Android, as an open platform, was available to all phone makers to use when creating smartphones to rival the dominant iPhone (by Apple) and BlackBerry (by Research In Motion).

While popular manufacturers like Motorola created Android-powered smartphones, they failed to make a dent in the market.

Google responded by partnering with hardware manufacturers HTC to develop Nexus One, and the results are detailed in the video below. Enjoy.

The "right gear" includes either a HD camera for your PC, or soon-to-be-released LG and Panasonic Skype-enabled televisions.

And as a Twitter user like myself, you will be interested to see an image of the TOP TRENDING TOPICS for 2009 below:

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_14cEenKeR04/SygI8Gp0F9I/AAAAAAAAADY/hELPQB1mQKo/s1600-h/2009trends_large.png

In future, Google says you will be able to use it to find out what plants and animals are using Google Goggles.

Please watch short preview video by clicking play below:

While many see this announcement as another clever innovation by Google, to me, it shows that Google plans to seriously challenge iPhone as the Smartphone of choice for the socialite.

Stand by for many more Android innovations in the future.

Please see Google's video preview of Real Time Search by clicking play below:

Real time search is not a new phenomenon, with other real time search engines like Scoopler going down this path before.

However, Google Real Time Search will bring with it a using audience of millions immediately.