Amazon launches tablet skirmish against Apple with Kindle Fire.

Darden targets sluggish performance of Olive Garden brand.

DreamWorks may take over distribution of its own films.

Electronic Arts will feature romping Sports Illustrated models in new video game.

Family Dollar keeps expanding.

Ford considers adding 10,000 jobs and moving Fusion production to the U.S. from Mexico, Bloomberg says.

Gas Station TV gets to distribute Bloomberg news content at the pump.Continue reading...

More shopping experiences are aiming to connect with consumers via mobile and interactive applications, as stores and brands experiment with emerging technologies.

We recently noted Shopkick, an application that lets retailers know when a customer simply enters a store, and the watchful digital billboards being tested in Japan that scan passersby to determine what commercial messages might be appropriate without being, say, creepy.

Now DailyCandy, the once beatifully illustrated and now photo-heavy email newsletter for women that MTV cofounder Bob Pittman sold to Comcast, has released "Stylish Alerts," an application for Android phones.Continue reading...

Rather than rely on the wisdom of the crowd, Daily Grommet relies on the wisdom of its crowd — a staff of 17 very picky individuals — to produced a curated daily video review of a brand or product they consider noteworthy.

The goal: an online marketplace featuring unusual and quirky products that otherwise might never see the light of day.

The content: one hand-picked, ‘battle-tested’ product highlighted in a staff-produced video review each weekday. Products vary widely, from shoe inserts (above) to a hands-free flashlight, collapsible flower vases, USB flash bracelet, and doormats woven from ‘float rope’ now banned as it harms marine animals.

The process: quirky, selective, passionate, and highly personal.Continue reading...

Verizon's new Droid ad calls the iPhone a "sissy." [BrandFreak]

Slim-Fast issues a nationwide recall over health concerns. [DailyFinance]

DailyCandy closes down seven of twelve city editions. [Gawker]

Reuters redesigns website catering to readers. [Econsultancy]

Online shoppers will be thrilled to learn that DailyCandy, the website known for newsletters alerting of sample sales, has created its own sample sale website. The members-only site, called Swirl, will carry designer clothing and accessories for up to 80% off.

The online sales market has become increasingly crowded and increasingly popular. One of the many, Rue La La, just sold for $350 million to GSI Commerce, an e-commerce company which specializes in managing the sites of major retailers like ToysRUs.com and Zales.Continue reading...