AMC kills Bing product placement deal for Walking Dead.

Apple's iCloud service goes live in first major product launch since Steve Jobs died.

BlackBerry outage response not RIM's finest moment, says BBC.

British PM David Cameron holds kids' advertising summit, while Tory Party rebrand has missed the mark, critics argue.

Cadillac unveils 'Cue,' its connected car system.

Chrysler strikes tentative deal with the UAW.

Diddy makes a landmark donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem.

eBay looks to deepen its relationship with Facebook.

Google sees 60% drop in Google+ usage.Continue reading...

Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5 billion. Skype CEO Tony Bates will become president of Microsoft Skype.

Google launches license-free Music Beta cloud-based online music service.

Greece is on the brink of another financial disaster.

Android surpasses iPhone in Japan.

Apple and Google face US lawmakers on location tech today.

Bank of America has billions of dollars in new losses at stake.Continue reading...

YouTube expands movie rental service with 3,000 NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, and Warner Brothers titles.

Tumblr gets more social with share button. Meanwhile, Tumblr says today's rumored 4Chan attack was really hardware failure.

Maker’s Mark launches first TV ad campaign.

Microsoft opens a PC store in user’s home.

All Prius models will be plug-in starting 2014.

Bristol Palin lands own reality show.

IHOP launches frozen foods to be sold at Wal-Mart.Continue reading...

Feeling peckish? Or better yet, pancakish? Could be because it's IHOP National Pancake Day. Teresa Scanlan, aka Miss America, is helping the nearly 1,500 IHOP restaurants in the US promote the annual giveaway: a free "short stack" of three buttermilk pancakes.

In return, the chain is suggesting that customers make a donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, as its goal is to raise $2.3 million today. Since launching the yearly marketing promotion in 2006, IHOP has raised $5.4 million for the charity.

Best Buy says its sales are suffering as shoppers chase deals.

Chrysler teases new 300 model online.

Dynegy sold to Carl Icahn for $665 million.

Facebook called best place to work as CEO Mark Zuckerberg named TIME's person of the year.

Fiat actions raise doubts about Alfa-Romeo.

Gmail enables email delegation.Continue reading...

Conan O'Brien's upcoming TBS show is for night owls — get it? (above)

What iWant and you will too: The Situation's new iPhone app.

GE to politician: "Get our logo out of your ad." Grocer in Texas: "Yeah, me too!"

You can pray for pancakes all you like, but not as IHOP.

Refreshing! The structure of the soft drink industry, visualized.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt must stop freaking people out.Continue reading...

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, which just opened its 2,000th restaurant, will experience a brand makeover in the upcoming months. Following in the footsteps of competitor, Ruby Tuesday’s, Applebee’s plans to upgrade experience operations, marketing endeavors, and food. Customers can expect updated exteriors, more inviting interiors, and less “flair.” Although Applebee’s remodel comes at a time when major restaurant lenders are reluctant to make loans, falling costs for materials and labor have proven to be an opportunity.

Applebee's is currently testing several models in this current phase of its revitalization. Its 100 additional overseas stores will be included in the upgrade. Aside from the addition of lower-calorie meal options, visitors can expect new paint and carpeting, artwork evoking the neighborhood rather than local team photos, and more localized fare. But don't expect the signature red apple logo to change or it neighborhood-focused brand message.Continue reading...