Microsoft has now launched a "cashback" service on its Windows Live search service that would see users getting discounts for products they buy using the search engine.

This is the latest attempt to get some market share, being behind Google and Yahoo. Windows Live Search is the successor of MSN Search, which Microsoft spun off with the other MSN services to create online and offline apps to extend the Windows OS.

Those who want the discount will need to sign up for a special cashback account to participate, and the rebates will be issued after 60 days to make sure the products are not returned. The service, however, works only in the US.

It has partnered with some 700 retailers; including some big names like eBay, Barnes & Noble, Sears and Home Depot.

It is also considering a "cashback" scheme for its Live Search Farecast, a service that predicts the airfare.

Complaints from the internet service provider industry over the short time frame of the new Australian national broadband network tender have now seen an extension to the deadline today.

The announcement has said that "parties participating in the National Broadband Network process will have 12 weeks to consider network information from the date all material is made available."

"Telstra has provided some network information however despite its best efforts some information is not yet available. The provision of network information is vital to allow potential proponents to build the network to compete on an equal basis."

Microsoft has announced that it will be adding new formats to its Office 2007 software, starting with the next service pack, Service Pack 2 - due in the first half of 2009.

The new formats includes the Portable Document Format (PDF), XML Paper Specification (XPS) and its OOXML rival Open Document Format (ODF). This is not the first time since Microsoft worked with ODF, releasing a converter for Word users in late 2006. A converter is also in the works for older versions of Office, including 2000, XP and 2003.

As well, the company produced an add-on for users to save documents in PDF and XPS. Both OOXML and ODF formats are both ISO standards.

Apple and the broadcaster CBS have been sued by a company claiming trademark infringement over the word “Mighty Mouse”.

The company, Man & Machines, have said that it produces a waterproof and chemical-resistant mouse called the “Mighty Mouse” before Apple released its “Mighty Mouse”, which was an improvement to the original Mac Mouse.

As well, they have sued CBS as they did not have the rights to license them to Apple, even though they owned a mouse character, also called “Mighty Mouse” - a 1940s character. They claim that they could not license it to Apple because its trademark does not extend to goods.

Electronic Arts has said that it would extend their hostile takeover of rival Take-Two by one month. The $2 billion offer expired on May 16 before the deadline.

EA launched an unsolicited bid for the "Grand Theft Auto IV" publisher on 25 February for a $26-per-share, which represents a 50% premium on it’s closing price on 22 February. The extended deadline will see EA’s offer expire on June 16.

Take-Two rejected the bid, saying it undervalues the company.

Foxtel has announced the pricing plans about their new HD service, Foxtel HD+.

Those who wish to convert to the new service will need to pay a hefty $200 fee, with an additional monthly fee for the new iQ2 set-top box.

Access to the HD channels are only available to those who subscribe to ‘My Sport’, ‘Escape’, ‘Playtime’ or ‘World’ packages; with HD Sport, containing Fox Sports HD and ESPN HD, and HD Explore, containing BBC HD, Discovery HD and National Geographic HD, will both cost $9.95 a month - with HD movies from the Foxtel Box Office costing $6.95.

However, buying both packages will cost $6.95 a month.

A new Platinum option, dubbed the "Platinum HD" package will cost $130.95 a month, including the iQ2 service. No date has been set for the service to commence.

After a few days we reported that CondèNast bought Ars Technica, it has also bought back the defunct developer site Webmonkey and the original online magazine HotWired from Lycos USA, who bought the web components of Wired Magazine and sold Wired.com in 2006.

Webmonkey was closed by the previous owner of Lycos, Terra Networks, in 2004 and has been relaunched as a wiki.

HotWired has nothing publicly disclosed on its future.

The last property that was part of Wired before the breakup and not sold is HotBot, one of the early search engines and is still up.

Bebo, the social networking site bought by AOL for $850 million (which just closed today), is reported to not renew its current advertising contract, which ends in September 2009, with Yahoo.

The current deal with Yahoo will only cover Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom, with the other localized versions of Bebo to carry AOL’s Platfrom ad network. The loss of the deal will also see Yahoo not having a bid ad contract with any big social network, with Google having MySpace and its own, Orkut, and Microsoft having Facebook.

AOL has also announced that Bebo, AIM, ICQ and many of its community platforms will form a new uit dubbed the "People Networks". Joanna Shields, who is president of Bebo, will head the new unit as president and corporate EVP.

Microsoft has said that it is now back in talks with Yahoo that would see a brand new deal that would not involve a buyout.

In a statement released today, it has said that it was considering a new deal after the software giant walked away earlier this month from its US$47.5 billion bid to bid the web company.

"In light of developments since the withdrawal of the Microsoft proposal to acquire Yahoo, Microsoft announced that it is continuing to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online services and advertising business," it said in the statement.

Since the buyout bid talks broke down, billionaire investor Carl Icahn has launched a proxy fight with the board to oust them and replaced with members including Mark Cuban.

I really don’t believe in promoting other blogs, but this is kinda like a tip because I listen to Buzz Out Loud. While the video embed code is there already on some of the blogs run by CNET or their employees, CNET TV does not allow you to have an embed code.

Well, TECHGEEK (which I should mention is not affiliated to CNET) has found a way. As well, I am not going to put up the links, well except the embedded video, unless they pay me some advertising money. That or just plug this on Buzz Out Loud - That would be so cool.

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