Is it true, or is it rumor? Chatter about the iMac desktop is once again circling around to the touch screen version. The supposed new high tech toy is believed to have a “good vertical and horizontal viewing angle” in addition to using only one-glass design to minimize the thickness and weight. A new patent was filed last month by Apple detailing a iMac Touch with a flexible base and a touch-enabled version of the Mac OS – However, Apple has been filing touchscreen desktop patents since at least 2004.

For MAC lovers, this dream may not be too far away with the release of the iPad recently.. but until then, it may just be a hopeful rumor.

Going to your favorite shopping website could become something that will become a little more “friendlier” user experience. With recent issues with companies that are partnering up with online retail shopping sites, there has been some complaints by consumers that don’t like what happens on their shopping sites. Many shopping sites in the past have partnered up with companies that privide offers to consumers throughout their shopping experience, however many of these offers are not very clear to the consumers. Because there is not alot of clarity to what the consumer is clicking on, many consumers click on offers that they had no understanding of what they were doing. Many consumers have complained to the online shopping sites, causing the shopping sites to discontinue these partnerships. Yahoo Finance points out some things to do to protect yourself online:

1. Use your credit card, not your debit card. There is better financial protection for you by the bank if you use a credit card versus the debt card.
2. Be careful what you are clicking on. If you are on an online shopping site, ignore and pop ups or offers that appear on your screen. Clicking on these offers could cost you even more money!
3. Watch you credit card bills. Banks mess up, just like we all mess up with accidentally clicking on things, so review your credit card bill each month to make sure every charge is legitimate. If not, contact your credit card company immediately to dispute the charge.

Leadpile works with partnerships where we potentially offer secondary offers to our consumers filling out our forms, however we never utilize any offers that are pre populated or are deceiving. There is a loose loose situation if companies are doing this negative sort of lead generation. So pay attention to what you are clicking on online!

Utilize those around you to build your knowledge about the industry. You could be someone that has been in the industry for many years and probably knows a lot about affiliate marketing, however sometimes picking the brain of those around you is a good way to keep your ideas fresh and in line with what is going on with everyone else. Be a sponge with your peers around you and your new affiliates that might be able to shed some great light on what’s new and innovative!

Being in the online marketing industry one knows how many trade shows, expos and client visits can accumulate during the year. So I’d like to say thank you to Bernard Sadow for believing in his wacky idea of placing wheels on a suitcase. 40 years ago Sadow, wrestling with 2 large suitcases had the idea of attaching wheels to luggage, using casters and a strap for pulling Sadow went to market! Macy’s was the first to carry the product and 2 years later Sadow was granted a patent on his wheeled suitcase.

Thanks again Bernard for making our lives easier!

Facebook did a 5-for-1 stock on Friday marking the third split in the company’s history.  It’s true market value is still unknown until the company goes public.  Expectations for an IPO isn’t expected until 2012 at the earliest. Currently, Facebook shares can be sold on SecondMarket which puts Facebook’s current valuation at around $30 billion.  Nearly $150 million Facebook stock sales have been recorded since April 2009.

While a stock split will not increase a shareholder’s equity, increasing the number of company shares can increase liquidity and make the company’s shares easier and less expensive to trade.

An interesting note, Google’s stock split several times prior to going public back in 2004.