Gap changes logo, then changes mind

On October 6, Gap announced that it would change its logo from the iconic navy square with a classy white type to a background-less Helvetica type with a tiny blue box behind “p”. The company explained that it was a “more contemporary, modern expression.” Consumers begged to differ. After a week, the company apologized and brought back its old logo.

Jobs to iPhone 4 users: You’re holding it wrong

The iPhone 4 was one of the most anticipated items of the year. But after a video was uploaded on YouTube of the phone losing reception depending on hand placement, the product’s credibility was tainted. It didn’t help when Jobs answered an inquiry on the problem by merely saying, “Just avoid holding it in that way.”

Buzz off, Google

To try to break into the dominance of social media sharing networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, Google launched Buzz earlier this year. But because of the gravity of the perceived private information breach, users were quick to disable their Buzz accounts. Google even faced a privacy lawsuit that ended with a $8.5 million settlement.

Kardashians create, then kill, debit card

Last November 9, the Kardashian sisters launched a new debit card as their newest business venture. By November 26, Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal demanded for the card to be brought down. The debit card had a price tag of $100 per month for usage, plus $1.50 for merely swiping it at an ATM, another dollar for balance check, another $1.50 dollar for a customer service call, and $10 for replacement for a lost card. “The Kardashian Kard is particularly troubling,” wrote Blumenthal, “because of its high fees combined with its appeal to financially unsophisticated young adult Kardashian fans.”

See the full list here: <a href=”http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/news/companies/1012/gallery.business_dumbest_moments_2010.fortune/index.html”>Dumbest moments in business 2010</a>

CNN Money

Forbes.com, in a slideshow, presents 10 of America’s Happiest Companies. Here’s the list.

Adobe. The company keeps its employees happy by offering positive psychology training, onsite cafeterias, fitness facilities, including 80 associations to cater to their employees’ varying personal interests.

American Express. In this company, flexible schedules are encouraged; employees are paid on sabbaticals; and gay partners receive health benefits.

Google. Here, onsite childcare is provided and employees are encouraged to spend time with their kids during the day; meals and snacks are also free; and employees can unwind with videogame stations and by playing pingpong.

IBM. MIT researchers found that the more socially active IBM employees were, the better they performed.

KPMG. This company invests in their employees’ happiness training.

PepsiCo. Employees can roam a vast landscaped campus and are given plots for gardening.

Southwest Airlines. In this company, execs try to cultivate a “fun-luving” attitude and “warrior spirit”.

Starbucks. With a laid-back atmosphere and generous benefits even for part-times, employees are kept happy.

UBS. Every Friday, the company helps its employees relax by serving free beer.

Zappos. This online shoe retailer runs on two core values – to “create fun and a little weirdness” and “build a positive team and family spirit”.

Source: Forbes

Why is there an oversupply? Well, simply because manufacturers were playing a game of chicken, hoping that the demand would still be there amidst aggressively priced LCD TVs; because they were too reluctant on price chops. In fact, in July, prices even increased as larger TVs and those with Internet and 3-D capabilities were introduced.

By the end of this month, prices are expected to be 5% lower than they were at the same time last year. But it doesn’t end there. In October, experts still expect prices to keep falling until they bottom out at 12% below 2009 levels. In some blowout sales, the price tailspin could even be more striking.

Watch out for Black Friday. 32-inch LCD TVs are expected to be sold between $249 and $299, with the best deals as low as $199. 32-inch LCD TVs are currently priced at $349 to $399 on the average, with the cheapest at $300.

Finally, manufacturers realized that prices needed to fall. And hopefully, this will have a positive impact on their holiday sales.

Source: CNN Money

There’s a psychic element to it. Google Instant shows the user’s typed text in black, while the “prediction” text appears in gray. The search box also now instantly moves to the top of the search page as the results appear below. And as more keywords are typed, the results below the search box constantly change as well.

Google notes that people type slowly, typically about 300 milliseconds between keystroke, but read quickly, about 30 milliseconds. With Google Instant, users can save about 2-5 seconds on a typical search.

The update will be available on Google’s Chrome 5 and 6, Firefox 3, Safari 5 for Mac, and Internet Explorer 8.

Like the rest of Google’s new features, users have the choice to keep or turn off Google Instant. A button next to the search box offers that option.

More than a decade after this search engine was launched, Google is determined to stay at the forefront of innovation. The company has already made 500 changes to its search engine so far in 2010.

Source: CNN Money

Hurd resigned from HP last August 6 after being accused of filling inaccurate expense reports to Jodie Fisher – a marketing contractor who worked for Hurd’s office from 2007 to 2009. Fisher also accused Hurd of sexual harassment, though HP found no harassment had occurred.

Hurd’s separation agreement from HP didn’t include a non-compete provision, but involves a two-year confidentiality pact. HP argues that Hurd cannot perform his daily duties at Oracle without spilling HP’s trade secrets and confidential information.

At Oracle, Hurd will oversee sales, marketing, and support. And given his expertise in IT hardware and integrating large acquisitions, Wall Street analysts agree that Oracle will be at a clear advantage against rival HP.

Oracle shares soared 5.87% at $24.27 last Tuesday, as investors celebrated Hurd’s new post; while, HP shares closed 1.04% lower at $39.92 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Interestingly, Oracle is HP’s major partner and rival. Oracle competes with HP in the server market, after Oracle’s $5.6 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems, which closed earlier this year.

Oracle execs assert that this “vindictive” lawsuit is an act of utter disregard for their partnership, their joint customers, and HP’s own shareholders and employees.

Source: Reuters