Microsoft and Yahoo Finally Strike Up A Search Deal

All the details have not been released but Microsoft’s on again off again love affair with Yahoo is now on again, but this time it looks for real.  A big stock swap does not appear to be in the works, it seems that the deal mostly involves sharing technology and profits from the search business.  Microsoft will provide the search engine for both Yahoo and their upstart search site Bing, and Yahoo will provide their ad driving system, and ad sales force for both the sites.  They hope to reduce overall costs by sharing their technology, and be able to increase their overall share of the search business against Google.  Between both Bing and Yahoo they only make up close to 30 percent of the search business.  The deal still has to pass the government’s OK, which they expect to happen by the fall.

My personal opinion is that it won’t really make a difference.  I use Google not because I think it’s really any better than any other site, but because it’s habit for me to just “google it”.  I don’t know if there is something they could provide that would make me switch, but I guess time will tell.

If you would like to read more details on the deal, click the link below:

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Barnes And Noble Wi-Fi Now Free

All I can say is Finally…In an effort to promote their new e-bookstore, Barnes and Nobel has decided to make their wi-fi free for their customers in their stores.  It always annoyed me to no end that they charged to access wi-fi there.  All it really did was push me to hanging out in Panera instead of their store which I would prefer anyway.  So for those that spend time in their cafe rejoice because you should now be able to get your fill of the Internets while enjoying an overpriced beverage supplied by Stabucks

Update – Palm Updates WebOS For The Pre – Syncing With iTunes Is Back

With today’s update to the WebOS (the O/S on the Palm Pre), syncing with iTunes is now back.  As I reported several days ago Apple updated iTunes for what seems as no other reason than to break the ability for the Pre to sync with iTunes.  Somehow Palm has figured out the fix and pushed it out.  There haven’t been many reports out there saying if it is truly fixed since the 87MB file gets automatically pushed to your phone over several hours/days, but I am sure they will be coming soon.  Palm is taking Apple head on, both with their phone, and their ads.  In what was either a taunt to Apple’s co-founder, or just a coincidence, the press release of the Web O/S update included this:

“Oh, and one more thing: Palm webOS 1.1 re-enables Palm media sync. That’s right–you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1).”

Palm took the “one more thing” snippet that Jobs usually uses in his keynotes, and used it to stick their tongues out at Apple.  This back and forth will probably continue until either Apple finds a way to break the syncing permanently, or Palm figures out a better way to complete the direct syncing with iTunes.

So Palm Pre owners go get your update, and if everything goes right, you can now update iTunes to the most recent version.

11 Facts About Taco Bell You Might Not Know

I am quite the Taco Bell fan.  I love me some quasi-Mexican food.  So when I saw the list of 11 little know facts about Taco Bell I thought I would share.  Like did you know that Taco Bell changed it’s logo after the release of the movie Demolition Man?  For those who don’t remember, Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive in the future and was very prominently seen throughout the movie.  For the other 10 click the link below.

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A List of Good Credit Cards

So I spent yesterday morning hollering at my credit card company Chase for changing my grace period from 25 days to 20 days. That made my due date change, which made me miss my due date, and caused them to tack on a late fee.  After about 20 minutes of yelling they reversed it but it made me think about which cards I use to make purchases on. The only reason I keep that card is because of how long I had the card.   So isn’t it interesting that as I was browsing the web yesterday that I pull up an article from CNN Money that shows 6 good credit cards out there. They either have a great rate, good terms, or good benefits.  I thought I would share it with you in case you are mad at your credit card company.

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This Day Last Year – Gas Watch ‘09

Did you know what you were doing this day last year?  You were paying for the most expensive gas on record.  This day last year gas peaked to an average $4.11/gallon.  The good news is that gas has dropped dramatically since then, the bad news is that it is because the economy is doing as bad as it was during the Great Depression in the ’20s and 30s.

