TechBytes: YouTube 'Feather'

Dec. 4, 3009— -- Watching YouTube videos on a slow computer or Internet connection can be frustrating. Now, the wildly popular video Web site is going light with a pared-down version. Feather does away with many of the regular features of YouTube, including the ability to comment and rate. But the very basic site makes loading and playing of videos faster.

The pocket-sized Flip video recorder allows you to record anywhere and upload videos directly to your computer or to YouTube. Now, there's a companion device that lets you watch them right on your TV. USA Today's Ed Baig tested it and said he's not flipping for the FlipShare TV. "It costs $150, which, in my view, is way overpriced, especially when you consider that it doesn't really work with non-flip videos that may be on your computer," Baig said.

You can read Baig's full review on USAToday.com.

Google is expanding its hold on the Internet by offering a new way to connect to what's online. Google's Public DNS takes over the process of directing users to the sites they choose. Normally, this is handled by your Internet provider. But, by choosing this option, Google said it will make surfing the Web faster and more secure. It will also allow Google to collect more information about what we're doing on the Web.

Some of the biggest Internet advertisers want to educate the public about online privacy. The Internet Advertising Bureau has created a new Web site called Privacy Matters. It explains how marketers track which sites searchers visit and what they do with that information. Some of the organization's members, including Yahoo, Google and Disney, the parent company of ABC News, will post links to the Privacy Matters site from their own Web pages.