For years, Apple has sold itself as the young, hip counterpart to the old fuddy duddies in the PC and mobile phone market. Now, Samsung is taking a page from the master’s book—and it's helping it gain some serious mobile market share.

When Samsung launched its Galaxy S3 last year, its "Next Big Thing" advertising took direct jabs at Apple’s iPhone and all the supposed earbud-wearing lemmings that bought the device—echoing the Apple-bashing theme of its Galaxy S II campaign. Now, as it releases its highly-anticipated Galaxy S4, it looks like the marketers at Samsung have decided to sit back on their heels and let the Apple bashing continue—and why not? 

According to Ad Age, Samsung’s market share in the fourth quarter of 2012 went up to 30% from 21% in 2011. Meanwhile, Apple’s share fell from 41% to 39% in that same window.Continue reading...

It’s here, and it’s not just a phone. Facebook's highly anticipated event today confirmed swirling rumors that the social network would release a product closely tied to a mobile device, and that product is Facebook Home.

"We asked ourselves if sharing and connecting are what matter most, what would your phone be like if it put your friends first?" Facebook stated. "Our answer is Home. Home isn't a phone or operating system, and it's also more than just an app. Home is a completely new experience that lets you see the world through people, not apps."Continue reading...

GM is buying back $200M shares from the U.S. government.

UBS fined $1.5 billion in growing Libor scandal.

Instagram backpedals following outcry on terms of service change enabling user images for ad purposes.

CW pulls plug on major placement platform with end of Gossip Girl.

DirecTV expands cross-platform reach.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg donates $500M to charity.

Grammys launches new social trivia game.Continue reading...

Nokia is taking its cue from Samsung Apple-bashing — check out the brand's latest spot for Lumia, above, mocking a queue for iPhone 5. Update: Bloomberg is reporting that AT&T is ready to begin seling Nokia's Lumia 920 in the U.S.

Interbrand's 2012 Best Global Brands report sees Coca-Cola on top, Apple and Samsung make gains, Disney and HP decline, and BlackBerry lose 39 percent of brand value.

Samsung files to add iPhone 5 to Apple patent lawsuit as US court lifts injunction against Galaxy Tab sales and Galaxy S3 outsells iPhone 5 in UK.

Amazon plans to hire 10,000 British temp employees for the holidays.

American Airlines accuses pilots of sabotage as loose seats embarrass execs.

American Express ordered to refund $85 million to customers and pay $27.5 million in penalties.

Apple's iPad Mini rumored for Oct. 17 unveiling.

Cadbury wins exclusive right to its signature purple color in legal battle.

Disney unveils new homepage with entertainment focus.

Facebook sells more access to members as part of ad analytics push; Wall Street approves.

Google's stock market value passes Microsoft's for the first time.

Guinness launches "cloud TV" campaign.Continue reading...

You might think of it as two of the biggest schoolyard bullies having a go at one another to see who will be the last bully standing.

The much-anticipated Apple vs. Samsung patent infringement trial kicked off this week and it promises to be a show of mythic proportions. What's the beef? Well, Apple brought suit in April 2011 against Samsung, claiming the Korean company essentially copied its iPhone and iPad. Samsung counter-sued, indicating that it was Apple who in fact infringed on Samsung's patents.Continue reading...

AT&T posts $4-billion quarterly profit and sells 3.7 million iPhones (click here for highlights).

Amazon pursues careful state-sales-tax strategy.

Apple and Samsung gear up for "patent trial of the century" as Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 is banned in EU.

Apple is expected to beat estimates in today's earnings conference call, if not a blowout.

BMW invests in EV-charging network.

Billabong gets lower takeover offer.

Capital One deceptive-marketing fine "unlikely" to change its strategy.Continue reading...

Neiman Marcus and Target join brands for unusual Christmas collaboration: 50 limited-edition American designer items, plus $1M donation to the CFDA.

Starbucks rolls out low-cal Refreshers drinks.

Marks & Spencer fires clothing head following worst sales in three years.

American Airlines and U.S. Airways keep dancing around a merger.

Apple removes green electronics certification from products.

Chase launches Chase Liquid reloadable card.

Coca-Cola takes stake in Mexican juice company Jugos del Valle.

Conde Nast confirms London location of namesake fashion college.

DirecTV could drop 26 Viacom channels in dispute.

Dodge places major ad push behind new Dart.Continue reading...