Tech Five: Apple up slightly off Watch reveal

How are investors reacting to Apple's first jump into the smartwatch market? Let's take a look at the five technology stocks to watch Wednesday:

Apple. Shares of the tech giant are up slightly -- 0.3% -- after unveiling its Apple Watch at an event in its home city of Cupertino, California. The Watch will launch early next year, starting at $349. It will launch in two sizes and with bands in multiple colors and styles. Apple also unveiled two new iPhones: the iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display and the iPhone 6 Plus with 5.5-inch screen. Perhaps the most interesting announcement was Apple Pay, the company's mobile payments service. It will work at more than 220,000 retailers in the U.S. offering contactless payment. The service also received support from 83% of the nation's banks and credit card giants American Express, Mastercard and Visa.

Microsoft. Shares of Microsoft are also trading higher off reports the company is in talks to acquire Minecraft developer Mojang AB. The company is reportedly offering more than $2 billion. Originally launched for PCs, Minecraft sales topped 54 million across multiple platforms, including consoles and mobile.

Intel. The company's next-generation chip -- code-named Skylake -- are expected to launch during the second half of next year, according to PC World. Kirk Skaugen, the head of Intel's PC Client Group, tells the website the Skylake processors will boast a "significant" boost in performance and battery life.

Twitter. The social network will join Netflix, Reddit, Mozilla and other companies in a protest to support net neutrality, reports BBC. The protest is expected to start Wednesday.

Sprint. The wireless carrier is stepping up its plan options following the arrival of Marcelo Claure as CEO. The company introduced an "iPhone for life" plan, which allows users to upgrade to the latest iPhone every two years with unlimited data, according to its website.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.