Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P)
A possible move by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could mean a big increase in business for a company who recently announced it was moving part of its operation to the Louisville area. The Boston Business Journal reports that rumors abound that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is preparing to accept iPhone trade-ins at its stores, and Boston-based Gazelle is hoping Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) goes through with its rumored plan. Gazelle’s CEO and co-founder, Israel Ganot, acknowledged that although a move to accept trade-ins by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would mean increased competition, it also would increase awareness of re-commerce as a result.
HC asks Google, FB to inform about complaints redressal system (IndoLink)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) were today asked by the Delhi High Court to spell out their mechanism to deal with complaints including misuse of social networking sites by children below 13 years of age. “You inform us about the procedure you follow to deal with such complaints,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru said while hearing a PIL alleging that the websites have no mechanism for protection of children from on line abuse. “Let us see how do they deal with the complaints,” the bench said and asked the petitioner to hand over at least one complaint with regard to minors having accounts on such websites and posted the matter for hearing on August 23.
Was Microsoft’s 180 a mistake for the Xbox One? (AttackOfTheFanboy)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s reveal of the Xbox One has been a rocky road to say the least. The company came out with an all-new plan for the future of the Xbox brand, one that made the console and online network into a Steam-like service. We’ve already seen the fallout and consumer backlash from this initial reveal, and it got so bad that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was forced by consumers to completely change their policies for the Xbox One. But was that a bad thing? According to consumers, no, it wasn’t. But some believe that Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was bullied into making these changes, changes that might be bad for them as a business and their publishing partners who make games. This weekend we’ve had a couple of public figures in the gaming world come out and speak freely about Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s 180.
Apple takes on rivals in dashboard battle (WindsorStar)
While Steve Jobs regretted not making an iCar, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) for years was ambivalent about the auto industry. Now it’s vying for dashboard space held by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) and Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P). By year’s end, car buyers will be able to choose from several vehicles that incorporate Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPhone functions, using Siri voice controls for navigation, texting, email and music. Displacing competitors in the car may be more difficult than in desktop computing or mobile phones, as the technology giant grapples with challenges including extreme temperatures, noisy cabins and long product cycles.
Google floats idea to get Internet to underserved areas (BizJournals)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is attempting to bring Internet service to remote parts of Africa, Asia and other underserved regions through a series of balloon-like contraptions that carry wireless transponders and other gear, The San Jose Mercury News reported. It seems far-fetched, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) acknowledges in the project name: Project Loon. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) gave the balloons a trial run in New Zealand earlier this year and now is testing it in California’s Central Valley, the newspaper reported. Project Loon was born out of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s X division, responsible for Google Glass.
‘Jobs’ opens next Friday (CNBC)
Microsoft offers cloud security advice (iHotDesk)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has offered a number of tips for firms looking to bolster their cloud service’s security in the run up to the GigaOM Structure: Europe conference. Bosses at the Seattle-based firm said all of its products are designed and built using it’s own in-house Security Development Lifecycle. Not only does this allow an extensive auditing process to take place, but it permits for a forensic analysis to take place if something does go wrong in the future. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) also designs and builds its own data centres and, although this is slightly out of reach for most small and medium-sized enterprises, simply ensuring your outsourcing partner has stringent defence policies is likely to be enough to protect your information.
Google co-founder drops $250K on a hamburger (BizJournals)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) co-founder Sergey Brin pulled some pocket change to back the world’s first lab-grown hamburger. Brin’s $250,000 in funding went to physiologist Dr. Mark Post at Maastricht University in The Netherlands to grow 20,000 muscle fibers from cow stem cells in a three-month period, according to U.K. newspaper The Guardian. The objective is to create meat that is biologically identical to beef but grown in a lab rather than in a field as part of a cow.
Former Microsoft manager accused of raping office custodian (KiroTV)
A former Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) senior programming manager has been charged with raping a woman who worked as a custodian in his Redmond office. Prosecutors say Vineet Kumar Srivastava, 36, was on the third floor of Building 27 when he motioned for the custodian to follow him to his office. She did, thinking he needed something cleaned or the trash taken out. As soon as she entered his office, Srivastava pulled her blouse down and made a sexual comment; then he picked up his cellphone and started showing pornographic images, according to court documents.
