NSA slides explain the PRISM data-collection program  —  The top-secret PRISM program allows the U.S. intelligence community to gain access from nine Internet companies to a wide range of digital information, including e-mails and stored data, on foreign targets operating outside the United States.

Startup Investing Trends  —  Y Combinator has now funded 564 startups including the current batch, which has 53.  The total valuation of the 287 that have valuations (either by raising an equity round, getting acquired, or dying) is about $11.7 billion, and the 511 prior to the current batch have collectively raised about $1.7 billion.

Google's Quantum Computer Proven To Be Real Thing (Almost)  —  Google bought one.  So did Lockheed Martin, one of the world's largest defense contractors.  But we still can't agree on what it is they bought.  —  D-Wave, the company that built the thing, calls it the world's first quantum computer …

UK's BSkyB Wins Case Against Microsoft Over Use Of “SkyDrive” Name In Europe; May Have To Drop Name Or Pay Fines  —  Microsoft went big on pushing cloud services this week at its Build conference, but today it was dealt a blow for how it might get to market them in Europe.

Why Oracle And Salesforce, Once Bitter Rivals, Are Now On Cloud Nine  —  Marc Benioff and Larry Ellison, the CEOs of two of the more powerful enterprise companies in the world — Salesforce.com and Oracle — are not known to be the chummiest of pals.  Before this week's sudden peaceful truce …

Nokia Said to Buy Siemens Stake in Wireless Gear Venture  —  Nokia Oyj (NOK1V) has agreed to buy Siemens AG (SIE)'s stake in the companies' telecommunications equipment joint venture, according to three people familiar with the situation.  —  Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland …

A Venture SLA  —  There is an opportunity for a new VC Firm to brand itself.  Recent brands in Venture Capital arose from transparency and founder-friendliness.  YCombinator gives new, young, technical talent an entry into Silicon Valley.  500 Startups does it globally.  Fred Wilson blogs the business.

Foundation: Evan Williams on Hatching Big Ideas  —  In today's episode of my Foundation series, serial entrepreneur Evan Williams talks candidly about his experiences building Blogger, Twitter, and his latest project, Medium.  Ev recounts the early days of Twitter, shares what he's learned …

Encryption Has Foiled Wiretaps for First Time Ever, Feds Say  —  For the first time, encryption is thwarting government surveillance efforts through court-approved wiretaps, U.S. officials said today.  —  The disclosure, buried in a report by the U.S. agency that oversees federal courts …