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01 Feb 2010 18:52

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Biz, Tech: The Associated Press continues its shakedown of Web giants

  • We’re breaking our longstanding AP boycott for this story. The Associated Press today reached a new deal with our boys at Yahoo News, giving the wire service more money to host the content from the news service we know and love. Details aren’t being disclosed, but let’s just say that no major changes are taking place as of yet. Oh yeah, Google News hasn’t hosted AP stories since their contract expired in December. Didya know that? You probably didn’t notice, because Google News is that good. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2010 10:00

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Biz: Super Bowl ads: A symbol of a quickly-disappearing era?

  • It’s so expensive to buy time and produce a Super Bowl ad, and you have so much competition and so many distractions, that you must hit an absolute home run to be able to get return on investment.
  • Quell Group senior vice president Jim Cain • Regarding the evolution of the Super Bowl ad. In recent years, many companies have balked at the $2.5-$2.75 million price tag per 30-second slot, the latest being Pepsico. Despite this, ads have been selling for as high as $3.2 million and are still in high demand. But with the added diversity in the advertising sphere – the Web is a pretty formidable option nowadays – along with the recession, many big brands are staying out of it altogether. Which used to be unheard of. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2010 09:50

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Biz: The Adventures of Newsday Customer No. 36: Still no bill, kids

  • This photo turns Long Island into a cliche the way “Fargo” turned Minnesota into one. Can you guess what the story’s about? (Hint: It’s got to do with the kid.) Man, the only image more cliche than this we could think of is perhaps a picture of the Seaver family from Growing Pains – you know, before Kirk Cameron went off the deep end. Anyway, we’ve been with the site nearly a week, haven’t paid yet, and get the feeling that the paper is not offering anything close to the $5/week price tag, a price tag that’s supposed to be a deterrent to guys like us signing up outsides of the confines of Cablevision’s walled garden. Unimpressed. (Note: This article is behind a paywall, but maybe it’ll give you enough of a hint to tell you what it’s about.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2010 09:40

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Biz: Toyota’s got a fix to their big problem coming this week

  • A fix to the accelerator problem should be coming soon. Ah, Toyota, the most trusted name in cars. Well, until last week, when the accelerator-sticking problem turned into a full-on mess. Anyway, Toyota plans to give dealers a well-tested friction-cutting fix to the problem, which affects millions of cars, later this week. Yay. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Feb 2010 08:51

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Biz: Exxon Mobil has a crappy quarter of not-record profits

  • 23% decline in their massive oil-driven profits source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Jan 2010 20:53

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Biz, Tech: Amazon takes it from Macmillan because it has no choice

  • We want you to know that ultimately, however, we will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan’s terms because Macmillan has a monopoly over their own titles, and we will want to offer them to you even at prices we believe are needlessly high for e-books.
  • A statement from Amazon • On its decision to back down from the removal of Macmillan’s e-books over a disagreement on pricing. Amazon removed all of Macmillan’s books on Friday, only to put them back up today. Amazon has insisted on a $9.99 price for Kindle books, but Macmillian wants to charge more. Amazon is optimistic that other major publishers won’t follow suit. We’ll see where optimism gets them. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Jan 2010 10:18

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Biz: Speaking of scams, 419 scams via e-mail a big business in 2009

  • $9.3 billion went from your hands to the Nigerians source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

31 Jan 2010 10:12

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Biz: Evil bastards decide that scamming the unemployed a good idea

  • Nobody sends you money for nothing, except maybe your grandmother. If somebody sends you money and wants a refund for part of it, ask yourself if you’re sure this check is good. Do I want to take a chance and risk everything?
  • U.S. Public Interest Research Group consumer program director Ed Mierzwinski • Regarding the latest permutation of a scam attempting to nail the unemployed. It’s a fake e-mail from a site like CareerBuilder for a job as a “trading assistant.” If you take the bait, con artist sends you a giant check, then asks for parts of the money back. Weeks later, they cancel the giant check (which seems unlikely due to the fact that you got paid for it already), leaving you on the hook for the money you already sent them. This is evil. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Jan 2010 11:25

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Biz: Designers, photographers say creation’s a decimated market

  • Seemingly overnight, a publisher who wanted a picture of a sunset could choose from thousands on any number of databases. Why pay a photographer hundreds, or thousands, of dollars to go out and shoot a new one?
  • L.A. Times columnist James Rainey • Regarding the change in the graphic design and photography freelance market, which has led to people not being able to make a living wage in the business. With the rise of lower budgets and outsourcing and sites like iStockPhoto, it’s just not reasonable for many to make a career out of selling their content anymore. Which sucks for people who rely on the work. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Jan 2010 10:44

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Biz: In the wake of Toyota’s recalls, Honda has a few cars to recall, too

  • 646,000 Fits are unfit to use source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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