Microsoft and Best Buy plan mini "Windows Stores."

Amtrak hires esteemed chefs to ramp up its train food.

YouTube becomes overwhelming platform for fan-made branded content.

US Supreme Court strikes down gene patents.

Airbus lifts A350 to maiden flight ahead of schedule even as it copes with losses from aircraft's predecessor model.

Arby's franchisees helped get CMO ousted.

Audi is top choice of marriage cheaters in UK, survey says.

BMI sues Pandora over fees.

Bloomberg sees reporters' practices become critical issue for company.

Cadillac boosts sticker on new CTS by whopping $6,000.

Chevrolet believes racing on Sunday still sells on Monday.

Chrysler recalls sprinkling of trucks, Darts.Continue reading...

BBC sees editor step aside amid Jimmy Savile sex scandal as director goes before government inquiry.

McDonald's teams up with Rovio for Angry Birds promotion in China.

Google defends trademark challenge to its AdWords service.

Adobe campaign uses blunt language.

Apple tests ability to stay ahead of the curve with new iPad reveal today.

Brand India is promoted with China trade show.

Denny's launches menu inspired by The Hobbit.

DuPont cuts outlook and plans to cut 1,500 jobs.

Facebook surges in fan engagement with restaurants.Continue reading...

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...

When we last checked, Darren Aronofsky was cashing in on Oscar buzz with Revlon. The Black Swan director teamed with Pharrell Williams for a dramatic ad starring Revlon brand embassador Jessica Biel.

Aronofsky has tweaked his focus a little for his latest ad project.

Teaming with The Meth Project, who worked with digital marketing agency Organic to create a trilogy of ads meant to combat meth abuse in Arizona, Idaho, and Colorado, the ads forego any "above the influence" suggestiveness and go for a frank, smashmouth message of what awaits meth users. Warning: the ads, which wonder "if I had asked…," might be disturbing.Continue reading...

Apple accused of e-book price fixing, as Amazon Kindles social interactions and rolls out cloud-based reader.

AT&T bid for T-Mobile faces California review.

Baidu shuts down Twitter-like service in China.

Banana Republic Facebook fans get first dibs on Banana Republic's Mad Men collection.

BlackBerry's fall from C-Suite to High Street riots in U.K. could damage brand.

Disney CEO Bob Iger seeks "great characters, great stories."

Kate Moss-inspired web ad banned in the U.K.Continue reading...

How much is that doggy bed in the window? Shopkick knows.

The mobile application, which melds in-store and mobile retail, rewards consumers for just walking in, with further deals for scanning partner brand products at more than 250,000 stores across the U.S. 

Launching a year ago this month (it officially turns one on August 17th), its users have surpassed 6.5 million product scans as 12 new major brand partners sign on: CoverGirl, Disney, General Mills, Levi’s, Libman, Mead Johnson, Meguiar’s, Mr. Clean, Olay, Revlon, Tilex and Trident.Continue reading...

Since losing the Oscar for best film for The Fighter, what has director David O. Russell been up to? Forgetting his heartbreak with Ketel One vodka… commercials.

Russell has teamed with the top-shelf booze brand to put together with Brooklyn band Alberta Cross for a new campaign called "Gentlemen, This is Vodka." But he's not the only one. Oscar-nominated director (Black Swan) Darren Aronofsky has followed up his Academy nom with his own ad.

Readers, this is cashing in.Continue reading...

 Film director Brett Ratner is doing his part to blur the line between commercialism and cinematography.

"Filmmakers should align themselves with brands," says Ratner, 40. "They can help each other."

Ratner recently collaborated with Kerzner International, a global casino chain and owner of the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

CEO Sol Kerzner wanted to rejuvenate his brand and thought the director, known for his Guitar Hero commercials and blockbuster movies, could help.Continue reading...