GM has begun “winding down” Saab — killing it — after failing for more than a year to find a buyer for the Swedish brand with an aircraft heritage and reputation for quirky design. Talks with the last potential buyer could wrap up later Thursday.

The odds were always against a happy ending, even if 2009 hadn’t been terrible for the industry

There are only a handful of global companies that would clearly be equipped to take on a car brand. Investors were never going to lend money to just anyone with the dream of owning a car company.

To qualify as a buyer, a company would need to have a track record of making some sort of vehicle and be able to show it had the financial wherewithal at least to provide service and keep making replacement parts for Saabs for the full warranty period, which could be five years or up to 100,000 miles.

And it isn’t just major investors who’ve shown a reluctance to put money into a Saab. Some banks, including Bank of America, now are asking potential buyers of Saab cars to put down larger down payments. The lenders are showing little confidence the brand will survive and are hedging their risk on the value of Saab “orphans” as used cars once the company is gone.

Spyker, a Dutch luxury carmaker, still is in the running, trying to put together a deal to buy Saab, but the deadline on GM’s patience to get the deal done is today. Spyker CEO Victor Muller has been talking publicly about what he would do with Saab, even though his time is running out.

But gloomy prospects did not stop a small group of Saab loyalists from showing up in frigid Detroit this week to try to pressure GM into keeping the brand alive until a sale can be worked out.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-01-06-gm-saab-sale-deal-closing_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

About 27,000 people who buy Personal Choice health insurance directly from Independence Blue Cross rather than through an employer are facing steep increases in their premiums in March to maintain similar coverage – for some, greater than 60 percent – or are finding comparable coverage unavailable.

Despite angry complaints from policyholders, Blue Cross says the changes are necessary because of continuing losses in the Personal Choice plans. And the state Insurance Department says there is little it can do, even after it resisted a proposal last spring to raise rates for the plans by amounts ranging from 10 percent to 58 percent.

One reason: Blue Cross side stepped the issue by withdrawing its proposed increases. Instead, it told state officials it planned to discontinue the trio of Personal Choice plans in question, which it has offered for the last two decades, and give current policyholders two new choices instead – choices many find unattractive.

State Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario said yesterday that the dilemma faced by Blue Cross and its policyholders showed the importance of revamping state and national health insurance regulation.

Ario said state regulators lacked tools they needed to better oversee insurers’ plans and rates. And he said commercial insurers’ ability to refuse to cover less-healthy customers – which would be banned under bills that have passed the U.S. House and Senate – deserves much of the blame for the changes Blue Cross is imposing.

As Pennsylvania’s “insurer of last resort,” the state’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans are required to provide so-called guaranteed issue health insurance plans to all individuals or families, regardless of their medical conditions or histories.

The Blues’ commercial competitors “are simply able to exclude the bad risks,” Ario said. But Independence Blue Cross offers its Personal Choice plans to anyone not covered by an employer’s group plan.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20100107_Personal_Choice_nongroup_premiums_rising.html

Ford Motor CEO Alan Mulally will announce Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that the automaker is incorporating a Twitter application into its next-generation Sync in-car communication system. It is one of three free apps — the others are online entertainment services Pandora and Stitcher — in the first wave of what Ford hopes will become a portfolio of mobile-phone-like apps available for tech-minded motorists.

Drivers won’t be able to compose tweets (though that may come), but the system reads them as they stream in. Even at that, some tech watchers question its value.

Listening to tweets can be distracting to drivers, says Phil Leigh of Inside Digital Media.

He says the more potent applications are likely to be Pandora and Stitcher. “If you have Pandora, you don’t need satellite radio,” Leigh says.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2010-01-07-ford-twitter_N.htm

The digital network that includes msnbc.com on Tuesday announced the acquisition of the BreakingNews.com Web address, with the aim of creating a Web site to complement its @BreakingNews alert service on Twitter.

The latest addition to the msnbc Digital Network will focus on up-to-the-second news coverage from multiple sources, executives of the company said. (Msnbc.com is a Microsoft – NBC Universal joint venture.)

“It’s a different experience for news users, rather than any kind of diminishment for msnbc.com,” Charles Tillinghast, president of the msnbc Digital Network, said in an interview. The move is “consistent with our strategy of creating different news experiences for different user interests,” he said.

In December, msnbc.com took over management of the @BreakingNews Twitter account, which provides updates to nearly 1.6 million subscribers, or “followers.” The arrangement was part of a deal under which msnbc.com became the first client for BNO News, a wire service established by @BreakingNews founder Michael van Poppel.

Tillinghast said van Poppel played no role in BreakingNews.com or in the acquisition.

