At the intersection of a flagging economy and the rapid growth of the virtual world, you'll find an emerging business venue — the online event. 

Business conferences and trade shows that used to attract thousands of attendees to a city hotel are increasingly being replaced by their virtual counterparts, reports the New York Times.

Market Research Media indicates that virtual events have doubled in occurrence from 2008 to 2009, and the market will likely grow to $18.6 billion per year in five years.Continue reading...

Apple irks British iPhone users for not updating clocks to reflect Sunday's time change.

BlackBerry users in India rejoice as government decides not to ban the devices.

Daily Candy turns 10.

GM IPO to cut U.S. stake below 50%.

Google sues U.S. government for allegedly discriminating against Google Apps.

Google's Android overtakes Apple's iPhone as leader in U.S. smartphone market.

Hilton, the Peninsula and other hotel spas offer shorter treatments to stressed clientele.Continue reading...

With 240 hotels on five continents, the DoubleTree collection wants to bring brand consistency to all of its properties. While it hasn't changed its brand look and feel for 15 years, DoubleTree has experienced some brand fragmentation since 2007, because it has maintained separate identities in different parts of the world.

Now DoubleTree by Hilton is getting a global brand makeover. By the first half of next year, all DoubleTree by Hilton hotels will have a new identity. It will consist of a prominent graphic "D" that includes two trunks and a treetop, under which is the name, DoubleTree and in smaller type, by Hilton.Continue reading...

Apple tries to crack the code for China, as Verizon Wireless prepares to start carrying the iPad in the U.S.

BP stations in the U.S. are looking to rebrand, presenting a challenge for new CEO Robert Dudley.

Cadbury introduces "Most pampered bar in the world" campaign.

DoubleTree by Hilton rebrands globally.

Gap Inc. is focusing on international and online growth, CEO Glenn Murphy tells investors.

GE reports quarterly growth in orders after long drought.Continue reading...

• Geico's vlogging, Facebooking, Twittering caveman is in a Debbie Downer mood today (above).

• The upcoming Love and Other Drugs is about a fast-talking, philandering medical salesman. What does he drive? A Porsche ... of course.

• Krispy Kreme doughnut's latest filling: Meat.

• 1984: Gillette offers $1 million to ZZ Top band members to shave iconic beards; band declines.

• 2010: Rise-N-Shine's Go Away Grey offers $1 million to CNN's silver fox Anderson Cooper to darken mane; fans balk.

• Verizon's "Rule the Air" spot aimed at young women irks feminists and net neutrality activists alike.Continue reading...

Wal-Mart, Tesco and Carrefours would be welcomed by shoppers in India, where such “multi-brand” foreign-owned retailers currently are restricted, a new study says. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Wal-Mart’s new president scrambles to reverse earlier decisions that hurt sales.

American Apparel's troubles increase after auditor quits and fashion retailer (which is relaunching as "preppy") receives subpoena.

Axe Music launch is promoted with "mystery concerts" across U.S., kicking off with Mary J. Blige in New York.

Burger King tests $12.99 “shareable” pizza burger at its Whopper Bar in New York.

CBS will air a companion series to last winter’s hit reality show, Undercover Boss.

EMI faces an uphill struggle despite a corporate restructuring of the U.K. music icon.Continue reading...

General Motors' IPO could be filed tomorrow, a source tells Reuters. GM’s toughest obstacle will be persuading investors that new CEO Daniel Akerson can get a handle on the company’s unprofitable European operations. GM also agreed to pay employees of its European Opel division up to about $340 million a year if it fails to invest billions of euros into new cars and trucks through 2014.

Hulu is said to be considering an IPO of $2 billion this year. Hulu is now serving 3x as many video ads as YouTube, while Facebook is now the third largest video site in the U.S. according to new comScore figures.

Adobe partners with Typekit to bring "legendary" typefaces to the web.

Android surges as mobile device sales increase 13.8%, reports Gartner.

Apple's ad service is off to a bumpy start, the WSJ reports.

Barclays settles U.S. charges brought by the federal government and New York.Continue reading...

The latest episode of Mad Men, as usual, revolved around the relationships of advertising executives on the 1960s. But it also involved the agency pitching a brand, Jantzen. The swimwear brand is, of course, real, and still around. In fact, it's turning 100. Coincidence? Hard to say. But without a doubt, product placement is the unspoken meta-genius of the show.Continue reading...