…bear fruit for the company as a differentiating feature for the next iPhone. In a new research report, Kuo outlines his belief that in order to limit rival Samsung’s involvement in the iOS device supply chain, Apple will turn to a series of Taiwanese companies to support its fingerprint sensor implementation.
Microsoft May Try to Relaunch Heroes on Xbox Live (Forbes)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is attempting to compete on a number of fronts with their various products, whether it’s operating systems, internet search, phones, video games or pretty much anything else you can think of in the tech sphere. But now they’re moving into a new category, original TV programming. As part of a push for the Xbox, MSN wants to focus on original programming that will air via Xbox Live on presumably both the current gen system and the Durango, when it finally should appear. One of their first ideas? TVLine is reporting that MSN is in talks to get a reboot of NBC’s Heroes off the ground.
BlackBerry 10.1 reveals more than a dozen new features (CNET)
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) is shoring up its latest operating system with a slew of changes slated for the next update. Reaching developers this week, the software developers kit for BlackBerry 10.1 ticks off 14 new features to start, as listed by blog site Crackberry. Some of the notable additions include a higher-quality HDR option for photo takers, PIN-to-PIN messaging available within the BlackBerry Hub, and an improved text picker. Users will be able to turn off alerts for specific apps, use the power button to unlock the screen at the lock screen, and paste phone numbers directly into the dialpad. New help demos and walkthroughs will also be available to help people learn about BlackBerry 10.1.
Apple tries to patent tech behind iTunes U (CNET)
The technology behind Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iTunes U, a repository of educational information for students and teachers, has been outed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). According to Patently Apple, which was first to discover the patent application today, the iPhone maker filed for a patent on the technology that powers iTunes U. Interestingly, the technology in the patent application is called Virtual University, but Apple ostensibly decided it wasn’t the right name for its service.
Nokia shares slide as revenues disappoint (Financial Times)
Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) sold the fewest mobile phones ever in a quarter under its chief executive Stephen Elop as revenues at the struggling Finnish group fell to their lowest in more than a decade. It sold 62m of its basic mobile phones in the first quarter, down by more than 25 per cent from a year earlier and the fourth quarter, leading to worries that cheap devices running on Google’s Android platform were stealing customers from it in countries such as China. Mobile shipments in China were just 3.4m phones, down from 23.9m two years previously. Group revenues in the first quarter were just €5.9bn – the lowest quarterly figure for 13 years, according to Bloomberg – against analysts’ estimates of €6.5bn.
Google’s Grand Bargain (Wall Street Journal)
After two years of to-and-fro-ing, one of the world’s most ubiquitous companies Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), has struck a deal with European Union regulators to address concerns that it is abusing its dominance in search and online advertising. The EU side is arguing that the proposals mark a huge leap forward and will rein in Google’s ability to squeeze out rivals, as well as forcing the search engine giant to better label its products. But there are plenty of critics who fear that the changes will in the end be mostly cosmetic and do little to address concerns about Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s overwhelming might in Europe, where it enjoys a market share of over 90%.
Under the Surface: Microsoft Q3 Earnings Could Hinge on PC Decline Impact (All Things Digital)
After a series of recent reports outlining the massive decline of PC sales, the possible impact will be the focus of investors when Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) reports its third-quarter earnings later today after the markets close. How badly the drop in sales of desktop and laptop devices in favor of consumer defections to smartphones and tablets has hurt the software giant has been a concern of Wall Street, so any signs of trouble will be closely watched.
