Apple acknowledges iPhone 4 antenna issue, suggests users hold it differently.

AXA unloads British assets for $4 billion.

BlackBerry-maker RIM misses profit targets as Apple gains market share.

Boeing denies fleet grounding while 787 Dreamliner technical issue is investigated.Continue reading...

What price technology? As Apple unveils its next wave of products at its worldwide developers conference today, one of its key tech suppliers is in the spotlight and under fire.

The allegations that Foxconn, headquartered in Taiwan with production in southern China, is a tech sweatshop and a human rights flouter, are having such an effect on Apple's brand that CEO Steve Jobs was forced to address the situation at last week's D8 conference in Silicon Valley. In the clip above, he called the rash of employee suicides at Foxconn " very troubling" and reassured Apple-watchers, "we're all over this."

Jobs also said that Foxconn's manufacturing facility "is not a sweatshop," and that "for a factory, it's a pretty nice factory," citing its on-site hospitals, restaurants, movie theaters and swimming pools. That appears to be part of the problem for workers who live there 24/7 and never get away from Foxconn.

Apple, which relies on Foxconn for production of products including the Mac mini, iPod, iPad, and iPhone, isn't the only mega-tech brand to rely on the supplier.Continue reading...

Now here’s a match made in heaven: Nintendo now has the American Heart Association’s endorsement for its Wii Fit balance board.

Nintendo has trumpeted its fitness effectiveness for years, while the AHA has has been promoting getting fit. Now they are teaming to promote the notion of fitness for life, especially for a generation of young gamers in danger of a sedentary lifestyle.

AHA wields considerable clout as one of the most widely respected U.S. health organizations, so the AHA logo on the Wii console is priceless.

Or at least worth $1.5 million, the amount Nintendo paid for its three-year endorsement deal with AHA (the first such endorsement the AHA has struck with a video game brand, by the way).

It's already being seen as a welcome move by gamers, although Will Fit appeals across ages and demographics to include gamers' moms and the entire family.Continue reading...

In response to Apple's dominant and enviable success in recent years, competitor Sony plans to take its electronics brand to the next level. The makeover, however, will look strikingly familiar to the folks back at Apple.

Sony, a company that once contended with the elite players in the technology field, has seen decreased sales recently due to lack of innovation. And now Sony wants to change its reputation by rolling out upgraded products and programs – it's just too bad that they look disconcertingly similar to already-on-the-market Apple offerings.Continue reading...

Burberry has sued TJX for copyright infringement and plagiarism. [WWD]

The characters of 'Mad Men' were remade into a line of plastic dolls. [BrandFreak]

Twitter has launched a new location-based feature for users. [NY Times]

MySpace wants to attract video game designers for a makeover. [LA Times]

YouTube extended its promotions to include mobile phones. [Adweek]

Tropicana boxes are getting smaller as prices increase. [Consumerist]Continue reading...

T-Mobile, Verizon give consumers the chance to help Chile via cellphone. [Consumerist]

Problems with production are already delaying Apple's iPad launch. [Business Insider]

LVMH sues Hyundai for copyright infringement in its Super Bowl ad. [Businessweek]

Problems with PlayStation3 models compels Sony to notify consumers. [AP]

Another day, another announcement about how Sony will "reinvent" itself as a lifestyle brand to build brand loyalty. Today? Online services. 

Of Sony's plans to revitalize its brand by offering downloadable games, movies and other entertainment to Bravia TVs, Cyber-shot cameras and e-Readers, Executive VP Kazuo Hirai said, "That's the kind of combination that I think is not seen anywhere else. That I think is where our core competence lies, and that's a differentiator for Sony."

Immediately on hearing this statement, everyone giggled and was heard to say, "So adorable." Continue reading...

Bad news for guests with made-up inspirational tales: Oprah to end show in 2011. [Chicago Tribune]

Nordstrom refuses to partake in the "Christmas Creep." [Consumerist]

Celebrities lend their brands to charity, commerce. [Daily Beast]

Sony hints at a subscription service for their Playstation Network. [paidContent]

Wal-Mart fuels war of words, price war with Amazon. [Daily Finance]