rebranding

Famously fake Chinese Apple store gets rebranded

The fake, lookalike Apple store in Kunming, China, has renamed itself following a crackdown by local officials.

Chinese-language news site Shxb.net (Google translation) has posted news and photos of the store, which sparked international interest following a blog post that chronicled its resemblance to Apple's own stores. Gone is the "Apple Store" name on the very top, which has instead been changed to "Smart Store." Another report by blog MIC Gadget depicts a photo of the renamed store with the Apple logo intact, despite the name change.

Despite the exterior changes, photos hint that … Read more

Report: Google to rebrand Blogger, Picasa

Google is planning to rebrand two of its most popular services, Mashable is reporting.

Citing anonymous sources, the social-media blog said Google is planning to change the names of its Picasa photo management service and its Blogger blog platform to Google Photos and Google Blogs, respectively.

Google acquired Picasa in 2004 for an undisclosed sum. Its technology, which can be downloaded or used online, helps users edit and manage photos. In 2003, Google acquired Blogger owner Pyra Labs for an undisclosed sum.

According to Mashable, Google's decision to rebrand Picasa and Blogger is the result of its desire to &… Read more

20 brands that could use a shorter name

Thursday's re-branding event by Radio Shack to call itself "The Shack" comes just a month and a half after Pizza Hut began referring to its brand as "The Hut."

I smell a trend.

When a company starts branching off in directions other than what it began with, it makes sense. Apple did it back in 2007 when it dropped "Computer" from its name in favor of the colder, wider-reaching "Inc." But for Radio Shack it's a war cry. An attempt to distance itself from an image of aging technology, and … Read more

Newsweek asks design firms to "resurrect the Republican brand"

A somewhat unconventional yet challenging task: Newsweek invited four "hot (and nonpartisan) design firms" to provide ideas and design direction for "resurrecting the Republican brand," featured in this week's (December 29) print issue. The full-page feature presents concepts by frog design (full disclosure: my employer), Pentagram, Razorfish, and The Groop.

The article is not available online so check it out at a news stand (and support print media!).