Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB)
Apple Said to Plan First Tokyo Retail Store Since 2005 (Bloomberg)
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) plans to open a store in Tokyo’s upscale Omotesando shopping district as early as March, according to a person familiar with the plans. Construction is scheduled to be completed by February, the person said, asking not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak for Apple. The store would be Apple’s first opening in Tokyo since August 2005, according to the company’s website, which is advertising jobs for a new store in the city.
Google Names Carlsbad ‘Digital Capital’ of California (SDBJ)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has named the city of Carlsbad as the “digital capital” of California in its annual eCity Awards program, analyzing the online strength of the small-business communities of all 50 states. Working with the research firm Ipsos, Google scored cities’ small businesses on factors including use of company websites, blogs, social media, ecommerce and mobile technology. The top-scoring city from each state was named a digital capital, according to Google.
Microsoft: The insiders who could be CEO (Dawn)
After Ballmer’s surprise announcement on Friday that he would retire within a year, the board’s lead independent director John Thompson, who heads the search for the new CEO, said the planned transformation of the software giant into a fast-moving ‘devices and services’ company is still on track. “It does seem like if they are going to continue down the path of this devices and services strategy that they probably get somebody who was part of formulating this strategy or who can stand fully behind it. I don’t know if most outside candidates would be willing to do that,” said Sid Parakh, an analyst at fund firm McAdams Wright Ragen.
Can Apple Inc Succeed in Grabbing a Sizeable Market Share in China? (IBTimes)
When Google was aggressive in its efforts to boost traffic and advertising sales in China several years ago, one of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s competitors had a brilliant idea. The company had reportedly compiled a list of censorship laws that Google had allegedly violated in China and turned over the list to the Chinese authorities. Internet users who were visiting Google’s google.cn Web site were for some reason being redirected to a rival search engine, Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU). This is according to a source of a USA Today report. The said source is an expert in media and technology companies.
New Google initiative for Africa (ScreenAfrica)
In a new initiative called Africa Connected, search engine giant and content aggregator Google is calling on Africans to share their stories about how their lives have been positively influenced by the internet. Five successful entrants will win $25,000 each, and will also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month period. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is looking for young, spirited entrepreneurial web adopters who are using the web and technology to do things to rise about their circumstances and achieve success.
Microsoft’s useful life may be nearing its end; that’s OK (LiveMint)
Steve Ballmer’s announcement last week of his retirement from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) after 13 years at the helm leaves some puzzling questions for his successor—about Microsoft’s epic decline, its uncertain future and the ultimate purpose of a public company. Resolving them may well prove impossible. And that’s OK. Under Ballmer, who succeeded Bill Gates as chief executive officer in 2000, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) failed to anticipate or adequately respond to almost every technological innovation that came along, from Web search to music to social networking to mobile phones to tablet computers
Nasdaq 100 plummets after hitting 13-year high (CNBC)
US judge wants external monitor for Apple in e-books case (ZeeNews)
A US judge weighing remedies to assure that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) does not fix prices again in the e-books market said on Tuesday that she plans to require it to hire an external monitor, something the company considers unnecessary. But U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan suggested a final injunction would be narrower than what the U.S. Department of Justice has been seeking, and would not restrict Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s agreements with suppliers of other types of content such as movies, music and TV shows.
Facebook and Google to speak at WTM (TravelMole)
Senior executives from Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) will speak at this year’s World Travel Market. Facebook head of travel Lee McCabe will deliver a session on November 5 entitled Facebook and Targeting: Finding the People that Matter to You – will explore how powerful Facebook is as an advertising platform. “Travel is in Facebook’s DNA,” he said. “More people share their travel milestones on Facebook, such as departing for a holiday or sharing a photo from their travels, than any other important events.
Microsoft Seen Boosting Dividend as CEO Exits Amid Push for Cash (BusinessWeek)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), within weeks of announcing plans by Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer to retire, will probably boost its dividend amid calls by an activist shareholder to return more cash to investors. ValueAct Holdings LP, which in April disclosed a stake of about $1.9 billion in the world’s largest software maker, has been seeking a return of more money, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Microsoft is poised to increase the quarterly dividend by 13 percent to 26 cents a share, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