For now, the BreakingNews.com Web site provides nothing more than an updated feed of @BreakingNews’ Twitter alerts and Web links. “It essentially is a Twitter feed for people who don’t use Twitter,” Tillinghast said. But the site is likely to evolve into a service that also provides news stories and minute-by-minute updates on developing stories. Tillinghast said such features would differentiate the Web site from the Twitter feed, where “you have to regulate how many dispatches you send out” to avoid overwhelming followers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34694904/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/#storyContinued

Today’s event, described by Google as an “Android Press Gathering,” starts at 1 p.m. New York time. Analysts say that the phone will be unveiled at the event.

The Nexus One phone probably will be sold directly by the company as well as through a wireless carrier, said Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company said last month that it was testing an Android phone internally. Google was in talks to sell the handset through wireless carrier T-Mobile USA Inc.

Google, owner of the most-popular Internet search engine, is boosting investments in the mobile-phone market as demand increases for devices such as Apple’s iPhone that can surf the Web, take pictures and play music. Google’s Android software was first offered in 2008 on phones made by Taiwan’s HTC Corp. The new device may feature more of Google’s own software, acting as the standard for other makers to follow.

“I’m expecting a phone that is branded Google,” Golvin said. “One of the main reasons for Google to do this is because they think they can innovate faster than their partners.”

‘Handsome’ Phone

Engadget, a technology news and review Web site, reported this week that the new phone, built by HTC, has a 3.7-inch (9.4- centimeter) screen, a 5-megapixel camera and uses Qualcomm Inc.’s Snapdragon processor. The review blog said the phone is “handsome” though not necessarily an iPhone “eviscerator.”

“It looks to be, from what I can see, a very nicely designed phone, very competitive with the iPhone,” said Ken Dulaney, an analyst with Gartner Inc. in Stamford, Connecticut, who also said today’s event is likely to feature an Android phone.

Google’s Nexus One has a touch screen like the iPhone, and users can search the Web on it by speaking query terms.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-05/google-may-introduce-its-own-android-smartphone-at-event-today.html

A defense-spending bill signed into law Dec. 19 expands a subsidy for unemployed workers who want to continue their former employer’s health insurance coverage.  What does this mean exactly?  In USA Today, Sandra Block maps out the benefits and regulations available for you in 2010.

The economic stimulus package enacted by Congress last year subsidized 65% of COBRA premiums for unemployed workers for up to nine months, starting in March 2009. But with unemployment still above 10% at year’s end, Congress decided to extend and expand the benefit. Under the legislation:

•Individuals who are eligible for the subsidy will be able to receive it for an additional six months, for a total of 15 months.

•Workers laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 28, 2010, are eligible for the subsidy. The original cutoff was Dec. 31, 2009.

The subsidy has triggered a significant increase in COBRA enrollment, says Karen Frost, health and welfare outsourcing leader for Hewitt Associates. From March to November, the number of workers who signed up for COBRA increased 20 percentage points over the previous six-month period, when no subsidy was available, according to Hewitt Associates (see chart).

Hewitt Associates estimates that subsidized COBRA premiums cost the average worker $3,000 a year, vs. $8,800 a year without the subsidy.

Second chance

The extension is retroactive, so unemployed workers who lost their subsidy before the legislation was enacted are still eligible for six more months of subsidized premiums, according to the Department of Labor. The government is providing a grace period for workers who let their coverage lapse, says Kathryn Bakich, senior vice president and head of the health care compliance practice at Segal Co. To resume subsidized COBRA, you must pay the back premiums at the reduced rate by Feb. 17, or 30 days after receiving a notice from your plan administrator, whichever is later.

For example, suppose your subsidy expired in November and you didn’t pay your COBRA bill for December. Your employer is required to notify you that you have the opportunity to restart COBRA for six months, Bakich says. As long as you pay the reduced premium for December, you won’t have a break in your coverage, Bakich says.

If you paid the entire premium to continue COBRA after your subsidy ended, you should be able to get some of that money back. Contact your plan administrator or employer about receiving a credit toward future COBRA premiums or a refund, Bakich says.

If your COBRA subsidy hasn’t expired, you don’t have to do anything, Frost says. You’ll probably receive a notice from your plan explaining the six-month extension, she says.

Eligibility rules

The legislation extending the COBRA subsidy didn’t change the eligibility requirements for the benefit. You’re ineligible if:

•You left your job voluntarily. The subsidy is limited to individuals laid off between Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 28, 2010. If you qualify, your family is also eligible for subsidized COBRA coverage.

•You have access to coverage through your spouse’s health insurance or Medicare.

•Your employer didn’t provide group coverage. In addition, the federal COBRA rule applies only to companies with at least 20 full-time employees.

