MICROSOFT

Hype surrounding the iPhone 5 continues to mount in the days leading up to Apple's media event, allegedly scheduled for Sept. 12, in which the Cupertino, Calif.-based computers company is expected to unveil a brand-new iPhone, among other new products. Given the news, rumors and patents surrounding the phone's alleged features, there are plenty of reasons why Apple could be most proud of the next iPhone's screen.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), the No. 1 computer maker, announced its first tablet a year after withdrawing the TouchPad after it bombed with consumers.

Samsung Electronics (Seoul: 005930) may have lost a $1.05 billion judgment to Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), the world's most valuable technology company, but it’s won a temporary reprieve from the judge on product bans and other retaliatory measures.

As the Windows 8 release date draws near, Microsoft’s new operating system is beginning to make more sense. First comes the software made for PCs and tablets, and now comes the devices that fit that mold.

Nokia has just launched a new video hinting that an upcoming Windows Phone 8 release date could be announced very soon. A press event with Microsoft is scheduled for Sept. 5, coming right in between the dates that competitors Apple and Samsung are expected to make some major unveils as well.

IDC revised its forecast for this year’s PC sales gains to only 0.9 percent, after the top U.S. giants, Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) and Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), reported lower PC sales for their latest financial quarters. By contrast, tablet sales, headed by the iPad from Apple (Nasdaq:M AAPL) should surge 54 percent.

Printer specialist Lexmark International Inc. (NYSE: LXK) said it will fire 1,700 employees, mainly in the Philippines, as part of strategy to exit its aging inkjet printer business. The move came after the company reported lower income and revenue, industry experts forecast lower PC sales as well as competition from No. 1 printer maker Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ).

According to Eurogamer, OnLive founder and CEO Steve Perlman has stepped down as head of the company, making way for new ownership in the form of Lauder Partners, an investment group specializing in technology.

Apple Inc is seeking speedy bans on the sale of eight Samsung Electronics phones, moving swiftly to translate its resounding court victory over its arch-foe into a tangible business benefit.

The Romneys love Costco, whose co-founder is a major backer of Barack Obama. The political leanings top executives gives no credence to the idea one party is the party of big business.

Famed game developer Peter Molyneux is known for his boastful hucksterism, sometimes making promises for his games that just never materialize. He’s currently working on a game that’s been recently retitled “Curiosity” that allows players to tap a cube in the hopes of accessing its mysterious contents, which Molyneux says is “life-changing,” according to Kotaku.

Internet company AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) announced plans Monday to return $1.1 billion to shareholders through a special dividend of $5.15 per share and also to buy back $600 million of stock under an accelerated stock-repurchase agreement with Barclays Bank PLC.

Now that 2012 is two-thirds over, it’s already time to label it, like the Asians do. Unlike 4709, it’s not the Year of the Dragon. It’s the Year of Anticipation.

After scoring a decisive win over competitor Samsung in the high-profile patent trial Friday, August 24, Apple has now shifted focus toward Microsoft, and is planning to unveil a smaller iPad, popularly referred to as "iPad Mini" to take on the Redmond software giant's tablet, Surface.

According to VentureBeat, Microsoft is courting former OnLive employees now that the game-streaming company has entered a period of restructuring that caused layoffs for multiple employees.

According to OXM.uk, the next Xbox might be closer to release than most people think. Currently codenamed “Durango,” the new Microsoft console is said to include a packed-in version of the Kinect motion-control system that has revolutionized body-scanning/reading technology.

Finnish mobile handset manufacturer Nokia finally seems to have made some headway with long-term partner Microsoft. Nokia is planning to introduce two new Windows Phone 8 devices in association with Microsoft Sept. 5.

While Apple has yet to make any official announcements about its upcoming products the iPhone 5 and the iPad mini, leaked details show that both devices are as good as confirmed at this point. But while many expect that both products will be launched simultaneously in September, the iPad mini may in fact be officially announced in October.

Salesforce.com's (NYSE: CRM) second-quarter results proved its strategy of adapting its software-as-a-service model to the increased use of the cloud by enterprises can pay off handsomely for investors.

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT), the world's biggest software company, is getting a facelift at 25. The company unveiled a new corporate logo Thursday that uses color for the first time: red, green, blue and yellow in squares next to the company name .

Salesforce.com’s (NYSE: CRM)’s second-quarter results are expected to show that its strategy of adapting its software-as-a-service model to the increased use of the cloud by enterprises can pay off handsomely for investors.