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 four particular stories of interest today.
Holiday Spending Approaches $25 Billion in U.S.
U.S. consumers have spent $24.6 billion in the first 39 days of the holiday season, up 15% from the same period last year, according comScore.
Microsoft Replaces Head of Windows Phone Unit
Microsoft is moving Andy Lees, the current head of its Windows Phone business, to a new role, according to AllThingsD.
WordPress Releases Version 3.3
WordPress has updated its software to version 3.3, which includes a drag-and-drop uploader, improved co-editing support, a Tumblr importer and a number of cosmetic changes. Tablet compatibility has also been upgraded.
Kremlin Reaches Out to Protesters on Facebook
The Kremlin is using Facebook in a bid to quell anti-government sentiment, following the country’s largest protests since the fall of the USSR.
Further News
Apple is reportedly in talks to acquire Anobit, an Israeli semiconductor company, for $400 million to $500 million.
Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble are planning to roll out a series of performance improvements for the Kindle Fire and Nook Color devices, respectively.
Bottlenose has launched a tracking dashboard that fights social media overload with flexible, granular feed customization options.
Most tablet owners are choosing Wi-Fi-only devices over those with 3G connections, according to a Connected Intelligence study.
Google has added a new feature for Blogger users who have connected their blog with their Google+ accounts, making it easier to share a post with their Google+ friends.
Microsoft has updated its OneNote iOS app to support the iPad.