Apple will unveil the next version of the iPhone at an event on Oct. 4, according to an AllThingsD report today. The launch will also mark the first major product rollout for newly promoted Apple CEO Tim Cook, whose debut performance will no doubt be gauged against the legendary presentations of company founder and chairman Steve Jobs. Whether Jobs himself turns up is another question. In any case, the iPhone 5 is expected to hit stores a few weeks after the announcement.

Quaker Oats has partnered with digital startup Zazu to launch a mobile app, ZaZu Mornings, reports Drugstore News. Available for Android or Apple iOS, the app uses a soothing human voice, waking up users with weather, traffic, personalized newscasts, their daily calendars and...suggestions for what to eat for breakfast. Quaker director of digital Barbara Liss noted, for example, that the brand might pair a snowy-day weather report with a suggestion for an instant oatmeal breakfast.

Nissan is getting actor and comedian Adam Carolla to back a social media campaign for the 2012 Versa sedan. Carolla's ACE Broadcasting company is involved in the effort, a series of videos to show why he decides to change his name to 'Adam Versa', his own road trip around his hometown of North Hollywood and a "Hypothetical Road Trip Game" with Larry Miller. The promotional relationship backs a social-media campaign at MyVersaRoadTrip.com, a Facebook Connect website. Consumers are meant to go to the site and create a road trip by selecting routes, picking soundtracks and inviting three Facebook friends …

In Pizza Hut's latest television commercial, promoting the return of its $10 Any Pizza deal, Miami Dolphins star running back Reggie Bush is "traded" for a pizza. The new ad, from The Martin Agency, shows one  fantasy football owner offering to trade Bush to another in exchange for a pizza -- a move that Bush agrees with, once he's tasted the pie. Bush is the first pro football player to star in a Pizza Hut commercial in more than a decade.

To promote is Unlimited Value pricing plans, T-Mobile is offering a one-day sale on its smartphones and tablets this weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 24, new and existing customers who sign-up for an Unlimited Value plan with 2GB or higher of data will be able to purchase any smartphone or tablet with a down payment of $99.99 or less (with a mail-in rebate). "T-Mobile is committed to making 4G affordable with the latest wireless mobile Internet services and devices that fit within every budget," said John Clelland, T-Mobile's senior vice president of marketing, in a statement. "Our one-day, in-store …

In the hopes that it can encourage American men to pull up their pants and ditch their XXL t-shirts, Van Heusen is introducing an "Institute of Style." A partnership with GQ and ESPN, the effort hopes to challenge men to step up their style game, and even share their transformation in a "From Schlub to Swagger" contest on the campaign's website. The problem, the company says, is that while 85% of the men it surveyed think they have style, the majority of women beg to differ. Specifically, women think men need help getting rid of baggy pants and shirts, …

Mercury Insurance has partnered with Andrew Murray -- who at age 14 is the youngest sanctioned NASCAR driver -- to promote Mercury’s “Don’t Text and Drive Pledge” campaign. Drivers can sign the “Don’t Text and Drive Pledge” which is at http://mercuryinsuranceopen.com/pledge.aspx. Mercury will be sponsoring Murray in his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West debut at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. on Oct. 15. He will be driving the Mercury Insurance #32 Team Heritage Motor Sports Chevy. Murray, who began his racing career at age five, has already been speaking to high school students on …

With Fashion Week's Spring runways exploding with bold colors last week, marketers will paint a brighter future for shoppers in the coming seasons. Pantone, which just released its Colour Planner for Spring/Summer 2013, says the palette for women's wear, menswear, active wear, cosmetics, lifestyle and industrial and graphic design, will include brights that "move from the primary spectrum of past seasons into a new fluorescent range," the Carlstadt, N.J. company says. "And these super strong colors are paired with a family of soft sisters: five sweetened pastel tones." Other trends include more natural colors, such as dusted pink, greeny-blue and …

Church & Dwight Co., Inc., maker of Arrid Extra Dry antiperspirant deodorant has tapped New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera for a new advertising campaign. Rivera appears in a new TV spot airing Sept. 21. The ad showcases the five-time World Champion relief pitcher on the field illustrating grace under pressure.   The company says the ad will air more than 650 times throughout over the next three months initially on the Yes Network during broadcast of the Yankees game.  The ad will also run on ESPN, TBS, Bravo, TNT, Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim", Spike, FX, Nick at Nite, …

Texas Cadillac dealers are launching Team Escalade Texas, a multimarket, multimedia campaign in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio supporting six charities backed by 19 celebrities. Six celebrity teams, with their chosen charities, will begin their September 22 to October 30 challenge to garner the most public support for their causes. Texas Cadillac dealers will produce public service announcement videos for each of the six charities and provide them with paid media support to publicize and promote the PSAs at various Texas locations. During the month, people will vote, click and share their favorite charity's video. The …