Louis Vuitton gives consumers the chance to design their own bag with its new service. [WWD]

Tufts University has given prospective students the chance to apply via YouTube. [NY Times]

AOL created software for journalists that helps track data and traffic. [Businessweek]

Recently-formed credit card laws help shoppers organize spending and debt. [Reuters]

The Kia Sorento will be advertised in 45 magazines from 15 publishing houses. [Adweek]

Honda's Facebook fan page for its new Crosstour reveals unexpected complaints. [Boston Herald]Continue reading...

When a brand's ad campaign is firing on all cylinders, it has a strong emotional connection with the audience and a high degree of relevancy. More often than not, however, ad campaigns are noted for their subjective attempt at humor, or they aim to shock the consumer in an effort to grab attention.

That is why it is refreshing to see what Visa is doing with its latest campaign built around the Winter Olympics. Visa is choosing Olympic moments, both old and new, to dramatize the ways in which athletes overcome life's greatest challenges and achieve their dreams. Using a monochromatic blue background and Morgan Freeman's voice-over, each ad celebrates an Olympic moment.Continue reading...

After weathering the disastrous departure of Conan O'Brien from The Tonight Show, NBC was optimistic about the return of Jay Leno. However, Leno's brand has been significantly damaged over the affair. In fact, in one survey, nearly 70 percent of respondents said they wouldn't watch Leno anymore.

NBC would love for The Tonight Show to return to the way it was a year ago, but it's clear that isn't going to happen – at least not now. So what is NBC doing to reinvigorate The Tonight Show brand? That's right: a new logo. Continue reading...

Burger King raises the cost of its double cheeseburger from $1 to $1.19. [WSJ]

New Klondike commercials channel 'The 40 Year Old Virgin.' [BrandFreak]

Burger King will now sell Seattle's Best coffee in its restaurants. [Daily Finance]

Chevy hopes consumers feel connected with its new family-oriented ads. [Brandweek]

Microsoft adds Facebook and Myspace sites to its Outlook program. [AP]

The Federal Trade Commission puts its foot down on unemployment scams. [LA Times]Continue reading...

MetroPCS enlists investment bankers for acquisition advice. [WSJ]

Gawker Media makes its first purchase: "people directory" CityFile. [NY Times]

Qualcomm creates its own e-reader, but with color. [LA Times]

Presidents Day brings a boost in vehicle sales to dealerships. [Boston Herald]

New Tums campaign stresses its quick acting formula. [Brandweek]

Brands of all sorts seek coverage at New York Fashion Week. [Reuters]Continue reading...

Microsoft designs a Zune to compete with Apple's iPhone. [Boston Herald]

NBC angers Olympics fans by banning the men's downhill race. [Business Insider]

Meego, a mobile software created by Intel and Nokia, is revealed. [NY Times]

Valentine's Day was also the 5th anniversary of YouTube. [LA Times]

Pity NBC – as if the network needed more programming woes after the Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien disaster. Now, with the Olympics beginning tonight, top-ranked skier and "very photogenic" Olympic superstar Lindsey Vonn is injured. She might not even compete. In addition to her personal pain and disappointment, it's bad news for all of the brands involved.

Before severely injuring her leg, skier Vonn was the favorite for medals in the women's downhill and super-G and several other races. She also boasts a blonde, all-American-girl look that the media salivates over. With no big-time female American ice-skating princess to focus on, Vonn was to be NBC's "queen of the ski hill." She was to be the Michael Phelps of these winter Olympics. Consequently, Vonn has been the feature of a disproportionate amount of promotion. She was even included in the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue just a week after being on its cover.Continue reading...

The NBC network is finally moving beyond its Conan O'Brien debacle, and is now reinvesting in Jay Leno as its Tonight Show host. This week, Leno unceremoniously wrapped-up his short-lived NBC prime time, variety show. Behind the scenes, NBC must be relieved to have the popular Jay Leno back in The Tonight Show seat.

However, the circumstances that led Jay Leno back to The Tonight Show might be exactly the same forces that will make him a failure of equal proportions. Leno’s personal brand has sustained considerable damage.

On March 1, Jay Leno returns to The Tonight Show. Yet, a recent TV Guide poll revealed that 69 percent of respondents expressed that they won't watch Leno anymore. More specially: "An overwhelming 69 percent of voters in a TVGuide.com poll said they used to watch Jay Leno, but will not watch anymore after what happened to Conan O'Brien."Continue reading...