One woman, somewhere in the world, becomes a victim of sex trafficking, forced prostitution, gender-based violence, or maternal mortality every 90 seconds. Now, a powerful cabal of producers, NGO’s, gamers and celebrities have joined forces in a transmedia project of unprecedented proportion to address this heinous reality.

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, the acclaimed book by Pulitzer Prize-winners Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, is the centerpiece of the project which includes a four-hour PBS miniseries (trailer above), mobile games in India and Africa, websites and educational materials, and a social action game coming to Facebook in November.Continue reading...

Zynga is biting the hand that fed it by pitching “Zynga With Friends” as an alternative to Facebook.

The new social network will be accessible through Zynga.com, and players can build profiles, connect with other players and access a real-time multi-player mode for collaborative game-playing on platforms including laptops, smartphones and tablets. 

"Zynga With Friends will be your social lobby wherever you are, whether on the Web or on mobile," said Zynga GM Manuel Bronstein during Zynga Unleashed, its conference this week for reporters and analysts.Continue reading...

AOL brings "project devil" ad format to mobile phones and tablets.

Apple's iPhone guides blind Olympic torch carrier.

AT&T still benefits from having been first with iPhone.

Apple gets major win in tablet wars after judge stops Samsung from selling Galaxy version in U.S.

Best Buy founder may try to take chain private.

Brut seeks "The Essence of Man" in digital campaign.

Campari eyes American women.Continue reading...

Facebook is starting to migrate its "sponsored stories" (user-generated ads) onto other websites, starting with that of social game behemoth Zynga, in order to expand its marketing reach. And in another telling move, the social media giant is backing away from its philanthropic Credits program — launched with high hopes in 2009 as the virtual currency for the social network.

They're the latest steps by a social giant struggling to shore up its revenue model. The site's new partnership with Unilever on Waterworks, a cause marketing app that lets users donate online credits while revealing key ad targeting data, signals how Facebook is evolving its commerce platform in order to boost F-commerce opportunities.Continue reading...

CNBC joins with Yahoo to bolster web reach via content, programming and distribution alliance.

Comcast and fellow U.S. cable operators face DOJ inquiry over treatment of Netflix and Hulu.

New York's proposed big soda ban goes to public comment as former Coca-Cola exec switches sides.

American Express sponsors Kenny Chesney concert for live-streaming on YouTube.

Apple is likely killing Ping.

Burger King's summer BBQ menu rolls out with sweet potato fries and bacon sundae.

Citi partners with USAID to foster mobile commerce in developing nations.Continue reading...

As Facebook’s social and financial currency slips post-IPO debacle, the company is wasting no time in making its next headline-grabbing move, technology for children younger than 13 years old to use the social-networking site under parental supervision.

The move would open a cornucopia of new revenue streams and a Pandora’s box of privacy concerns by adding an entire new cohort to its 900 million users worldwide. Facebook's current policy bans children younger than 13, but 2011 research from Consumer Reports found 7.5 million people younger than 13 use the site, including more than five million under the age of 10. Microsoft's researchers also found that nearly one-third of 11-year-olds and more than half of 12-year-olds use Facebook with their parents' knowledge.

Among the options being tested is connecting children's accounts to their parents' for supervision of ‘friending’ and apps, and targeting the fast-growing game market for teens and tweens. Nearly 12% of Facebook's $3.7 billion in 2011 revenue came from games like Zynga’s Farmville.Continue reading...

American Express continues to innovate in the social media space, working with Twitter, Foursquare and Facebook, and now adds a major gaming play to its virtual and real portfolio. Today, AmEx and Zynga launched a co-branded, prepaid Serve Card, called Zynga Serve Rewards, linking everyday spending to virtual rewards for millions of online gamers.

Tied to AmEx's Serve next generation open payments platform and digital wallet, this latest move is a first in the prepaid card market by offering in-game incentives for daily expenditures. The reloadable Serve pre-paid debit card will reward users in Farmville cash.

“We're excited to partner with American Express to invent new ways for people to experience Zynga play in more parts of their day,” stated Mark Pincus CEO and Founder of Zynga. “Together we can add surprise and delight to every day shopping.”Continue reading...

Apple wins legal round in U.S. over iPad trade name in China.

Birds Eye commits to "GenVeg" effort to get kids to eat vegetables.

Chase pitches pre-paid debit cards.

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo carry calorie fight into New York subways.

Delta pulls ads from Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

Disney gets earnings boost from cable.

Dole considers breakup.

Domino's gluten-free crust challenged.

Facebook IPO bandwagon moves to Boston, ditches video.

Ford struggles with Thai suppliers after last fall's floods.Continue reading...