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Yahoo! has been testing a new home page design. Last week, we saw images and learned more about the user interface.

This week, Yahoo! has announced the addition of an eBay application to the home page test. The app is included on the left hand sidebar along with tabs for stocks, movies, local events, etc.

Check it out:

This may be the most important blog post you will ever read.

UPDATE: One of the hottest Google Hot Trends today is “missing money” so we thought it would be a good time to revisit our post on unclaimed money. The keywords searched include missing money .com, you might be rich, missing money.com, and missingmoney.com

You need to try out the most valuable vertical search engine ever created. It’s Free Money with a Free Search.

Search for the cash and property you’re owed right now. You owe it to yourself. This isn’t just a free offer. It’s not the IRS 2007 File Free program.

It’s the law.

We’re talking about cash you’ve earned. Forgotten cash. No, not Johnny Cash.

Cash money.

Free cash is better than free chat, free movies, free hugs, free books, free iTunes, free agents, free ringtones, free screensavers, free downloads, duty-free shops, free video games, free TV, gluten-free, free software and even free search engine optimization.

Well, maybe not better than free search engine optimization.

But it’s way better than totally awesome killer freebies.

What’s more - the money’s already yours. You don’t have to enter a lottery, win a game show, or wait for Oprah to give it away.

Here’s how to find money that’s owed to you: missing money AKA “unclaimed funds.”

Click here: MissingMoney.com

Enter your Name and Zip Code in the secure database.

MissingMoney.com is a search engine for state unclaimed property records - not real estate, but real property. The states must keep your money and return lost funds. It’s the law.

The Top 10 most common types of unclaimed property:

1. Bank accounts
2. Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends
3. Uncashed checks and wages
4. Insurance policies
5. Utility deposits
6. Safe deposit box contents
7. Escrow accounts
8. Trust funds
9. Certificates of deposit (CDs)

Unclaimed property does not include real estate property.

You may not find as much cash as you receive in the upcoming $600 tax rebate checks to be sent out as part of the U.S. economic jumpstart package. But then, you won’t have to thank the lame duck President.

You can just thank us and the search engine: www.missingmoney.com.

Once you’ve identified the location of your money, you can contact the appropriate state government unclaimed property office directly to recover it.

Keep on rockin’ in the free world!

After the jump: All the states that participate - and the next two that will.

Click to read the rest of this post…

Guess the wagon circling has begun over at Yahoo in preparation of the stockholders’ meeting August 1. They sent out a letter to stockholders outlining the various events of the past few months and promoted voted for the existing board of directors.

The letter attacks Carl Icahn.

“It is time for Yahoo! to turn its undivided attention to implementing its key strategies, and we therefore urge you to reject Mr. Icahn’s slate and his ill-defined agenda,” the letter from Yahoo CEO Roy Bostock states.

The letter - posted below - is very slanted towards the actions of the existing executives. Right now the Microsoft offer of $31 to $34 looks good given the stocks major slump to the low $20s.

The letter read:

Dear Fellow Stockholders:

We are writing to update you on the latest developments here at
Yahoo!, including our recently announced commercial agreement with
Google and the outcome of our discussions with Microsoft regarding a
potential transaction.

On June 12, we announced a non-exclusive agreement with Google that we
expect will generate approximately $250 to $450 million in
incremental operating cash flow for Yahoo! in the first twelve months
following implementation. This cash flow will enhance our
profitability as well as help support achievement of our key
strategic objectives. Combined with continuing advances in our own
search capability, the agreement is an important step in our efforts
to capitalize on the high-growth online advertising opportunities
where we are best positioned to compete successfully and create more
value.

Let us explain why we find this new agreement so exciting.

The Yahoo!-Google Agreement is Financially Attractive and Strikes the
Right Strategic Balance.

Under the agreement with Google, Yahoo! will continue to provide
algorithmic and sponsored search results, but now will also have the
ability to run sponsored search ads supplied by Google alongside
Yahoo!’s search results. Advertisers will pay Google directly for
each click on Google paid search results appearing on Yahoo!. Google
will then pay us a fee (in industry jargon, traffic acquisition cost)
based on revenue realized from click-throughs on ads supplied to
Yahoo! by Google.

This carefully structured agreement strikes the right strategic
balance, enhancing our financial results while advancing our
strategic objectives of being the “starting point” for the most users
on the Internet and offering such compelling value that advertisers
will see us as the “must buy” in online advertising.

