Disney Reinventing Stores as 'Imagination Parks'

Despite health fears after he missed 75% of meetings in 2010

(NEWSER) - Disney shareholders have re-elected Steve Jobs to the company's board of directors despite an advisory firm's concerns about his poor health. The Apple chief—who owns more than 7% of Disney stock and has been on the board since Disney acquired Pixar in 2006—missed nearly three-quarters of board meetings last year. He was also absent from yesterday's shareholder meeting, during which the other 12 board members were also re-elected, notes the Hollywood Reporter . More»

But nothing we haven't seen before in 30-second commercial

(NEWSER) - The Apple iPad made its television debut last night with a 30-second commercial on the Academy Awards telecast, which you can view above. The keen eyes at Mashable caught CEO Steve Jobs on the red carpet, and the spot "explains" why he was there. Alternatively, the Detroit Free Press reports, the Disney board member could merely have been supporting subsidiary Pixar's Up, a best picture nominee. More»

Author peers into the brain of Apple's elusive guiding force

(NEWSER) - Though it’s near impossible to get an interview with Steve Jobs, author Leander Kahney’s book Inside Steve’s Brain gives a “fresh, noble perspective” on the Apple icon’s impenetrable mind, Jon Swartz writes in USA Today. Like most who try, Kahney couldn’t score facetime, but his book illustrates the opposing traits that make his subject—equal parts Disney and Barnum—who he is. More»

Apple's mercurial CEO creates a risky rollercoaster ride for shareholders

(NEWSER) - Steve Jobs is an undisputed Silicon Valley superstar, but his genius has a price, Fortune reports. Jobs is a risk-taking, short-tempered tyrant, and those foibles make Apple a potential rollercoaster for investors. Jobs threatened the company—and his own freedom—in two separate backdating scandals, and, reports the magazine, risked his own life by long avoiding treatment for his pancreatic cancer. More»

BusinessWeek columnist takes a stab at '08 predictions

(NEWSER) - Overloaded with prediction lists, Business Week polishes the crystal ball and looks ahead to see what won't happen in the media world in 2008.

1. The writers won't win the current strike
2. DreamWorks isn't going to leave Paramount after all
3. Apple won't reinvent TV viewing
4. "Juno" won't win an Oscar
5. Google won't buy a major media company