Microsoft just acquired calendar app maker Sunrise for a reported $100 million. By TechCrunch reckoning, the move is part of a full-scale reinvention, which “evidently involves acquiring startups that have created products that compete with its own.” Sunrise specializes in calendar products for mobile and desktop users, which connect with and consolidate calendars from various providers. As such, “The purchase furthers Microsoft’s push into supporting the platforms of rival technology firms.” 

Giving Apple and its forthcoming smartwatch a little competition, Swatch plans to debut its own smart offering within the next few months. “The device will communicate via the Internet ‘without having to be charged,’” Bloomberg Businessweek reports, citing comments from Swatch CEO Nick Hayek. “The Swatch smartwatch will also let consumers make mobile payments and work with Windows and Android software.” 

Apple is reportedly in talks with TV programmers about developing an “over the top” (OTT) pay-TV service. “The theory is that Apple would put together bundles of programming -- but not the entire TV lineup that pay-TV providers generally offer -- and sell it directly to consumers, over the Web,” Re/Code reports, citing sources. “That means Apple wouldn’t be reinventing the way TV works today, but offering its own version of it.” 

Singles can take heart in the news in Tinder’s premium version is nearly ready for launch. Tinder Plus, so-called, is expected to offer an Undo button -- so users can take back swipes -- and the promise of engaging with users beyond their immediate geographic region. “Both of Tinder’s mobile apps recently received updates on the respective app stores where the feature was mentioned in the app’s update text -- hinting at an imminent arrival,” TechCrunch reports.  

Casting further doubt on Foursquare’s ambitious turnaround, its original chief technical officer is leaving the company. “Harry Heymann, who was the company's first hire, is stepping down at the end of the week,” The Verge reports. “Heymann is the latest in a string of high-ranking Foursquare executives to depart the company as it pivots from a location-based social network into a Yelp-like local search engine.” Heymann is expected to maintain an advisory role at Foursquare. 

Despite all the roadblocks facing Uber and rival taxi alternatives, Google is reportedly ready to give the business a go. “Google is preparing to offer its own ride-hailing service, most likely in conjunction with its long-in-development driverless car project,” Bloomberg Businessweek reports, citing comments from David Drummond, Google’s chief legal officer and senior vice president of corporate development. 

During the Super Bowl on Sunday, hashtags were featured in about 50% of the TV ads -- down from 57% during last year’s game. That’s according to Marketing Land’s fourth annual Hashtag Bowl count of social media mentions during the big game. Also of note, “Facebook was the social network most mentioned, though mentions of specific social networks were again very sparse,” Marketing Land found. 

Reimagining the role of the messaging app, Japan’s Line is exploring a grocery sales and delivery service in Southeast Asia. “Beginning in Thailand this week, where it claims 36 million registered users, Line will offer up a range of perishable and non-perishable goods via its messaging app,” TechCrunch reports. “It is initially testing the concept using a daily deals model.” Not long ago, Line also began testing a Uber-like taxi service in Tokyo.