Santa's using video chat, apps and GPS tracking (via Bing and other partners) to stay in touch with kids, so it makes sense that kids are counting down to his arrival on digital too.

The origin of the Advent calendar dates from 19th century German Lutherans with the first known one being handmade in 1851. Advent is observed in Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The word is anglicized from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming." In recent years, like everything else, the tradition has gone digital.

And this year, digital advent calendars aren't just for kids, as brand marketers have adopted them; a few examples that have crossed our radar:

• British dessert brand Gü is inviting fans via Facebook to open the fridge that is its digital advent calendar. “This Christmas we wanted to reward our loyal pud lovers and social media communities with a fun, very Gü twist on the traditional advent calendar," says Gü’s Global Creative manager, Lizzie Hanbury-Tenison. "Thanks to some very generous brand partners we have been able to pull together some fantastic prize collaborations made even more entertaining by daily video clues featuring our very own Head Chef, Fred Ponnavoy.”Continue reading...

Apple joins Google in $500M+ bid for Kodak patents; smacked by USPTO as 'Steve Jobs Patent' for iPhones and iPads deemed invalid and Siri secrets revealed.

Diageo seen as unlikely to bid for Beam following UK report that drinks giant talked to Suntory about joint bid.

Barnes & Noble cuts Nook price from $99 to $79.

Michael Bloomberg weighs making bid for The Financial Times, which includes the paper and a half-interest in The Economist. 

Caribou Coffee celebrates 20th anniversary.

Carlos Slim brings Telcel brand to U.S. for Mexico calls.

CVS Caremark reportedly aims to acquire drug-store chain in Brazil.

Chili's begins soft rollout of new menu items.

Darden Restaurants looks to retool value proposition for its Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants.Continue reading...

It's Labor Day in the U.S., a public holiday which has become America's biggest retail sales day of the year.

Apple takes aim at Samsung's Galaxy S III in amended patent complaint, as Samsung stock takes a beating and company's culture, strategy, labor practices and PR tactics come under fire in wake of California ruling. Samsung and other Apple mobile rivals including Nokia are rushing new smartphone announcements ahead of expected Sept. 12th new iPhone reveal.

Abercrombie & Fitch brand cools, prompting store closures.

Allstate plans addressable TV campaign in U.S.

Apple offer to Amazon revealed in European e-books price-fixing inquiry.

Barack Obama plans to focus on issues at Democratic National Convention this week as jobs debate heats up this Labor Day.

BP's former CEO Tony Hayward returns to the spotlight.Continue reading...

One of the hottest business competitions on the globe right now is Procter & Gamble vs. Unilever. And while both CPG giants — the former headquartered in America, the latter in the Netherlands — have been penalized lately for their dependence on western markets including the United States and Europe, their most important playing field has become emerging economies around the world.

And in those arenas, The Economist says that Unilever "is on the up, whereas P&G is in trouble." For evidence, look no further than Knorr Stock Pot by Unilever. More about that later.

As part of its "Fighting for the Next Billion Shoppers" special report, the magazine's profile of the battle between the CPG giants notes that economic woes in the U.S. and Europe have hit Cincinnati-based P&G harder than Rotterdam-based Unilever because it earns a greater share of revenues in those developed markets, and P&G's more-expensive brands are likely to be the subject of cutbacks by Western consumers.Continue reading...

Angry Birds Space sets mobile download record.

Apple and Microsoft face price-gouging inquiry in Australia.

Barack Obama tests "Forward" as a campaign slogan.

BP will pay $4 billion on new oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

BlackBerry will be in the hot seat at BlackBerry World conference by RIM on Tuesday.

Broadway tests autism-friendly theater performances.

Brooklyn Nets unveils new team logo designed by Jay-Z.

Chrysler boosts Jeep production.

Facebook will announce a "life-saving tool" on Good Morning America on Tuesday.Continue reading...

Anheuser-Busch InBev tries a tea-lemonade "light alcohol" drink for Michelob.

Ann Taylor woos younger women by featuring stylish students.

Avon replacing Andrea Jung as CEO.

Best Buy finds that deep discounts sacked profits.

Canadian Tire buys house in Toronto just for webisodes.

China plans to impose duties on U.S.-imported cars, ratcheting up trade tiff.

Chrysler picks up sales and financial momentum while parent Fiat treads cautiously.

CNN rehires Christiane Amanpour, who will continue to contribute to ABC News.Continue reading...

ABC dismisses rumors of Pan Am's demise.

Amazon continues being coy about Kindle sales.

Apple's Siri can handle Viagra but not abortions.

AT&T disturbed by FCC report.

Audi finds success with youthful marketing.

BBC web redesign goes live in the UK.

Carlsberg acquires Vietnamese brewer.

Google and Facebook ordered to de-index counterfeit domains.

Jack Daniel's holiday campaign celebrates brand's Lynchburg, Tenn. roots.

Janet Jackson teams up with Blackglama to design luxury fur line.

Microsoft Office is reportedly coming to the iPad as Windows tablet hopes fade.Continue reading...

Starbucks is suing a South Dakota communications company to protect three letters it holds dear: SDN.

The acronym for Starbucks Digital Network, which provides free web access and exclusive content to in-store users and via a smartphone app, is being challenged by broadband service provider South Dakota Network, which operates as SDN Communications, over rights to use the acronym trademark.Continue reading...