IKEA, The Life Improvement Store, has five finalists in the running to win a year-long sabbatical (valued at $100,000) in its Life Improvement Sabbatical Contest. Public voting ends today (click here) and the winner will be announced by January 17, with IKEA will donating $1.00 for every vote received (up to $50,000) to U.S.-based education programs.

“IKEA believes in creating a better everyday life for the many people and we continue to be inspired by people’s heartfelt desire to improve the lives of others,” says Leontyne Green, Marketing Manager, IKEA North America. “This year’s more than 1,000 Life Improvement Sabbatical contest submissions included thoughtful and passionate ideas and we can’t wait to see who the public chooses as the winner.”

The five finalists (in alphabetical order) are:Continue reading...

AOL reorganizes into four business units.

Apple softens stance to lure mobile ads, as iAds seen as rare failure for Steve Jobs.

AT&T deal with T-Mobile granted a delay by judge.

BBC to make World News available through Comcast.

China Mobile tops Millward Brown ranking of Chinese brands.

Deloitte sees gamification as one of the top tech trends of 2012.

Facebook seen as not needing Wall Street to go public; tests private messages between people and pages.

HP dumps its iPad rival on eBay.

IHOP opens fast-casual IHOP Express.

Ikea sues Irish home retailer for allegedly copying prints.

Intel tells customers they can turn up the heat in server rooms.

Interbrand named branding agency of the year by Marketing magazine.Continue reading...

Our most-read blog posts of the week include Air France's new logo, Motorola's new RAZR, Sony's new PSP, and more:

#1 Take This Lollipop Spooks Facebook Users

#2 Toby Keith Late to the Party with Solo Red Cup Anthem

#3 Air France Logo Gets Makeover

#4 Steve Jobs and the Evolution of the Apple Logo: "Don't Make it Cute"

#5 Netflix Quashes Qwikster and Gets On With It

#6 Ikea App Uses Facebook Profiles to Design Dream Bedrooms

#7 Footloose Product Placement Stays Loyal to Original, Almost

#8 Hyundai Taking Lead in Automotive Brand Loyalty

#9 Motorola, Aiming for Cutting Edge, Revives RAZR Brand

#10 Sony Sets PS Vita Release, But Are Gamers Game?

Ikea is teaming up with YouTube to bring us one step closer to never having to participate in reality. By accessing a customer's Facebook account, Ikea UK's YouTube App uses social media information to build  "everything you need to be happy in bed."

After accessing your Facebook information, Ikea's YouTube app construct a 3D bedroom designed and furnished based on the lifestyle and interests information obtained from the Facebook profile. The Ikea items in the bedroom are interactive, with a click leading to purchase information on the Ikea UK website.

The app, accessible to anyone with a Facebook account, offers a couple of neat tricks.Continue reading...

Ikea introduces a nursery… for men. Australian men. We're jealous.

Below, don't miss Tata's "car chase to end all car chases" spot (and more campaigns).Continue reading...

Ally Bank this week rolls out its "People Sense" campaign. Below, watch more new spots from Chrysler, Cigna, Dove, T-Mobile, Transamerica and more.Continue reading...

BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche hit Frankfurt Auto Show with luxury cars retooled for younger generation, while Maserati brings Jeep-based SUV to Frankfurt.

ConAgra sets deadline for Ralcorp.

Cracker Barrel's new CEO outlines her plan amidst shareholder battle.

Dr. Oz shakes apple juice industry to the core.

eBay hit by criminal probe over use of Craigslist information.

Heineken-sponsored private concert in Brooklyn by Kanye West released by Vevo.

Ikea dispels death of Billy (bookcase) rumors.

KFC Australia pulls campaign claiming free range chickens.

Lady Gaga releases second in series of "fashion films" on YouTube.Continue reading...

The China fake Apple Stores story just keeps getting more bizarre, and in the process is becoming a perfect case study in intellectual property and consumer and state sentiment about counterfeits.

Since we last visited the fake Apple Store in Kunming, at least 22 other such stores have been revealed to exist in and around that municipality, bringing its total, including the three already closed, to 25. In a twist that will surprise nobody in China, regulators aren't even demanding that the stores close. And Apple might secretly not care as much as its public statements claim. Continue reading...