According to a chart from UK-based research firm IHS, Android Market revenues for 2010 were estimated at $102 million, an increase from $11 million in 2009. How does this compare to Apple's juggernaut-of-an App Store? Well, Apple's revenues for their App Store in 2010 were estimated at $1.7 billion.

That is 20 times bigger than the Android Market. Where the Android Market saw an 861.5-percent increase, Apple only saw a 131.9-percent increase. So Android is growing, but Apple is making a sweet-load more green than them. Google will need to sustain the growth they are enjoying now to catch up to where Apple are today.

Apple have a much tighter hold on their app-developers, where Google seems to be much more open. So while Apple are making money now, it does not guarantee them an app-friendly future, especially considering that Google has their mobile OS on many more branded handsets than just a single brand like Apple.

Google's new Chrome beta is out and includes a variety of speed-boosts and features. JavaScript engine V8 runs compute-intensive JavaScript applications much faster than previous iterations of Google's web browser. This beta release sees a jump of 66-percent over the current stable release when tested under V8 Benchmarker suite.

The new beta also includes preliminary implementation of GPU-accelerated video. A user with the new beta who has a capable graphics card should see a decent decrease in CPU usage. In full screen mode CPU usage is touted to drop by as much as 80-percent! For notebooks this should give you a substantial increase in battery life.

It also includes a function to synchronize your saved passwords across multiple computers, as well as bookmarks, preferences, themes and extensions. For those who are security-conscious, it also adds the ability to encrypt your synced passwords with your own secret sync passphrase. To enable this, visit "Personal Stuff" in Chrome's settings dialog.

U.S. President Barack Obama wrapped up his week of mingling with leaders in the tech industry with a tour of Intel's Hillsboro, Oregon manufacturing facility. While a large portion of many tech manufacturing jobs remain based in other countries, Intel remains steadfastly dedicated to being a U.S company from start to finish. Intel plans on creating over 4,000 jobs this year outside other future endeavors.

Obama seemed very impressed by the facility. "We just had an amazing tour. One of my staff said it's like magic. I had a chance to see everything from an electron microscope, to the inside of the microprocessor plant--the clean room. Of all the gadgets you got here, what actually most impressed me is the students and science projects here."

Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel, was on hand as host and also made the announcement of Intel's new facility coming to Arizona. It is going to be named Fab 42 and will be a $5 billion facility dedicated to 14 nanometer development and manufacturing as well as future projects. This is on top of the plans for a 14 nanometer facility that will be added on to the existing Oregon complex.

Taipei Game Show 2011 - When I said in an earlier post that there was lots of cool technology at Taipei Game Show 2011, I meant it, but it was all being hogged by loads of lovely Taiwanese girls. That's not necessarily a bad thing, maybe just a reason for all the girlie videos today. Sorry ladies.

So, besides Sony having a kick ass Gran Turismo 5 five screen simulator at their booth, they were also actively promoting PlayStation Move - the gaming controller competitor to Microsoft's Xbox Kinect that actually requires a controller. Booth babe ladies were scattered on a stationary merry-go-round setup with loads of PS3's and the Move motion controller.

Sure, Move is far from new, but it's still kind of newish in Taiwan and the first I have really seen it in action for a considerable amount of time.

Taipei Game Show 2011 - Today marked the first day of the Taipei Game 2011 and we went along to see what was on show. Besides the vast amount of beautiful show girls, there was some cool new technology to take in at the event. Don't worry; we're coming back to the show girls soon.

Earlier this week at the Mobile World Congress in Spain, Sony Ericsson officially unveiled the PlayStation Phone aka the Xperia PLAY, the first PlayStation certified smartphone. Think of a Google Android 2.3 smartphone and a PlayStation Portable fused together. It has all the same controls as a PSP and the same level of graphics quality, but of course offers much more in terms of communications as you would expect from a phone.

The Xperia PLAY we went hands-on with today is finished as far as the hardware and outside appearance goes, that part won't change. However, the firmware and other software bits still needs some work according to Kevin, the Sony Ericsson representative that we were talking to at the show. Apparently they will have the software up to scratch and at shipping level standard in around one month and the phone / portable gaming console should go on sale sometime in April for a worldwide launch.

Chinese hackers have recently launched a massive cyberattack on Canadian government websites and employees, gaining access to a cache of highly classified federal information. The attack was detected last month and was claimed by the government to only be an attempt to access their computers - however the CBC is stating this as innaccurate.

Canada's two major economic departments, the Finance Department and Treasury Board were the victims of the successful attack. Hackers were able to gain control of the computers of senior government executives in the two departments. However, the hackers were unable to obtain passwords to unlock entire government systems.

Immediately following the attack, the government shut down all internet access in both departments as a firewall to other attacks or more information being siphoned out of the departments. Unfortunately it's unclear whether the hackers were able to gain access to other government networks. This attack has left thousands of government employees without internet access as officials were left attempting to fix the messy situation.

Apple plan to ship 40 million iPad products in 2011, the large amount of products being manufactured and shipped surely isn't easy and in order to secure such a large number of possible sales Apple has had to occupy close to 60-percent of the global touch panel capacity which is causing tight supply with the iPad's enemies.

TPK and Wintek are two of the biggest players in touch-panel manufacturing and Apple have secured most of their manufacturing for 2011 leaving other companies hoping to cut into the tablet market. Second-tier players are having to also fight with companies like RIM, Motorola and HP which leaves Samsung, Acer and HP having to turn to smaller touch screen suppliers such as Sintek Photronic, Egalax-empia Technology, AimCore Technology, and J Touch.

We are now 22 days into the TweakTown Aussie Flood Appeal and it is time for another update on the donations we have received so far.

At this very moment, the donations total $5,654.17 AUD - yes, some of you donated odd amounts like $11 and $16, but thanks all the same for the extra. It all counts! We have converted to Australian Dollars since that is what will be given.

Happily we are now well above our $5,000 USD minimum, but still a ways short of our target of $10,000 USD. The first end date for the appeal is Feb 26, 2011, but as mentioned in the original news post, we may extend up to March 31st in one week intervals if required.

Losing your license and paying higher insurance premiums for driving and talking on your cell phone? That's now a possibility if you're a New Yorker. The state has just put a new law in effect that states that those using handheld phones while driving could not only face a fine of $100, but also get hit with two points on their driving record which could lead to higher insurance rates and even a suspended license.

While New York has had a similar texting and driving law in place since 2009, the overall cell phone ban is being called the toughest in the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that distracted driving, which phones can be a huge part of, plays a role in one in five crashes. Other studies refute these claims, but common sense should tell you that not having your mind on the road can get you in trouble.

Don't think that New York cops are going to be afraid to write those tickets; 342,564 tickets were issued in New York for cell phone violations according to the DMV in 2009 when the texting law went into effect. New Yorkers, it looks like it's time to invest in a Bluetooth headset.

Crytek seem to be unaffected by the recent leak of their latest soon-to-be blockbuster FPS title, Crysis 2 by still keeping to their word and releasing a multiplayer demo of Crysis 2 on PC come March 1.

The download page gone live teasing some of the stuff you'll see in the demo. The Crysis 2 multiplayer demo will include two maps, two modes and hours of insane action and fun. Crytek explain it as:

Players will compete in six vs. six matches set against a war-torn Manhattan in two maps: "Skyline", set on top of the rooftops and interiors of skyscrapers, and "Pier 17", an open environment with limited cover. The demo also features two modes: "Team Instant Action" pits two teams against each other as they kill as many opponents as possible to win the round and "Crash Site," where players will battle for control of alien drop pods, earning points by guarding their pods and keeping enemies at bay.