Early look at new Windows 8 design baffles some users, but not three-year-old Julian, above, as Best Buy starts taking pre-orders for Windows 8 phones and gets ready to launch Surface tablet — and manage expectations ahead of growing thirst for tablets, and Oct. 23rd reveal of Apple's iPad Mini.

Lance Armstrong urges cancer supporters and celeb pals to stand by LiveStrong, as the New York Times and other media detail alleged doping cover-up.

Abercrombie & Fitch CEO sued by former private airline pilot over dismissal and eyebrow-raising requirements.

Apple sued over deal locking iPhone to AT&T network.

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will launch Isis mobile wallet on Monday.

Audi may help Mercedes-Benz overtake BMW in US.

Banana Boat recalls sunscreen due to flammability threat.

BBC roiled by "worst crisis in 50 years" and internal strife as its Jimmy Savile sex scandal handling goes public in broadcaster's own Panorama expose.Continue reading...

Google turns in soft quarter as PR fail pummels stock.

HSBC hit by worldwide cyberattack.

McDonald's profit falls as U.S. growth slows.

Abbott study of kidney drug is halted.

Apple's iPad Mini poised to cannibalize sales.

Lance Armstrong endorsement implosion toll reaches $30 million.

BBC director general to testify on Jimmy Savile scandal, as new head of BBC Worldwide named.Continue reading...

Daily Beast triumphs as Newsweek announces end of print magazine.

Apple loses tablet copyright appeal against Samsung, makes 14 pt. UK apology, reportedly eyes Color Labs, will never resume US manufacturing.

Amazon pushes Kindle to US kindergarten classes.

AOL aims to make email more social with Alto.

Centrum rises on landmark medical study.

China slowdown appears to bottom out.

Facebook rallies on mobile advertising outlook.

In-N-Out Burger opens London pop-up.Continue reading...

In September, just a year and a half after the the British communications authority Ofcom allowed paid product placement in the nation's TV programs, the BBC 2 show The Great British Bake Off featured the logo of refrigerator brand Smeg dozens of times, sending viewers into a tizzy. As one complainant wrote, "The Smeg logo was so visible that I counted it 37 times before giving up." The BBC later admitted that rules were broken involving the Smeg placements.

The conversation involving the terms "British" and "product placement" is currently dominated by philosophical arguments concerning the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall. But a new report from the UK's New Media Group (NME) brings more hard data and analystics to the topic. One of its findings: It's not just Smeg that's been testing the limits of the new rules.Continue reading...

Nokia is taking its cue from Samsung Apple-bashing — check out the brand's latest spot for Lumia, above, mocking a queue for iPhone 5. Update: Bloomberg is reporting that AT&T is ready to begin seling Nokia's Lumia 920 in the U.S.

Interbrand's 2012 Best Global Brands report sees Coca-Cola on top, Apple and Samsung make gains, Disney and HP decline, and BlackBerry lose 39 percent of brand value.

Samsung files to add iPhone 5 to Apple patent lawsuit as US court lifts injunction against Galaxy Tab sales and Galaxy S3 outsells iPhone 5 in UK.

Amazon plans to hire 10,000 British temp employees for the holidays.

American Airlines accuses pilots of sabotage as loose seats embarrass execs.

American Express ordered to refund $85 million to customers and pay $27.5 million in penalties.

Apple's iPad Mini rumored for Oct. 17 unveiling.

Cadbury wins exclusive right to its signature purple color in legal battle.

Disney unveils new homepage with entertainment focus.

Facebook sells more access to members as part of ad analytics push; Wall Street approves.

Google's stock market value passes Microsoft's for the first time.

Guinness launches "cloud TV" campaign.Continue reading...

3M plans to acquire ceramics maker Ceradyne.

Amazon comes under fire for offering Nazi death-camp puzzle.

AutoNation makes big digital push.

BMW brings performance school online.

Simon Cowell proposes truce in competition between his X Factor on Fox and The Voice on NBC.

Fender tries to stay plugged in.

Ford hits the road to tout new C-Max nameplate.

GM recalls cars over fuel leak problem.Continue reading...

Apple CEO Tim Cook has apologized for the iOS 6 Maps kerfuffle, following the brand's eviction of Google Maps and proprietary (but glitchy) maps function — one of the key features consumers demand from their smartphones. Google, meanwhile, just upgraded its maps app with high-resolution aerial views.

A contrite Apple posted the apology online (read the full text below) in a mea culpa that the Financial Times calls "a rare moment of contrition from the world's most valuable company," and — unexpectedly — suggested installing rivals' map apps "while we're improving Maps." Cook's personal apology for "mapgate" also raised comparisons to how Steve Jobs handled the iPhone 4 "antennagate," for which the company — but not Jobs personally — apologized.Continue reading...