Rain, Standout

PG&E gets about half of its electricity from domestically sourced natural gas. The plan that PG&E is pushing right now is to import natural gas from abroad…most likely…from the former Soviet Union and The Middle East. It would require a whole brand, new fossil fuel energy infrastructure. We’d rather see those billions spent on clean energy.

When will it end? When will companies stop thinking that it is ok to continue to invest in finite resources? When communities stop relying on them to make energy choices for the people. For more info on Community Choice Aggregation, check out Local Clean Energy and Local Government Commission’s CCA page.

As this was our first attempt at capturing a dinner event in episodic format, I’m sure we missed a few details. That’s ok, the company was great and the food was spot on. Ryanne and Jay brought some fresh mixed greens from their backyard garden, along with a mystery squash that they had grown from seed. Eddie brought along an organic chardonnay that suited his Gary Vaynerchuk alter-ego just fine. Ryanne and Jay’s squash was destined to become a spiced squash soup, featuring the surprising combination of cinnamon and dill. And even I was surprised by the liveliness of their fresh greens. I’m still always struck by the difference between produce served minutes or hours after picking, rather than days or weeks.

The evening was filled with roving topics, like any good dinner party should be, though eventually we settled on cross-promotion and surviving in a new medium. Making a go of it in the world of online content is still a tremendous challenge; the industry at this point is still a sea of turbulent waters. Add to this the issues of unaffordable health care and fading social security, and the outlook could appear grim for long-term survival in the video blogging world. Young professionals in today’s work force, especially the increasing ranks of freelance professionals, are in for a potentially bumpy road. There are some real advantages to the transient work life that has evolved in modern America, such as greater flexibility to pursue interests and less likelihood of chronic boredom. However these perks in many lie on top of a shakey foundation. Dismal health coverage was unanimous among us, and at the current rate social security will be a thing of the past well before we’re likely to need it. Talk about a domestic threat – the office of homeland security needs to sic itself on reinstituting usury laws, reducing insurance premiums, and fighting labor loss and infrastructure deterioration in order for us to have a truly safe and stable country. There was a palpable patriotism to much of the evening’s discussion; despite the likelihood of choppy waters ahead, everyone present seemed interested and determined to make a positive change in their corner of the world.

In the end, we’re blessed enough to be doing what we have a passion for, making content, entertaining, trying to affect change. None of us are likely to switch jobs any time soon.

On the subject of passion, this Friday night the Freshtopia.net team, along with Ryanne and Jay, and Doctor Popular will be presenting at Eddie Codel’s Video Salon Redux . If you’re in San Francisco Friday night, consider stopping by and saying hello.

Happy Dinning,

Tags: Ryanne Hodson, Jay Dedman, Momentshowing, Eddie Codel, Eddie Codel’s Video Salon Redux, dinner party, Geek Entertainment TV, momentshowing, ryanishungry

Yesterday, I spoke with Steve Sanghi, the CEO and the chairman of the board of directors of Microchip Technologies, in Bangalore, to find out about the company’s India plans.

Microchip Technologies started its India operations more than 10 years ago by opening a small sales office, and slowly expanded its presence. It now has about 500 customers. A few years ago, it opened a design center in Bangalore that works on IC design, mask layout and applications developments among other things. Bangalore is the hub for embedded development work in India. The company recently set up a call center and technical helpdesk for its domestic and international clients. Microchip has offices in Pune and New Delhi.

Steve was born and brought up in India and migrated to the U.S. when he was 20 years old.

Tags: microcontroller, analog semiconductor, Steve Sanghi

Tags: fuel cells, hydrogen, Nigel Branson, entrepeneur, Paul Shearing

Tags: Rebecca South, dome, Rocky Mountain Voices

Prior to his appointment with MIH-Internet (India) as CEO, Ashish was the domestic head of Google India, where he set up the business operations for the search company. While there, Ashish drove the India operations to become one of Google’s fastest growing businesses. Today Google’s business in India is being talked about as one of the most successful operations across it’s emerging markets.

Ashish also has worked with companies like IndiaTimes.com, MTV and Times FM radio.

He studied economics at University Of Delhi, where he graduated with honors, and an International Masters in Practicing Management from Insead, Fontainebleau, France.

Outside of work, Ashish enjoys playing squash, watching movies and going river rafting.

Ashish, 33, is married and has a 2 year old daughter.

Click here for transcript.

Tags: Ashish Kashyap

Over the past 5 years, MMT has grown rapidly to become the market leader for U.S.-India travel. MMT’s domestic launch has been extremely successful and the company is not only the largest online travel company but significantly ranks among the leading players in the overall Indian travel industry.

Prior to Makemytrip.com, Deep worked with leading multinational companies in India in senior capacities. His last assignment was with GE Capital as vice president for business development. After starting his career with ABN AMRO Bank, Deep established and managed AMF Bowling Inc.’s South Asian operations.

