SAP moves into cloud computing as brand projects $10B boost from banking software.

Coca-Cola plans to invest $2 billion in Florida orange groves.

Disney second quarter soars 32% on theme parks, ESPN ad sales as company withdraws trademark application for Dia de los Muertos.

Alibaba IPO anticipation grows on revenue surge.

American Airlines launches Klout-based promo.

AOL profits boosted by advertising.

AT&T presses case in lower bandwidth spectrum case.

Bitcoin startups begin to attract real cash.

Burger King makes bold move with delivery expansion.Continue reading...

Apple and HTC settle patent dispute.

BBC needs radical overhaul, chairman says, as two more senior execs step down.

Hyundai and Kia cope with damage they've done to their main selling point: mileage.

AEG and StubHub align.

Alltel returns with holiday pitch to Santa.

Brinks says it isn't for sale right now.

Cisco rolls out aggressive new strategy for dealing with patent trolls.Continue reading...

Dunkin’ Donuts thinks it can have a winner with the bagel centers, just as it did when it turned doughnuts on their glazed heads and created Munchkins, sparking a doughnut hole war in the U.S. with Canada's Timbit-flinging Tim Hortons chain. As spotted by the Boston Globe, the people that brought you America Runs on Dunkin' filed for a “Bagel Bunchkin” trademark back in May and plans to use it to sell bite-size bagel pieces in the U.S.

The chain already has a pretty good lock on bagel sales, as the biggest seller of bagels among quick service restaurants in the U.S. Two years ago, it launched Bagel Twists, but is now looking to expand its bagel offerings. However, it may not be able to move forward with their desired name.

The US Patent and Trademark Office “tentatively rejected the Dunkin’ application, noting that the Fred Meyer Stores supermarket chain already registered the rights to the name ‘The Bagel Bunch’ for its traditional bagel line,” the Globe notes. Dunkin’ Donuts is nearing the end of the time window to appeal.Continue reading...

Coursera roars into BRIC countries with online classes.

ESPN introduces campaign that focuses on value of Monday Night Football.

Facebook HQ gets a Main Street.

Goldman Sachs escapes U.S. charges in mortgage crisis.

Ikea values its brand at $11 billion.

JCPenney reports loss, raising more questions about strategy.

JPMorgan Chase outlines damages from "London Whale" trading blunder.Continue reading...

Amazon plans to lend Harry Potter e-books.

Apple will help upgrade Foxconn factories in China.

AT&T sees regulatory logjam delay deals in wireless.

Betsey Johnson confirms plans to liquidate.

CBS sues ABC alleging new reality series rips off Big Brother.

Chuck E. Cheese plans to test gluten-free products.

Coca-Cola finds its Hellenic unit hit by perfect political and economic storm.Continue reading...

"What’s an ounce? When did Tim go American in Canada? FYI its milliliters."

That's the first comment on Toronto Life's web piece noting that Canada's homebrewed Tim Hortons chain of coffee shops will introduce a 24-ounce extra large coffee on Monday, January 23rd. The new mega-size bests the Starbucks Venti by a full 4 ounces. In addition, Tim Hortons is sliding all of its size names to accommodate its new extra large. The gloves are off. Continue reading...

In Canada, the name of doughnut-and-coffee shop Tim Hortons is synonymous with NHL hockey. After all, its namesake founder played for 24 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres.

The chain of 2,500 stores across Canada — and a growing footprint of more than 600 locations across the U.S. — has sponsorship partnerships with all seven NHL teams in Canada. Last season, it sponsored the Heritage Classic, the annual outdoor game the NHL has held in recent seasons.

It's also beloved in its homeland for sponsoring free ice rinks to bring skating to the masses, and for being the only coffee chain open early enough to warm up aspiring NHL stars' early morning hockey practices (hot chocolate for the kids, hot coffee for the drivers).

Now Horton’s is looking to keep that relationship growing by sponsoring the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. For its money, it gets title sponsorship of the game, in-arena signage, and a company logo right at center ice.

“From both sides of the border, it makes sense,” York University sports marketing professor Vijay Setlur commented to the Toronto Star. “They know how much the NHL has grown in popularity over the last couple of years and they want to be part of that positive momentum. It doesn’t hurt to have extra (U.S. exposure).”

Setlur noted that the game gives Hortons a chance to “raise its profile in states like New York and Massachusetts, where hockey is popular” and where it would like to grab market share from competitor Dunkin’ Donuts. It's also a chance for Hortons to win some home ice advantage over the biggest rival of its existence: McDonald's.Continue reading...

MF Global faces federal investigation over missing funds as its bankruptcy proceedings rattles Wall Street.

Unilever shelves some Culver brands.

AIG makes headlines as earnings slump continues.

Apple may be mulling end of Mac Pro line.

Autodesk shifts R&D budget toward the cloud.

Boeing must help airlines learn to fly new Dreamliner.

Debenhams tests virtual pop-up stores in the U.K.

DirecTV and News Corp. renew contentious carriage deal.

E! Network caught by surprise by Kim Kardashian divorce.

FDA ordered by President Obama to ease drug shortages.Continue reading...