Prelude Trust Share Discussion Threads

[orange1] 08/12/2007 21:22

Prelude invested 1 million dollars (500k stg) last July for 2.4% of the company. Just an amuse-gueule.

[hvs] 08/12/2007 11:40

Anyone comment on this , its a company that Prelude include on their website as a company they have invested in :

VirtualLogix Secures Collaboration Agreement with Texas Instruments for Virtualization


Agreement Includes Equity Investment in VirtualLogix by TI



SUNNYVALE, California - December 4, 2007 – VirtualLogix™, Inc., the Real-Time Virtualization™ company, today announced that Texas Instruments (TI) has made an equity investment in the firm as part of a collaboration agreement aligning VirtualLogix's virtualization software roadmap with TI's leading embedded application-specific multicore semiconductor direction. The new agreement underscores the emerging next wave of virtualization as the technology moves from the datacenter and into everyday front-end connected devices such as wireless infrastructure communications products, media gateways, digital video and mobile devices.



Virtualization makes software run more efficiently on hardware, reducing product and operational costs (development, bill of materials, software, power), improving security and manageability. These same benefits routinely obtained in the datacenter with server virtualization are now available to connected devices – yet require a very different technology.



"Advances in next-generation wireless technologies, such as WiMAX and 3G Long Term Evolution, along with mobile TV, are driving growth in the wireless market and VirtualLogix is pioneering the application of virtualization for this new network," said Brian Glinsman, general manager, Communications Infrastructure and Voice business, Texas Instruments. "TI is dedicated to delivering the most advanced single and multicore solutions for our customers, and with virtualization we are able to expand our DSP technologies beyond traditional applications. Through our investment, we look forward to working even more closely with VirtualLogix, helping to produce multicore solutions which enable our customers to reach new levels of performance in the new world network."



TI joins VirtualLogix's current investors Atlas Venture, Cisco Systems, DFJ Esprit, Index Ventures and Intel Capital. This announcement follows VirtualLogix's latest product introduction, VLX for Network Infrastructure Supporting TI DSP, which brings the benefits of virtualization to high-performance, advanced multicore DSP-based communications infrastructure equipment. Additionally, earlier this year, TI signed an agreement to ship VirtualLogix's software in its Digital Video Development kit.



"VDC continues to observe an increasing trend toward the adoption of multi-core architectures and open source operating systems in embedded systems," says Matt Volckmann, Senior Analyst/Program Manager with VDC. "An expanded working relationship between VirtualLogix and Texas Instruments around embedded virtualization should allow both companies to enable faster deployment of embedded designs using more sophisticated technology platforms."



"Virtualization enables software to run more efficiently and take full advantage of advances in semiconductor technology. This capability becomes increasingly essential as companies seek to leverage the new multi-core processors, which are the future in wireless communications and client devices," said Peter Richards, CEO of VirtualLogix. "VirtualLogix is the leader in enabling this next frontier for virtualization and we are pleased to have TI's continued support of our vision."

[boxwellian] 07/12/2007 18:49

...there will be a share buyback?...

[hvs] 06/12/2007 21:51

As I do.

Keep it flowing Riv.

And remember patience is a virtue. One of these days .........

[cerrito] 06/12/2007 21:02

Rivaldo
Just to assure you that you are talking to other people apart from yourself I value your input.

[rivaldo] 06/12/2007 13:56

:o)) Hvs, I think you're even more patient than me - a rarity on ADVFN!! But if you look at the portfolio as a whole a £31m m/cap does seem pretty undercooked.

Even more good news on Siconnect - three bits of news in a couple of days. A second Chinese tie-up means perhaps the March results will see a bounce back for Siconnect valuation-wise? Let's hope so:



"December 05, 2007 12:39 PM Eastern Time
SiConnect and JPNET Partner to Deliver Powerline Products for China
SWINDON, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SiConnect, the leader in multimedia-ready home networking technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding with JPNET to create powerline based data distribution products for the Chinese market.

JPNET's product design will use SiConnect's recently announced single-chip PLi050 data powerline modem. The chip uses SiConnect's patented POEM® technology to bring significant benefits to data product designs. These include a consumer electronics cost point, simultaneous operation of multiple applications on the same network, embedded (non-PC) services, superior in-home reach via Whole Home Coverage™ mesh networking, and global EMC compliance.

