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The Best Tech-Nostalgia Stories of 2009 (PC World)

January 1st, 2010 gadget review

10 to the power of 100? Ah, yes, the good ol’ days.

The great thing about tech nostalgia is that you can reminisce to your heart’s content without having to worry about branding yourself an old codger. I remember the days when my computer came stocked with an entire gigabyte of hard-drive space, and I haven’t even hit 25.

On the last day of 2009, we thought we’d look back at some of PCWorld’s best tech-nostalgia stories from the past year.

Gadget Autopsy: The Nintendo Game Boy

I got my first Nintendo Game Boy when I was about six years old: My parents discovered that the easiest way to shut us kids up on long plane trips was with a portable video game system. I spent many a long car or plane ride hunched over the tiny green screen, switching cartridges with my brothers and expertly blowing into the system when the cartridges didn’t work.

In this slideshow, our resident tech-nostalgia writer, Benj Edwards, takes apart the classic portable gaming system (as well as some of the cartridges) to see what makes it tick. Did you know, for example, that some of the cartridges contain coin-size batteries for supplying power to the SRAM that stores saved games? (I didn’t, but now that I think about it, this makes sense.)

Evolution of the Cell Phone

It’s practically impossible these days to think of leaving the house without a cell phone. But just a few years ago, that was not the case: Cell phones were big, clunky, and a liability if you were a teen. (Your parents could contact you wherever you were–how was that a good thing?) So how did we get from bulky bricks to sleek iPhones? This slideshow examines the evolution of the cell phone, from the 88-pound (yes, you read that correctly) MTA phone in 1956 to the first BlackBerry in 2002 to the first iPhone in 2007. And, to think: My iPhone 3G already seems ancient when I put it next to the iPhone 3GS.

The (Misunderstood) Mac Portable Turns 20

The 16-pound Macintosh Portable was the first truly mobile Mac, and the ancestor to the sleek MacBook Pro (okay, so the PowerBook 100 was the first real Mac notebook, but the Mac Portable was the predecessor to that). It featured a 10-inch monochrome screen and was four times thicker than the modern-day MacBook Pro. In this slideshow, Benj Edwards does what he does best with ancient gadgets–he disassembles it and shows us its secrets, including a 9-volt backup battery (the Portable never truly shuts down), a reconfigurable keyboard-and-trackball set, and the signatures of the computer’s development team on the inside of the plastic molding.

The 10 Worst Video Game Systems of All Time

Many people have fond memories of the Nintendo Famicom, the Super NES, and the Sony PlayStation. But do you remember the Apple Pippin, the Nokia N-Gage, and the Mattel Hyperscan? Of course you don’t–because they sucked. At least, they sucked enough to make our list of the 10 worst video game systems of all time. This slideshow takes you back through the ranks of overpriced, underpowered, and confused multitasking game consoles that, needless to say, didn’t make it very far in the market.

Ye Olde Vintage Computer Gift Guide

Yes, it might seem a little late to highlight a gift guide, considering the holidays are almost over. However, smart shoppers know that the best time to get Christmas presents is right after Christmas–and this slideshow is for smart shoppers. Think your budget limits you to getting a netbook (and a subsidized one, at that)? Think again! You can have a full system (albeit a used one) for under $100, and look retro-chic. Just check out one of these babies–”Ye Olde Vintage Computer Gift Guide” goes through several of the classic computer systems and details some of the deals we found, including a working IBM PC 5150 for $100 to $150, a working Macintosh SE (with mouse, keyboard, and power cable) for $20, and a working Atari 800XL for just $15.

Inside the Atari 800

The Atari 800 debuted 40 years ago, with a price tag of $1000 and a whopping 8 kilobytes of RAM. Many modern-day computer programmers remember learning BASIC and playing awesome games (such as Super Breakout and M.U.L.E.) on this 8-bit wonder. In this “gadget autopsy” slideshow, Benj Edwards tears apart the system to see what its guts look like. You’ll learn some interesting things about the Atari 800–for instance, its encasing includes a 2mm-thick “radio frequency” shield, which protects the machine from unwanted radio interference.

The Five Most Important Mac Laptops

The Mac Portable may have turned 20 this year, but it was by no means one of the most important Mac laptops (if it could even be called a “laptop”). This article looks at how Apple got from the PowerBook 100 to the MacBook Pro, as well as at the three influential Mac laptops in between, the PowerBook 520, the iBook, and the PowerBook G4. You’ll also see that, aside from the pricey Mac Portable (which sold for $6500 in its day, or $11,300 in 2009 dollars), Mac laptops have stayed within the same basic price range (the PowerBook 100 was about $2500, and the MacBook Pro tops off at about $2500).

