Today in Tech News Digest, incomings and outgoings at Microsoft, Android wins big in smartphones, Facebook introduces Paper, Box launches Box Notes, the Windows desktop could be back by default, and the Internet calls for Justin Bieber to be deported from the U.S.

Nadella In, Gates Out At Microsoft?

Oh look. @satyanadella is an egg!

— Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) January 30, 2014

Microsoft looks to be ready to name its new CEO, with Satya Nadella the most likely candidate. In order to make way for the new man, Bill Gates may be out as chairman. This is because Nadella is an insider, which would necessitate bringing in an outsider as chairman.

This is all speculation at this point, started by Kara Swisher at Re/code and strengthened by a report on Bloomberg. Both suggest their information came from people close to the selection process.

Nadella is currently the executive vice president of Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise group, and has been with the company since 1992. He looks to be a capable candidate to replace Steve Ballmer as Microsoft CEO, but Microsoft has certainly taken its time making a final decision.

Android Owns In Smartphones

http://youtu.be/GlXeCopvN5c

The fact that 1 billion smartphones shipped in 2013 is as intriguing fact, but the market share makeup of those 1 billion handsets is more interesting. And with two different analytics firms reporting similar numbers these figures are highly likely to be accurate.

They show that around 79 percent of the smartphones shipped in 2013 were running Android. Apple's iOS is down from 20 percent in 2012 to around 15 percent in 2013. Windows Phone was running on 3 percent of handsets, with BlackBerry bringing up the rear on 2 percent. Is Android unstoppable at this point?

Facebook Reinvents 'Paper'

Facebook's Paper, Flipboard's magazines... digital media now aspire to be the analogue forebears they have spent a generation mocking.

— Robert Andrews (@RobertAndrews) January 30, 2014

Facebook has unveiled Paper, a new mobile app that presents the content shared on Facebook in a new, more exciting way. Content is shown on a set of cards that is more akin to leafing through sheets of paper, hence the name of the app.

Content from outside publications is included in the mix, and many will be chosen by a team of editors rather than a mere algorithm. Paper is, therefore, seen as competition to Flipboard, Prismatic, and other social aggregation apps.

Paper will land on iOS in the U.S. on February 3, with other operating systems and territories supposedly following soon after.

Box Notes, For Notes In Box

Cloud storage service Box has unveiled Box Notes, a Google Docs-like service that allows you to write notes and save them to the cloud. As well as text you can add images, video, and other media files to your notes. Box Notes is currently in beta, though you can ask for an invitation.

The Windows Desktop: Back By Default

If Microsoft makes the Windows 8.1 update boot to the classic desktop by default, that's huge. http://t.co/Pn2wB1WX23

— Harry McCracken (@harrymccracken) January 31, 2014

Microsoft looks set to backpedal over the biggest change made with Windows 8, bringing the desktop back by default. Windows 8.1 gave users the option of bypassing the 'Metro' interface, but new rumors suggest the Windows 8.1 Update 1 will enable this option by default.

It is being suggested that Microsoft has made this decision based on data revealing that the majority of Windows 8 users still use a keyboard and mouse combo. The 'Metro' interface was designed primarily for tablet and touchscreen users.

This would be a rather embarrassing climbdown for Microsoft, but one which shows it's paying attention to the needs and wants of consumers. After all, with so many choosing to stick with Windows 7 for the time being, the company cannot just sit idly by while Windows 8 fails.

The Internet Wants Rid Of Justin Bieber

http://youtu.be/-vBgQ1hmgIQ

And finally, we have indisputable proof that the Internet is a force for good. Because over 200,000 (and counting) have signed an online petition calling for teenage tearaway and part-time pop sensation Justin Bieber to be deported from the United States of America.

The problem is, of course, that Canada may not want Bieber back, as suggested in the video embedded above. Whether Bieber does get deported or not, the White House has to officially respond to the petition, as the number of people who signed it topped the 100,000 minimum required to make that happen.

Tech News Digest… Breaking News Into Bite-Sized Chunks.

Image Credit: Claudio Toledo