SiConnect's VP of Sales, Mark Wilkes, commented, "We are delighted to be working with JPNET. The company's knowledge of the Chinese market is the best there is and we are looking forward to helping them address the great opportunities that exist there for powerline connectivity in the home."

Mr JH Yang, Chief Executive of JPNET, said, "SiConnect's POEM technology is ideally suited for the Chinese market, offering essential technical features at the right price. Our evaluations have shown that it is the only powerline technology that can address all key customer needs in this so far unexploited market.""

[hvs] 05/12/2007 20:03

Keep it flowing Riv,

One of these days we will hit J...POT

[rivaldo] 05/12/2007 19:40

Hmmm....more good Siconnect news. The whole shebang is now only valued at £4.9m with PDT owning 36% - perhaps this will help Siconnect find a marger partner or acquiror. The current valuation seems pretty lowball given Siconnect will have 175,000 products per month going out with Siconnect incorporated in them - when you think of the valuations of some PLCs without a bean of revenues.....



"December 05, 2007 09:00 AM Eastern Time
Vigoole to Use SiConnect Technology for Powerline-Connected Audio Products

SWINDON, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SiConnect, the leader in multimedia-ready home networking technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vigoole to integrate its powerline-based connectivity into the company's range of audio products.

Under the banner, "Music has no boundaries", Vigoole has become a world leader in the design and manufacture of mass-market loudspeakers and other audio products. Headquartered in Hong Kong and with operations in Shenzhen, the company currently builds in excess of 175,000 products per month.

Vigoole will use SiConnect's single-chip PLi050A audio powerline modem. Embedding SiConnect's patented POEM® technology, the chip brings major connectivity benefits to existing audio designs, including a consumer electronics cost point, high fidelity streaming of uncompressed audio, simultaneous operation of multiple applications on the same network, superior in-home reach via Whole Home Coverage™ mesh networking, and global EMC compliance.

SiConnect's VP of Sales, Mark Wilkes, commented, "We are proud to be working with Vigoole. The company's audio products have truly global appeal and we are pleased to help them use our technology to distribute audio around the home. We believe that POEM technology, when coupled with superb products such as Vigoole's, will drive a whole new market in audio connectivity."

Jack Jiang, Executive Director of Vigoole, said, "SiConnect's POEM technology provides us with exactly what we need for embedding powerline connectivity into our products. POEM is the only technology we evaluated that was capable of meeting our requirements so closely.""

[rivaldo] 05/12/2007 07:49

:o)) Thx FSE. ZBD have got into Tesco, John Lewis, Sainsbury's etc so they must have something pretty good - let's hope they pull off the transition to sales and commercialisation.

Siconnect news - the last para reads rather well:



"SiConnect powerline modem chips handle cutting-edge multimedia applications
4 December 2007

SiConnect, the leader in multimedia-ready home networking, is to begin sampling two new highly integrated powerline modem chips offering consumer electronics OEMs the opportunity to significantly reduce board space, power consumption, bill of materials and cost.

The PLi050A is for high fidelity real time distribution of uncompressed audio, while the PLi050 targets data-centric consumer electronics applications including online gaming, IPTV distribution and in-home Voice over IP solutions.

Both products integrate SiConnect's PLT050 digital transceiver with a powerline specific analogue front-end to create single chip solutions, enabling reliable self-install in-home connectivity to be embedded into consumer electronics for a total cost that is significantly under $10 per endpoint. The PLi050A also integrates on-chip a pair of I2S interfaces for real-time audio streaming.

To create a complete powerline modem solution, each chip needs just a simple coupler circuit, an optional host interface PHY (Ethernet or USB), and an EEPROM. No external RAM is required.

SiConnect's latest powerline modem chips embed the company's patented POEM® technology to deliver all digital modem, baseband signal and control processing functions. The technology has already brought a unique set of technical benefits to powerline communication in the home including high fidelity uncompressed audio streaming, simultaneous running of multiple applications on the same powerline network, Whole Home Coverage™ mesh networking, global EMC compliance and a consumer electronics cost point.

