Editor’s Note: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK)
A vote for Bill Gates as interim Microsoft CEO (CNet)
The evaluations of Steve Ballmer’s 33 years at Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) are winding down, with the focus shifting to who will replace him within the next 12 months. It’s a job that requires a rare combination of talents, experience and intellect. The odds maker Ladbroke has Stephen Elop, former Microsoft Office head and now best friend of the company as CEO of Windows phone maker Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK), as the leading contender, followed by current COO Kevin Turner. Several other current and former Microsoft executives are among the top 10.
Microsoft CEO Hunt a Tough Bet as Web Gamblers Favor Elop (Bloomberg)
A gambling website picked Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) Chief Executive Officer Stephen Elop, who has presided over a 62 percent decline in market value, as the favorite to become Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s new CEO. Elop, a former Microsoft executive, has 5-to-1 odds to be hired as Steve Ballmer’s replacement, according to Ladbrokes Plc (LAD), the U.K.-based gambling operator. He leads a pool including internal candidates Kevin Turner and Julie Larson-Green and outsiders like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook — a 100-to-1 dark horse.
Nintendo Punks Microsoft And Sony (News 9 Finance)
A hungry and desperate Nintendo (NASDAQOTH: NTDOY) is cutting the price of its slow-selling Wii U console. The price of the deluxe Wii U system will be getting a US$50 haircut to US$299. This isn’t a surprise. I expected this to happen earlier this summer, and it became a no-brainer after Nintendo revealed that it shipped just 160,000 units in its most recent quarter.
Skype turns 10: did Microsoft’s bet pay off? (Techradar Pro)
Skype’s users like it a lot, and when the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) deal was announced in 2011 they had three key concerns. One, that Microsoft would cut off support for non-Microsoft platforms; two, that Microsoft would shove it into every conceivable Microsoft product whether it fit or not; and three, that Microsoft would find some way to screw it up.
Microsoft is a tale of two cities, claims spinner (TechEye.Net)
Top Volester Frank Shaw has told Microsoft’s critics that they are way off the mark and he is prepared to quote Charles Dickens to prove it. Shaw is Vole’s top spinner and he had a bit of a rant about all the “writers and pundits” who suggest the sun has set on the glorious Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) empire. In the post, he references the classic movie Rashomon as well as research on confirmation bias and quotes from Charles Dickens’ book A Tale of Two Cities (“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”)
