Palm is taking the warps off a lean smartphone named the Pixi today that is targeted to younger consumers. A sequel to the Pre, the iPod Nano-like device is expected to retail for $99 with a two-year contract through Sprint by the end of the year, according Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin. The Pixi doesn't have Wi-Fi, however, which means it can't be used to access the Internet outside of Sprint's network, reports Jefferson Graham. It also has a smaller screen, keyboard and camera. Palm svp Katie Mitic wouldn't discuss specifics about the Pixi but takes the occasion to note …

Ad Age critic and public radio host Bob Garfield takes apart the advertising world as we've known it and, as he would have it, loved it not so much in his new book, Chaos Scenario. Jeff Goodby herewith "gently" takes apart Bob Garfield, or at least his gleeful chronicle of the demise of mass-market hucksterism and the media it has supported. Goodby allows that the book is "well researched," but he takes issue not only with the central thesis but also with some of the examples rendered to support it. For instance, people may like content …

"It seems wherever you look, like Tom Joad, Ikea will be there," writes Dan Neil, who takes a look at Ikea's canny ability to get itself written about (even if it's not always favorable). Recently, you may have read, Ikea loyalists "went bonkers" when the 2010 print catalog came out dressed in Microsoft's Verdana font rather that the traditional Futura. In fact, Ikea scored one billion impressions in the fiscal year ended Sept. 1, according to its public relations department, which presumably helps to generate those numbers while tracking them. But "ground zero of Ikea's mind share," …

The fact that Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors, with 80% market share between them, are raising their prices at the same time "almost begs for an antitrust review of the industry," write Aliza Rosenbaum and Rob Cox. While price increases are not unusual, these are trying times for the brands' customers, they say, and the move highlights the power wrought by consolidation in the industry. In other words, we probably would not have seen the price bumps if Anheuser, Miller and Coors were still at one another's throats for market share. After South African Breweries bought Miller from Philip Morris …

Cadbury has rebuffed a takeover bid from Kraft but the action is probably far from over, Dana Cimilluca, Ilan Brat and Julie Jargon report. And when all is said and done, the global candy market may look a lot different than it did the day before yesterday. The pressure is on Kraft to sweeten its $16.73 billion bid, but other firms may have a sweet tooth for the British marketer of Cadbury's chocolate bars and Trident gum, among other brands. Most of Cadbury's sales are outside the U.S., with more than one-third in emerging markets, which would extend …

General Motors Co. Chairman Ed Whitacre Jr. is being brutally frank in telling General Motors executives that they must stop the long market-share slide and improve profits -- fast -- if they want to hold their jobs, reports columnist Tom Walsh.

Samsung is making its presence known in the digital camera market in a big way this fall -- and we're not only referring to the gorilla in one spot who snaps his or her own picture with a DualView camera that features display screens on both the front and back. We're talking 50 million smackers for a yearlong TV, print and online campaign that rolls out Sept. 17, reports Laurie Burkitt. The camera is targeted toward teens who photograph themselves for uploads to social networking sites, as well as to parents who may appreciate the camera's child-friendly features, according …