Russell Haggar, VP Marketing at SiConnect, said, "For any cutting edge consumer electronic product design, maintaining a high quality of experience – both during installation and in use – is of the utmost importance. The PLi050 and PLi050A chips demonstrate how POEM's unique QoS and mesh networking capabilities readily meet the technical challenges and can be cost-effectively applied to mass market consumer appliances. We have already shown our technology working straight out of the box with leading consumer applications such as Apple TV, BT Vision, PS3 and XBOX, and we are looking forward to further extending our portfolio of supported applications.""

[fse] 04/12/2007 22:40

>rivaldo.... technically all with ZBD looks OK... as far as getting the displays marketed thats another matter. They are a UK tech company and are behaving like one. Opportunities are vast and I cant help but feel that their time has come..... "but" can they successfully market ? don't hold your breath.
rgds

[rivaldo] 04/12/2007 10:19

Nice article here naming ZBD as a leader in their sector, with a new larger display apparently about to be rolled out. FSE, any news you can share?



"Divergence of e-paper displays
David Lieberman
EE Times
(12/03/2007 9:00 AM EST)

We've all heard the sizzle of e-paper displays, with their promise of wraparound advertising signs, wearable wrist monitors and e-newspapers that we fold or roll up and stick into our pockets. While the age of these gee-whiz products is not yet upon us, their enabling display technologies are on the move.

E-paper comprises a number of reflective-display technologies, which break down roughly into particle displays, liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) and microelectromechanical-system (MEMS) displays. The particle displays include electrochromic and electro- phoretic displays (ECDs and EPDs); the LCDs are mainly cholesteric devices (ChLCDs) and proprietary bistable twisted-nematic (TN) LCDs. Major vendors in this arena include Kent Displays Inc. and Fujitsu Frontech in ChLCDs, E Ink Corp. and SiPix Imaging Inc. with EPDs, Nemoptic and ZBD Display Inc. in bistable TN LCDs, and Qualcomm with its IMod (Interferometric Modulator) MEMS display. Varitronix makes both ChLCDs and bistable TN LCDs.

Almost all the e-paper technologies are relatively immature and at the beginning of their evolution of capabilities. The different e-paper technologies have different native strengths and weaknesses, but they all share good contrast, low-power operation and bistability, which means no electrical refresh is required once a display screen is drawn."

"Anchored LCDs

Another prominent e-paper type is the bistable TN LCD, which differs from conventional LCDs in one critical detail: a proprietary orientation layer that anchors the LC molecules on one substrate. One example is the grating-aligned zenithal displays of ZBD Displays.

ZBD is fielding a 2.85-inch-diagonal, 1/4 VGA format, monochrome shelf label on glass that claims three times the contrast of a conventional LCD, as well as higher speed than any other bistable display. In environments where the display is updated five times a day, it will operate from a single coin battery for about five years, the company said. An A5 size (148 x 210-mm) product is in the offing. Color is not a current priority."

[timtom2] 04/12/2007 08:53

XMOS looks very useful indeed but I don't suggest reading much into the tie-up with TSMC.

[fse] 03/12/2007 20:58

Thanks for your continued research notes Rivaldo.

[hvs] 03/12/2007 15:54

And PDT have a good slice of XMOS, looks like another winner.

[rivaldo] 03/12/2007 12:06

No probs hvs. More here - note that XMOS are working with the giant TSMC:



"Sidense wins design slot in XMOS silicon
Peter Clarke
EE Times Europe
(12/03/2007 4:50 AM EST)

LONDON - Sidense Corp. (Ottawa, Canada), a develop of antifuse-based non-volatile memory, has announced that its one-time programmable (OTP) technology has been designed into a software-programmable semiconductor product from XMOS Semiconductor Ltd. (Bristol, England).

XMOS has received working silicon of a four-processor chip implemented in 90-nm general-purpose logic CMOS from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. "XMOS has developed software-defined silicon technology that gives customers high levels of configurability and programmability at low cost.

Sidense's OTP technology helped us achieve the aggressive performance and cost profiles we were aiming for," said Mark Lippett, XMOS' vice president of engineering, in a statement issued by Sidense.

