Coca-Cola introduces itself to Myanmar.

DreamWorks and Netflix reach deal for new TV programs.

Smithfield Foods is urged by major shareholder to carve itself up rather than sell to Chinese firm. 

Airbus tracks to double profit margin.

Al Jazeera will demonstrate deep pockets in US debut.

Apple will become big—but not dominant—player in automotive "center stack."

Chrysler launches nationwide ad blitz for SRT performance brand.

Facebook to unveil video support for Instagram, reports say. 

Ford buckles on adding knobs for infotainment controls.

GM expands SUV recall for fire risk as it poises to jump out of "lease hole."

Hooters debuts late-night menu.Continue reading...

"Put down your Huawei" is the message behind a new campaign from China tech giant Huawei. Wait, what?

In a new campaign in China, Huawei is warning about how products—such as its own—are causing families to lose valuable communication time. It's all centered around Huawei's "honey box." It's a brave new endeavor by a few brands in China to show people how unbearable their lives have become, just before showing them how a product can solve that.

In separate, 30-second episodes broken off of a longer 3:30-minute central piece, families struggle with the distracting screens of the modern age. A father gets a message from his wife to put down the smartphone during a family dinner; an elderly man leaves to wander the streets alone after unsuccessful attempts to engage his son and grandson who are both glued to glowing screens;  a child messages his mother in the next room, asking her to come and watch TV with him and grandma. The mother, herself watching TV on her laptop, ignores him.Continue reading...

Facebook drops "sponsored stories" as it pares down ad formats.

Samsung is hit by concerns that Galaxy S4 isn't selling well.

Google under fire for allowing ads selling illegal drugs, judge says. 

Airbus builds sales momentum for new A350.

Chevron and golf's US Open seek new young scientists.

Constellation takes its crown by gaining rights to Corona beer.

Hallmark nabs the rights to Duck Dynasty brand for greeting cards. 

Huawei dismisses security concerns.

Microsoft unveils trade-in rights for games on Xbox One.

Panera faces new test for pay-as-you-can.

R.J. Reynolds returns to TV advertising to promte new e-cigarette.Continue reading...

Tim Cook just said at #D11 that former EPA Admin Lisa Jackson will be joining @apple as enviro coordinator reporting to him. Congrats girl!

— Hilary Rosen (@hilaryr) May 29, 2013

Apple is the mine's canary. That's the takeaway from a recent press conference in China where the head of corporate sustainability for China tech giant Huawei told reporters that, unlike Apple, it will "learn from the issues that Apple has faced in China" and "never let supplier issues tarnish our brand.”

Whether Huawei means to "learn" from Apple or just copy it, the brand that has been singled out for a beating in the last few years over everything from China labor issues to tax avoidance has come under fire for a failure to innovate. But those critics all have tunnel-vision for Apple's electronics products.

What about innovating its "cultural product"? What if buying a iPhone 6 meant buying a better future? That just might be what Apple's aiming for with its latest high-profile hire. (Plus, the one better future we already have with Jackson's addition.) Continue reading...

China is the second largest economy in the world and every significant brand's future is impacted by its growth (or collapse)—but who's got the time?! Here's the week's reads that will make you look like a keen China observer in case you find yourself immersed in a cultural conversation.

This week: Shanghai's Gangnam Bar... Maxi pad branded-content... Huang Xiaoming for Busen... Mocking Forrest Gump... Hershey and Nestle... Lenovo PC profits... China buys Fisker... Gatsby, Tesco woes... Hello Kitty melons... Art Basel hits Hong Kong... and more.Continue reading...

Coca-Cola posts lower net and unveils U.S.-bottler deal.

JCPenney buys time with credit line.

Twitter seeks deals with NBC and Viacom for high-quality video content.

A&W plans to move upscale and test fast-casual concept.

Amazon targets older consumers with new store.

Apple dominates in best-paid executives as board retains Jobs deputies.

BMW will debut EV brand Zinoro in China in early 2014.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...

JCPenney cuts an additional 2,200 jobs and delays stocking Martha Stewart products as judge suggests mediation with Macy's.

McDonald's U.S. sales slip, but less than anticipated.

Disney welcomes new movie-studio chief and big plans for Star Wars franchise.

Adidas is hot on heels of Nike in sportswear in China.

Amazon logs rising revenue from servicing cloud's server needs.

Arby's targets "modern day traditionalists."

Cablevision claims coercion led to deal with Viacom.

Caribou Coffee launches new branding campaign.

Citi passes stress tests.Continue reading...