Research firm Gartner claims that Apple sold 74.83 million smartphones worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2014, beating out Samsung which sold 73.03 million units.

This is the first time since 2011 that Samsung has not been on top of Gartner’s worldwide smartphone sales list on a quarterly basis, and it’s most likely due to high sales of Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The firm stated:

“Samsung’s performance in the smartphone market deteriorated further in the fourth quarter of 2014, when it lost nearly 10 percentage points in market share,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. “Samsung continues to struggle to control its falling smartphone share, which was at its highest in the third quarter of 2013. This downward trend shows that Samsung’s share of profitable premium smartphone users has come under significant pressure.”

Overall, Samsung still sold more smartphones than Apple for the entire year of 2014, with 307.60 million units worldwide. That number is well ahead of Apple’s, which sold 191.43 million smartphones last year.

Source: Gartner

Apple will reportedly have a few primary areas of focus when selling the Apple Watch to customers in their retail stores, including features of the Watch itself, as well as its benefits as a companion to your iPhone.

Apple will apparently focus on the health and fitness, communication, and timekeeping aspects of the Watch when selling to customers. They will also encourage perspective Watch buyers to upgrade their iPhone, or switch from another platform. Apple apparently has confidence that a lot of people want an Apple Watch, and will use a soft sell, according to 9to5Mac:

One of the more striking elements of Apple’s sales strategy is a stated confidence that “many customers have already decided that they want an Apple Watch.” Operating under this assumption, Apple employees have been told to ask customers a series of soft questions in order to make the sale, rather than making a hard sales pitch.

Apple will evidently use some of these question to determine which model, Watch, Sport, or Edition, that is most suited to a customer. Questions are said to include whether or not a customer needs a more casual or formal watch, or what type of band they prefer.

Bands are apparently an important part of how Apple will sell the Watch. At a town hall for retail employees apparently held last week SVP of Retail Angela Ahrendts is said to have stressed the importance of accessories, to the Apple Watch. She also reportedly detailed upcoming changes to the Apple Retail Stores.

Apple has internally discussed new retail store layouts and sales methods in light of the Apple Watch. The company has installed safes inside of Apple Stores to house the more expensive device, while it is also planning to set up new glass-covered Apple Watch display tables similar to those at the device’s unveiling. For the gold model, employees are expected to use a special iPhone app to unlock the table, enabling customers to try on the more expensive watch.

Apple’s upcoming “Spring Forward” event on March 9 is expected to be all about the Apple Watch. It’s likely that we’ll get a better look at some of their retail plans for the device then, possibly including changes coming to the stores.

We’ll be on hand at the Yerba Buena Center during the event with the latest on the Apple Watch.

Source: 9to5Mac

Warner Bros. Interactive has at least five upcoming mobile games that are in development.

After revealing plans to launch a version of Mobile Kombat X for mobile devices sometime in April, the publisher has four other games in the works, all based on well known franchises. Here’s the list:

Batman: Arkham Underworld (Developed by Turbine)

• Rule Gotham City! Build your hideout, then recruit and train an army of henchmen to do your bidding. Command iconic super-villains from the Batman: Arkham universe, including the Riddler, Harley Quinn and Killer Croc, to become Gotham City’s next criminal kingpin. Sign up for beta at http://www.arkhamunderworld.com.

LEGO Batman: Beyond Gotham (Developed by TT Games)

• The Caped Crusader joins forces with the super heroes of the DC Comics universe in this premium game and blasts off to outer space to stop the evil Brainiac from destroying Earth. Now the greatest super heroes and the most cunning villains must unite and stop Brainiac before it’s too late.

DC Comics Legends (Developed by WB Games San Francisco)

• Gamers will grow their collection of legendary DC Comics super heroes and villains, customizing super teams with the right heroes for each encounter in this mobile RPG.

Game of Thrones (Developed by Turbine; Game title to be revealed at a later time)

• Conquer Westeros in an epic combat strategy game based on the hit television series from HBO. Prove the wit of your spies and the might of your forces on the battlefield as you extend your dominance across the seven Kingdoms. Join an alliance, rise to power, and then try to take the Iron Throne if you dare!

Release dates for these four games have yet to be announced.

Source: Warner Bros Interactive