"By providing the industry's fastest read access times and smallest footprints, we were able to provide XMOS with the ideal and most reliable OTP solution for the competitive consumer electronics space," said Steven Cliadakis, vice president of worldwide sales at Sidense, in the same statement."

[hvs] 30/11/2007 10:26

Thank you for the posts riv,

Its looking good.

[rivaldo] 28/11/2007 20:43

Promising data released by Kiadis:



"November 28, 2007
Promising Data ATIR Studies Presented by NIH Investigators

AMSTERDAM, November 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiadis Pharma announced today the presentation of the results obtained so far in the physician initiated study led by Dr. Stephan Mielke(i) and Dr. John Barrett(i) of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) a department of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Kiadis' lead product ATIR at the AABB annual meeting & TXPO 2007 in Anaheim, California.

According to the NHLBI investigators the challenge in the field of allogeneic bone marrow transplantations lies with disease control, Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) control and donor availability. Doctors Barrett and Mielke have focused on controlling GvHD whilst sparing the Graft versus Leukemia (GvL) effect and also on increasing donor availability.

The investigators have published the preclinical data showing promising results with Kiadis Pharma's ATIR in eliminating alloreactive T cells from donor grafts (Mielke et al. Blood, 2007). These results have led to the start of a phase II study with ATIR by the NHLBI. This trial is designed to demonstrate that ATIR treatment may overcome the need of immunosuppressant prophylaxis post transplantation. Prophylaxis is currently standard practice to prevent GvHD, but has a serious drawback, as it increases the chance of infection and also the relapse rate. Thus ATIR does not only intend to prevent GvHD, but could also reduce the rates of infection and relapse. Together, these complications account for approximately 70 % of allogeneic transplant related mortality."

[jtjh] 28/11/2007 11:11

I think you will find that it's N factorial!!

[hvs] 28/11/2007 08:56

Pdt, is looking ridiculously cheap now with a cap of £ 31.5 mill.

[katylied] 27/11/2007 10:45

No worries, no doubt hvs will take the
opportunity to 'top up' for the
Nth time... Ho Hmmmmm...

[rivaldo] 26/11/2007 20:56

Two bits of news from Kiadis who are getting on with it despite the IPO shenanigans:



"Kiadis Pharma Presents ATIR and Rhitol Data at ASH and NIH Presentation on ATIR at ASH
Submitted by Newswire on 23 November 2007 - 7:30am.

AMSTERDAM, November 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiadis Pharma announces today that there will be three presentations on its products ATIR and Rhitol in poster sessions at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) December 8-11 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Data will be presented from the company's ongoing clinical study on ATIR by its principal investigator Dr. Denis Claude Roy, who also presents data on the functionality of Rhitol. In addition, Dr. Stephan Mielke presents data from an ATIR study conducted at the NIH.

ATIR: presentation of clinical phase I/II study on mismatched transplantations by Dr. Denis-Claude Roy

Title poster: "Phase I/II clinical trial of Haplotype Mismatched Myeloablative Stem Cell Transplantation: Higher doses of Donor Lymphocyte Infusions depleted of Alloreactive Cells using ATIR may improve outcome without causing GvHD

- Abstract #2976; Poster 2976, Board #195-III (10 December,5-7 pm)

Dr. Denis Claude Roy head of Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Canada: "Our results indicate that the post-transplant infusion of a ATIR-PDT treated DLI is feasible, does not induce acute GVHD, and suggests a clinical benefit for patients receiving the highest DLI doses to accelerate T cell reconstitution. This PDT strategy represents an appealing alternative for older patients and those at high risk for GVHD"

Rhitol: presentation on functionality of Rhitol in chronic GvHD by Dr. Denis-Claude Roy

Title poster: " anti-Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease activity through a regulatory T Cell dependent mechanism after photodynamic therapy.

