Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE), Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P)
US reverse a ban on Apple Inc (EWN)
The Obama administration has overturned a US trade panel’s ban on the sale of some older iPhones and iPads, reversing a ruling that had favoured Samsung Electronics Co Ltd over Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in their long-running patent battles. The US International Trade Commission in June banned the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), saying the devices infringed a patent owned by the South Korean electronics giant.
Himax Technologies signs agreement with Google (Evertiq)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) has agreed to invest in the Company’s subsidiary, Himax Display Inc. (“HDI”). The purpose of the investment is to fund production upgrades, expand capacity and further enhance production capabilities at HDI’s facilities that produce liquid crystal on silicon (“LCOS”) chips and modules used in applications including head-mounted display (HMD) such as Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass, head-up display (HUD) and pico-projector products. Under the 
Microsoft boosts Xbox One specifications (TheInquirer)
KEEN TO REDIRECT ATTENTION away from everything it’s doing that isn’t working out, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is publicising that it has given its Xbox One games console a minor GPU tweak. The firm revealed its plans in an Xbox podcast and a conversation between Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) VP Marc Whitten and Larry Hryb, who is otherwise known as Major Nelson. Whitten did not mention the Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) Playstation 4 (PS4), but with both consoles planned for releases in November, comparing specifications must be a topic of conversation at Redmond.
Chinese Activist Blames Apple Inc Supplier of Polluting (PRCarbon)
A prominent Chinese activist is aiming at Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) supplier Foxconn and a lesser popular manufacturer in a latest report that blames the companies of environmental harms. The report was issued by Jun’s Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs activist Ma and four additional nonprofit organizations. This report blames Foxconn of discharging water with high levels of heavy metals into a river that nourishes the river of Shanghai’s Huangpu.
Google Glass unveiled in N. Van (NSNews)
GONZALO Tudela describes Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass with an almost childlike sense of wonder. “It’s like looking at a screen floating in mid-air. It’s incredible,” he says excitedly. “You can see (the screen) crystal clear. It looks like it’s between five and six feet in front of you.” Tudela is co-founder of North Vancouver software development firm Vandrico Inc., which recently got hold of one of 8,000 Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass prototypes released to testers and developers. The augmented reality eyeglasses have been the talk of the tech world for the last year.
Microsoft applies for patent augmented reality glasses (HardWare)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) appears to have plans to develop its own augmented reality glasses. Such Smart Glasses has surfaced in a recent patent filing. The AR glasses are specially designed for multiplayer gaming. The patent drawing shows a pair of augmented reality glasses that looks similar to your everyday pair of shades. Since AR only adds extra information to the screen, the actual view stays realistic. Such a device could be helpful to provide details, but Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) intends to use it for multiplayer gaming. Both a camera and a microphone have been integrated, as well as sensors which can be found throughout the frame. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has placed speakers next to the ears. The patent filing reveals that the glasses would be capable of recognizing voices and faces, as well as calculating depth.
Samsung shares fall after veto of Apple ban (MarketWatch)
More than $1 billion was wiped out of Samsung Electronics Co.’s market value early Monday following a surprise decision by the Obama administration over the weekend to veto an import ban on some Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) products in the U.S., dealing a blow to the South Korean company just as it is seeking to expand its footprint into the U.S. smartphone market. Early Monday, South Korea’s biggest company by market capitalization fell 0.6% to 1,278,000 won ($1,137), wiping out $1.05 billion off Samsung’s market capitalization.
Google, Facebook to pay more tax in Israel, if state plan succeeds (Haaretz)
With Internet companies and multinationals in its sights, the Israel Tax Authority is working toward issuing a new set of tax guidelines or sharpening existing ones by the end of this year. Companies like Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) are believed to be earning between NIS 500 million to NIS 1 billion in revenues a year in Israel. Athough the tax authorities won’t reveal how much they collect from them, the amount is thought to be negligible. Taxation will be based on a clearer definition of the component of the companies’ profits earned in Israel, as opposed to the current situation whereby the company is mainly taxed according to the jurisdiction in which it is registered, or where the business actually operates.
Microsoft cuts Surface pro tablet’s price by US$100 (IVCPost)
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s 64GB Surface pro tablet would now be worth US$799 while the 128GB tablet’s price would be US$899. The discount came after Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) reduced Surface RT tablet’s price by 30%. The sales of Surface RT, which was launched last October, were lower than expected. Last Tuesday, the company revealed that it earned only US$835 million in revenue from the tablets. The amount was lower than the US$900 million write down for inventory adjustments and US$898 million for advertisements. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) did not disclose the number of units that it sold. It also refused to specify the separate revenue from Surface Pro and Surface RT. However, data from Bloomberg showed that it sold roughly 1.5 million tablets to date. In contrast, last month, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced that it sold 14.6 million iPads during the second quarter alone.
iCar dream downsizes to dashboards for Apple (DelawareOnline)
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 end carbuyers will be able to choose from several vehicles that incorporate Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPhone functions, using Siri voice controls for navigation, texting, e-mails 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.
