Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Prices for New Windows Vista Revealed
Don't expect to pay less than $99 for the new version of Windows (as an upgrade), due out in early 2007. And, if you want the fancier version, it will cost you $159 for the upgrade. Non-upgrade versions will be even higher. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.New Digital Cameras Make You Look Thinner, Younger
They say TV makes you look 10 pounds heavier. Now some new fangled digital cameras alter reality, and make you thinner, and take away the lines in your face. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.These Free Textbooks Come with Ads Inside
Imagine paying zero for textbooks. That's the idea of a new online company that will incorporate advertising into its books. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Hazards in Insurance Companies' Roadside Coverage
Sometimes it feels like if you breathe wrong, your insurance company will raise your rates. Now comes news that if you have roadside coverage through your car insurance company, you may get dinged if you actually use it. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Credit Card Rebates on Gas Get Stingy
The days are coming to an end where some credit cards give you back 5% on your gasoline purchases. Citibank's generous program that also included supermarket and drugstore purchases is going down to 2% from 5% in October. And others are following suit. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.How to Keep Your Laptop Battery Tiptop
Since everyone is focused on laptop batteries because of the big Dell and Apple recalls, here are tips on battery longevity and bringing back nearly dead batteries to life. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Telcos Pocket Fee No Longer Required
Normally it is good news if the government no longer requires a fee. That should have been the case when Uncle Sam said that companies selling DSL Internet service no longer had to collect the USF fee of about $1.50 to $3. However, both Verizon and BellSouth will continue to collect the equivalent amount, under a different name, instead of passing on the savings to their customers. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Consumers Curb Upscale Habits as Prices Rise
Starbucks is not selling as many $4 a cup lattes these days because even upscale consumers are being pinched by higher gas prices. Even those with $75,000 or higher incomes are cutting back. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Finding Overseas ATMs that Won't Gouge You
The WSJ offers tips on finding cheaper ATMs when traveling abroad. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Cameras Keep an Eye on Real Estate Assessments
If you challenge your property tax bill saying that your place is not in as good a shape as your neighbor's... better watch out. The assessing department may a have plane circling overhead to take pictures of your house and your neighbor's. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Judge Orders Changing to Tobacco Ads
A federal judge just issued a stiff (and priceless, as in "no monetary fines") ruling in a case brought against big tobacco for their deceptive advertising. The companies will have to start corrective advertising, as well as stop using terms like "light" and "low tar" as they could be misunderstood to be safe. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Consumer Reports Chided on Virus Testing
Folks in the antivirus industry have criticized Consumer Reports for creating 5000 new viruses as a means of testing antivirus software. Apparently that is a no-no. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Ads Coming to Cellphones Soon
Some the large cellphone companies are thinking of sending ads to you on your cellphone. If consumers react react negatively, they may be removed. Otherwise, they will provide a new source of revenue to the cellcos. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Dell Recalling 4 Million Laptop Batteries
Dell has some hot laptops, literally. Since certain batteries have been determined to overheat and cause a fire, Dell is recalling over 4 million of them. See if yours is on the list. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Retire and Die in a Cheaper State
Many people want to repeal the federal estate tax. But did you know that some states have estate and/or inheritance taxes too? So if you are thinking of retiring to another, and want to pass on the most to your surviving relatives, better check which states won't ding you when you die. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Looking for a Bargain in Foreclosures?
Will interest rates rising and real estate beginning to slump in some cites, some people can't keep up and may lose their homes to foreclosure. For others, this beguns an opportunity to find real estate bargains. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Airlines Reduce Weight Limits on Checked Luggage
Don't pack a really fat bag when travelling this summer, or the airlines may surcharge it. Many have just lowered from 70 pounds to 50 pounds the maximum weight allowed per bag. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Some Users ID'd From AOL Search Activity
AOL thought they were helping researchers by releasing the search records of unidentified users of AOL. Rather than reveal the screen name of each searcher, they assigned a number. Trouble was some people were able to put two and two together to figure out who did the searching. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.As Usual, AOL Makes Free Service Hard to Get
AOL never makes anything easy, including their new offer to give away service to current broadband customers. This WSJ story gives examples of what some customers have had to do. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Standards Proposed for Company Voice Response Systems
Paul English from GetHuman.com, the site that helps you navigate those frustrating voice response systems that companies use seemingly to keep you from speaking to a human, announced a plan to establish standards for such systems. The idea is to make them much more customer-friendly. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.We Underestimate Fat in Fast Food
When asked how much fat was in certain fast food items, research subjects tended to substantially underestimate the amount. Here are the results of the study. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.How Do You Find a Good Plumber (or other service provider) Online?
Products are reviewed all the time online. But what appear service providers? Besides Angie's List, a number of online service have cropped up to help you find a good contractor in your area. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Homemade Brew Turns Brown Grass Green
Like the optical shops that answer the phone "we can turn your brown eyes blue", this homemade concoction can keep your lawn looking healthy green throughout the summer. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.Ads are Everywhere; Soon on Eggshells
No matter where you look, you see advertising. Starting in September, CBS will be advertising its fall season on eggs! What's next? For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Note: Some news links may expire one week after posting.McAfee Flaw May Expose Passwords, Account Info
A security firm has a discovered a flaw in McAfee anti-virus and other consumer products that if exploited may allow a crook access to your passwords and account information. A fix is expected soon. For more consumer news, visit Consumer World.
