Microsoft

New York -- At the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & EXPO on Monday, Microsoft Corp. and CKE Restaurants Inc. (parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.) showcased a self-order kiosk solution running on Windows 8 devices that enables Hardee’s customers to customize and place their own orders.

Retailers loking to take retail innovation to the next level may want to look at GameStop and its new omnichannel partnership with Microsoft.

The video game retailer announced Monday at NRF’s Big Show that it will use Microsoft's Azure cloud-powered network "enhance the in-store engagement of its customers in interactive, informative, and entertaining ways."

GameStop will be one of the first retailers to use Azure to stream video game and promotional content direct to customer and store associate mobile devices.

San Francisco, Calif. - Apple accounted for 51% of the new device activations worldwide during the week leading up to and including Christmas Day (Dec. 19 - 25). According to data from mobile analytics provider Flurry, Christmas Day typically sees the highest number of new device activations and app installs each year, with 2014 following the trend.

New York City - Barnes & Noble announced that it has bought back full ownership of its Nook e-reader business, which it plans to split into a separate company.   On Tuesday, the bookseller said that it acquired educational book publisher Pearson Inc.'s stake in Nook for $27.7 million; the deal closed Monday, and Barnes & Noble said it now owns Nook Media outright.  

New York – Consolidated net earnings dropped 8% at Barnes & Noble Inc. in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, to $12.3 million from $13.2 million. An increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses helped drive the drop in profit.   Second quarter consolidated revenues decreased 3% to $1.69 billion from $1.75 billion.   

New York – Earning a reputation is not always a good thing, but in Google’s case it is a positive development. Google has received top ranking in the new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) RepTrak Study from Reputation Index. Google beat out number two company Microsoft, which held the top spot in 2012 and 2013. Nestle exited the top 10 list this year, while Lego is the one new entrant. The full top 10 list is:   1. Google 2. Microsoft 3. Walt Disney

Chicago - Overall marketing and advertising budgets at leading U.S. retailers will rise by 1.% this year, compared to a decline of .98% in 2013, with 72% of retailers expecting to spend about the same amount on marketing and advertising compared to last year, according to the BDO Retail Compass Survey of CMOs, by BDO USA.

Americans’ well-founded apprehension about the security of their personal information received a booster shot of sorts when 60 Minutes aired a disturbing piece about the state of digital security.

Redmond, Wash. — Microsoft and Retail Realm are partnering to launch the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Essentials with Retail Realm product, which represents Microsoft's first major push into the SMB marketplace with a new solution. On new install, this retail-specific solution installs with the Retail Realm add-on embedded.    

Redmond, Wash. -- Guitar Center and four additional new retailers and restaurants are slated to open at Redmond Town Center, in Redmond, Wash., later this year and into next spring.