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Morning, y'all,

It's a rainy, yucky day here and we're a touch concerned that it's December and hasn't really snowed in our neck of the woods...truth be told though, there's a lot more to worry about today, like the fate of AOL. Or when the Apple tablet is coming. Or how to get free music on Facebook.

So we'll get on with it.

Happy Divorce Day
Today, the much vaunted and oft criticized relationship between Time Warner Cable and AOL comes to a screeching halt. While Time Warner is not necessarily any worse for the wear, its once-lofty ISP partner has become a shadow of itself...at least in that area.

But that's the point of a rebranding, isn't it?

AOL (soon to be called "Aol.," and then the ISP formerly known an Aol.) is going to concentrate on a three pronged approach to growing its business outside of the internet provider category: publishing news and online blogs, advertising and finding new ways to deliver its original email and instant messaging content. They're planning to really "double down" on advertising, according to AOL's president for global advertising and strategy, because the other areas are kind of monopolized already. You know. Google, Facebook, Twitter...

All the best to Aol., though, even if we do think the "new" name's a little funny. More competition means a better market for consumers, and we are alllllll about that.

Rumor Mill!
Infamous Apple guru Yair Reiner has told his clients that the production of the Apple tablet is ramping up for a spring 2010 release, and that they're planning to make more than one million tablets per month. In addition to the possible release window, Reiner has said that Apple's gone with the ten inch multi-touch screen and has been seen sidling up to book type folks offering them a a seventy percent cut of profits in an App Store-esque e-book store model. That kind of specificity always worries us, but let's face it: with Sony, Amazon, and the new Barnes and Noble nook on the market, Apple could really get in there and be a game changer if it hurries the heck up.

Alicia Keys fan?
If you are, or you're like us and just love free stuff, hie thee over to Facebook and become a fan of the talented songstress; she's put her entire album up on her page. Full songs. For free.

No downloads, of course, but you can stream all fourteen tracks an unlimited number of times...at least--we're assuming--until the album drops next Tuesday. Get it while it's hot. And free.

The real point of that is that it's the first time a major, world famous artist has released an album on Facebook...music is changing, the way people access information and content is changing...we hate to get all corny on you,but we are living in some exciting times.

Love the album? Know any other great online offers? Let us know on Twitter!

Till tomorrow, Newsies...