In an unusual partnership, New York rap legend Jay-Z and Proctor & Gamble's billion-dollar Duracell brand are joining forces to market wireless charging systems and deploy wireless hotspots in New York, including one at the multimillionaire’s own 40/40 Club on Madison Square Park in Manhattan.

“Mobile devices have become essential tools in business, entertainment and managing our social lives,” said Jay-Z, an investor in the Duracell Powermat joint venture. “Being able to charge wirelessly is a necessary step into the future.”

The 24-Hour Power System contains a charging mat that serves as a wireless power transmitter and a portable backup battery with micro-USB output and iPhone connection when in between hotspots. The kit is designed specifically for the iPhone 4 and 4S, but Duracell is working on greater device compatibility.

It hits select retailers today (just as Apple announces its new iOS 6 features) and is also available online. The complete system costs $99.99, with additional (colorful) cases for $34.99 and additional batteries for $49.99.Continue reading...

The New Jersey Nets have pretty much stunk for a few years now. The last time the team had an actual winning record was way back in 2005-'06.

Since May of 2010, they’ve had a new majority owner, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, the first foreign owner of any NBA team and the recent loser of the Russian presidential race to Vladimir Putin. And next season, they will have a new home and a new look. The team is moving to Brooklyn to a brand-spanking-new arena and the team took two measures to celebrate the change now that their New Jersey days are over.

The Brookyn Nets also unveiled a video, entitled “Hello Brooklyn,” to celebrate the transition to the team's new home and stadium as well as the new logo — which was designed, by the way, by Nets minority owner Jay-Z.Continue reading...

NBA owners and players are trying to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. So far, training camps and some preseason games have been canceled, but the constant threat of the entire season getting flushed down the drain hangs over things. One team that might actually benefit from such a thing could be the New Jersey Nets.

The Nets are spending the season in Newark before moving to Brooklyn. A year off could help new fans forget that the team has been one of the more forgettable franchises in recent years. One little tool that the team isn’t using to help people move on from the recent past is a new name.

Mogul/rapper and minority team owner Jay-Z, a Brooklyn native, announced Monday that the team’s name will stay Nets. His other big announcement, which was made overlooking the under-construction Barclays Center, is that the arena will open in September 2012 with a series of eight concerts by him before the opening tipoff of the Brooklyn Nets season.Continue reading...

Amazon is set to unveil the Kindle Fire e-reader on Wednesday, with Conde Nast, Hearst and Meredith on board, but Time Inc. negotiations going down to the wire.

Boeing confident about Dreamliner output as All Nippon Airways prepares for aircraft's first commercial flight.

Chrysler lets car buyers track production and delivery.

Coca-Cola CEO is "cautiously pleased" with company outlook.

Jay-Z announces the New Jersey Nets will be renamed the Brooklyn Nets, and that he'll kick off the NBA team's new home at the Barclays Center with an eight-concert series in Sept. 2012.

John Hancock extends "Who Knew?" campaign.Continue reading...

When the New Jersey Nets move to Brooklyn at the start of the 2012 season, the team will have a new arena (the Barclays Center), a new name (Brooklyn Nets perhaps?), and a new soda. Their current arena serves Pepsi, but the one in Brooklyn will serve Coke.

According to the New York Post, Coca-Cola has made a deal with the arena to be the exclusive soft-drink provider there. This is actually the second beverage company to make such a deal with the arena, the Post notes: Back in 2007, a similar deal was made with Seattle-based Jones Soda. “Nets fans and Brooklynites lobbied for Coke products” after the seven-year, $1.7 million Jones deal was announced, so the arena broke that contract and came to a settlement with the company, the Post reports.

Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said that one of the reasons Coke was selected is “because of its longstanding historical ties to Brooklyn, where it once was the official soda of the Dodgers at Ebbets Field,” the Post reports. Continue reading...

Kim Kardashian is getting married — and it’s causing a minor rift with her mother. Not because Ma doesn’t like the fellow, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries. And it’s not because of the wedding preparations for the reality TV star’s big summer event. No, it’s because 30-year-old Kim Kardashian plans to lose her last name, the golden family brand, and become Kim Humphries.

“I don’t think she should take his name and be Kim Humphries,” her mom, the 55-year-old Kris Jenner, reportedly said. “I think she needs to be Kim Kardashian because she’s worked so hard to get where she is.”

Of course Jenner ditched the last name of Kardashian, too, when she married Olympic legend Bruce Jenner. But her daughters — the K-named trio that is Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney — have made their names household ones since Keeping Up With The Kardashians debuted on the E! Network back in October of 2007.Continue reading...

Mikhail Prokhorov already has proven that he can jump through hoops, making a splash in the world of American professional hoops with his ownership of the NBA's New Jersey Nets team. Now, he wants to show the world that he’s got electric-car chops as well.

The Russian billionaire has just unveiled the Yo, a hybrid of electric and gasoline and natural-gas powertrains that he maintains will get Prius-beating mileage and yet demonstrate as much range as the most indefatigable American-built SUV.Continue reading...

Apple admits iPhone 4 problem and that it exaggerated signal strength capability. A software patch will be available for download.

Queen Elizabeth II donned Swarovski crystal-encrusted 3D glasses for a visit to Pinewood Studios Toronto. She also visited BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (and received a new version - she's a fan) and flew startup Porter Airlines while in Canada.Continue reading...