Last Bytes: Yahoo, Google, Apple, Long Tail, more...

-- The Justice Department has opened a formal investigation into Yahoo's search advertising partnership with Google. Yahoo downplayed the probe, but experts said the nature of the documents the feds are seeking shows the government has serious concerns. As if Jerry Yang needs anything else to stress about. [Washington Post]

-- Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, along with several other current and former company executives, has been sued once again over his role in a stock options backdating scandal. If past efforts to hold Jobs accountable for options backdating are any indication, this lawsuit is going nowhere fast. [News.com]

-- A new Harvard Business Review study casts doubt on Chris Anderson's theory of "The Long Tail," by suggesting that most people are happy to consume blockbusters or hits, as opposed to more arcane, niche items. [WSJ]

-- AT&T said that original iPhones can be deactivated and used as Wi-Fi iPods. Related: the company plans to offer no-contract iPhones for $599 and $699 and said that the new devices can only be activated in stores. [Appleinsider.com, WSJ, TechCrunch]

-Sam Gustin. □