Forty states and Washington, D.C., have “mini COBRAs” that cover small employers, but the coverage may be more limited than that required by federal law.

•Your employer has gone out of business and is no longer providing group coverage.

For more information about the subsidy, go to www.dol.gov/COBRA. To talk to a DOL benefits adviser, call 866-444-3272.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2010-01-04-cobra-extension-health-insurance_N.htm

Kim Komando shares with USA Today apps on your iPhone or iPod Touch that can help you stick to your resolution in 2010!

Unless specified, these apps are free.

Save money

Mint.com Personal Finance puts your finances at your fingertips. Track investments, and credit card and bank account balances. Create a budget so you always know where you stand. Then, see where you’re spending your money each month. The app works in conjunction with Mint’s site.

Find a new job

Search for jobs across multiple job boards using Indeed.com’s Job Search. Or, find listings on employers’ sites with LinkUp Job Search Engine. Use 50 Interview Questions & Answers Lite to prepare for interviews. If you need help with your resume and career planning, try Career Rescue ($1.99). It offers a wealth of advice to jump-start your search.

Lose weight

Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker helps you set a goal for daily caloric intake. You can then track meals and exercise. There are more than 250,000 foods in the database. See how many calories you have left for the day at a glance. Track major nutrients like fat, protein and fiber. Progress reports keep you motivated. Or, get support via MyFitnessPal’s site.

Exercise

Body Fitness is an exercise journal. The database contains hundreds of exercises that you can track. Track the sets and reps and add notes to entries. You can also find new exercises to try. Exercises are divided by type; animations show you how to perform them.

Quit smoking

Sick of Smoking ($1.99) provides tips to help you quit smoking. It also tracks how many cigarettes you smoke, helping you lessen nicotine addiction. Sick of Smoking also provides motivation. See how much you’ve saved and how your health is improving.

Drink less

Drink Less Alcohol Tracker ($1.99) helps you watch your alcohol intake. It tracks the money you spend and the amount you drink. You’ll see how your drinking has decreased and how much you’ve saved. The app also provides facts to help you drink less. You can even set up a reminder message as your wallpaper.

Beat stress

Stress Check will help you assess your stress level. Just answer the quick 20-question assessment. Then, see where the stress is coming from. Other apps will help you relax and reduce stress. For example, White Noise Lite plays soothing sounds like waves and rain. It will help you fall asleep or block out a noisy, stressful environment.

Volunteer

Catalista helps you find volunteer opportunities with local nonprofits. You can also invite friends to volunteer via e-mail or Facebook. Catalista will also track the time you spend volunteering. This is handy if you get credit from school or work.

The Extraordinaries lets you volunteer wherever you are. It lists microvolunteerism opportunities, many of which can be completed on a phone. For example, tag photos or translate text.

Improve your education

Many apps will help you improve your education. Prepare for college entrance exams or professional exams. Enter the name of an exam for apps that will help you prepare. For example, there’s Kaplan GRE Exam Vocabulary Flashcards ($4.99). Or, prepare for the SAT with SAT Math Review ($2.99).

Get organized

If you want to be more productive and organized, you need 2Do ($5.99). This handy app helps you get tasks under control. Group related tasks by category. Then, view tasks on tabbed calendars. Or, view all categories on a single calendar. Then, get notifications and e-mail alerts of upcoming tasks.

Get motivation

Finally, no matter your resolution, you’ll need motivation. MyinstantCOACH offers support and motivation. Learn how to overcome barriers to reaching your goals. And send reminders via text messaging. Streaks Motivational Calendar ($1.99) uses calendars to help you achieve goals. The idea is to keep the streak going. At a quick glance, you’ll see how well you’re sticking to your resolutions.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2009-12-31-resolutions-apps_N.htm

Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. is recalling more than 200,000 play yards sold under the Disney-Safety 1st and Eddie Bauer brands due to a risk of suffocation, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

The metal bars supporting the bassinet floor can come out of the fabric sleeves, making the sleeping surface uneven posing the risk of suffocation or positional asphyxiation for infants. No injuries or incidents have been reported.

These Chinese-made portable play yards came with a bassinet attachment and a built-in changing station. The following models are being recalled: 05025, 05026, 05037, 05088 and 05350. The model number can be found on one of the legs beneath the play yard.

The Safety 1st Disney Care Center Play Yard and Eddie Bauer Complete Care Play Yard were sold for $100-$130 at Babies R Us, Kmart, Sears, Target and Walmart between January 2007 and October 2009.

Those who have these play yards are asked to stop using the bassinet attachment and order a repair kit that includes new fabric for the bassinet as well as new support bars. The rest of the play yard, including the changing station, may be used, the company said.

