Despite investor concerns, Apple beat analyst expectations for revenue and profits in the first three months of 2012 on continued strong sales of iPhones and iPads. The tech giant reported a net profit of $11.6 billion, or $12.30 a share, on revenue of $39.2 billion for its fiscal second quarter ending March 31. Net income nearly doubled from a year ago and sales were up 59%. Wall Street analysts had forecast a profit of $9.99 per share on revenue of $36.7 billion. Apple sold 35.1 million iPhones during the quarter, less than the 37 million in the prior quarter …

Citing strong demand, Barnes & Noble said Tuesday it began shipping its new glow-in-the dark Nook model two weeks ahead of schedule to customers who had pre-ordered the device. The $139 Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight is the first e-reader to hit the market allowing users to read in bed with the lights out. “Due to very strong pre-order demand, the company recommends that customers who wish to gift the device for Mother’s Day pre-order now, as orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis,” the company stated in a release today. Beginning this week, Barnes & Noble …

Pivotal Research Group lowered its valuation of Facebook to $75 billion from $82 billion a day after the social networking giant reported first-quarter results that showed rising costs and slowing growth since the prior quarter. Facebook’s Q1 revenue of $1.06 billion was up 45% from a year ago but fell 6% from the fourth quarter in part because of a seasonal decline in ad sales. Net income in the first quarter dropped to $205 million from $302 million in the fourth quarter. Calling the first-quarter numbers “disappointing,” Pivotal’s Brian Wieser said in a research note Tuesday said the results raise …

WPP flagship JWT has re-branded its Minneapolis office as an office of Digitaria, the San Diego-based digital agency it acquired nearly two years ago to become its central digital marketing services hub. The Minneapolis office already was a dedicated digital shop servicing clients such as UnitedHealth Group.

Gavin Kim, who served as general manager for Windows Phone product marketing at Microsoft, has joined mobile security firm NQ Mobile as chief product officer. In his prior post, Kim led product marketing and platform planning teams as well as Windows Phone application and developer ecosystem efforts. Before joining Microsoft in November, he was VP, consumer and enterprises services at Samsung Telecommunications Americas. (NQ Mobile co-CEO Omar Khan is former VO of strategy for the Samsung.) In his new job, Kim will oversee product, solutions and strategic partnerships for NQ Mobile, which makes mobile security, privacy and productivity applications. …

Looking to boost its important “NFL Sunday Ticket” package, DirecTV is lowering its price for the season worth of the game by 40% for the upcoming season. The price – which allows viewers to access all games in all markets – will now be $199.95.  Last season, DirecTV was able to grow to some 1 million customers from around 300,000 the year before through a special promotional two-year deal. But if you want to pay – and get -- even more NFL, that’s also available. “NFL Sunday Ticket Max is available for $299.95 (and only $100 for existing NFL Sunday …

Susan Claxton has joined GroupM's MEC unit as senior partner-content integration of MEC Entertainment.

Rosabel Tao has been named senior vice president-communications at CBS Interactive, overseeing all communications and public relations for CBS Interactive and its digital brands, including CBS.com, CBSNews.com, CBSSports.com, CNET, GameSpot, and TV.com.

Melanie DiMemmo and Sarah Iooss have been named senior vice president-digital ad sales for music and entertainment at Viacom, with responsibility for sales of the digital platforms of MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Comedy Central, Spike and TV Land, including mobile.

Martha Stewart will be the host of "Martha Stewart's Cooking School," a new weekly series debuting on PBS stations this fall. Each 30-minute episode will feature Stewart demonstrating classic cooking techniques and basics.