Netflix (NFLX) sags due to Comcast rivalry

Shares of Los Gatos-based Netflix plunged Wednesday after Comcast, the dominant cable TV company in the Bay Area, said it would expand its offerings to customers who want to stream movies online.

Netflix fell 4.3 percent, or $5 a share, and finished at $112.40. That was the largest percentage drop in more than two months.

Despite the retreat for the provider of Internet-based and mail-order video rentals, Netflix shares are up 62 percent so far this year.

Quixey to pay prospects $100 in debug contest

Palo Alto-based Quixey is holding Quixey Challenge, an online competition that offers a $100 cash prize for engineers who can fix a bug in a difficult algorithm in less than one minute.

Quixey's contest marks the latest unusual effort by a Silicon Valley company to recruit highly qualified engineers to hire. Quixey hopes to use the contest, which can be found at www.quixeychallenge.com, to replace conventional talent recruiters.

Winners have a chance to work at the 25-employee startup, which has developed a search engine to help users quickly find apps for mobile devices.

SolarCity and Shea tout zero-energy homes

San

Mateo-based Solar City is teaming up with Shea Homes to offer residences that produce as much electricity as they consume. A subdivision in the East Bay is among the developments with homes that will feature energy-efficient cooling and heating systems, appliances, insulation, dual-pane windows and solar panel systems provided by SolarCity.

Shea Homes is also offering the homes at subdivisions in Brentwood in Contra Costa County, Rio Vista in Solano County, and communities in Florida, Nevada and Washington state.

-- Staff