Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ)
Apple’s Rising Star: Craig Federighi (WSJ)
A new frontman for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) -0.29% is emerging. At the company’s annual developers conference Monday, little-known executive Craig Federighi got the most airtime during the keynote—and strong reviews. With the spotlight came an important task for the senior vice president of software engineering: maintaining the loyalty of developers and impressing technology insiders with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s latest software and designs. The lanky, 44-year-old engineer has a long Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) pedigree. He worked at Next, the other computer company founded by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and joined Apple when it acquired the company in 1997.
Apple and Ad Partner Chiat Eye New Campaign to Lift Brand (BusinessWeek)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and TBWA\Chiat\Day, the agency behind the company’s most memorable advertisements, are embarking on a new campaign designed to revive interest in an aging product line and cement the iPhone maker’s bond with consumers, people with knowledge of the plan said. After years of product-oriented ads that have failed to stem market-share losses to devices built on Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Android software, the campaign will emphasize the quality and reliability of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s ecosystem of products, apps and content, said the people, who asked not to be named because the plans aren’t public. The company previewed one of the ads yesterday. Others will follow in coming months, one of the people said.
Google, HP partnership targets SMB (ITBusiness)
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) have joined forces to develop and one-stop-shop technology solution for small and medium sized businesses. At the Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) Discover 2013 event here on Tuesday the two companies announced the first phase of HP SMB IT in a Box, which mark the entry of the PC and server maker into the Google Apps Reseller program. “We’re combining Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ)’s PCs, workstations, printers and servers to Google Apps for business,” Meg Whitman, Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) chief, announced in her keynote speech yesterday. “This breakthrough isn’t a one-off, we’re going to look for more ways to partner with like-mined tech companies.”
Google wants to disclose spy info (3News)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is asking the Obama administration for permission to disclose more details about the US government’s demands for email and other personal information transmitted online in an effort to distance itself from an Internet dragnet. In a show of unity, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) rivals Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) also supported the attempt to pressure the US Justice Department to loosen the legal muzzle that limits disclosures about government surveillance authorized by courts to protect national security.
Google buys Israel’s Waze to keep mobile maps lead (ThomsonReuters)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) bought Israeli mapping startup Waze on Tuesday for just over $1 billion, a source familiar with the matter said, acquiring an online real-time mapping service to safeguard its lead in one of the most crucial aspects of smartphone usage. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) said in a Tuesday blog post it had closed the long-anticipated deal. It now planned on using Waze’s service to enhance its own Maps product, but did not say how much it paid.
Microsoft Corp Given “Neutral” Rating at Zacks (MSFT) (MideastTime)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s stock had its “neutral” rating restated by Zacks in a report issued on Tuesday, AnalystRatings.Net reports. They currently have a $37.00 price objective on the stock. Zacks‘ price objective indicates a potential upside of 6.20% from the stock’s previous close. Zacks‘ analyst wrote, “Microsoft is one of the largest software companies in the world. The company’s operating systems are installed on the majority of computers anywhere in the world. Its third quarter 2013 earnings beat the Zacks Consensus by $0.05.
Microsoft to build Innovation Centre in Kolkata (IndiaBlooms)
The MIC will allow students to access Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) laboratory facilities to provide them with better opportunities. The project is Microsoft’s vision for developing new talents in India at student level. “The centre will offer a unique environment conducive for student entrepreneurship,” said the Director – Geo Expansion, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) India, Raj Katari. He said that as knowledge and innovation become primary catalysts for economic growth in India, the program can play a vital role in generating powerful new ideas through training, education and knowledge transfer.
Blackberry launches scholarship for women (TradeArabia)
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has launched its Scholars Programme, a global initiative designed to inspire more women to enter and develop careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem). The programme will provide full, four-year tuition scholarships to outstanding women globally, who are seeking degrees at accredited colleges and universities in the areas of Stem, with a particular interest or aptitude in the area of mobile computing, said a statement.
The Blackberry Q10 Delivers As Mike Lazaridis Reflects (Forbes)
I first met Mike Lazaridis, the retired co-CEO and founder of Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), in 1991 when I was a rogue marketing manager at Ericsson desperately searching for wireless email software to marry with the world’s first portable wireless data modem, which we were preparing to launch that next year. Cell phones were analog back then, with no capacity for text messaging much less a data channel. Ericsson was intent on chasing taxi dispatchers and utility service vehicles, but those of us who came of age with the PC industry knew that the liberating ingredient missing from laptop and palmtop computers was mobile data capability.