For more information, call Dorel Juvenile Group 866-762-2166 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, except on Friday when calls will be taken until 4:30 p.m. Consumers may also visit Dorel’s web site, or click here to order a repair kit

http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10097.html

Landlords are offering tenants up to six months of free rent, flat-screen TVs and new appliances. They’re also slashing monthly rates and easing application standards.

Rents fell a record 3.5% in 2009 after factoring in freebies, according to MPF Research. MPF projects prices will fall an additional 2% next year as an improving housing market and a tax credit for first-time home buyers attract more renters.

“I’ve been at this 35 years, and it’s by far the worst I’ve seen it,” says Jeff Cronrod of the American Apartment Owners Association.

Nationwide, apartment vacancy is 7.8%, up from 4.8% at the end of 2007, says MPF Vice President Greg Willett.

The soft market is mostly rooted in the nation’s 10% jobless rate. Tenants who lose their jobs are moving in with relatives or finding roommates, says economist Lawrence Yun of the National Association of Realtors.

Also, homeowners who want to move but can’t sell their houses because they’re worth less than their mortgages are renting them out instead. So are investors who snapped up recently foreclosed houses and condos and are waiting for the market to rebound before unloading them. Those units boost supply and dampen prices, economists say.

Among efforts to draw tenants:

•In the Charleston, S.C., area, Darby Development, which manages about 1,600 apartments, is offering up to two months of free rent, flat-screen TVs and $100 gasoline gift cards to new tenants, says Victoria Cowart, head of property management. Existing tenants can get big discounts off the first month’s rent in a new lease.

“We’re just trying to be a little unique,” she says, noting vacancy at the complexes exceeds 20%.

•In Tampa and Orlando, Blue Rock Partners is haggling a bit with tenants, shaving rent to beat rivals, says managing partner Reuven Oded.

•In Seattle, Trinity Partnership, owner of 1,000 apartments, built a 24-seat digital movie theater in a 99-unit building it opened in May to stand out in a tough market.

•In New York City, Viking Management is paying brokers’ fees, typically equal to a month of rent, for new tenants, says manager Tom Caraccio.

Despite the efforts, more than 5% of tenants skip out without paying back rent vs. a typical 2%, says Bill Gray, who writes a blog, The Landlord Doctor. About 3.6% of landlords defaulted on their mortgages in the third quarter, up from 1.8% in late 2008, according to Real Estate Econometrics.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2009-12-30-rent-bargains-discounts_N.htm

Stores feature great bargains as a way to entice shoppers to clean out their stores to make room for spring and summer merchandise, said Daniel Butler of the National Retail Federation.

“Also, as people put the ornaments away, they tend to get into spring cleaning mode early and want to freshen the house,” Butler said.

In January, white sales — discounts on sheets, towels and other household items — are quite prevalent.

Many a young couple got engaged over the holidays. That, said Butler, means “a lot of new brides are registering for gifts. The home store begins to appeal to them. Even though the wedding isn’t for months, it’s a great time to buy wedding gifts.”

TJ Maxx plans to promote their active-wear, beauty and home departments as part of a New Year/New You/New Home campaign, according to Laura McDowell, company spokeswoman. The store also will have fall and winter merchandise on clearance.

Gift cards are a big part of mall traffic for the month of January, said Aaron Martin, senior consultant with ShopperTrak, a consumer traffic monitoring company.

“Gift cards have effectively extended the holiday season and we’re seeing January as the gift card redemption month,” Martin said, calling this a trend he’s seen emerge in the last three years.

“Even though a lot of the sales have already been paid for, stores are obviously trying to entice customers to spend more,” he said. “Retailers understand they have an opportunity to focus on the shopper so we’ll continue to see post-holiday sales of 40 to 50 percent off.”

The discount department store giant Wal-Mart set its sales for the gift-card wielding Mom and her family.

“After the holidays, a lot of moms are shopping with their family. The kids are looking for toys and games [i.e., electronics] and Mom is looking for things for the home and things for her,” said Melissa O’Brien, spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Inc.

Shoppers can expect to see toys and home items discounted as much as 50 percent off, O’Brien said. Select seasonal items such as candles and electronics will be discounted as well.

A December survey conducted by marketing research company American Research Group found only 9 percent of shoppers had a hard time finding their size in stock this holiday season.

How does that impact the after-holiday shopper? “This means there is going to be a pretty good supply of apparel left over for January,” said Britt Beemer, spokesman for the American Research Group. “I expect there will be some pretty big discounts in apparel. However, we won’t see nearly as much in electronics.”

Beemer also advised the savvy customer to keep an eye out for coupons and private retailer sales via rewards programs.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1965808,shoppers-find-discounts-spring-123109.article