WRAL Tech Wire

 Apple to return $100B to shareholders, compensation for slumping stock price

When a company starts doling out its cash to shareholders, it's usually a sign that its growth is stalling and it's finding it hard to identify good ways to invest in its own business. But Apple is still growing fast by the standards of large companies, and its cash pile-up is a reflection of the extraordinary success of the iPhone.

 Bad Apple? Analysts predict first profit drop in a decade

Apple's quarterly profit is projected to shrink for the first time in a decade, hurt by new products with lower profit margins and slower growth in iPhone sales.

 IBM doesn't quite measure up to AT&T, Verizon in data hosting report

A review of managed hosting services by research firm Gartner gives "leader" status to AT&T, Verizon and two others. IBM comes in as a "visionary." Gartner also rates highly CenturyLink's service and Rackspace.

 Don't panic, Microsoft shareholders - Product integration will sustain its growth

Analysis: The continued decline of the overall PC market and increasing trends of cloud and mobility in both the enterprise and consumer spaces has negatively impacted the consistency of Microsoft's core Business and Windows Divisions in recent quarters. But unifying its capabilities should deliver growth.

 Google making big NC expansion news - but don't expect many jobs

The search engine giant is scheduled to announce a major investment in its huge $600 million Lenoir, N.C. data center. But don't expect Google to hire very many people.

Google's data center in Lenoir.

 Lenovo tells Hong Kong Stock Exchange it could be making an acquisition

Following media reports that Lenovo is in negotiations to buy at least a portion of IBM's server business, the world's No. 2 PC maker tells the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that a "potential acquisition" of some kind could be in the works.

 Citing falling PC sales, Blackstone drops bid for Dell

Blackstone Group has pulled out of bidding for Dell Inc. amid concerns about the personal-computer maker's finances and the worsening outlook for global PC sales.

 Sale of server business to Lenovo would fit IBM pattern

Big Blue Chief Financial Officer Mark Loughridge wouldn't discuss a report that IBM is negotiating to sell its x86 server business to Lenovo. But the tech giant has made clear it's intentions of continuing a strategy to dump hardware in favor of software and services. Analysts see IBM selling at least parts of the group.

IBM leads in server sales, says IDC

 Microsoft's strong earnings are no thanks to Windows 8

Microsoft's revenue and profit gains came from sales recognized before the launch of Windows 8.

 Report: IBM could sell a server business unit to Lenovo for up to $6B

Lenovo and IBM won't comment about the report, but Computer Reseller News, a widely ready PC and tech industry publication, says IBM is in active negotiations to sell its x86 brand of servers to Lenovo in a deal that could cost up to $6 billion. IBM maintains an x86 facility at its RTP campus.

 Apple shares tumble below $400 on report iPhone, iPad sales are slowing

"We blame Apple for losing its mobility mojo," a Wall Street analyst says about chip supply problem. "This was simply an inventory overbuild for the iPhone 5 relative to Apple's forecast."

 'Cloud' computing growth means more expansion for startup 6fusion

6fusion, the "cloud" computing technology startup based at N.C. State's Centennial Campus, is expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific as demand for cloud-related services continues to grow.

6fusion's "WAC" process

 Forget 3D! Ultra HD TVs are going mainstream - fast - as prices plunge

Like it or not, Ultra HD televisions (aka TVs with an enhanced 2160p resolution) are on their way to market, and this past weekend manufacturer Seiki rocked the industry by releasing the first budget 4K HDTV at $1,500.

Ultra 4K TV proces dropping

 As PC industry changes, Intel braces for new CEO, possible new direction

Analysis: With PC demand slowing and mobile device use growing, chip giant Intel has yet to announce who will replace retiring CEO Paul Otellini. In the short-term, customers will delay purchasing while there is significant uncertainty surrounding Intel's long-term direction.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini

 Lenovo launches Horizon table PC

Lenovo's Horizon table PC has a supersized screen that allows up to four people to use it simultaneously to use interactive content and play games.

Lenovo Horizon Table PC

 Dell, Icahn agree on a share ownership cap

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn agreed to accumulate no more than a 10 percent stake in Dell Inc. as he continues to pursue an alternative to a $24.4 billion leveraged buyout by founder Michael Dell.

Dell's new ultrabook

 Red Hat steps up 'cloud' drive, lands Cisco, Intel as partners

Over the past year, Red Hat has been steadily increasing its commitment to OpenStack, an international initiative for development of cloud computing solutions based on open source. On Monday, Red Hat took two more major steps to bring its Red Hat OpenStack solution to market, including the launching of an early adopter program. Among its partners are two of technology's biggest hitters: Cisco and Intel.

How OpenSyack cloud works

 IBM bypasses Triangle in $1B Flash storage expansion

Big Blue is investing $1 billion to expand research and development efforts into Flash, or solid state drives, but its new data center in RTP is not on the investment list.

IBM touts benefits of FLASH

 Thumbs up for Lenovo at Fitch, thumbs down at Citi

Lenovo shares tumble in Hong Kong nearly 12 percent over last two days after global PC sales report. Citi cuts Lenovo shares to "sell," but ratings agency Fitch says it expect the world's No. 2 PC maker "to continue to perform well."

Fitch Ratings

 Stock in Microsoft, others linked to PCs drop as computer sales plunge

If fewer people are interested in buying a new personal computer, then fewer investors want to own stakes in companies whose fortunes are tied to the sales of laptop and desktop machines.