Welcome to this morning's edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on five particular stories of interest today.
HTC Working on Facebook-Integrated Phone
Facebook is working with HTC to develop a phone that is much more deeply integrated with the social network than any previous “Facebook phones," according to multiple reports.
HP Earnings Beat Expectations
HP earned $1.17 per share on fourth-quarter revenue of $32.3 billion, down from $1.33 per share on revenue of $33.3 billion from the same period last year, but above analysts' forecast of $1.13 per share. The company's fiscal 2012 earnings forecast was modest, at just above $4 per share.
BlackBerry PlayBook Price Slashed to $199
RIM has cut the cost of the struggling BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to $199 from its original retail price of $499.
Ads Arrive in Facebook News Ticker
As promised, Facebook has begun featuring sponsored stories in the news ticker.
Penguin Pulls Out of Ebook Lending
Citing security concerns, Penguin has opted out of Kindle's lending program and begun removing existing ebooks from libraries.
Further News
Google has lowered the price of its entry-level Chromebook laptop to $299.
The Guardian Group is allegedly looking for a buyer for its media news site, PaidContent.
Google has updated its free search app for the iPad with Siri-like voice search, among other features.
The New York Times has launched digital subscriptions for companies and organizations with more than 50 employees.
Google has updated Street View to include footage from many ski resorts.