Apple balks at Proview's iPad trademark demands; held cross-licensing talks with Motorola, EU reveals.

AT&T expands 4G LTE rollout.

Audi said to be in talks to buy Ducati.

BabyBjorn gets a boost from Beyonce, while New York Times logo gets boosted by Jay-Z in Amex-sponsored show at SXSW.

Bob Lutz defends the Chevy Volt.

China promotes its homegrown brands.

Coca-Cola lobbyists spend millions to defeat soda taxes, hires Jean-Paul Gaultier as Diet Coke's European creative director.

Facebook sued by Yahoo for allegedly infringing patents, while Timeline apps inspire developers.

Friendly's ice cream chain expands ordering and loyalty online.

Intel reportedly eyes web TV service.

Jeremy Lin may endorse Volvo in China.Continue reading...

Classy Coaster

If only this were more than a design concept. Designer David Riesenberg has come up with a “Ryesenberg” whiskey bottle (at right) with a detachable label that's intended to be produced from the actual barrel in which the whiskey is aged, The Dieline reports.

The wood from the barrel would be dried, pressed and silkscreened and removed to reveal the glass bottle embossed with the brand name. Each label is unique and (apparently) retains a slight wood-and-whiskey aroma.

Hopefully some smart distiller will wrap this idea around a real bottle of whiskey.Continue reading...

Flavored vodkas have been a strong trend for years now and show no signs of slowing, despite the competing trend for darker spirits and old-style cocktails using fresh ingredients. The flavors, they just keep a-coming.

Godiva, for instance, has recently teamed up with drinks giant Diageo to launch Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka and Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka, touted as tasting "like drinking the essence of cocoa powder." Hmm. Seeing as how we've never wanted to drink cocoa powder, we might just stick with a good ol' candy bar for our chocolate fix.

Godiva's entry is just the latest in a long line of flavors that range from the pedestrian (what seems like thousands of citrus-flavored vodka brands) to the baffling.Continue reading...