Editor’s Note: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE:CSC)
Apple Seen Seeding Future Wearable Products in IPhone (Bloomberg)
Apple Inc.’s new high-end iPhone gives a glimpse of future products that may be in store from the world’s most-valuable company. A new motion-sensor chip inside the iPhone 5s lays the groundwork for wearable-computing products, while a fingerprint sensor opens more opportunities to make the smartphone a tool for making purchases at stores, according to technology analysts who study Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Another new processor chip in the device may give the company the chance to switch its Mac computers away from Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) chips. “These are important first steps that Apple is taking,” Tim Bajarin, an analyst with research firm Creative Strategies Inc., said in an interview.
Microsoft Investors Want a “Turnaround” Expert for New CEO (Tom’s Hardware Guide)
With current Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer gearing up to take an early “retirement” within the next twelve months, twenty of Microsoft’s top investors are now seeking a “turnaround expert” to fill his shoes. Included in this shortlist of potential candidates are Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) CEO Alan Mulally and Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE:CSC) CEO Mike Lawrie. A special committee of the board was formed after Ballmer’s public announcement last month. Sources told Reuters that it’s currently in charge of conducting the search, and its advisers have held regular meetings with company shareholders. In one of these meetings, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) supposedly had a list of around 40 candidates, and has been narrowing it down ever since.
Google Has Ambitious Plans To Tear Down The Language Barrier (Business Insider)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s moving the chains once again as it bares down for its next big moonshot project: to blow up the language barrier. Spiegel reports on some ambitious new plans for the Google Translate team to develop a voice-enabled universal translator. Just like something from “Star Trek” or “Hitchhiker’s Guide”, the finished product would let you speak your phrase in your native language before the device translates it and speaks it in another language.
Apple’s M7 Motion Sensing Coprocessor Is The Wizard Behind The Curtain For The iPhone 5s (TechCrunch)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has a new trick up its sleeve with the iPhone 5s that was talked about on stage during its recent reveal event, but the impact of which won’t be felt until much later when it gets fully taken advantage of by third-party developers. Specifically, I’m talking about the M7 motion coprocessor that now takes the load of tracking motion and distance covered, requiring much less battery draw and enabling some neat new tricks with tremendous felt impact. The M7 is already a boon to the iPhone 5s without any third-party app support – it makes the iPhone more intelligent in terms of when to activate certain features and when to slow things down and conserve battery life by checking less frequently for open networks, for instance.
Microsoft launches iPad trade-in program to boost Surface sales (Expert Reviews)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has proposed a trade-in programme to give its Surface tablets a sales boost, offering US customers a $200 trade-in discount if they hand over their old iPad. According to the International Business Times, iPad users are being invited to ditch their second-hand iPad 2, 3, or 4 devices and get a “minimum” of a $200 gift card to the Microsoft store, which they can use to purchase a new Microsoft Surface Pro or RT tablet and laptop. In order to qualify for Micrsoft’s trade-in offer, the traded-in iPads must have passwords removed and must also come with power cord. The deal will continue until October 27, but is currently only available in some Microsoft retail stores in US and Canada.
Google Earth used to help clear landmines (Telegraph.co.uk)
A charity dedicated to clearing landmines from war-torn countries has revealed how Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s mapping tools play a vital role in its work. The HALO Trust said the technology was easy to use and is now being used everyday by teams in areas such as Afghanistan, Kosovo and Zimbabwe. The interactive tools, in particular Google Earth Pro, allow the charity to identify and plot mined areas as well as create maps for donors, governments and NGOs. The maps help ensure that communities in countries affected by war avoid the horrific injuries caused by hidden mines and are able to reclaim land for farming that has been declared safe.
Apple’s high-end focus comes under scrutiny (MarketWatch)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to take a beating from investors following last week’s introduction of new iPhones, though a pair of high-profile analysts said Monday that the company’s focus on the high-end of the smartphone market could still pay off — even if its prices are too high for other segments. Apple’s AAPL -3.12% shares were down 2.6% to $452.65 on Monday afternoon, likely a reaction to more worries about its growth prospects in China. The stock has now shed more than 10% from its closing price from before Apple’s event last week, at which the company introduced the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.
Microsoft Pulls Poor Apple Parody Videos After A Few Hours (PC Magazine)
Well, that didn’t last long. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) recently posted a series of YouTube videos – advertisements – mocking Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s new design decisions with its recently announced iPhone 5s and 5c smartphones. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite as well-received by the general Web community as Microsoft might have perhaps hoped. So much so, that Microsoft ultimately pulled the series of seven videos entitled “A fly on the wall in Cupertino” mere hours after publishing them to YouTube. It’s a bit difficult to see just how Microsoft’s simple jabs at Apple might otherwise convince a person that its own mobile platform, Windows Phone, is somehow superior.
Google plans to disrupt America’s favorite sport—but not in the way everyone expects (Quartz)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and the National Football League met recently, reigniting speculation that Google will disrupt cable and satellite television providers. By constructing its ultra high-speed Google Fiber internet service in Kansas City, Austin and Provo to create a next-generation internet test bed, Google has unintentionally reinforced public opinion that its wants to compete with pay TV. Sorry to disappoint the disruption freaks, but it just ain’t so. The casual Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) observer is easily distracted by everything from the Android to the company’s self-driving cars, but here, Google’s raison d’etre is quite simple: Advertising.
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