Expanding its push into niche content, Yahoo announced Tuesday it had agreed to acquire publishing service Associated Content, which boasts 380,000 freelance contributors and more than 2 million articles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the purchase price was reported as $90 million. "Combining our world-class editorial team with Associated Content's makes this a game-changer," said Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, in a statement. "Together, we'll create more content around what we know our users care about, and open up new and creative avenues for advertisers to engage with consumers across our network." After restructuring over …

The Home Depot says sales gained 4.3% to $16.9 billion in its first quarter, while net earnings jumped to $725 million, up from $514 million, propelled by strong consumer spending. "Our solid start to the year was driven by great performance in seasonal categories and strong growth in customer transactions," Frank Blake, chairman/CEO of the Atlanta-based chain says in its release. As a result, the company increased both its sales and earnings forecast for the full year, predicting a 3.5% gain.--Sarah Mahoney

Facebook intends to revamp its controversial privacy settings within the next few days, Channel 4's Benjamin Cohen reports. The company has been under fire from a growing roster of critics since late last year, when Facebook changed its default settings to share-everything-with-everyone. Last month, Facebook drew even more fire for rolling out several new features, including "instant personalization," which automatically shares users' data with the outside companies Yelp, Pandora and Microsoft Docs. Sen. Chuck Schumer complained about the changes, as did E.U. privacy officials and privacy advocates.

Maryland is launching a new humorous campaign that tells consumers if their life is no "day at the beach," a vacation to Ocean City could help. The campaign, which includes TV, radio, billboards and online ads, features "Rodney the lifeguard." Rodney rescues those who are bored at their jobs or stuck in traffic. Last year, Maryland's beach destination spent $3.9 million in advertising and expects to spend $4.4 million this year, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. Ocean City hopes to attract people in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.--Tanya Irwin

The announcement by Zynga and Facebook Tuesday morning that the companies are entering a five-year strategic "relationship" (as they put it) makes perfect sense. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly, Starsky and Hutch, Lindsey Lohan and rehab, Mark Zuckerberg and privacy violations. No matter what daring new ways Facebook finds to torment people's personal privacy there is one breed of user that will likely never desert the social network: the hardcore casual gamer. Now that term might seem like a contradiction in terms, but it isn't. These are the hollow-eyed people you see at that public …

Chrysler LLC, with an aim to building its presence in fast-growing multicultural markets is making GlobalHue lead agency for all multicultural strategies for Dodge, Ram Truck and Jeep brands. The Auburn Hills, Mich. automaker says Wieden+Kennedy will develop the creative for the marketing and advertising for the launch of the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, while GlobalHue will remain the lead agency for the Jeep Brand. Each of our four agencies will continue to work as the lead agency for each of their respective brands. For Chrysler it's Fallon, Dodge is Widen, Jeep Global Hue and Dodge Ram, Richards …

Amazon announced today that a free Kindle app for Android phones is coming this summer, broadening the potential customer base for its e-reader software. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said last week that at least 65,000 phones running Android are being shipped every day. Android also surpassed the U.S. market share for the iPhone OS for the first time during the first quarter, 28% to 21%, as it proliferates across multiple handsets and carriers.

Google announced Tuesday it has made a $68 million offer to acquire the Internet voice and video company Global IP Solutions Holding. GIP customers include Yahoo, IBM, AOL, Nortel Networks, and Baidu.

Nielsen Co.just announced a new, multi-year deal with Gannett to use its local television ratings services, including overnights, custom applications and software, in all of Gannet's local markets.  Gannett operates 23 television stations in 19 markets and has a reach of 21 million households.  Under the agreement, Nielsen will also track usage of Gannett television station Web sites.

Alex Payne wants to build a better banking system. So he will leave Twitter to take a post as co-founder and chief product and technology officer at BankSimple. The new company aims to rebuild personal finance, starting with a "fee-free, customer-friendly, beautifully designed online bank." Payne, Twitter's lead engineer, helped build the developer platform, and later on the service’s core infrastructure.