One of our key strategies for achieving these objectives is to
capitalize on the increasing convergence of search and display
advertising, where we are especially well positioned to compete and
succeed. We have already accelerated our efforts to strengthen our
presence in display through a variety of initiatives and acquisitions
in recent months. Our new commercial agreement with Google enhances
our ability to pursue this strategy.

Another key strategy is to open our platform to other developers to
optimize monetization for our advertisers and publishers and provide
the best experience for our users. We see this agreement as a natural
extension of the efforts we have already made toward an open
marketplace.

The Google agreement is non-exclusive and provides strategic and
operational flexibility for Yahoo!. It allows Yahoo! to use Google’s
services in those areas where Google monetizes our inventory more
effectively but also permits us to continue to use our own search
technology in areas where we believe we are most competitive. The net
result is that the agreement helps us accelerate one of our strategic
aims–closing the monetization gap. At the same time, it allows
Yahoo! to continue to compete aggressively in search and display
advertising.

Importantly, the agreement does not prevent Yahoo! from pursuing other
alternatives that could increase stockholder value. Because the
agreement can be terminated by either party upon a change in control,
it would not preclude a transaction with Microsoft or any other
potential acquiror in the future.

The Yahoo!-Google Agreement Does More for Stockholder Value than
Microsoft’s Search-Only Hybrid Proposal.

We also want to update you on the conclusion to our discussions with
Microsoft regarding a potential transaction. As we explained in our
last letter, our board and management held numerous meetings and
conversations with Microsoft about its proposal to acquire Yahoo!,
both before and after Microsoft withdrew that proposal on May 3. On
June 8, our Chairman, Roy Bostock, other independent board members,
and members of Yahoo!’s management team again met in person with
Microsoft representatives. At that meeting, Microsoft stated
unequivocally that it has no interest in acquiring all of Yahoo!,
even at the price range Microsoft had previously suggested.

Microsoft did propose an alternative transaction. Rather than acquire
our whole company as it had been proposing for months, Microsoft now
proposed to acquire only our search business for $1 billion and a
share of future search advertising revenue. This proposal also
included an $8 billion investment in Yahoo! but required Yahoo! to
commit to a 10-year exclusive arrangement that would have made us
dependent on Microsoft for all of our search business. It would also
have given Microsoft veto rights on certain future Yahoo! actions,
including a sale of Yahoo!. Our board of directors and management
made a great effort–and conducted in depth negotiations–to elicit a
feasible proposal from Microsoft that made strategic and financial
sense for Yahoo!, but without success.

While Microsoft’s search-only hybrid proposal may have been helpful to
Microsoft, our board and management concluded it would have had a
significant adverse impact on Yahoo! strategically, leaving the
Company without the operational control of search assets and
technology we view as critical to our objective of becoming a leader
in the converging search and display advertising business. The board
and its advisers also carefully studied the financial impact of
Microsoft’s proposal and concluded that it would have provided no
meaningful improvement to our operating cash flow. In short, this
proposal would have generated substantially less value for Yahoo!
stockholders than Microsoft has suggested.

Based on all the key factors–strengthening our competitiveness,
protecting our strategic position, generating attractive financial
returns–the Google agreement is far better than Microsoft’s search-
only hybrid proposal. That’s why we moved forward with it.

Your Current Board of Directors Has the Knowledge, Experience and
Commitment to Best Represent Your Interests and Maximize Stockholder
Value.

The events of recent weeks underscore the fact that your board of
directors is far better qualified to represent your interests in the
effort to maximize stockholder value than the slate put forward by
Carl Icahn.

Based on Mr. Icahn’s narrow agenda, it seems highly unlikely that
either he or his slate would bring added value to Yahoo!. Consider
the following:

– Mr. Icahn put forward his slate so as to sell Yahoo! to Microsoft,
even though he had no knowledge of the sustained efforts made by your
current board and management to determine whether Microsoft was
willing to engage in a transaction that would provide appropriate
value and certainty of achieving that value. On June 8, Microsoft
once again made it perfectly clear that it is not currently
interested in acquiring Yahoo!.
— Mr. Icahn publicly opposed any alternative form of transaction
with Microsoft. Your board and management, after thorough and
deliberate negotiations and evaluation, separately concluded on its
own that the alternative hybrid deal proposed by Microsoft was,
indeed, not in the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders.
— Mr. Icahn urged, as an alternative to a Microsoft transaction,
that Yahoo! find a way to partner with Google that would not
preclude a transaction with Microsoft in the future. We have done
exactly that through the commercial agreement with Google we
announced on June 12.

