Google taps David Beckham to promote Google+ as company grapples with social search fallout, and apologizes for Kenyan flub.

Apple's iPad 3 expected to go on sale in March with HD screen and faster chip. Apple also joined the Fair Labor Association, opening suppliers' doors to labor rights watchdog in transparency response to Foxconn fears — the first tech brand to do so.

Bentley courts Maybach fans including Jay-Z — who has just signed on as the face of (and an investor in) Duracell.

British films to be pitched as a global brand.

BT will offer free Wi-Fi at London Olympic Games.

Disney Studios quickly fills CMO position.

Dr Pepper brand name is removed from Texas town.

Easyjet fined for barring disabled passengers.

Excedrin recall expands to Canada.

Olivia Munn strips off for PETA.Continue reading...

Industries, businesses and governments up and down the Eastern seaboard are still toting up the economic damages created by Hurricane Irene, which included a deep impact on weekend movie box office numbers.

Amazon spends millions to fight Internet sales tax.

Chipotle tops limited-service restaurants among Gen Y, survey says.

Clean Energy Fuels draws investment as natural-gas automotive market heats up.

ESPN officially launches the Longhorn Network.

Kellogg targets dads in new ads for Frosted Flakes.

Kia brings back hamsters for new Soul campaign.

LivingSocial gets used to life in the fast lane.

Mentos produces app to help "improve friends."Continue reading...

Apple's "app store" trademark suit likely to fail; COO Tim Cook visits China to talk 4G, may offer new iPhone in September.

Bacardi and Live Entertainment partner for social promotion.

Best Buy launches Music Cloud service.

BP faces fresh fingerpointing by Transocean.

China plans a cloud computing zone.

Clearasil reaches out to teens via Facebook and Lollapalooza.

CSN Stores rebrands as Wayfair.com.Continue reading...

• Call yourself brand loyal? The gentlemen above call your brand loyalty pedestrian. (via)

• Diesel was smokin' at New York Fashion Week (and we don't mean the apparel brand).

• Just what the Big Apple needs — the world's biggest Apple store. Inside Grand Central.

• And fuhgeddabout texting and driving in Noo Yawk, where LML is OD on Twitter.Continue reading...

Apple won't exhibit at CES in Las Vegas this week, where competitors (including Vizio) will unveil tablets that will take aim at the iPad; and increases Q1 orders for the iPhone in advance of Verizon launch.

Arnold Schwarzenegger leaves office after seven years as governor of California.

Australia braces for damages claims as flooding projected "to last weeks."

Bank of America sees home loan charge, buys back bad loans and mounts defense against WikiLeaks.

Best Buy aims to become a major content creator online.

Buzz Aldrin sues over use of his image on moonwalk trading card.Continue reading...

Remember the Diet Coke and Mentos phenom? EepyBird, the self-described "Coke and Mentos guys," are back with another spin on their YouTubular idea. This time, they've harnessed 108 bottles of Coke Zero and 648 Mentos mints to propel a piston-driven rocket car. The spot, created with the cooperation of both brands, is also available in 3D.