[Technology] Samsung, Apple dominate as 700M smartphones ship in 2012

Samsung, Apple dominate as 700M smartphones ship in 2012
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hVb-Q0nRo9bVh0OUwOfsBk1LLB3g?docId=CNG.53d73ff3608f7624f1a4b8ce7971626c.371
Handset makers shipped a record number of smartphones last year, a market that saw robust but slower growth over 2011. Steven Musil.

Windows 8 Lifts Revenue in Microsoft's Second Quarter
http://www.eweek.com/enterprise-apps/windows-8-lifts-revenue-in-microsofts-second-quarter/
Microsoft's Windows Division, boosted by Windows 8 sales, posted a 24 percent gain in revenues. However, silence on the number Surface RT units sold and Windows 7's continued popularity signal challenges ahead.

Nokia Laser rumored to be flagship Lumia for Verizon
http://www.slashgear.com/nokia-laser-rumored-to-be-flagship-lumia-for-verizon-24266709/
According to the folks over at The Verge, Nokia is geared to provide Verizon with a flagship Lumia Windows Phone codenamed the Laser.

AT&T Hits Record Smartphone Sales in Q4, But Loses $3.9 Billion
http://www.eweek.com/networking/att-hits-record-smartphone-sales-in-q4-but-loses-3.9-billion/
AT&T sold 10.2 million smartphones during the quarterâ€"most of them iPhonesâ€"but was hampered by subsidies, pensions and Sandy.

Sony fined $395000 for 2011 hack of its PlayStation Network
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267502/Sony-fined-250-000-hacker-attack-exposed-details-77-MILLION-users--prevented.html
A UK government body has fined Sony £250,000 (about $394,570) for the devastating 2011 hack of its PlayStation Network, which resulted in one of the largest online breaches ever.

BMW, Toyota Plan to Broaden Technology Partnership
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2013/01/24/bmw-toyota-plan-to-broaden-technology-partnership/
Getty Images: Toyota vice chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada and BMW board member Herbert Diess chat during a press conference in today in Nagoya, Japan.

Apple Seeing Wall Street Backlash Despite Record Revenues
http://www.eweek.com/mobile/apple-seeing-wall-street-backlash-despite-record-revenues/
Apple had a record-setting quarter that still caused stocks to fall and analysts to warn that it needs to do more if it's to remain a bellwether.

Facebook Graph Search Starts Rolling Out - And Awkward Queries Abound!
http://readwrite.com/2013/01/24/facebook-graph-search-awkward
Get ready for the social explosion. Facebook Graph Search has begun to roll out to earlybirds who opted into the beta of the new social search bar, which was announced last week at the company's Menlo Park HQ.

Microsoft Finds People Want More Privacy Control
http://www.telecomtiger.com/Corporate_fullstory.aspx?passfrom=corporate&storyid=16633§ion=S162
Almost half of U.S. adults feel they can't control how online companies collect personal information. Start The Discussion. Tweet; Mail Mail; Print Print · Thomas Claburn | January 24, 2013 12:53 PM.