Amazon lines up author to fulfill goal of publishing its own books.

Baidu comes under fire in Chinese state-TV report.

BMW releases app that lets drivers share most interesting routes as brand finds its cars, along with those of Mercedes-Benz, torched in protests in Berlin.

Chili's fetes millionth Facebook fan.

Chrysler hires Ignite to put social-media gaffe behind car maker.

Clinique tests mobile strategy in Asia.

Dell lowers sales forecast.

Evergreen Solar files for bankruptcy after it can't compete with Chinese firms.Continue reading...

The personal information of 100 million Sony PlayStation and Qriocity users were breached back in April, which did not bring a lot of love for Sony. “The company also reported that credit card data was encrypted, but it had found no evidence to suggest that the identities of any of its users was stolen,” CNET reports.

Against that backdrop, Sony held its annual shareholder meeting this week, where chairman and CEO Howard Stringer displayed “an upbeat attitude” about how the company is currently being perceived. "Our brand perception, you'll be happy to know, is clearly improving again," Stringer said, CNET reports. He noted that 90% of PlayStation’s users returned to the brand.

His own personal fortunes haven't fared quite so well; Sony's board has trimmed Stringer's compensation 15%, along with that of his "top lieutenant and possible successor" Kazuo Hirai, as Bloomberg notes, following the company's third straight year of reporting a loss.Continue reading...

Erich Marx is a 20-year veteran of Nissan, so he doesn’t have to “learn” the brand. And as Nissan’s director of marketing communications, he was involved in the company’s initial social-media efforts. Now, as Nissan’s first director of social media and interactive marketing, he gets a chance to make the automaker an industry trailblazer.

One thing Marx already knows is that he’d like to do more of what Nissan has been doing in its promotion with Sony involving the Gran Turismo 5 computer game. Nissan selected 16 of the best American “drivers” in the game and then took them to the UK to compete as real racers behind the wheels of actual Nissans. The brand also is filming a reality series (GT Academy) about the contestants that it will put online in September.Continue reading...

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...

Katie Couric exits the CBS News anchor chair tonight with one final interview: Hillary Clinton.

Also stepping down this week: Mary Hart, who signs off Entertainment Tonight on Friday after 29 seasons in a final broadcast that brings out her former co-hosts.

Arnold Schwarzenegger puts projects on hold to deal with personal crisis.

Discovery Networks to run first in-show product placement under relaxed UK rules.

FDA pulls diabetes drug Avandia from shelves.

Gap quarterly profit falls 23%; partners with Goodwill for donated clothing discount.Continue reading...

Air Canada woos US business travelers to fly via Toronto.

Avon brand challenged in emerging markets.

Canadians went to the polls today in 41st federal election.

Dish Network appoints a new head of embattled Blockbuster chain.

EU contest to name science funding program sees flood of entries. 

Jean-Paul Gaultier brand catches eye of Spanish perfume-maker Puig.

London 2012 Olympics organizers invite public to name neighborhoods.

Mercedes-Benz opens first teen driving school in America.

NASDAQ to "go hostile" with NYSE bid.Continue reading...

The world watches Prince William and Kate Middleton — now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — as the Royal Wedding dominates TV and the web (esp. Google) today, breaking live streaming records. Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton won the derby as designer of the wedding dress, which Kate helped design and was inspired by Grace Kelly. The event (being rebroadcast on YouTube's Royal channel) also shines a spotlight on the UK — and the British monarchy and its challenges.

Berkshire Hathaway tries to distance itself from former exec David Sokol as the company’s annual meeting nears on Saturday.

Caterpillar boosts forecasts on strength in developing countries.

Discovery Communications posts solid gains.

Dunkin’ Donuts rides product innovation and differentiated marketing to strong first-quarter results.

Exxon and Shell profits soar on higher oil prices.Continue reading...

After Apple and Google were called to US Senate hearing on mobile privacy, Apple agrees to curb collection of user location data, which CEO Steve Jobs attributes to tech error.

Comcast says it's the first cable provider to offer TV VOD from all 4 major US networks.

eBay posts profit with PayPal help. 

HBO casting photo of Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin surfaces.

Madonna strikes back at lawsuit involving her Malawi charity.Continue reading...