Foursquare is squaring off against Yelp, and has become a “mobile, socially powered version of Yelp," as Fast Company puts it, thanks to the Explore tool that gives users dining and bar recommendations based on location check-in.

Add the latest tweak to the tool, a proximity-based finder for maps that zooms and can be dragged and pinched at will, and Foursquare’s search iterates from present to future location. The sophistication of the app's user interface puts it ahead of Google Maps, MenuPages, Urban Spoon and Yelp.

Foursquare recently partnered with Open Table, adding a reservations function that covers more than 15,000 restaurants including hours of business and menu perusal.Continue reading...

Ace Hardware debuts first-ever paint campaign.

AIG sells $6 billion in AIA shares to help repay bailout loan.

Angie's List creates rare success with paid-content model.

Apple expected to pass 100 million iPad sales by year-end as iPad 3 is unveiled this week and excitement builds for Apple TV.

BP stock rises on proposed $17.6 billion settlement in oil spill.

Carlos Slim's America Movil reportedly starting a Netflix-like online service for Mexico.

Facebook asks advertisers for big investments in exchange for expanding fan base.

Frontier low-cost airline may be relaunched or sold.

GlaxoSmithKline expands in China.

GM struggles to make Volt a sustainable business.Continue reading...

Aereo is sued by major media companies alleging copyright infringement.

Apple, Google and Amazon lead Fortune's 2012 world's most admired companies ranking.

Apple could find politics on its side in China iPad dispute, while Apple and Samsung lose countersuits in Germany.

CNN was talking with Andrew Breitbart about new show before his death, report says.

Chrysler leads brand gains in robust February auto sales in U.S. market.

Disney draws criticism with governance panel.

Enterprise leverages NCAA sponsorship for March Madness.Continue reading...

Yelp, the user-generated review website, quietly launched seven years ago with a cartoon-like logo designed by YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley.

Now known for its distinctive 'burst' logo and spanning the globe, it plans to raise as much as $100 million in an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange on March 2nd.Continue reading...

American Express Cardmembers and merchants are getting exclusive access to Twitter’s new advertising solution for small businesses. The first 10,000 eligible businesses that register at http://ads.twitter.com/amex will get $100 in free Twitter ads as the self-serve automated system begins in March.

Similar to Google, advertisers will choose amount they’ll spend, the cities or regions for ads to appear, and write their own 140-character copy. According to AmEx’s press release, Twitter will charge only for ads that get a user response.

Twitter is already testing Promoted Tweets priced on a "cost-per-engagement" basis, where businesses only pay if a user interacts (retweets, replies to, clicks or favorites), but the AmEx partnership could exponentially increase the number of advertisers Twitter can work with.Continue reading...

Alibaba holding company may privatize Alibaba.com.

Amazon plans to swell Seattle office market with new towers.

Apple's iPhone loses China market share and faces U.S. repercussions over iPad trademark dispute; and makes over Macintosh for mobile features and gives developers access to new operating system, Mountain Lion.

Chrysler drops request for green-car loans from U.S.

Facebook finds that retailers are shutting storefronts hosted by it.

Google tracked unwitting iPhone owners.Continue reading...

Accenture introduces global brand campaign.

Alamo trademark flap resolved in Texas.

Anna's Thins cookies adopt a new look.

Apple's iPad tested as voting device in Oregon, continues "App Store" fight with Amazon.

Best Buy ups holiday spending and introduces "Game On, Santa" campaign.

Boeing wins its biggest-ever commercial-jet deal even as mechanism for deal is criticized.

Cannes adds Mobile Lions award.

Coach pushes for China to become its No. 1 market within three years.

Deutsche Borse and NYSE seek to appease European Union.

Fiat introduces another TV commercial featuring Jennifer Lopez and its Gucci edition.Continue reading...

AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo forge advertising partnership.

Activision and Electronic Arts let bullets fly in video-game holiday-sales war.

Anheuser-Busch gets label approval for higher-alcohol version of Bud Light.

Barnes & Noble has sought U.S. antitrust probe of Microsoft over e-readers.

Facebook sees recommendations on advertisers' use of "like" by Better Business Bureau.

General Motors reports strong but lower profits.

HSBC raises U.S. bad-loan provisions.

Landry's acquires McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants. Continue reading...