SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Apple Inc marketing chief Phil Schiller attacked Google Inc’s “fragmented” Android software and its biggest adopter, Samsung Electronics, a day before the Korean firm takes the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone in the United States.

Schiller, in an interview on the eve of the Galaxy S4′s launch in New York, said that Google’s own research showed the vast majority of Android users were stuck on older versions of the software, and that Samsung’s new phone itself may debut with a year-old operating system that will need updating.

SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Apple Inc(AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) has held talks with Beats Electronics LLC, the audio technology firm co-founded by influential hip-hop producer Dr Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine, on a potential partnership involving Beats’ planned music-streaming service, three people familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook met with Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine during a visit to Los Angeles in late February to find out more about Beats’ “Project Daisy”, a music subscription service the company announced in January but with scant detail, the sources said.

SAN FRANCISCO/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Apple Inc has held talks with Beats Electronics LLC, the audio technology firm co-founded by influential hip-hop producer Dr Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine, on a potential partnership involving Beats’ planned music-streaming service, three people familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook met with Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine during a visit to Los Angeles in late February to find out more about Beats’ “Project Daisy”, a music subscription service the company announced in January but with scant detail, the sources said.

By Poornima Gupta

(Reuters) – Two leading proxy advisers on Tuesday urged Hewlett-Packard Co shareholders to oust several board directors for their role in the ill-fated 2011 acquisition of British software company Autonomy.

ISS, the No. 1 proxy adviser which is closely followed by investors seeking guidance on controversial issues, has suggested voting against Chairman Ray Lane and fellow board members John Hammergren and G. Kennedy Thompson.