Airbnb image takes a hit with customer horror story.

Amazon helps consumers shift from a physical to a digital future.

BMW lands prime sponsorship of U.S. team in 2012 Summer Olympics.

Boeing slows 787 deliveries.

CNN host Piers Morgan accused of hacking on his watch while editor of News of the World.

Chrysler and Fiat prepare to merge and finish their turnaround stories.Continue reading...

AOL shuffles execs.

BSkyB may lose UK "stranglehold" on Hollywood releases.

Dunkin' Donuts parent IPO could exceed $400M.

Express sets Guinness World record with Times Square fashion show.

Facebook iPad app appears in the wild, disappears.

Google gives Gmail a new logo and homepage.

Hyatt apologizes for turning up heat on protesters.

LinkedIn launches "Apply With LinkedIn" button.Continue reading...

Every other US business has suffered in the past few years. So why not video games?

Research firm NPD Group's data shows that even though Americans spent a whopping $1.85 billion "video game content" in the first quarter, total video game industry sales in the US fell to $995 million in June, 10% less than the previous June, as noted by CNET. The category includes hardware, software, and accessories. The software sector was the biggest area of loss, CNET observed, as it fell 12% to $469.5 million.

This is at least better than back in May, when the overall drop was 14% to $743.1 million from the previous May. According to CNET, May 2011 was “the worst month in nearly five years” for the US gaming industry.

Even so, Xbox continues to be the #1 console in the US. Microsoft reported selling approximately 507,000 Xbox 360 units in America in the month of June.Continue reading...

Twenty years ago, Sega launched a game with a blue hedgehog named Sonic taking out robots. You never know what’s going to stick.

As PC World notes, Sonic has since then “starred in four different cartoon shows, (its) own long-running comic book, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 separate Sonic games.”

For Sega, Sonic has become a steady company mascot that has stuck around as the video-game industry has changed dramatically. The hedgehog and archrival Nintendo’s Mario Bros. are some of the most recognizable figures in the gaming world.

Sonic identity is so strong that Sega Europe actually has a Sonic Brand Director, David Corless, who is always trying to figure out what the next step for Sonic should be.

"What we want to do in coming years is push Sonic further," said Corless, according to the Guardian. "How do we make Sonic even more relevant for 12-, 13-year-olds but still deliver the nostalgia to the older market? It's a challenge but quite a luxury.”Continue reading...

Robin Williams named his daughter Zelda after Princess Zelda of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video games, so it was only a matter of time before the brand convinced the gamer and his daughter to appear together in a commercial — for the Wii game, Ocarina of Time 3D — which is trending today on YouTube.

Ally Financial delays $6B IPO.

AT&T brings free Wi-Fi to NYC parks.

Avaya files for $1 billion IPO.

Borders lenders force store closures.

Burger King and Pizza Hut executives put hometown pride on the line with bet on NBA Finals.

Citigroup data theft exposes nagging security issues in the financial-services industry.Continue reading...

California could become first state to ban styrofoam.

Groupon rapped for exaggerating pre-sale price in the UK.

Kobe Bryant announces new foundation to fight homelessness in LA.

Li Na hailed as first Asian to win a tennis Grand Slam tournament.

Louis Vuitton takes check-ins to China.

NBC's The Voice becomes a hit thanks to Twitter.Continue reading...

AARP unveils a new ad campaign targeting boomers this week.

Apple will unveil iCloud Android-fighter today at WWDC, as brand leads tablet market in China.

Bank of America and Goldman Sachs lead US bank stocks taking a beating.

Blip.tv ramps up original content to complete with YouTube.

Boeing faces labor strife.

Coca-Cola resists increasing prices.

Demi Moore adds "CNN reporter" to her credits with sex trafficking doc, a subject near and dear to her DNA Foundation.

E3 starts tommorow, where Nintendo will unveil its new Wii console, Sony will tout NGP (its new handheld gaming device) and Microsoft will promote Kinect and position Xbox as the hub of the home entertainment system.Continue reading...