Simply put, you can choose to vote for a slate of nominees with no
articulated plan for the future of Yahoo!–and who now have
essentially no alternative agenda to offer you–or you can choose to
vote for your existing board of directors which has the independence,
experience, knowledge and commitment to navigate the Company through
the rapidly-changing Internet environment, execute on our strategic
objectives and deliver value for Yahoo! and its stockholders.

It is time for Yahoo! to turn its undivided attention to implementing
its key strategies, and we therefore urge you to reject Mr. Icahn’s
slate and his ill-defined agenda.

We strongly urge you to vote your WHITE Proxy Card today for your
current board of directors.

We look forward to sharing our progress with you as we move forward
and we thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Roy Bostock Jerry Yang
Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer

Microsoft and Yahoo are officially “off again” and their mutual friends are trying to decide who to side with. While many hold out hope that the two will eventually reunite Ross and Rachel-style, it’s really anyone’s guess as to what will transpire next.

For its part, Microsoft seems to be taking the chick flick approach. Top execs are making it known that the software giant is seeking some alone time and that they’re not ready to date again just yet. Windows Live General Manager Brian Hall told Merrill Lynch Technology Conference attendees that Microsoft is moving on. And don’t look for a rebound acquisition. Bill Gates has said Microsoft isn’t pursuing alternative third parties. I guess MSFT will be eating the obligatory breakup chocolate ice cream all alone.

Meanwhile Jerry Yang is trying to paint Yahoo as a guy dealing with a crazy ex. He said Microsoft never made the purported higher bid of $32-33 a share. He claims that Yahoo thought that two companies were finding common ground when Microsoft bailed.

The whole thing is very reminiscent of a scene from The Break-Up starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn:

Brooke: I just don’t know how we got here. Our entire relationship, I have gone above and beyond for you, for us. I’ve cooked, I’ve picked your stuff up off the floor, I’ve laid your clothes out for you like you’re a four year old. I support you, I supported your work. If we ever had dinner or anything I did the plans, I take care of everything. And I just don’t feel like you appreciate any of it. I don’t feel you appreciate me. All I want is to know, is for you to show me that you care.
Gary: Why didn’t you just say that to me?
Brooke: I tried. I’ve tried.
Gary: Never like that, you might have said some things that meant to imply that, but I’m not a mind reader…

But don’t expect Yang’s pithy comments to prelude his ouster. Kara Swisher reports that talk of Yang’s firing is “greatly exaggerated.” And while some shareholders are upset over the falling out, Yahoo’s stock remains higher than it was before the unsolicited bid was put on the table. At the time of this post, Yahoo was trading at 25.36, which is a good seven points higher than before this soap opera began. Then again, stocks remain up over Wall Street’s hopes that Microsoft will try to get back together with Yahoo and/or that a Google ad deal will be the rebound girl.

Yahoo earnings? What Yahoo earnings? Steve Ballmer doesn’t seem to care about no stinking Yahoo earnings. Or their Google Adwords test. Or their three year revenue projections. Or their talks with Time Warner. Or forming the OpenSocial Foundation with Google. Or planning to make IndexTools free (like Google analytics).

Ballmer wants Yahoo at $31 a share and that’s that. He’s talking tough, saying he’ll go forward without a merger. But almost no one believes him. Analysts still think the bid will be raised to anywhere from $32 to $34-ish per share.

Which brings us to Jerry Yang. He’s got a poker face too, according to the analysts. Yahoo has already said No to Microsoft’s bid and then issued a reminder after Ballmer’s eviction notice. But many think Yahoo will indeed go for the sale should the bid be increased.

Increase or no increase, Wall Street seems to want this deal to go through. Unlike Google, Yahoo’s positive earnings were followed by loss on stocks on the Street. Though Google is a pesky reminder that Wall Street doesn’t always know what it’s talking about.

Culture clashes could cause huge problems for Ballmer’s goal of giving Google a run for its money. And, this will be especially true if it turns out that there is no bluff to call.

This may be the most important blog post you will ever read.

You need to try out the most valuable vertical search engine ever created. It’s Free Money with a Free Search.

Search for the cash and property you’re owed right now. You owe it to yourself. This isn’t just a free offer. It’s not the IRS 2007 File Free program.

It’s the law.

We’re talking about cash you’ve earned. Forgotten cash. No, not Johnny Cash.

Cash money.

Free cash is better than free chat, free movies, free hugs, free books, free iTunes, free agents, free ringtones, free screensavers, free downloads, duty-free shops, free video games, free TV, gluten-free, free software and even free search engine optimization.

Well, maybe not better than free search engine optimization.