Well by popular demand, I’m bringing the Gas Watch back for 2009.  I stopped it once gas prices hit the bottom and started going back up, but that shouldn’t stop my from reporting what I’ve seen.   When I can find it I’ll report the National average, and then what I’ve seen locally.  Knowing that oil prices are slowing creeping up we can expect gas prices to rise slowly over the next few weeks.

National Average: $2.48

Lowest Price I’ve Seen: $2.22

Free Starbucks Food Tomorrow

Starbucks is giving away a free pasty with purchase of a drink tomorrow.  You need to either print the coupon that I have linked below, or show it on your phone.  The pasty includes anything you would image is a pastry (muffins, etc.), so if you stop by the local SB to get your coffee anyway, grab some free food too.

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Apple Updates iTunes – Breaks Syncing With The Palm Pre

This is a head scratcher for me…With the release of the Palm Pre, Palm was touting that you could sync your Pre using iTunes.  They supposedly got iTunes to think the Pre was an iPod, and it allowed syncing, and easy purchasing from the iTunes music store.  Apple stated when the Pre was released that they will not promise that the functionality will work in future updates.  Well Apple released iTunes 8.2.1, and it broke it alright.  The release notes included this note:

“”iTunes 8.2.1 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses and issue with verification of Apple devices.”

This just doesn’t make much sense to me.  I know that the iPhone and the Pre are competing in the same market, but it seems that Apple is basically getting mad, taking their toys, and going home with them.  iTunes is marketed as a free product to manage your media. It allows you to organize your music and download music from the iTunes store.  It’s not called iPod Music Manager, so why would they get up in arms about other devices working with their product?  I just don’t understand why they would want to lose users of their program, and potential customers of their music and movie store.  It seems counter-intuitive to me.

So long story short, Palm Pre owners – Don’t updgrade iTunes. You’ll be sorry!

Free Arby’s Roastburger With Drink Purchase

This offer is only good through Monday, so go get it while the gettin’ is good!

http://www.arbys.com/coupon/

Also through the remainder of the summer, every Wednesday Arbys is giving away something free.  Check to make sure your Arbys is participating.  Here are ther remainder of the freebees

July 15th – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
July 22nd – Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
July 29th – Free FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
August 5th – Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
August 12th – Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
August 19th – Free FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
August 26th – Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase

Credit Card Reform – The Details

I know I have spoken about the credit card legislation that went through Congress earlier this year.  Officially labeled  ”The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act”, parts of the act go into place in August, with most of the other parts in place starting February of 2010 (which from now on will be called 20-10 – Thanks Patrick).  I’ve mentioned a few new rules in the past, but CNN Money had a great compilation posted in an article today.  Here is the list:

As of August 2009

1. Statements must be mailed 21 days before bill is due (up from the current 14).

2. Issuers have to give 45 days’ notice (vs. 15) before increasing interest rates and fees.

As of February 2010

3. Issuers can no longer raise rates on an existing balance, unless payment is more than 60 days late or a teaser rate expires.

4. Teaser rates must be in effect for at least six months.

5. Except for expiring teasers, the rate on new purchases can’t be hiked in the first year.

6. Payments in excess of the minimum owed must first be applied to the balance with the highest interest rate, and then to other balances in descending order.

7. Over-limit fees can be applied only if a consumer opts in for approval on going over the credit limit.

8. Applicants under age 21 must have an adult co-sign, or show proof of income for approval.

9. Issuers can’t offer sign-up gifts on or near college campuses.

10. Issuers can no longer practice “universal default” – that is, raise your rates if they learn that you were late on another account.

11. Issuers must indicate in statements how long it will take to pay off a balance (and the total cost) if you make only minimum payments.

12. In calculating finance charges, issuers cannot average in daily balances from the previous billing cycle.

As of August 2010

13. Cardholders assessed a penalty APR for late payment can reclaim the lower rate if they pay on time for six consecutive months

If you’d like to read the whole article, plus get some additional tips on how to control your credit cards, click the link below:

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