The 11 Most Influential Microprocessors of All Time

Microprocessors play a huge role in our everyday lives, whether we know it or not–they’re in everything from cell phones to computers to calculators to digital cameras. They’re the reason we have portable electronics, instead of computers that take up an entire room (and require a team to operate). This slideshow explores some of the more influential microprocessors in history, including the Intel Pentium (the first brand-name microprocessor), the RCA COSMIC CDP (the first microprocessor in space), and the Intel 4004 (the first microprocessor ever, which was used in calculators).

Five Forgotten Apple Products

Apple, despite its wildly successful iProducts (iMac, iBook, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iEtc.), has had its share of “what were they thinking” products that faded quickly into obscurity. This article digs up five forgotten Apple products–things the company probably wishes would stay forgotten. Remember the QuickTake 100, Apple’s foray into the digital camera market? What about the Apple adjustable keyboard, or the Apple Network Server (the only Apple computer designed never to run an Apple OS)? Since they were all (pretty much) failures, you probably don’t know a lot about them. But now’s your chance to learn!

Where Are They Now? 25 Computer Products That Refuse to Die

When I was a freshman in college, I had something that none of my peers had: a Sony MiniDisc player. I’d owned it since middle school, and I loved it (mainly because I could record music off of streaming subscription services, such as Rhapsody). Everyone else had iPods, but I was loyal to my MD player until it fell off the top bunk one day and was never quite the same. If that hadn’t happened, I would still have my trusty MD player now. And this is why old computer products never, ever die–because obsessive fans like me are loyal to the end. In this article, we take a look at 25 of the most stubborn products, all of which have managed to remain in circulation even though they’re outdated and obsolete. And guess what? MiniDisc is totally on there.

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New Ill. laws limit texting, expand records access (AP)

December 31st, 2009 gadget review

CHICAGO – Most drivers have their own name for those texters in traffic who seem more interested in their cell phones than their cars — jerk and idiot, to name a couple. Come Friday the state of Illinois will have one, too: outlaw.

A statewide ban on texting while driving is one of nearly 275 new laws that take effect on Jan. 1, covering everything from public records to bowling shoes.

Traffic safety advocates and motorists alike applaud the new texting ban, saying it may make distracted drivers think twice before firing off dispatches from the road.

“Texting takes your hands off of the wheel, your mind off of driving, and your eyes off of the road,” said Beth Mosher, spokeswoman for AAA Chicago. “And that’s a really dangerous combination.”

Rich Kerr has a Blackberry and said while the temptation to text, browse the Web and check e-mail behind the wheel is strong, drivers should remember to focus.

“It’s back to basics,” he said. “Keep your eyes on the road.”

Under the new ban, drivers can check and send messages only if they pull over to the side of the road, their car is in park or neutral or if they’re sitting still in traffic, for instance at a train crossing. The law doesn’t prevent drivers from reading directions on the screen of a navigation system.

A similar measure also makes it illegal to use a cell phone in a school or construction zone without a handsfree device. Fines can range from $75 to $150, though judges can increase them.

After former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges and removed from office, lawmakers set about trying to clean up government.

One major change was beefing up the state’s Freedom of Information Act to make it harder for government agencies to ignore requests for public documents. The Blagojevich administration often was criticized for using the law’s many loopholes to avoid public scrutiny, something that can also be a problem within local government.

The new law allows fines for illegally withholding documents, a first for Illinois. It also gives Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office new authority — including the power to issue subpoenas — to review possible violations of laws on public records and open meetings. The attorney general can then make binding decisions in the disputes.

It limits how much governments can charge to make copies of the information, preventing them from using high prices to scare people into dropping their requests. And it makes it easier for people to recover attorney fees if they must sue a public body to obtain records.

“(Transparency is) the rule rather than the exception, which casts a whole new light on access in Illinois,” said Susan S. Stevens, FOIA vice president for the Chicago Headline Club.

On the anniversary of Blagojevich’s arrest, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation that establishes the state’s first-ever limits on campaign contributions, sets up campaign finance disclosure requirements and requires random audits by the State Board of Elections, among other things.

While the law takes effect in January, most of the major changes don’t actually kick in until 2011.

It also has been criticized by many Republicans and some good-government advocates for not going far enough, particularly in curbing the influence of legislative leaders. “The legislation does nothing more than enhance the power of those who supported Rod Blagojevich,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady.

