* All Things D reports that Facebook is working with HTC to build a smartphone, codenamed “Buffy,” built around the social network. (All Things D)

* HP CEO Meg Whitman told investors during her first earnings conference call to lower their expectations and that the road ahead in 2012 “just looks tough,” emphasizing that large acquisitions would likely not be part of the strategy. The company reported a net income of $2.5 billion, $200 million less than the same time last year, while revenues dipped 3% to nearly $32 billion. (Bloomberg Businessweek and The New York Times)

* Greg Joswiak, Apple VP of worldwide iPod, iPhone, and iOS product marketing, discussed the company’s four keys to success. (The Wall Street Journal)

* Netflix (NFLX), which is raising $400 million to fund new investments in content, expects to lose money next year. (Business Insider)

* An in-depth profile of AOL-Huffington Post’s editorial director, Arianna Huffington. (New York Magazine)

* Several ex-Google employees have launched a “recommendation engine” for the iPhone. “Stamped,” as it’s called, plugs into Facebook and Twitter and offers up things to do, places to go, and songs to listen to, based on what’s going on in your social network accounts. (VentureBeat)

* Slate columnist Farhad Manjoo on why the latest version of Android, “Ice Cream Sandwich,” is a great improvement that’s rough around the edges. (Slate)

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