On Google in 2010, gaga for Apple's iPad

Today: Apple's iPad and iPhone 4 dominated consumer electronics searches on Google this year. Plus: Factual wins $25 million from a "superstar" investor lineup including Andreessen Horowitz.

How the world searched

Mountain View Internet juggernaut Google today released its yearly Zeitgeist ranking of "how the world searched." In the consumer electronics sector, two Apple products were the "fastest rising" search queries.

Searchers were so interested in the iPad, in this regard, it was No. 2 on Google's global "fastest rising" list, just between Chatroulette at No. 1 and Justin Bieber at No. 3.

In the U.S., the iPad was the top "fastest rising" search on Google.com, followed by Chatroulette, the iPhone 4, the World Cup and Bieber.

If Dell is successful, a Compellent deal would help it expand its "cloud computing" offerings as it competes with tech giants including HP, which bought 3Par in September for $2.4 billion.

The heart of the Bay Area

"With Silicon Valley in the heart of the Bay Area, it is no surprise that we have the most research industry workers nationwide," state Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, said in a statement provided by the TechAmerica Foundation. "But, our stature and importance to the innovation industry depends on keeping the Bay Area and California an attractive place to do business."

Check in weekday afternoons for the 60-Second Business Break, a summary of news from Mercury News staff writers, The Associated Press, Bloomberg News and other wire services. Contact Frank Russell at 408-920-5876. Follow him at Twitter.com/mercspike.