In today’s “you win some/lose some” category we have, yep, Facebook. We reported earlier about Facebook’s troubles in Japan as it is Twitter who is challenging the local incumbent there for top spot among social networks. But fear not. In the all important metric of “making money,” Facebook is doing just fine, padding its lead as America’s largest online display ad publisher.

In Japan, Twitter is on the verge of knocking off the incumbent Mixi as the country’s top social networking platform. Meanwhile, Facebook’s popularity there is stagnant at best.

Levi’s announced a new “green” Jeans concept last week that is promising to cut down on water waste during product production in the company’s latest sustainability initiative. Each pair of Levi’s “Water<Less" jeans will run the drain 28% less on average. It's a wonderful idea to score brownie points with the company's young and environmentally-conscious customers, but Levi's has yet to bring the news to the social networks where they hang out most.

It’s hardly a surprise that Google-powered Android smart phones is gaining on rivals, becoming the tech business story of the year. New numbers out of the U.S. show Android phones could actually overtake Apple’s iPhone with a strong Christmas.

Despite the considerable hype of location-based services such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places redefining online commerce, the reality is the “check-in” is an activity for only the geekiest of geeks, a sobering new report shows.

Gillette, much admired for its viral video prowess and digital marketing chops, recently wrapped up in the UK what may go down as the dullest ever social media campaign: a contest to determine the public’s preference between the bearded male or his clean-shaven brethren.

The latest figures from comScore on Britain’s digital advertising market show a sector that is growing steadily, fueled by Britons’ love affair with online shopping and Facebook.

The economic outlook may look bleak, but it’s not likely to dent spending on social media marketing. A new study of small- and mid-sized businesses shows a healthy optimism for a strong return on social media investment, and, accordingly, an increased investment in this area. Their big focus? Yep, Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, it’s still a week to go before the Christmas lights are “officially” illuminated along Regent Street, but we want to get a jump on the season anyhow with our first (of many) reviews of the latest social shopping apps to hit the market in recent weeks. Here, we review Starbucks, Amazon, Walmart, and Debenhams, grading each.

Our friends at Do the Green Thing today have launched a noble new idea: a drive to use social media (and all media, really) to get us to donate a bit of clothing that once may have meant a lot to us, but now is sitting in the back of a drawer, the colors fading along with the memories of why you bought it.