Other new laws involve:

• Bowling shoes. The owners of bowling alleys will now be exempt from lawsuits by people taking a spill in slippery bowling shoes, so long as they post signs warning signs about the dangers of wearing the shoes outside.

• Speed limits. Semis will be allowed to drive 65 mph on rural interstates, just like other vehicles, instead of being forced to plod along at 55.

• Flags. As a nod to buying American, all flags flown at state government buildings must be made in the United States.

• Credit cards. Companies are barred from giving gifts, such as T-shirts or headphones, to college students who fill out credit applications.

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AT&T Requests Transition from Analog to Broadband (NewsFactor)

December 31st, 2009 gadget review

AT&T is joining Verizon Wireless in an effort to even out the costs of wireless and landline services. AT&T has requested that the Federal Communications Commission approve replacing legacy circuit-switched or public-switched telephone networks (PSTN) with broadband and IP-based connections.


AT&T’s request comes after the FCC issued a public notice on Dec. 1 asking for input on what it would take to move from the legacy system to Internet protocols.


“In identifying the appropriate areas of inquiry, we seek to understand which policies and regulatory structures may facilitate, and which may hinder, the efficient migration to an all-IP world,” the FCC wrote. “In addition, we seek to identify and understand what aspects of traditional policy frameworks are important to consider, address and possibly modify in an effort to protect the public interest in an all-IP world.”


At the Core


At the core of AT&T’s argument to replace the worldwide telephone network that carries analog data is that the company is losing landline subscribers each day as more people rely solely on wireless devices. Already 99 percent of Americans have wireless coverage, while 700,000 landline subscriptions are ending each month, according to AT&T.


Between 1999 and 2007 the number of broadband connections rose from less than three million to more than 121 million, according to a report by the FCC. Today, those services are available to nearly 90 percent of American households, and 66 percent of those households subscribe to broadband service. 


While the majority of households are making the switch, others will not be prepared to make the change. 


“More and more folks are relying on their cell phones or some kind of VoIP service at home, but it’s going to be hard to convince an older generation to give up that familiar dial tone that often works even when nothing else does and the security of traditional 911 services,” said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. “While we may see requests like this as some providers would like to put those businesses into more lucrative things, it’s not likely to happen soon.”


Canceled Service Equals More Cost


Consumers who cancel their landline and rely solely on wireless devices are saving money, but are also pushing the cost of service to others much higher.


“With an outdated product, falling revenues, and rising costs, the POTS [plain old telephone service] business is unsustainable for the long run,” AT&T wrote in its letter to the FCC. 


As a result, AT&T is asking the FCC to come up with a deadline for operators to transition from the legacy network to broadband.


Removing Disincentives


The FCC already has been tasked by Congress to create a national broadband plan that will make broadband available to 100 percent of the nation. 


Meeting the goal of universal broadband access has been achieved by private investment from network operators, who have already brought broadband access to 90 percent of Americans, AT&T argued.


In order to bring broadband to the remaining percentage of Americans, AT&T argues that the FCC must remove disincentives to private investment and encourage operators to extend access to underserved areas. 


Some observers say this isn’t an altruistic effort on AT&T’s part to bring people connectivity. Instead, they say, it’s the company’s way of lining its pockets with revenue by revamping the Universal Service Fund to which all telecommunications providers contribute.

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Oregon cell phone ban has loophole (AP)

December 31st, 2009 gadget review

SALEM, Ore. – Beginning New Year’s Day, Oregon police officers may hear some arguing when they start pulling motorists over for violating a new law banning them from talking on hand-held cell phones while driving.

The new law, passed by the 2009 Oregon Legislature, exempts motorists who are on their hand-held cell phones “in the scope of the person’s employment if operation of the motor vehicle is necessary for the person’s job.” The exemption was intended for taxi drivers, delivery trucks, tow trucks and the like.

Law enforcement officials are getting ready for some motorists to try to drive through that legal loophole by insisting, for example, that a call to a co-worker who also happens to be a friend is really for business purposes.

“There is a gray area,” says Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings. “It doesn’t clearly define what jobs fall under the exemption. Ultimately, maybe judges are going to have to clarify that.”

With the new law, Oregon joins a half dozen other states that ban drivers from talking on hand-held cell phones while driving. Police officers can pull someone over under the Oregon law and violators face a minimum fine of $142.

However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that only Oregon has included such a broadly worded exemption. Other states that ban cell phones allow use by emergency responders or tow truck drivers, the industry group says.

