TechBytes: Music Videos Online

Dec. 9, 2009— -- A new site that aims to be the MTV of the Web launched Tuesday night. The music video site Vevo is backed by three of the major record labels, Universal, Sony and EMI, and was created by YouTube.

Vevo is going live with 30,000 videos, including exclusives from Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige and 50 Cent. Users can watch videos with lyrics, create playlists and view artist profiles.

Five of the nation's largest newspaper and magazine publishers are teaming up to take on Amazon's Kindle. Time Inc., News Corp, Conde Nast, Hearst and Meredith Corp. are developing their own technology that would work on a variety of devices. Publications would be displayed in color and incorporate videos, games and social networking. Subscribers would be able to read the digital magazines and newspapers on some tablet computers, portable electronic readers and smart phones. The publishers are hoping to make it available next year.

Google wants its users to search by sight. The company has launched Google Goggles for smartphones that run its software. The program lets you use pictures to search the Web. Just snap a photo with your phone's camera and you'll get search results for that item. It works for things like books, CDs, landmarks, local businesses and bar codes, with plans to expand its capabilities in the future.