Welcome to the kinder, gentler — okay, docile — United Auto Workers union. The one that is making a genteel agreement with the Big Three US automakers to extend their contract talks beyond tonight's initial deadline because, well, they have more to talk about before they sign on the dotted lline.

UAW founding icon Walter Reuther might be rolling over in his grave about today's quiescence by the once-proud institution. But a cooperative stance is what the UAW is all about these days.

For one thing, they are under a no-strike obligation when it comes to General Motors and Chrysler because of the terms of the federal bailouts; and the union's long-evolving stance of cooperation with Ford likely would have precluded a strike this fall anyway. There's also the fact that today, more than ever in its history, the fate of the UAW and its members is tied to the fates of the Big Three.Continue reading...

Best Buy faces investor skepticism of its big-box strategy amid stiffening online competition.

BP may avoid gross negligence conviction in Gulf Oil spill.

CBS drops What's Trending web TV series after Steve Jobs flub.

Cisco sets more conservative growth target.

ConocoPhillips tries to fuel more natural-gas use.

Dell sets $5-billion share buyback.

Dreamworks masters YouTube and Zynga marketing.

Facebook chases Google+ with "smart lists" feature.Continue reading...

When the Frankfurt Auto Show officially opens to the international press on Tuesday before it opens to the general public later in the week, there will be lots of buzz about the huge variety of new production models and concept cars that all are meant to demonstrate essentially one thing: driving fuel-efficiently doesn't have to be boring.

New offerings especially from the home teams of Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are aimed at capturing the imagination of the industry and of future car buyers in a way that the most recent Frankfurt show — two years ago, in the teeth of the Great Recession — couldn't.Continue reading...

In a charming nod to its design and manufacturing process, Volvo is teasing "Concept You" ahead of the Frankfurt Auto Show on Sept. 13.  It's keeping mum about its new model, which will feature a new scaleable production process and more efficient "downsized" engine, highlighted below:Continue reading...

Legacy of Apple's Steve Jobs? Persuading people to pay for content.

CNN may buy iPad app maker Zite.

Exxon wins prized contract to drill for oil in the Russian Arctic.

Facebook's "bug bounty" pays out $40,000 to hackers who found flaws.

Google turns to public in fight against scrapers.

Nearly 300 Cambodian workers pass out at H&M factory.

Analysts disagree on whether Newsweek's newsstand sales under Tina Brown are strong or weak.

Chinese Volvo owner has defective car dragged through the streets by an ox in protest.

Books-A-Million wants to acquire 14 old Borders stores.

Google CEO faces unexpected challenges.

Harley-Davidson rides into Russian spotlight carrying Vladimir Putin.

Heinz looks to capture cost-conscious shoppers.

Innkeepers USA sues Cerberus.

Lady Gaga is accused of ripping off Annie Lennox.

LG Display cuts spending on flat-screen manufacturing.

News Corp. loses contract over hacking scandal.Continue reading...

Accenture strikes outsourcing agreement with Nokia.

Adidas faces French inquiry.

Adobe sales exceed estimates, but challenged in Europe.

Airbus racks up orders at Paris Air Show while Boeing dazzles with latest version of its venerable jumbo jet.

Amazon expects to sell 4 million tablets this year.

AOL UK relaunches homepage with Tesco sponsorship.Continue reading...

Airbus may develop longer-range plane to rival Boeing.

Apple tucks Newsstand into WWDC announcements.

AT&T's bid for T-Mobile is supported by Microsoft and Facebook.

Barack Obama's chief economist, Austan Goolsbee, resigns.

Bayer prostate-cancer drug shows promise.

BHP Billiton starts first US Gulf well since BP disaster.

BP tries to salvage Rosneft deal.Continue reading...