During the past decade, innovation has stumbled in the U.S., which may help explain America's current economic woes.

The Order of Sons of Italy in America found the ads offensive.

"From this moment on, search overload is officially over," declares a TV ad from Microsoft that launches its campaign to compete head-on against Google in the search-engine wars. Titled "Manifesto," the 60-second spot features montages of Google-owned YouTube clips juxtaposed against some news clips about the financial crises. It makes the point that its "Decision Engine" can "cut through the c[rap]." Gayle Troberman, gm for advertising and customer engagement at Microsoft, tells Abbey Klaassen that the ad attempts to tap into the zeitgeist and elicit an emotional response about a concept that, on its face, is not emotional. "Search has …

Even as Microsoft takes a cheeky step onto Google's search turf (see above), Acer, the world's third-biggest PC maker, is opening another front in the war between the two tech giants by producing the world's first mainstream notebook computer using Google's Android operating system, Robin Kwong, Joseph Menn and Richard Waters report. It will be available before the end of September. The Aspire One will run both the XP and Android operating systems allowing users to switch between the two. It will be cheaper than the current model, Acer says, declining further comment. Skytone, a Chinese company, recently announced …

Even as General Motors launches a national TV campaign today to convince American consumers that it will see the "rebirth of the American car," a dozen top officials in the Obama administration are out in the hustings spreading a message of hope in communities hard hit by GM's bankruptcy, Jim Puzzanghera and P.J. Huffstutter report. The TV ads that break today tout bankruptcy as the path to a "leaner, greener, faster, smarter" company. Selling or closing brands and paring 42% of its dealers is bound to have an effect on sales, company executives acknowledge. But to avoid sliding further, …

Sony Ericsson is coming out with three high-end mobile handsets -- including one called the Satio that will cost about $800 -- even as smartphone competition increases and overall mobile phone sales sag, Gustav Sandstrom reports. The joint venture between Sweden's Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson and Japan's Sony, plans to launch the multi-feature phones in the fourth quarter. The new phones will build on Sony Ericsson's experience in music, imaging and games, according to Joakim Liljedahl, head of the company's business-management operations for the Nordic region. It is dubbing the system "Entertainment Unlimited." "It probably is a good …