[Technology] Microsoft is putting an estimated $500 million into the launch marketing for the Vista operating system. But the real end game is to win brand loyalty for consumers' digital lives. ...Read the whole story

[Financial Services] Nationwide Financial Services unleashed another round of pre-game publicity yesterday with the official unveiling of its controversial Super Bowl advertisement starring aspiring rapper Kevin Federline as a fry cook with dreams of stardom. Online ads for the ads also broke. ...Read the whole story

[Packaged Goods] When it comes to this year's Oscar telecast, Procter & Gamble has two words: no deal. However, its Olay Regenerist brand is an advertiser on the Oscar.com Web site, in keeping with a strategy to de-emphasize the primacy of the 30-second spot. ...Read the whole story

[Food] A regional chip maker is hoping to engage consumers in a word-of-mouth campaign to double its national market penetration. On Thursday, 133,000 people named Stacy will get a party kit just in time for Sunday's game. ...Read the whole story

[Collectibles] A freshly minted series of coins featuring the American presidents is the first new limited edition to be marketed by the Franklin Mint in more than five years. The company's new owners plan many more to come. ...Read the whole story