Supermarkets have become major players in the retail sale of books, movie and TV DVDs and music and are now buttressing their position in digital consumption through vendor acquisitions.

As Amazon and Barnes & Noble reach across the pond, preparing to launch more services and devices in the UK and Europe, Tesco is stepping up its own territorial imperative with the $7.2 million purchase of white-label digital bookseller Mobcast. "The acquisition further strengthens Tesco’s digital entertainment offer, following the purchase of movie and TV streaming service blinkbox in 2011 and personalised internet radio service WE7 in June 2012," the company commented in a press release.

According to Mobcast, e-Book sales via portable devices are projected to reach nearly $10 billion globally by 2016, three times expectations for 2012, with close to 30% of e-books purchased on tablets, 15% on smartphones and 55% on e-readers. And while Tesco accounted for 10.7% of UK entertainment sales this spring, Amazon gained a 21.1% share according to British trade journal The Bookseller.Continue reading...

Fish heads and chicken fat are the latest sources of electricity for major retailers in the U.K. including Walmart, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, William Morrison Supermarkets and Sainsbury.

Not only is bioenergy the evolution of alternative energy sources, but the meat, fish, cooking oils and leftover food would otherwise be transported to landfill at additional cost and fuel consumption.

“Diverting food waste from landfill to anaerobic digestion is a no-brainer for the supermarkets — landfill charges and energy costs are only getting more expensive,” said Niamh McSherry, a food retail analyst at Berenberg Bank, to Bloomberg.Continue reading...

Adobe gets more social.

Amazon wrings profit from fulfillment.

AmLactin taps Olympic swimmer Dara Torres as brand ambassador.

Angry Birds to launch retail partnership

Apple iPad users find high video use can crunch data plans as Consumer Reports finds that the new version runs hotter than the old one.

Arby's readies brand relaunch.

Boeing gains 787 Dreamliner clearance by U.S. regulators.Continue reading...

Occupy Wall Street should be happy with news that Wall Street bonuses will be way down this year and some success for Bank Transfer Day, while protesters in New York will be serenaded by Crosby & Nash in free concert today.

American and Alaska airlines complete world's first commercial biofuel flights.

American Express lures digital commerce startups with $100M funds.

Australia passes carbon tax.

Best Buy refocuses global expansion plans in new strategy.

Carlos Slim draws protests in Mexico by offering free TV on the web.Continue reading...

GM plans deep discounts to unload additional Saturn and Pontiac vehicles. [WSJ]

Yahoo's act of kindness campaign helps weary holiday travelers at San Francisco and San Jose airports. [AdAge]

Apple shares rose on news of the iSlate. [Times of London]

Trendspotting: Mobile augmented reality will reach its zenith in 5 - 10 years. [BrandWeek]

Netflix lobbies Hollywood studios to bolster on-demand Web offerings. [Bloomberg]

AT&T restores online sale of iPhones with no explanation. [WSJ]Continue reading...

In Britain, a price war has erupted among grocers rushing to capitalize on the demise of Woolworth’s. Formidable supermarket chain Asda seeks to knock non-food rival Tesco from the number one spot.

As part of an expansion of its non-food stock, Asda announced it will increase the volume of goods sourced through its US owner, Wal-Mart. The partnership with Wal-Mart will allow Asda to offer cut-rate prices on non-food items -- from candles to bedding -- challenging main competitor Tesco for market share. Asda already sources 40% of its goods from Wal-Mart.Continue reading...

Google, Verizon Wireless collaborate to develop software, devices and services for the Android mobile operating system. [BusinessWeek]

Amazon launches the Kindle in 100 countries, lowers US price by $40, to $259. [Bloomberg]

Versace reviews overall strategy, closes stores in Japan. [Bloomberg]

Europe and Microsoft near settlement in antitrust case. [NY Times]

AT&T will allow iPhone users to access Skype. [Bloomberg]

Twitter may feature premium accounts for corporate users by year's end. [LA Times]

(More headlines: Burger King remodels, ING repays bailout, ads boost US food brands.)Continue reading...