Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL), Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX), AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)
China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL), the world’s biggest mobile carrier by subscribers, said its talks with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) have been progressing smoothly and both sides are positive about reaching a possible agreement, Chairman Xi Guohua said on Thursday. “Both sides sounded keen (during recent talks),” Xi told a news conference after announcing the company’s first-half results. With Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) expected to unveil its next iPhone next month and China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL) expected to get a 4G license this year, the time appears ripe for the two giants to finalize a deal, analysts said.
With balloons and fiber, Google experiments in Web access (IndiaTimes)
From sending solar-powered balloons into the stratosphere to offering free Wi-Fi in parks, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is quietly spending hundreds of millions of dollars on nascent Internet services that may one day challenge the telecom and cable companies. In recent months, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has announced plans to bring free wireless Internet access to 7,000 Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) cafes across America, eventually displacing AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T); it has asked US regulators for broader access to wireless airwaves; and it has launched 30 solar-powered balloons over the South Pacific ocean, designed to beam the Internet to remote regions.
Microsoft’s First Chip Brings Tank-Finding Design to Xbox: Tech (BusinessWeek)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), seeking to fend off competition for its Xbox game console by souping up the Kinect motion sensor, is tapping a new semiconductor developer: itself. For the first time, the company will build its own processors based on an in-house design. The new chips will make Kinect more accurate and responsive using an imaging technology found in military gear, said Cyrus Bamji, who played a key role in developing the silicon architecture. Previously, Kinect relied on an off-the-shelf chip from Israel’s PrimeSense Ltd. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) joins companies such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) that are doing more work on chips internally to add exclusive features and set their devices apart.
Apple breaks $500 threshold, first time since January (IndiaTimes)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s shares surged passed the $500 threshold, their highest level since January. Wednesday’s gains came a day after activist investor Carl Icahn said he thinks the iPhone maker should do more to revive its stock price. The outspoken billionaire said in Twitter posts Tuesday that he had acquired an unspecified stake in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and had spoken to its CEO about boosting share repurchase plans. The stock immediately jumped, and closed at its highest level in nearly seven months.
Google on Gmail: ‘No legitimate expectation’ of privacy (MenaFN)
Gmail users have no “legitimate expectation” their emails are private, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) said in a California court filing seeking a class-action lawsuit’s dismissal. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, accuses the multinational high-tech giant of breaking U.S. wiretap laws by scanning all emails to target Gmail users for advertising. Gmail is a free, advertising-supported email service. The service also automatically scans all emails to filter spam. Emails non-subscribers send to Gmail accounts are also scanned by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), even though those senders didn’t agree to Gmail’s terms of service or privacy policy.
Apple comeback; Eurozone finally on track? (CNBC)
Microsoft to Launch Windows 8.1 “Blue” in Mid-October. (xBitLabs)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) on Wednesday revealed the launch date of its highly-anticipated “Blue” update to the Windows 8 operating system, which is most commonly known as Windows 8.1. As expected, the new OS will be released in mid-October, just in time for the holiday sales season. The update is being released to PC makers these days. Starting at 12:00am on October 18th in New Zealand (that is 4:00am October 17th in Redmond, Washington), Windows 8.1 will begin rolling out worldwide as a free update for consumers on Windows 8 through the Windows Store. Windows 8.1 will also be available at retail and on new devices starting on October 18th by market. So mark your calendars!
George Soros boosts stake in Apple (Malaysia-Chronicle)
CARL Icahn isn’t the only billionaire investor with an appetite for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s stock. Financier George Soros more than doubled his stake in the iPhone and iPad maker in recent months, according to regulatory documents filed on Wednesday. Soros’ fund held 66,800 shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) stock at the end of June, up from 26,800 shares in March. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s stock finished Wednesday at $US498.50 ($A549.52), its highest closing price since January 23. At that price, Soros’ holdings are currently worth about $US33 million ($A36.38 million).
Is Google Complicit in J2 Global’s Monopoly Over the Online Fax Industry? (HuffingtonPost)
J2 Global Communications, a company known for the internet fax services as well as other online services such as cloud storage and email marketing, has long been accused of pushing the boundaries of what can be deemed acceptable in the online market. Now their business practices have begun to gain notice, and have the potential threaten to drag down Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s name as well. …For those who have never used the services, online fax is, essentially, a service that uses the Internet in place of traditional phone lines for faxing documents. This helps to cut costs by assigning a telephone number that routs faxes scanned in from a fax machine directly to email, or from email to a recipient fax machine.
Microsoft Kills ‘Always On’ Camera Requirement After Outcry (Law360)
A Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) executive confirmed Monday that the company is abandoning plans to require that a motion-sensor camera attachment be perpetually activated in order for its new Xbox One gaming console to function, following an outcry from consumer advocates over the device’s privacy implications. In a Q-and-A session with the gaming site IGN, company executive Marc Whitten said that the yet-to-be-released console will function even when the Xbox Kinect attachment is turned off or unplugged. This change comes as an apparent concession to gamers and privacy…