But it’s way better than totally awesome killer freebies.

What’s more - the money’s already yours. You don’t have to enter a lottery, win a game show, or wait for Oprah to give it away.

Here’s how to find money that’s owed to you: missing money AKA “unclaimed funds.”

Click here: MissingMoney.com

Enter your Name and Zip Code in the secure database.

MissingMoney.com is a search engine for state unclaimed property records - not real estate, but real property. The states must keep your money and return lost funds. It’s the law.

The Top 10 most common types of unclaimed property:

1. Bank accounts
2. Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends
3. Uncashed checks and wages
4. Insurance policies
5. Utility deposits
6. Safe deposit box contents
7. Escrow accounts
8. Trust funds
9. Certificates of deposit (CDs)

Unclaimed property does not include real estate property.

You may not find as much cash as you receive in the upcoming $600 tax rebate checks to be sent out as part of the U.S. economic jumpstart package. But then, you won’t have to thank the lame duck President.

You can just thank us and the search engine: www.missingmoney.com.

Once you’ve identified the location of your money, you can contact the appropriate state government unclaimed property office directly to recover it.

Keep on rockin’ in the free world!

After the jump: All the states that participate - and the next two that will.

Click to read the rest of this post…

While Yahoo plays games with Microsoft’s acquisition bid, some are beginning to ask, “Why isn’t Microsoft buying AOL?”

One of the biggest concerns about a Microhoo is the expectation of a significant culture clash. The same sentiment does not exist when pondering a Microsoft/AOL marriage.

Additionally, Microsoft’s bid was unsolicited. Time Warner, on the other hand, has publicly said that it’s open to selling off AOL.

AOL recently doubled its audience with the acquisition of Bebo. Together, the social network and AOL’s instant messaging platform, AIM, reach 80 million users worldwide. Additionally, AOL has spent $1 billion building a display ad network. With online advertising the driving force behind Microsoft’s desire to catch Google, an AOL acquisition could make more sense for the Redmond-based software company.

Google has long held that it is not a portal. Concerns of publishers wary of giving away their content to Google for free have always been met with the response that Google is simply making it easier for people to find the publisher’s content.

So what happens if Google stops sending searchers to other publishers’ sites? What if Google starts sending people to its own content? Apparently they already have.

According to new data shared at an Orion Panel on universal search at SES New York yesterday by James Lamberti, senior VP of search and media at comScore, Google is showing more universal results than people might think, and it’s starting to have an effect on searchers’ click patterns, on both organic results and ads.

Lamberti said that in just one week in January, out of 1.2 billion search queries in the U.S., there were 220 million universal search results. That means 17 percent of all searches on Google showed at least one result with video, news, images, maps, weather, or stocks. Looking at it from the individual searchers angle, the data shows that of the 87 million people who searched during that same week in January, 57 percent of them saw some type of universal search result. Of those, 38 percent saw a video result, 34 percent saw news, 19 percent saw images, and 15 percent saw multiple types of results.

Now, smart search marketers have been paying attention to images, video, news and other types of content for years now. This might just make more people realize how important that has become. That’s not the big news here.

What’s more important than that is the fact that, based on that one week’s data, fewer ads seem to be showing up, and searchers are clicking on those ads less.

What’s significant is that many searchers are getting their answer right on the SERP, and not clicking through to a final destination page. That behavior is most evident on searches that return maps, stock quotes, or weather, but it’s also happening quite often for video and images.

And when Google is sending people to other sites, more and more often, they’re sending them to Google-owned sites like YouTube, Google News, and Google Finance. Google sent nearly 400 million search referrals to their own media properties over six months. That includes 148 million referrals to YouTube and 173 million to Google Images, the comScore data show.

There are several implications to this data, once it’s been tested, retested and fully examined. If this data is supported by more studies, it could spell trouble for site owners, advertisers, and even Google itself. As James said during the Orion Panel at SES New York Tuesday afternoon, “If the search engine results pages begin to operate as a destination, a lot of things change for those of us in this room.”

Across the board, the search engines are being hit just as bad as every other stock on the international exchanges. Guess the ability to measure profitability for the buyers of search products, the growing numbers of users and the attraction of Fortune 500 companies to their usage has not kept our industry’s lights from dimming.
The [...]

Google announced new improvements to the “integrated Google experience” on iPhone. Call the GOOGiPhone upgrade what you like. It’s still all about search.
iPhone Google 1.0 UI — only 30 something days old — combined Google web applications (Google Search, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Reader for RSS feeds) in a single interface.
Now Google has streamlined the [...]