TechBytes: Google Event
In TechBytes: DirecTV 3D channel, cloud computing, a Facebook Christmas.
Dec. 30, 2009— -- It appears Google may be ready to roll out its own cell phone. Google has sent out an invitation for a press event at its headquarters on Tuesday. The company didn't give many details, but the event is related to its Android cell phone operating system. It has been widely reported that Google is developing its own device to compete with the iPhone.
3D is getting another boost as it begins to make the jump from movie screens to TV sets. The website HD Guru is reporting DirecTV will launch the first 3D HD channel early next year. It will feature an assortment of movies, sports and other programs. Subscribers will still need 3D TVs and glasses to watch the channel.
One of the emerging tech trends expected to get even bigger next year is something called "cloud computing." The cloud is simply using the internet to to store things like documents, photos and music, and then accessing them on any computer.The Wall Street Journal's Katie Boehret says there pros and cons to the cloud. "You can get your documents or your photos or your videos from any computer as long as you log in and pull that information down from the web," Boehret explains. But she also says, "the downsides for a lot of people are privacy concerns. Not everyone wants all of their personal information just sent off on the web somewhere and they don't know who is looking at it." Another con Barrette Points out is that users have to have an internet connection in order to get all of the information. You can read her column on the Wall Street Journal website.
It was a Facebook Christmas for millions of Americans. New numbers show the social networking site was the most visited website in the U.S. on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It's the first time ever that Facebook has been number-one, topping Google. Experts predict Facebook versus Google will be one of the biggest battles on the web over the next few years.
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