Steve / The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs:
The problem with Facebook  —  This chart says it all.  A new study discovers that the vast majority of Facebook apps are an utter waste of time.  But oh yeah — Facebook is worth $9 billion, or $15 billion.  And Slide is worth half a billion because […]

Wall Street Journal:
Yahoo-Google Pact May Be Close  —  Yahoo Inc. could announce an agreement to carry search advertisements from Google Inc. within a week, as it braces for Microsoft Corp. to go hostile or abandon its unsolicited acquisition offer for Yahoo, say people familiar with the matter.

I, Cringely . The Pulpit | PBS:
Iron Man  —  There was a game we used to play in the office, years ago, casting a movie of our own lives.  What well-known actor or actress would play you?  Who would play your friends?  The game eventually faded, as games always do, but at the time […]

Marc Andreessen / blog.pmarca.com:
Examining Microsoft’s and Yahoo’s unspoken concerns  —  In this post, I discuss what I believe are some unspoken concerns that weigh on the decisions both Microsoft and Yahoo are making during this very exciting takeover battle.  —  Quick status update, largely derived from the excellent Wall Street Journal …

DealBook:
Finally, Microsoft and Yahoo in Merger Talks  —  After a months-long standoff, Microsoft and Yahoo are in active merger talks, a person involved in the discussions said.  —  Microsoft, which had threatened to abandon its bid, has increased its offer “by several dollars,” this person said.

Nathan / FlowingData:
Chart of the Day: A Breakdown of Facebook Applications  —  Of the 23,160 Facebook applications, I use about 5, but I probably wouldn’t notice if someone randomly removed all of them from my profile in the middle of the night.  Kids these days.  I used to play BlockStar …

Wall Street Journal:
Microsoft, Yahoo Try to Make Nice  —  Latest Attempt At Friendly Deal Aims at Price Divide  —  Talks between Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. intensified Friday as the two sides explored the possibility of a last-ditch friendly deal with a sweetened Microsoft offer, according to people familiar with the matter.

Wall Street Journal:
Microsoft, Yahoo Talks Intensify In Push to Reach a Friendly Deal  —  Talks between Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. intensified Friday as the two sides explored the possibility of a last-ditch friendly deal, according to people familiar with the matter.  —  Though the talks have intensified …

Andy Serwer / Fortune:
Larry Page on how to change the world  —  Breakthrough ideas are around the corner, says the Google co-founder.  But most of us are failing to take a chance on them.  —  (Fortune Magazine) — As president of Google, Larry Page has pushed his people to take risks that have led […]

The Boy Genius Report:
BlackBerry KickStart: T-Mobile launch and a whole bunch of specs!  —  You didn’t think we’d actually leave you hangin’, did you?  To follow up on on yesterday’s post of the BlackBerry KickStart photos, we’ve got here a couple more images of the phone with T-Mobile branding and some interesting details on […]