AOL sells patents to Microsoft.

AT&T spends big to support launch of Numia smartphone by Nokia as it staves off a walkout by its workers.

Augusta National leaves unsettled the question of membership of IBM CEO Virginia Rometty; Bubba Watson wins its Masters tournament in dramatic fashion.

Avon names new CEO from Johnson & Johnson.

CDC says anti-smoking ads prompt lots more "quit attempts."

Cotton launches new look.

Google plots web-domain buying spree.

Great Wolf Resorts sees sweetened offer to buy company.

Kia keeps brand humming in non-launch year. Continue reading...

In a recent episode of the quirky, provocative CBS reality series Undercover Boss, the CEO of DirecTV, Michael White came across as authentic in a role that requires deception and covert activity. 

White recently joined DirecTV, so he's a newcomer to the satellite-TV business. His humility — watch him deal with a customer service call above — played well in this surreptitious milieu, including the revelation of his son’s battle with addiction and his own humble beginnings.

No wonder AOL's DailyFinance called this episode the best one of the series yet — high praise for an executive running an aggressive brand in the cut-throat world of U.S. subscription television.Continue reading...