“It doesn’t make sense to carve out this exemption if you want the law to have some bite,” spokesman Russ Rader said. “You just make it more likely that drivers will believe that even if they are stopped by a police officer they can get out of getting a ticket.”

Oregon lawmakers were aiming to combat distracted driving when they passed the new cell phone law, which also bans text messaging while driving.

Under the law, drivers 18 and older can use a cell phone while driving if they are using a hands-free accessory. Drivers under age 18 are banned from using all mobile communication devices, hands-free or not. The exemption was inserted into the law after business lobbyists warned against cell phone restrictions that they said would unduly interfere with business.

One of the chief sponsors of the bill, Rep. Carolyn Tomei, said the compromise language was needed to help the bill win approval. She also said the intent was to offer the exemption only to those whose vehicles are tantamount to being their workplace.

“It was pretty clear in our minds that nobody can use a hand-held cell phone while driving unless their vehicle is part of their job — the tow truck driver, the bus driver, taxi drivers, delivery people,” Tomei said.

But that’s not spelled out in the law.

“Certainly there are going to be some professions that are a little ambiguous,” said Sgt. Derel Schulz, head of the Eugene police department’s traffic division.

“Sometimes it takes until the next legislative session until some of the language gets worked out, or the courts have a chance to interpret it,” he said.

Schulz said he’s been asked by various people about whether jobs would let them qualify for the exemption. He got such a query from a nursery owner. Schulz said in his judgment that profession would qualify for the exemption because landscapers’ vehicles are necessary for their jobs. Despite the lack of clarity, Schulz said the new law is a good start.

“The goal is to reduce the number of distractions” people have while driving, he said. “It may not cover all the distractions, but it’s a good step in the right direction.”

It likely will take awhile to judge the law’s effectiveness and to see whether traffic courts get clogged with motorists challenging traffic tickets by arguing that their vehicle is, in essence, their workplace.

Jay Waterbury, president of the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, suspects that many local police agencies at first will use a grace period in which officers will issue warnings — but not $142 traffic citations — to those who are observed violating the ban. “What we’re after is compliance. If we can get that by giving warnings for a little while, then great,” said Waterbury, who is police chief in The Dalles.

Waterbury and other law enforcement officials say that despite the uncertainty surrounding the employment exemption, banning use of hand-held cell phones is a big step toward improving highway safety.

They cite figures from the Oregon Department of Transportation showing 15 people were killed in 2006, 2007 and 2008 by crashes where cell phones played a role. Cell phones were also a factor in 1,048 crashes during those three years.

Salem real estate broker Sylvia Perry supports the new law — she is planning to purchase a hands-free device by this weekend — but she believes real estate agents are probably as deserving of being exempted as delivery truck drivers.

“What if I’m talking to someone, getting directions to their house? That’s the same thing a delivery driver does,” Perry said.

Still, she said, “I guess if the law saves one life, it’s a good thing.”

__

Associated Press writer Tim Fought contributed to this report from Portland, Ore.

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Google: Never Mind the Nexus One, How About a Cheaper Cell Plan? (PC World)

December 31st, 2009 gadget review

Based on this week’s flurry of media reports, it appears that Google will introduce its Nexus One smartphone right after the New Year.   This HTC-built handset sounds like a very good Android phone, a solid effort as Google delves deeper into the consumer wireless market.

Unconfirmed rumors price the phone at $180 with a 2-year T-Mobile plan, or $530 unsubsidized. T-Mobile’s monthly contract will run about $80 a month for 500 minutes of talk and unlimited text and Web — pricey, sure, but not out of line with similarly-equipped smartphones.

And there’s the problem. The Nexus One is business as usual, if the reports are true. Where’s Google the Disruptive Force we’ve come to expect? The Nexus One comes across as a fairly conventional consumer product–not unlike the Apple iPhone, Motorola Droid, and other high-end handsets. It’s a me-too smart phone, not one that’s going to turn the cell industry on its ear.

Why should we expect more from Google? Because the company has built a reputation for stirring up trouble in the tech industry–with consumers reaping the benefits. Whether it’s providing free GPS navigation for Droid phones, free airport Wi-Fi for the holidays, free voicemail (and a lot more) with Google Voice, a free office suite with Google Docs, or free public DNS, the don’t-be-evil search giant always has something interesting up its sleeve. A bold, consumer-friendly advance in wireless services would be welcome.

Now, I’m not expecting an earth-shaking announcement of, say, free cell service when Google launches the Nexus One. But an innovation that brings together Google’s growing stable of telephony components would be welcome.  

