Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Update: Ready to Rebound, Gold Features & Google Inc (GOOG)

Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)

Large Buyers Charge Into Microsoft (TheStreet)
Traders are betting that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is ready to rebound from last month’s selloff. More than 80,000 September 33 calls traded Wednesday, most of them bought for the ask prices in a strongly bullish pattern halfway through the session, according to OptionMonster’s real-time tracking systems. The first big blocks priced for 19 cents and 21 cents within 20 minutes and were followed by another chunk for 30 cents a couple of hours later. These calls lock in the price where investors can buy stock in the software giant no matter how far it might rise. Given how little the options cost compared to the stock itself, they could generate significant leverage in a rally.

Bill Gates, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)Xbox Live Gold sub required for Xbox One Game DVR (ClickOnline)
Xbox One users who wish to take advantage of the console’s in-built video capture capabilities will need a Gold subscription for Xbox Live. This feature, along with features such as Skype, SmartMatch, OneGuide, Internet Explorer, and “premium” entertainment apps are listed under the Xbox One’s Xbox Live Gold Features. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Game DVR allows players to record up to 5-minutes of in-game footage for editing and upload. It captures gameplay at 30 frames per second in 720p. Players can also save the last 30 seconds of gameplay instantly, for use when it is not possible to pause such as in multiplayer games.

Microsoft Takes Technology Solution to Capital Market (ThisDayLive)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Nigeria demonstrated its commitment to grow businesses in the country by taking cutting-edge technology to capital market operators, during the recent Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) organised X-Gen Expo. X-Gen is a new electronic trading platform that will allow stockbrokers and other stakeholders access the market anywhere, anytime. The Expo also provided an avenue for market shareholders and solution providers to further discuss the functionalities and usage of the X-Gen.

Microsoft’s Windows bumps up its tiny share of the smartphone market (Marketwatch)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s push to become a top dog in smartphones is a long way off. But it got a sliver of good news in the latest market-share rankings. Windows Phone is now the No. 3 smartphone operating system, behind Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iOS and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Android, according to IDC data released Wednesday. Windows Phone is still far behind Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Android, which boosted its share to 79%, and No. 2 Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), whose share shrank to 13%. But its small base is growing. Windows Phone posted the biggest year-over-year jump in the second quarter, boosting its share from 3% to 4%, passing BlackBerry OS and Symbian.

Technology Of World Microsoft Mulling Surface Rt Price Cut 2 webm webm (YouTube)

Devices and services will be at the core of Microsoft’s strategy: Karan Bajwa (BusinessWeek)
Karan Bajwa, who took over as managing director of the India operations of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in June, has been with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) India Pvt Ltd since November 2007. In an interview on Wednesday, he spelt out the company’s India growth strategy, emphasized on cloud services and insisted that the firm will perform well in fiscal year 2014 with a shift in focus from software to devices and services. Edited excerpts: What are your priorities in your new role? Looking at the past 12 months, and the growth we have seen in this environment, I am very encouraged about our prospects in the next 12 months. I don’t think we are going to drive a whole lot of different things. In short, it is not going to be about doing different things but doing things differently.