Deep holds an MBA (PGDM) from IIM Ahmedabad and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.

Deep is a charter member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) and on the board of TiE Delhi. He also serves on CII’s eCommerce and tourism committees.

Deep is married to Amrita, a media professional. They have two children and live in Gurgaon. His interests include adventure sports, swimming, yoga and quizzing.

Click here for transcript.

Tags: Deep Kalra, MakeMyTrip, IIM Ahmedabad

More images on Flickr.

Click here for transcript.

Tags: David McConville, Elumenati, NVIDIA, Digital Life

Reporter’s Notes: Starz is taking the content creation game seriously–just today it announced the formation of a new motion picture studio, Overture Films, which will produce, acquire and distribute eight-to-twelve full-length feature films a year. The new studio will be headed by Chief Executive Officer Chris McGurk and Chief Operating Officer Danny Rosett. Both are industry veterans with significant experience in film production, marketing and distribution at Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios Inc., prior to MGM’s 2005 sale to a group of investors led by Sony Corp.

- Matt Kelly

Click here for transcript.

Tags: Dow Jones, VentureWire, Bob Clasen, Starz, IDT Entertainment, Overture Films

Tags: Google, YouTube

It came out of its stealth mode a few months ago, when it also announced that it received a new round of funding from Kleiner Perkin Caufield & Byers and Sherpalo Ventures. (more…)

Tags: Google, eBay

The boom in worldwide video gaming is pushing China’s gaming device manufacturers to boost production and to expand product lines to include cutting-edge on-demand game services. More than 30 manufacturers in mainland China are ramping up production for the worldwide and domestic markets.

China is not a major competitor in the realm of video game publishing, but the country essentially outfits the world with gamepads, joysticks, specialized controllers, video game consoles, and other product gaming accessories. Once made mostly for export serving and supplying companies like 3M, Best Buy, Kmart, Philips, Samsung, Sony, Thrustmaster, Wal-Mart; the tools of gaming have helped to increase the population of Chinese and Asian video game players.

Chinese manufacturers are leading edge in many ways. Many are planning to produce high-end wireless gaming accessories including Bluetooth-capable controllers. The gaming devices industries in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are expected to enjoy robust growth. According to UK-based Research & Markets global worldwide production valued at $24 billion in 2005 is projected to reach$55 billion in 2009.

The growth of the industry is being driven by the development of hardware and software as well as the increasing numbers and expanding demographics of gamers all over the world. About 140 million gamers play on consoles, 200 million on PCs and 100 million on handhelds. More than 60 percent of these gamers are more than 18 years of age.

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Transcript:
John: We had 911 and now four years later - let’s talk about national security and the global environment. What’s your view on national security shaping the technology agenda?

Sandy: the homeland security part and the protection against terrorists - technology will provide us many of our best defenses like sensor technology and biometric technology. Technology will come from entrepreneurs and the private sector. The federal government resource will advance the private entrepreneurship to provide the kind of technology to protect us. In terms of globalization issue the fact is that we live in a global economy and the distinction between domestic and foreign is not meaningful anymore. You can’t grow as a company very far unless you have an international strategy.

John: War on ideas. Is our national security and technology interdependent and is the war counterproductive?

Sandy: The communication revolution and the capacity for people to get messages quickly around the world and communicate with others no matter where they reside is transformation. It is going to be difficult for China to remain a authoritarian society. As its’ people get more advance economically 340m Chinese now have cell phones 7% of the population use the net and that grew by 18% last year. It’s very hard for government to control and surpress messages when people know what’s happening outside their borders. In China for example text messaging was used when the demonstration against Japan began in China about 2 months ago because Japan wasn’t acknowledging their role in World War II – very emotional issue for the Chinese. They got huge crowds out by text messaging to large groups of people. The Chinese government for a week or two was happy to see those demonstrations because it wanted to take a shot across the bow of Japan. The Chinese then got nervous that the same technology could be used to have mass demonstrations against their own government and so they shut it down.

John: It’s hard to control we’re living in a “social grid” with instant communications and some will say the US is falling behind and this may play into national security policy and homeland security.

Sandy: We have to be at the cutting edge. In this day and age our comparative advantage is not manufacturing, it’s no longer services, and it’s no longer technology by itself. Our comparative advantage is our innovation. It’s our ability to design and develop the next big wave. Our entrepreneurs are thinking outside the box and are at conferences like Always On.

John: Big prediction 5 years out relative to world economy

Sandy: The world economy will be far more interlaced than it is today and that will be a good thing. It is very hard to go to war with a country who’s economy you depend on and vice versa. The more we engage with others both on a personal level, a corporate level, and business level the safer and peaceful the world will be.

Sandy BergerNational Security Global Economies PodTech.net PodTechTechnology Podcast Silicon Valley Technology Podcast John Furrier AlwaysOn Podcasts podcast shows Democrat Podcast PodTech.net