- Abstract #3280; Poster 3280; Board #499-III (10 December,5-7 pm)

Dr. Denis-Claude Roy head of Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Hospital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Canada: "our results demonstrate that TH9402 PDT not only eliminates activated T cells, but preserves Tregs, with the functional ability to inhibit residual alloreactive cGVHD cells. This inhibitory effect requires live effector Tregs, secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β expression. With such dual effector mechanisms, photopheresis using TH9402 should translate into improved treatment efficacy and enhanced quality of life for patients with chronic GVHD"

Presentation of independent NIH study of Kiadis Pharma product ATIR Dr. Stephan Mielke

Title poster: "Successful Translation of a GMP-Based, Clinical Scale Selective Allodepletion Approach for Matched Donor-Recipient Pairs from Bench-to-Bedside"

- Abstract #3279; Poster 3279, board #499-III (10 December, 5-7 pm)"



"Kiadis Pharma Continues to Provide Rhitol to Participating Physicians During Completion of Current Clinical Study
AMSTERDAM, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - Kiadis Pharma announced today that it has
agreed to provide Rhitol during a limited period of time to requesting
physicians participating in the ongoing phase I/II trial. The Rhitol phase
I/II trial is closed for enrolment to treat new patients and is expected to
complete at the end of this year. Kiadis Pharma anticipates applying for and
starting a phase III study in 2008.
Manja Bouman, CEO Kiadis Pharma commented: "We realised that the sites
participating in the ongoing phase II trial were left without treatment
alternatives following the announcement of the enrolment closure. The interest
these physicians show in using our product for new patients is very
encouraging and we are very pleased that we can support them by providing
Rhitol through special provisions, until the start of the phase III clinical
trial."
The physicians interested in enabling new patients to receive treatment
with Rhitol will obtain regulatory authorization from the appropriate agency
to allow for compassionate use of Rhitol.
Rhitol is under development for patients with severe chronic steroid
refractory Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) who have exhausted other treatment
options. Chronic GvHD is a condition that can develop after allogeneic bone
marrow transplantation and resembles an autoimmune disease.
The immune cells from the donor graft cause GvHD by attacking the
patient's tissues and organs. There are two forms of GvHD: acute GvHD appears
within 100 days after transplantation and chronic GvHD begins anytime after
that period. Immune-suppressant drugs, such as steroids, are generally used to
treat chronic GvHD. The disease can become a life-threatening condition when
standard treatment cannot control its progression as the patient either does
not respond to steroid treatment or develops severe side effects due to their
use. Extensive chronic GvHD affects multiple organs and tissues and results in
diminished quality of life for patients."

[hvs] 23/11/2007 15:53

A little BLUE today

[rivaldo] 19/11/2007 09:47

Looks from today's news like Kiadis may IPO in January due to market conditions - maybe the market will improve sufficiently before then, though that must be pretty doubtful.

Given that there was nothing in PDT's share price for the IPO then it doesn't really make much difference!

New Samsung products incorporating DisplayLink:



"22in Samsung USB Monitor On The WayAuthor Gordon Kelly
Published 15th November 2007

While we were thrilled by Samsung's 940UX USB monitor (and therefore you should be too) there's nothing like scaling up...

Consequently, while we admittedly know next to nothing about the 'SyncMaster 2263DX', Sammy's newly leaked addition to its USB line, I simply had to shout from the rooftops that it exists!

Of course what we can grab from the name is that the range is stepping up to the 22in form factor and - most likely - a 1680 x 1050 native resolution. It also - rather obviously - will sport USB2.0 connectivity letting it be daisy chained as well as the usual DVI or VGA (or even HDMI) ports.

Now while you probably didn't need an actual product leak to guess that a larger DisplayLink based LCD was on the way, this should still fill your heart with warmth. After all, 24in and 30in monitors remain prohibitively expensive for many so the option to spare your wallet while gaining more overall desktop retail estate and independently working screens is a real boon.

Now I can't imagine Samsung will have the USB monitor market to itself for long - but while the sun shines those industrious Koreans are certainly making a rather monstrous pile of hay."

[timtom2] 19/11/2007 09:21

They want top buck and the market isn't in the mood.
Liquidity a problem due to lack of confidence in general imho.

Makes sense to pull the ipo but also suggests a problem for any other PDT ipo too and buy-outs have so far been from US companies and as the $ in the toilet I don't see exits by selling to US co's as very likely either.

Hard to get full value for anything for a while until some normality and confidence returns.