If you're a small, online retailer looking to nab new customers, the idea behind a new retail format could work for you. The Intelligence Group recently wrote about The Epicenter Collection, a new concept that gives online and catalogue companies an actual storefront to display their wares. The Epicenter will actually be a mall-within-a-mall, though it's supposed to be at least 180,000 square feet. Checkout counters and retail associates will still be available, but shoppers will check out with a special electronic device called a Spree-go. The handheld device lets shoppers check out on their own when they're ready--no line necessary. The first Epicenter is slated to open around August or September 2008 in Newark, Delaware, inside the Christiana Mall.

Social networking giant Facebook is stepping into MySpace territory, announcing a grab bag of new features and add-ons to challenge its No. 1 competitor. Now members will be able to recommend and listen to music, insert Amazon book reviews and play games using a plethora of widget-like tools designed to liven up the basic profile. The popular networking site is second in membership to goliath MySpace, but has seen a doubling in membership after opening itself up to all internet users--not just students. Now it hopes to become the go-to "social operating system," according to 23-year-old chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, but will stay focused on retaining its identity. To avoid MySpace's spam and fake profiles problems, developers have been asked to stay within guidelines-- including no blinking pictures or automatic music playing--to maintain a semblance of uniform appearance.--Joanne Yao