Tech News: Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s Plans, Google Inc (GOOG)’s Stock Ratings & Microsoft Corporation (MSFT)

Apple turns to Silicon Valley startup to rescue maps app (ITProportal)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has reportedly made another acquisition intended to bolster its struggling Maps app. According to former Wall Street Journal reporter Jessica Lessin, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)has purchased Silicon Valley startup Embark, Inc. and will incorporate the company’s tech into Apple Maps. “We make mass transit simple,” Embark says on its website. It has apps for transit systems in cities including Boston, Chicago and New York, with trip planning, interactive maps, and alerts.

Google in talks with NFL on ‘Sunday Ticket’ service: report (ChinaPost)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has opened discussions with the National Football League to buy the rights to the “Sunday Ticket” subscription TV service now owned by DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV), tech blog AllThingsDigital reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The acquisition, if consummated, would dramatically boost the media efforts of the Internet search company, which is trying to ramp up original programming and earn subscription revenue as opposed to advertising income. The “Sunday Ticket” service allows NFL fans to watch a wide variety of football games outside of their local markets.

Ex-Microsoft exec Sinofsky joins Silicon Valley venture capital firm (Tech2)
Steven Sinofsky, the hard-charging former Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) executive, has joined the prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz as a part-time “board partner,” representing the firm on certain boards of companies it invests in. The move, announced on Sinofsky’s personal blog on Thursday, is slightly surprising given Marc Andreessen, co-founder of the venture capital firm, has long been a critic of Microsoft, since Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) effectively crushed his Netscape Communications browser company in the 1990s.