Microsoft yesterday unveiled Windows 8, which includes a touch-optimized, tile-based main interface, melding the user friendliness of modern smartphones with powerful PC features like complete access to the file system, the ability to see more than one app at a time on screen, and desktop caliber apps.

Apple, on the other hand, is poised to announce the eagerly awaited cloud system iCloud during Monday’s WWDC, among many other new features and announcements (OS X Lion, iOS 5).

We used Social Radar to measure buzz around Microsoft Windows 8 to Apple iCloud, OS X Lion and iOS 5.

Microsoft Windows 8 vs. Apple iCloud, OS X Lion, iOS 5 buzz

Windows 8 is currently generating more buzz than Apple iCloud, iOS 5 and OS X Lion.

Microsoft vs. Apple buzz

Throughout the last 30 days, Apple has generated more chatter overall than Microsoft, despite a large spike for Microsoft around May 10 following the Skype acquisition.

Microsoft sentiment

Microsoft conversations are currently 65% positive, which is below the average 80% positive throughout the last month.

We will check back Monday following Apple’s WWDC with further analysis around Apple buzz.

Microsoft announced plans to buy Internet phone service Skype for $8.5 billion in its biggest-ever acquisition, placing a rich bet on mobile and the Internet to try to best rivals such as Google. The software company outbid Google and Facebook, which sources said offered to partner or buy Skype for $3 billion to $4 billion.

The news comes shortly after Apple was named the world’s most valuable brand, dethroning Google, which held the title for four years. In its annual BrandZ ranking of the world’s 100 top brands, Millward Brown estimated the worth of Apple’s brand at $153.3 billion.

We used Social Radar to measure conversations around both stories.

Skype, Microsoft & Apple buzz

Chatter around Skype is up 793% today following the acquisition announcement.

Microsoft – Skype acquisition sentiment

Conversations around the acquisition have been 62% positive today.

My biggest question is…will Skype work on my MacBook and/or iPhone anymore?

Southwest Airlines Co, the largest U.S. low-cost airline, struck a deal last week to buy smaller rival AirTran for about $1.4 billion, aiming to challenge bigger carriers in the East Coast market.

The merger would be the first between leading U.S. low-cost airlines and prompted speculation of more deals to come as the industry cuts costs and carriers look to expand their networks.

Chatter around Southwest spiked the day of the announcement, but has since leveled out.

AirTran was mentioned in 60% of Southwest posts on the day of the acquisition announcement.

The AirTran acquisition has dominated the Southwest conversation throughout the past week.

Sentiment around Southwest is 85% positive.

Will Southwest’s growth have a positive long term effect on the company and its passengers? How will the move impact the airline industry?

After spending nearly $10 billion within a few weeks on acquisitions, we decided to run some social analysis on Intel.

On August 19, Intel acquired security-software maker McAfee for $7.68 billion in the largest deal of their 42-year history. Some questioned the decision, but Intel executives argued growing security dangers require new measures and described the acquisition as an essential step to design chips and other hardware that can protect systems better than software alone.

Less than two weeks later, Intel acquired chip maker Infineon’s Wireless Solutions Business on August 29 for $1.4 billion. The Infineon acquisition enables Intel to expand the company’s reach beyond the core PC and server businesses and into the mobile and wireless markets.

Overall chatter around Intel for the month of August 2010 peaked on 8/19, the day of the McAfee acquisition. Chatter on 8/19 was 68% higher than the day of the Infineon announcement 8/29.

Here’s a look at the overall sentiment trend chart for the month:

Interestingly, sentiment on August 19 was 85% positive, while sentiment on August 29 was only 70% positive (although Intel announced on August 28 that it cut its third-quarter revenue forecast, citing weaker-than-expected consumer demand for personal computers in mature markets.)

Overall the word McAfee was mentioned much more frequently in Intel posts than the word Infineon. The word McAfee appeared in nearly 70% of Intel related chatter on August 19.

The topic cloud for the month of August reveals generally positive conversation overall. Do you think these moves were wise for Intel?