Microsoft and Best Buy plan mini "Windows Stores."

Amtrak hires esteemed chefs to ramp up its train food.

YouTube becomes overwhelming platform for fan-made branded content.

US Supreme Court strikes down gene patents.

Airbus lifts A350 to maiden flight ahead of schedule even as it copes with losses from aircraft's predecessor model.

Arby's franchisees helped get CMO ousted.

Audi is top choice of marriage cheaters in UK, survey says.

BMI sues Pandora over fees.

Bloomberg sees reporters' practices become critical issue for company.

Cadillac boosts sticker on new CTS by whopping $6,000.

Chevrolet believes racing on Sunday still sells on Monday.

Chrysler recalls sprinkling of trucks, Darts.Continue reading...

Nike drops Livestrong lines after 2013 holidays.

Netflix sees stock tank as poor reviews of new Arrested Development come in.

Walmart pleads guilty to illegal dumping.

Airbus tackles flaws in superjumbo jet.

Amazon launches men's grooming platform.

Apple hints at producing wearable devices as CEO Tim Cook insists company's innovation streak hasn't run out.

Chevrolet unveils social media effort for L.A. Galaxy sponsorship and says its new Corvette is the most powerful ever.

Comedy Central gets temporary lifting of ban in India.

Coty files for IPO of up to $1 billion.

Dell approaches heated phase of buyout battle.

GoDaddy gets ready for new domains.Continue reading...

Uniqlo kept out of Bangladesh safety pact by owner Fast Retailing.

Renault suffers blow from failure of Better Place EV startup.

ESPN layoffs underscore sports-network battle and soaring rights fees.

Acura eyes emerging markets.

BMW hints at bringing out super-luxury coupe with a Pininfarina touch.

BuzzFeed, CNN and YouTube plan online-video channel.

Club Med buyout sees large role for Chinese investors.Continue reading...

Google CEO Larry Page discloses vocal-cord condition as company plans music-streaming service.

Apple is being investigated for its role in e-book pricing.

Burger King rolls out BK Rib to bust McRib by McDonald's.

ABC tests expanding Nielsen ratings to mobile and plans to consolidate Dancing with the Stars to Monday evenings.

Amy's Baking Company goes rogue after Kitchen Nightmares rejection, shows what brands shouldn't do on social.

Bloomberg terminal-use issue highlights stress in corporate culture as Wall Street firms begin to regard it as competitor.

Dell will miss profit estimates.

Dollar General looks to hire 10,000 new employees this month.Continue reading...

With American consumers stubbornly reluctant to spend any more of their family budgets on fast food these days, major QSR chains have been struggling with how to get them to loosen their pursestrings a bit. A lot of the brands' emphasis has been on broadening "value menus" that provide a lot of food for relatively little cash.

But chain executives also know that there's nothing to get the digestive juices of fast-food customers flowing like new products. They look at Taco Bell's success over the last year or so with Doritos Locos Tacos and understand that boffo store traffic and renewed sales momentum may be just a hit product or two away.

And another thing: If there's a "day part" and an associated menu that the brand has under-exploited, that could comprise a significant new opportunity as well. Again, look at what Yum's Taco Bell brand has done in trying out breakfast.Continue reading...

Joining a long roster of freshened iconic-female CPG logos that includes Betty Crocker, Aunt Jemima and Wendy of fast-food fame, Little Debbie is getting a modern makeover. The face of the snack-cake brand is being tweaked by owner McKee Foods for just the third time since the iconic logo was introduced in 1960.

The difference between Little Debbie and the other three females is that she's the only real person who is still working in a key role with the company whose eponymous logo she inspired. Debbie McKee-Fowler is still an executive vice president of McKee, a family-owned, Collegedale, Tenn.-based company that was founded by her grandfather, O.D. McKee. Grandpa was inspired by the angelic visage of his three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter to make her the fresh and appealing face of his new food enterprise.Continue reading...

How low can you go? That may be the biggest question facing McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and other fast-food operators these days, in the US as well as around the world.

That's because cash-strapped consumers worldwide, struggling amid low-growth and slowing economies, are making business difficult for fast-food chains even though each brand is now emphasizing "value menus" and increasing low-priced offerings like never before. The QSR rivals are doing a lot of other things as well, including introducing higher-priced new menu items. But the most important competition, and the crux of their strategic dilemma, is found at the low end.

"That consumer that is getting hit hardest by the economy is locking in on a message that has a price, and when they see and hear 99 cents, Wendy's gets put in their consideration set," Emil Brolick, CEO of Wendy's, told the Wall Street Journal.Continue reading...

Coca-Cola promises to reduce marketing to kids as part of global anti-obesity commitment.

Levi Strauss buys naming rights to planned new stadium of San Francisco 49ers.

Lay's reveals chip-flavor contest winner.

Abercrombie & Fitch draws fire for stocking only "skinny" sizes for women.

Activision Blizzard warns "World of Warcraft" is losing subscribers.

AT&T severely slashes Facebook Home phone prices.

BT enters British-sports broadcasting.

Claire's IPO will test market for debt-laden companies.

Ford takes over as title sponsor of Detroit's annual fireworks.

Google Maps will reportedly unveil new interface.Continue reading...