Desktop market share in December 2012. The Windows 8 Touch market share -- 0.05 percent -- has been included in Other, bringing the Windows 8 total to 1.77 percent.

Despite a mixed reaction to its arrival at the end of October, Windows 8 continued to grow in market share by the end of December 2012.

New desktop market share numbers released by Net Applications show that Windows 8 jumped from 1.06 percent market share at the end of its first full month on the market to 1.77 percent by the end of December. That's a month-to-month jump of almost 60 percent. Note that these numbers include Windows 8 and Windows 8 on touch screens, but not Windows RT.

For what it's worth, the feature-limited Windows RT claimed 0.01 percent of global market share during the same time period. However, CNET sister site ZDNET also noted that the Surface RT is the most popular single device running either Windows 8 or Windows RT. This isn't a surprise, though, as none of the new Windows 8 or Windows RT devices has gotten the singular push that the Surface RT has.

Other market share shifts include... [Read more]

A Skype call acts like an incoming cellular phone.

Skype has updated its Windows Phone application with some new features -- and the loss of a key one.

The company yesterday updated its app for Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8 with a preview release. Skype was quick to point out that the "experiences are not yet final," adding that some features "are work-in-progress and may not function consistently." Those features address, among other things, call reliability and "the ability to receive incoming calls and chat notifications when outside of the app."

Although Skype didn't offer too many other details, GeekWire reported yesterday that the app has also lost its integration with Windows Phone's People Hub.

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Update 10:51 a.m. PT: A source has confirmed to CNET that Apple has no plans to acquire Waze. Click here to read the full story.

Apple and social-navigation app maker Waze might soon come to terms on a lucrative deal for the startup.

The iPhone maker is in talks to acquire Waze, TechCrunch is reporting today, citing sources who claim to have knowledge of the negotiations. Those sources say that Waze is looking to net $750 million in the deal, but Apple is so far only willing to offer $400 million in cash and an additional $100 million in earn-outs, based on performance.

Waze is a relatively popular social-navigation app. The service has over 30 million users who share real-time traffic information as they drive around the world. Waze uses that information to deliver improved driving directions. The app also lets users share with others the things they come across on the road, including police car locations, accidents, and just about anything else they deem appropriate for the community.

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Samsung will, in fact, launch some Tizen-based smartphones this year, the company has confirmed.

In a statement to CNET, a Samsung spokesperson said that the company plans "to unveil competitive Tizen devices within this year." The person didn't say how many devices would be offered, and failed to provide details on what sort of features those handsets might deliver. Those details will be announced at a later time.

The Samsung spokesperson said that the company will launch more Tizen-based devices "based on market situations."

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Reports have been swirling for days that Samsung would be launching Tizen-based devices. Samsung did not, however, confirm its decision to launch Tizen handsets this year until today.

Tizen is a Linux-based operating system that arose out of the demise of Nok... [Read more]