Connecticut Attorney General Richad Blumenthal said Monday that he is investigating Google's collection of personal data from unsecured WiFi networks. "Driveby data sweeps of unsecured WIFI networks here would be deeply disturbing, a potentially impermissible, pernicious invasion of privacy," Blumenthal said in a statement. He added that he has asked Google to answer a host of questions, including "how much and what kind of information it collected, when and where it did so, why, where the data is stored and other information." Several weeks ago, Google acknowledged that its Street View cars gathered payload data from WiFi networks …

Worldwide online ad spending will rise 12.4% to $61 billion in 2010, according to a revised forecast released this afternoon by Interpublic’s Magna Global unit. Paid search will expand at an even faster rate, rising 16.5% to $29.8 billion, and accounting for nearly half of global online ad spending in 2010, according to Magna’s estimates. “Google remains by far the global leader in search, although a handful of other suppliers of search advertising are dominant in certain countries,” Magna noted in its report. “Unfortunately for Google, China and Russia – the fastest growing large markets for online advertising …

Apple didn't disappoint its legions of fans Monday, unveiling a new, sleeker version of the iPhone complete with a raft of new features including a front-facing camera for video-chatting, a higher-resolution screen and longer battery life. The highly-anticipated iPhone 4, which will go on sales June 24, was showcased Monday by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, where new products are often rolled out. Never one to avoid hyperbole, Jobs called the latest model "the biggest leap we've taken since the original iPhone." More details in Apple's release here.

PepsiCo is looking for a few good new media and marketing platforms. The parent company of brands such as Pepsi, Quaker, Frito-Lay, and Gatorade has launched an innovation incubator called PepsiCo10, in which the company will help 10 aspiring marketing entrepreneurs activate pilot marketing programs with the company's brands. PepsiCo has partnered with global venture capital firm Highland Capital Partners and social media publication Mashable to promote the incubator. The company is evaluating submissions based on one of four marketing segments: social media; mobile; place-based and retail experiential marketing and digital or video gaming. The submissions will be evaluated …

In discussing Apple's iAd mobile ad platform announced earlier this year, Steve Jobs today revealed the initial group of marketers using the new format: Nissan, Citi, Unilever, AT&T, Chanel, GE, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Campbell's Soup, Sears, JCPenny, Target, Best Buy, DirecTV, TBS, Disney and Geico have all signed up for iAds. In a demo at Apple's developer conference, Jobs showed Nissan will use the format to advertise a fully electric car. The company will give away one of the cars in a contest. You can also tap the ad to find out things like the MPG. iAds will …

As expected, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has unveiled the latest version of the iPhone, boasting 100 new features including a front-facing camera (for video-chatting) and higher-resolution display, and weighing in 24% thinner than the currrent iPHone. It's glass on front and rear with stainless steel running around the side. "This is beyond a doubt the most precise things, one of the most beautiful things we've ever made," says Jobs with characteristic modesty.

Citing wide-ranging implications for commercial freespeech rights under the First Amendment, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF) have filed a "friends of the court" brief in support of tobacco companies appealing a lower-court ruling that upheld the constitutionality of most of the regulations in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. In the appeal, being heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit case, the tobacco companies are seeking to overturn a ruling by the U.S. District Court for …

Apple CEO Steve Jobs Kicked off the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference today, where a new iPhone model is expected to be unveiled with an update on the iPad. Two million of the Apple tablets have been sold in the first 59 days and more than 35 million native apps have been downloaded, or over 17 per iPad. Five million books have been downloaded so far and the six biggest U.S. publishers say iBooks now account for 22% of e-book sales. Jobs says that figure will rise as the company ships more iPads. By the end of July, the …

You can almost see the ad. Maybe it's for fire insurance or the perfect beer, or the perfect...whatever: The sun sets over the Brooklyn Bridge. Umpire Jim Joyce stands on the edge (though that's actually impossible on the Brooklyn Bridge, but anyway). It appears he is so distraught about the Galarraga call that he has decided to end it all. Just then who should show up but Detroit Tigers player Armando Galarraga himself. He pats Joyce on the back, tells him that anyone can make an honest mistake. But only (beer brand here) can make a perfect beer. Cut to …

If there is one thing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is as well known for as he is for trampling individuals' personal privacy, it's his ever-present hoodie. In a surprising move, the beleaguered CEO announced he is readying his own line of hoodies. "It's about all I ever wear," remarked Zuckerberg, when pressed for an explanation. But with all of Facebook's recent drama won't launching a clothing line be an unnecessary distraction? "I really just need a break," said Zuckerberg twisting his face into a pained pout and breaking out into a cold sweat. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg could …