One example might be a data-only service plan that integrates Google Voice, the company’s recently-acquired Gizmo5 (a Skype-like VoIP service), and the Google-branded smartphone to provide voice calls without a conventional calling plan.

Or how about a free, ad-sponsored calling plan? Personally, I wouldn’t want this, but I’m sure a lot of people would. As it stands, an $80-a-month service plan sounds like business as usual. Hopefully, Google will surprise us next week with better news.    

Contact Jeff Bertolucci via Twitter (@jbertolucci) or at jbertolucci.blogspot.com.

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FCC Commissioner Blasts Verizon’s Early Termination Fee (NewsFactor)

December 25th, 2009 gadget review

Instead of wishing Verizon Wireless a happy holiday, FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has sent a not-so-happy message to the wireless carrier. In an open letter, the newly appointed commissioner said Verizon has some explaining to do.


Clyburn wants Verizon to provide better justification after the company last week announced a higher early termination fee (ETF) for contracts associated with the purchase of smartphones, PDAs and netbooks offered at a reduced price.


The commissioner called Verizon’s reason for increasing the ETF from $175 to $350 “troubling” and “unsatisfying” and expressed hope the company will reconsider the fee hike that may affect tens of thousands of Verizon users. 


What also troubles Clyburn, her letter says, is the $1.99 fee that users without a data plan are being charged to go the mobile home page. 


Black and White


Verizon defended its changes and added clarification in a 77-page response to the Federal Communications Commission. The wireless carrier cited advertisements, contracts and other materials to show that consumers know about the ETFs before making a purchase.


“Our ETF for all other devices remains at $175, which was set long before the advent of these expensive, sophisticated, mini-computers that also make calls and can be carried in pockets and purses,” said Thomas Pica, a Verizon spokesperson.


Verizon argues that ETFs allow customers to have it either way. They can have no ETF on a month-to-month service and pay full retail for a mobile device, or they can get a discounted device with an ETF. 


An example is a recent Verizon offer. Consumers pay $179 for a BlackBerry Storm 2 with a two-year contract. If the user breaks the contract very early and before the first $10 incremental decline, he or she will have paid $529, including the ETF. The full retail price of the phone is $539. 


Verizon said most customers opt for the contract because they see the value of buying a normally higher-priced device at a discount. In exchange for the discount, customers agree to an ETF.


Footing the Bill


The company also defended the data fees that the FCC described as phantom fees, saying the company only charges users when they move from the home page to another web page.


Verizon said the ETF increase covers not only the cost of the device, but also the cost of advertising, the commission for sales representatives, and store costs.


The FCC isn’t happy with Verizon’s explanation and said consumers shouldn’t have to “foot the bill” for costs other than subsidies paid for a device. Clyburn said she plans to work with her colleagues to look further into wireless carrier ETFs in the new year.

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Qualcomm Reorganizes as COO Lauer Leaves (PC World)

December 24th, 2009 gadget review

k buzzed up: Taliban release video of captured US soldier (AP)

13 seconds ago 2009-12-25T07:06:49-08:00

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iPhone 3G Sales Soar, But RIM and LG Still Lead Market (NewsFactor)

December 24th, 2009 gadget review

The 3G version of Apple’s iPhone was the single top-selling mobile device in 2009, according to a new study by Nielsenwire. Since Apple only makes one smartphone, the top ranking is impressive. But the company still falls behind Research In Motion and LG in overall market share.


Three RIM devices made the top 10, amounting to 6.3 percent of all phone usage from January through October, while four LG devices amounted to 6.4 percent of the market.


At number two on Nielsen’s list, the 8300 BlackBerry series, which includes the Curve and four other models, were the most popular RIM devices. The VX9100 topped LG’s inventory. Other companies that made the list are Motorola, whose RAZR V3 series snagged third place, and Samsung, whose Rant series came in sixth.


In news that could boost both Apple and RIM sales, broadband phone company Vonage announced this week the release of VoIP applications that will allow low-cost long-distance calls for users of both platforms. An unlimited calling plan costs $24.99 a month, with a $10-a-month discount for existing Vonage customers.



Price Trumps Network Quality



For an insight into the iPhone’s growth, Roger Entner, Nielsen vice president for telecom research, recently studied responses from the firm’s monthly consumer surveys from 2006, before the iPhone was introduced, to the first quarter of 2009. He found that loyalty to a particular phone as one of the top reasons for selection did not substantially change during that time.


