Years and years have gone by since Microsoft initially rolled out the Microsoft Office portfolio of applications.
Since it’s original launch, Google has rolled out similar (but not as successful) applications.
Reuters is reporting that Microsoft has announced several improvements to the Office applications. The updated Microsoft Office applications (ie- Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook etc) will allow users to edit photos in Word, use video in PowerPoint, and connect email (Outlook) contacts to Facebook information. Unfortunately, there is a pricey price tag associated with these new applications (between $100-$500), yet the similar products that Google rolled out 4 years ago is roughly $50 a year per user for companies, and free for consumers.
It seems Microsoft is trying to keep on their toes with innovative advancements on their Office applications to try and keep up with other applications such as the Google Docs. However, I will say Microsoft does have one up on the Google products, and that is most business’s PCs contain the Office products, and not Google Docs.
Will this Google Microsoft war ever end?

Has Facebook gone to far by implementing “social plug-ins” on over 100,000 sites?

This plug-in is allowing Facebook to bring users friends lists to external sites and showing them their friends’ activity. For example, a news site could show you which stories your Facebook contacts have been reading and recommending. You can easily “like” a site by clicking the plug-in and not having to actually sign into Facebook.

Some sites like IMDB which allows members to share their favorite movies and TV shows on their profiles have seen more then 350,000 “likes’ since integrating the plug-in.

Facebook recently conducted a poll in the US between adults 18-34 and those over 34 to take a deeper look at the users perception of the Facebook brand. The poll was based on -100 to 100. While the 18-34 demographic rose from 32.8 to 44.8 the older group slid from 26.7 to 21.2

What group do you fall in? Has Facebook gone to far with possibly sharing users private information?

Graduation time for many students is such an exciting time, but also can be scary entering the “real world”! Final exams and long hours of studying may be coming to an end, but it is just the beginning of a long road of paying back student loans for many new grads.

Most graduates have a 6 month grace period until they are required to start paying their loans, but interest continues accruing during that time (unless it is a subsidized federal loan), so the sooner the grad starts paying the better off saving money on interest they will be. Standard payment options span 10 years, but paying off the debt sooner does not typically cause penalty.

A new option for grads pursuing fields that don’t bring in a high income is the income-based repayment or IBR. This program caps payments at 15 percent above any earning beyond $16,000 – any debt remaining after 25 years is forgiven. For grads who work in public service who have direct loans, debt is forgiven after just 10 years of repayment. Eligibility for this program is determined using a formula that can be found at www.ibrinfo.org.

Consolidation is also a possibility for grads wanting to combine several federal loans into one monthly bill. An interest rate will be based on the weighted average of the loans. A drawback about consolidation, is at times they extend repayment making the overall cost of the loan higher.

Congrats Grads! Make sure you know all of your best options when starting to payback your student loan.

Think you have the very latest and coolest camera and cell phone? Taking a look at gadgets from other countries may leave you with envy!

Chobi Camera: This itty bitty camera is 1.7 by 1.1 by 0.47 inches! Photos, video, and voice recordings can all be done using this tiny camera.

Cell phone for athletes: Deisgned by Puma, this smartphone will monitor steps you have taken, calories you have burned, distance, pace and speed. The 2.8 touch screen complete with GPS even has a solar panel on the back for charging!

iPad Imitator (Moonse E-7001 Android Tablet): A 7-inch Android slate appear very similar to the iPad is being sold currently in China.

To see the full list: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37020682/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/?pg=8#Tech_PCWorld_GearNotInUS

Been thinking about buying a new car? Whether you are upgrading, just wanting a change, or adding an addition to your garage just for fun now might be the best time! If your credit is good, and you know how to spot a good deal this is good news for you as the auto industry is eager for your business. No-interest financing (which could save you thousands!!!) great rebates, and dealers willing to negotiate are all reflections of the auto industry’s struggle on the slow road to recovery. Looking to lease a car? Amazing deals can be found on this too! Currently a 2010 Honda Accord can be leased for $250 a month with $0 down, $0 security deposit, $0 due at signing and no first month payment!

A current list of incentives can be found on the Edmunds site – more than 100 new models currently cost less than similar one-year old used cars!

