Editor’s Note: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Apple Battles Google for TV Viewers (NBC Bay Area)
Apple has updated Apple TV by adding several new content apps from the Disney Channel, Vevo, the Weather Channel and Smithsonian just as Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) launches its $35 Chromecast dongle for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iOS platform. Does this mean the two are gearing for a bloody battle royale? OK, perhaps that’s a little premature, but it does seem a little too coincidental. With Redbox Instant, Netflix, YouTube, and possibly HBO Go and Hulu Plus, the highly praised, video-streaming Chromecast is already solid competition, according to Mashable, especially when Apple’s set-top box seems to be largely ignored compared to its iPhone and iPad. Google, on the other hand, has been pouring money into YouTube studio content and is in talks to purchase NFL’s Sunday Ticket rights to beef up content.
Google releases iOS app to configure Chromecast devices (CNET)
iOS users now can set up and manage their Google Chromecast devices with an app Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) released Tuesday. Google announced the app on its Chrome updates blog and published the app on iTunes. The app can be used to set up a Chromecast’s Wi-Fi settings and to adjust settings such as the device’s name. Chromecast devices plug into a TV’s HDMI port so that people can send video streams from their PCs to the TV, using an Android or iOS device as a remote control.
Microsoft Fires Back After Box Steps On Its Turf, Boosts SkyDrive Pro Storage To 25 GB (TechCrunch)
This is the real storage wars. Today Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that it has increased the storage capacity of its SkyDrive Pro cloud document storage and syncing service to 25 gigabytes, from the formerly proffered 7 gigabytes. Non-Pro SkyDrive users are stuck with the 7 gigabyte tally for now. SkyDrive Pro is part of the Office 365 suite of cloud productivity tools that Microsoft sells to business and universities.
Apple Blasts Feds’ Proposed Remedy in E-Books Conspiracy Case (TIME)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is not happy with the U.S. Justice Department, according to a letter released Monday responding to the government’s proposed remedy in the closely watched e-books price-fixing conspiracy case. Last month, a federal judge ruled that Apple conspired with major book publishers to raise the price of e-books, costing consumers millions of dollars. Apple has maintained its innocence and plans to appeal the decision. In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote found that Apple worked with five major book publishers — Macmillan, Penguin, Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster – to pressure arch-rival Amazon into changing its business model, resulting in higher prices for consumers.
Google acquisition of Waze traffic app sparks OFT inquiry (The Guardian)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s $1bn acquisition of the travel mapping service Waze is to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading, on top of an inquiry already being conducted in the US by the Federal Trade Commission. Waze, based in Israel, provides satnav functions with real-time updates to smart phones, and claims to have more than 50 million direct users worldwide. It also supplies anonymous traffic data to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s maps service on the iPhone and iPad.
What’s Apple’s e-book endgame? (CNBC)
Windows 8.1 to be ready for consumers Oct. 18, Microsoft says (Washington Post)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) said Tuesday that consumers can get their copy of the new version of its Windows operating system Oct. 18 and that it has already shipped the updated Windows 8.1 to manufacturers. The consumer release is just shy of Windows 8’s one-year anniversary, and comes on the heels of the big, company-changing news announced last week that chief executive Steve Ballmer will be stepping down. Although last year the company allowed certain Microsoft developers and fans to get their hands on Windows 8 ahead of its commercial release, it looks like everyone will be getting access to Windows 8.1 at the same time.
Apple iTunes Store outage leaves 20% of users in the dark (CNET)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iTunes Store went down Tuesday morning for nearly three and a half hours, preventing some users from making purchases. The outage — which started at 6:00 a.m. PT and lasted until 9:26 a.m. PT — affected 20 percent of users, according to Apple’s system status page. It is unclear what caused the outage, though such service disruptions plaguing Apple’s systems have been on the rise of late.
Google planning ‘robo taxi’ fleet (Telegraph.co.uk)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is in talks with major auto-components manufacturers, such as Continental AG and Magna International, to build new cars to Google’s specifications, according to a report on former WSJ journalist Jessica Lessin’s blog. People familiar with the matter said that Google has been studying how these vehicles could become part of robo-taxi systems that pick up passengers and work commuters on demand, reducing the need for people to own their own cars.
Microsoft Points Become Real Currency Today (IGN)
At long last, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) finally switched from Microsoft Points to real currency today. The switch is happening in all Xbox Live regions and will automatically convert any existing balance or newly-entered Points card into your local currency. The Xbox Live Marketplace now lists all prices in local currency instead of points as well, and Microsoft reports on its official site that all Points converted to currency will be valid until June 1, 2015 (but “the currency you purchase and add to your account after the transition will not expire”).