“Even with the prominence of the iPhone, surprisingly the availability of a specific phone stayed flat as the seventh most important factor,” Entner wrote on the company’s web site. Price, however, remained number one, and the availability of a family plan moved from number five to the third spot, even surpassing network quality, which had been the number-two reason.


Entner surmised that because family plans often include free calls to people on the same network, such plans mean a greater opportunity for the two wireless carriers with the largest number of users, AT&T and Verizon Wireless. AT&T is the iPhone’s exclusive carrier in the U.S., while LG phones are offered by Verizon.


“While handsets represent popular topics of conversation, economic factors are actually the major driver in the purchasing process,” Entner wrote.


While Apple, which is getting ready to release its fourth-generation iPhone, has experimented with scaled-down versions of the iPhone, it remains to be seen if the company will shift from single-model production in the near future.


“Mature platforms fragment over time as needed,” said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpet. “Until now there’s been no need for multiple models as there was with the iPod line.”


Top Mobile Sites


Nielsen also tracked the top web sites accessed by mobile users and found Google Search was number one, followed by Yahoo Mail and Gmail. 


When they weren’t checking their mail, mobile users were checking the weather, making The Weather Channel’s site number four, followed by Facebook.


At the bottom, e-mail service from Aol, which has been slipping in usage with the rapid demise of dial-up, came in next to last on the list, edging out only CNN.com.


In another interesting trend, Nielsen found one in five U.S. households have dropped their landlines and are using cellular phones only, a 16 percent increase over last year, according to data from the second quarter of 2009.

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Judge denies Verizon request to restrain ex-worker (AP)

December 24th, 2009 gadget review

k buzzed up: Taliban release video of captured US soldier (AP)

13 seconds ago 2009-12-25T07:06:49-08:00

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FTC taking closer look at Google’s AdMob purchase (AP)

December 24th, 2009 gadget review

SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. antitrust regulators are taking a closer look at Google Inc.’s proposed $750 million purchase of mobile phone marketer AdMob, the latest sign of greater government vigilance as Google tries to expand its advertising empire.

The Federal Trade Commission sought more information about the deal this week, according to a Wednesday post on Google’s blog.

This so-called “second request” doesn’t mean regulators intend to block Google’s AdMob deal. Most other acquisitions that go through this stage end up getting approved.

But the FTC’s action shows regulators are watching Google more carefully as the company tries to build upon its dominance of the Internet’s lucrative search advertising market. Google is expected to pull in more than $22 billion in revenue this year, mostly from ads shown alongside search results and other Web content.

“We know that closer scrutiny has been one consequence of Google’s success,” Paul Feng, a Google product manager, wrote in Wednesday’s blog posting. Echoing previous management comments, Feng said the company remains confident its AdMob purchase, announced last month, will be approved.

Google’s huge lead in Internet search triggered a 2008 government investigation that scuttled its plans to enter into an advertising partnership with rival Yahoo Inc., which runs the second most-popular search engine. Yahoo plans to work with Microsoft Corp. instead, beginning next year if those two companies can gain regulatory approval.

Since its inception nearly four years ago, AdMob has built a thriving network that sells and delivers ads on applications and Web sites designed for the iPhone and other mobile devices. It’s still relatively small with estimated annual revenue of $45 million to $60 million, but regulators apparently want to understand whether its technology and advertising contacts would give Google an unfair advantage in its quest to sell more mobile phone ads.

Google management has indicated that it believes mobile marketing eventually may become bigger than advertising on Internet-connected computers. That tipping point still appears to be many years away, with U.S. mobile advertising expected to total $416 million this year, about 2 percent of overall Internet ad spending in the country.

The FTC’s decision to take more time digging into the AdMob deal means Google probably won’t be able to take over the company for several more months, Stifel Nicolaus analyst Rebecca Arbogast wrote in a Wednesday research note. It took a year for the FTC to approve Google’s $3.2 billion acquisition of Internet ad service DoubleClick Inc., which was completed in March 2008.

Google’s first big deal, a $1.76 billion acquisition of the video site YouTube, was cleared by regulators in a month in 2006.

Separately, Google ran into another potential roadblock Wednesday after another takeover target, On2 Technologies Inc., said that it still hadn’t collected enough shareholder support to close its deal. On2, based in Clifton, N.J., adjourned a shareholder meeting to approve its $106 million sale to Google until Feb. 17 in hopes of getting the necessary support.

Google, which is based in Mountain View, agreed to buy On2 in August to help improve YouTube’s video technology.

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