Amazon removes resellers' iPads from sale in China, at Apple's request, as more cities block sales.

Apple tightens rules to protect iPhone users contacts from apps.

Peter Arnell and Omnicom settle their suit.

AT&T, Verizon and Sprint see SEC reject their view on net neutrality.

British Airways staff receive iPads for lowdown on VIP passengers.

CBS head Les Moonves anticipates $4 million per Super Bowl spot.

CNN severs remaining ties with Larry King.

Facebook to release Timeline for brands this month.

GM reports weaker than expected results, eliminates pensions for salaried workers.Continue reading...

A week and a half ago, you had probably never heard his name; now you're no doubt sick of the puns. If you had heard of Jeremy Lin, he was as an undrafted, backup backup backup NBA point guard who had been dumped by the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets before signing on with the guard-needy New York Knicks this offseason.

Now he’s set the NBA world afire, becoming the first player in history to score 20 or more points and assist on seven or more baskets a game in his first four starts, all New York victories. Take that, Michael Jordan.

Lin is being paid $800,000 this season, the league minimum for a second-year player, but his brand has risen exponentially in the past week. According to Forbes, Lin’s brand is worth $14 million right now. Not bad for a guy who was couch-surfing — crashing at his brother's NYC apartment — not long ago.Continue reading...

Amazon expands into original programming for web and TV, while Senate bill may close Virginia's "Amazon loophole."

Angry Birds lands on Facebook.

Apple shares close above $500, breaking more records, while brand announces iPad 3 release for March 7, testing "iPad Mini" tablet with smaller screen.

Burt's Bees launches spinoff aimed at Gen Y.

Chipotle steals buzz at Grammy's with Willie Nelson/Coldplay commercial.

Ford may have last laugh over Chevrolet with Super Bowl truck ad.

Google sees Motorola Mobility acquisition approved by EU and US.Continue reading...

ANZ Bank to cut 1,000 jobs as Australia's financial sector aims to correct slump.

Arby's plans brand refresh for third quarter.

Avon bribery-case evidence goes to grand jury, Wall Street Journal says.

Boeing eyes stretched, high-capacity 787.

Dunkin' Brands plans to double U.S. units in 20 years.

Groupon defends its accounting methods.

JetBlue plane wears Boston Red Sox colors.

Kodak runs into opposition over Kodak Theatre naming rights in Los Angeles.Continue reading...

For a few weeks last fall, there were lots of threats coming from NBA players and owners and there seemed to be a collective sinking feeling that there really was a chance that the whole NBA season was going to be scrapped because a bunch of one percenters couldn’t agree on how to distribute all that cash that the 99 percenters dutifully turn over to them for tickets, T-shirts, and miniature branded basketball key rings.

While more than a few players signed on with overseas teams to make some cash while not receiving their NBA paychecks, New York Knicks forward Amar’e Stoudemire and Foot Locker teamed up for a funny commercial that had him taking a job with the retailer.Continue reading...

You may not be able to walk on water, but Carmelo Anthony can.

Last Thursday (Oct. 20) marked the date of a spectacular launch event for his new M8 Jordan Brand sneaker. Inviting guests to NYC's Pier 54 to the Hudson River, an 85-foot 3D projector was used to project a truly one-of-a-kind light show on the water.

It began with a helicopter dropping someone dressed in white into the water — before a giant vision of the New York Knick was visible, running up and down the water dribbling a basketball. Nike's Jordan Brand marketers also used the entire front of a building for another projector which showed Carmelo running across it to shoot a basket.Continue reading...

Unless your last name is Steinbrenner, it’s not easy being the owner of a New York-area professional sports franchise.

Islanders owner Charles Wang has been unable to find the breakaway success he enjoyed at Computer Associates (now CA), the software company he co-founded. The owners of the Mets have been forced to cuts costs while being sued for profits they allegedly earned from Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.

And now, thanks to a $100 million missed loan payment on September 1st, the New Jersey Devils are going bankrupt, if a report in the New York Post is to believed. Unsurprisingly, the Devils shot back: Don’t believe it.Continue reading...

When a person invests heavily in something, they generally are expecting to make their money back — and then some. But New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez seems to be working some new business angle that hasn’t been discovered before: investing in one product while endorsing its competitor.

Coconut water has been "the next big thing" for a while now, with ABC News and other trend-watchers picking up on the trend more than a year ago, as consumers started ditching their sports drinks and vitamin-infused water for a more "natural" thirst-quencher.

Rodriguez has been a longtime investor in coconut-water maker Zico. But Zico’s main competitor for the top spot in what CNBC calls a $200 million industry, Vita Coco, just announced that Rodriguez was endorsing their product, which brought in $0 million in 2010.Continue reading...