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The Worst Product Flops of 2012

Sometimes, no matter how many months a company invests in development or how many millions it spends on marketing, a new product can fall flat on its face. That's what happened to these new offerings, the biggest product flops of 2012.

5 Winners and Losers of the Week in Business

Companies can make brilliant moves, but there are also times when things don't work out quite as planned. Here's a rundown of this week's biggest winners and blunders in the business world, from Google to Starbucks.

7 Business Battles That Bruised Consumers in 2012

Companies get into fights all the time: in the courts, through their advertising, in contract negotiations with partners, and even with their own workers. To some extent, it's just business as usual -- but when those fights escalate, it's often consumers who feel the pain.

Google Maps Makes Its Way Back to the iPhone

Google's navigation tool has returned to the iPhone, months after Apple's home-grown mapping service flopped, prompting user complaints, the firing of an executive and a public apology from Apple's CEO. The Google Maps app will be compatible with any iPhone or iPod Touch that runs iOS 5.1 or higher.

Tim Cook Apologizes For Apple Maps

Apple has finally made a real statement to its customers apologizing about the Maps drama that's been unfolding over the past few weeks with the introduction of iOS 6. According to CEO Tim Cook, the company "fell short" on its commitment to bring world-class products to its customers.

Why Seach Giant Google Bought Frommer's Little Travel Guides

Google is acquiring Frommer's travel guide business for roughly $25 million -- a tiny deal for the king of search. But this buy, as well as last year's purchase of restaurant rater Zagat's, makes it clear that Google has plans to keep becoming more of a powerhouse in content.

Teen's Facebook Posting Gets Her Mom's House Robbed

An Australian newspaper reports that a 17-year-old was helping her grandma count her savings when she decided to snap a photo of some wads of cash and post it to Facebook. Not long after, a pair of robbers arrived at her family's home.

Google Maps Adds Floor Plans for Airports, Stores

Google is solving a problem that many of us have, but that of few us suspected would be dealt with by a smartphone: It's taking its popular mapping platform indoors with interior floor plans of select buildings, among them major airports and large retailers.

Zagat and Google Chat About the Future of Reviews

On Thursday, Google bought Zagat, a reviewing empire that represents the gold standard for crowd-sourced content. So to get a glimpse of what the future holds for the search giant, the review company, and Internet reviews in general, we've talked with Google VP Marissa Meyer and Zagat founders Tim and Nina Zagat.

Zagat and Google: A Match Made in Foodie Heaven?

On Thursday morning, the announcement went out across the land: Google, the undisputed master of search, had acquired Zagat, America's best-known and most highly-regarded restaurant review company. The companies presented the merger in rosy terms, but it didn't take long for the snarky critiques to begin.

South Korea Accuses Google of Privacy Violations

Google's troubles over its inadvertent collection of personal data while mapping its "Street View" overseas seems never-ending. The latest country to accuse the company of privacy violations is South Korea.

Google Stops Deleting WiFi Data as U.S. Considers Probe

Google has stopped deleting WiFi data its "Street View" cars improperly collected after governments and privacy experts expressed concern the Web search giant was destroying evidence that may be needed in any legal proceeding. The FTC is looking at the breach.