Choosing between 0% interest on a shorter term loan (which may require higher monthly payments) or a low interest rate on a longer term loan possibly lowering the monthly payments to amounts more suitable to your monthly budget can be a hard decision. Bankrate.com has a calculator to help you figure out the numbers and make this decision more educated and hopefully easier!

Happy Shopping!

A new bill to be passed that would affect what information needs to be disclosed in both online and offline companies privacy policies.

According to The New York Times the proposed bill would expand what information should be considered confidential. Such information would expand to include, health or financial data, a users race or sexual orientation, the users precise location and any unique customer identification number. This bill could also include the users IP address.

Online and off-line companies would have to disclose a description of the information being collected and how it is being used in their privacy policies

Representatives Rick Boucher, Democrat of Virginia and Cliff Stearns, Republican of Florida released the draft legislation on Tuesday May 4, 2010. Both parties will collect comments on the draft in hopes to have a formal legislation completed within a month or so.

Consumer groups have been fighting targeted advertisements, which could be based on the internets users actions. Google and Yahoo have already adjusted their own privacy policies around this concern.

This “would be the first law that applies generally to businesses requiring privacy notice, particularly in the offline space” said Lisa J. Sotto, a partner at Hunton & Williams.

You better stay on your toes when it comes to keeping up with social media and it’s newest players.
This could be great for restaurants, stores, local hangouts and bars if this sort of next generation social media emerges successfully. Businessweek.com broke it down on what this new social media “service” is all about. “Foursquare, a 20-person company that operates out of a crowded loft in New York’s East Village, adds a game-like twist. Its 1 million-plus users earn badges by “checking in” at certain bars, restaurants, and other venues by pressing a button on the app upon arrival. A user can earn a “mayor” icon from a bar if he or she has checked in more than anyone else during the previous 60 days. The business model is simple: Generate as big a user base as possible and sell national brands and local merchants on the possibilities of marketing to people as they congregate—ready to eat, shop, or spend.”
The next thing we know we will have sales people cold calling to these establishments trying to get as many businesses on their “route” for people to go to. This is a great idea and I don’t think I have heard of anything else like it. Negatives to it? If you are someone that does not like people to track your every move…. IE things such as Twitter (as some call legalized stalking), this might not be the thing for you.
Pat on the back to those over at Foursquare for coming up with something truly innovative, and we will see what the next BIG THING will be in this wonderful internet world!

According to Forbes.com 10 things first time homeowners need to consider are:

Monthly costs: Mortgage, taxes, insurance and regular fix-up costs

Tax Credit: Keep your eye’s open for a possible extension on the first home buyer tax credit if you were not lucky enough to take advantage already

Getting a Government-Backed Loan: Mortgages by the Federal Housing Administration are becoming harder to receive. Buyers with a credit score of 580 or less are now required to put a 10% down payment.

Avoid Family-Assistance Tax Traps : Structuring parental assistance as a bona fide loan with minimum interest rates set by the IRS. (Nolo.com)

Consider buying a foreclosure: Phoenix, Las Vegas & Central Florida have the best foreclosure markets.

Factor in property taxes: research the specific county that you are looking to buy in, some can be very costly in property taxes!

Shop around for Title Insurance

Consider High-Deductible Home Insurance: Consider lowering your homeowners’ insurance premium by raising the deductible.

Cut Insurance Cost By Upgrading: Security systems and smoke alarms are both upgrades that can cut your insurance premiums.

The FTC is taking their recent ruling very seriously with regards to making sure companies are abiding by the telemarketing robocall rules. Recently, the FTC slapped a fine against Talbots for conducting robocalls without the ability for the consumers to opt out. In December 2008 the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) was enacted to prevent this sort of thing from happening. Unfortunately, the procedures Talbots (and it’s call center) were doing, did not agree with the TSR requirements.
This sort of fine being slapped against companies is probably something we will all see more of. The bottom line with this is if you are not following the rules with regards to the telemarketing guidelines, you will be facing fines also. If you are wanting to effectively run a telemaketing campaign, you better do it the right way or your company will be the next one dishing out money to the government. Is it really worth it??