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Search engine giant Google has announced that it is to allow developers to create applications based on its own open system.

The OpenSocial system will enable developers to come up with applications, which will potentially be able to be used across a number of different social networking websites, using three application programming interfaces.

Google’s new initiative follows in the footsteps of Facebook’s highly popular system, where developers can create numerous applications that users can install on their profile pages.

About a dozen OpenSocial partners have been signed up by Google so far, including Friendster, Orkut and LinkedIn.

‘The distribution message is really useful for developers in getting their applications spread across multiple sites,’ Google product manager Joe Kraus told eWeek.

Google was recently trumped by Microsoft in the race to secure a stake in Facebook.

Microsoft eventually paid $240 million (£115 million) for a 1.6 per cent holding, valuing Facebook at $15 billion.

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Internet search engine giant Google has created a tool that lets users create simple, web-based presentations.

Coming as part of Google Docs, which includes word processing and spreadsheet features, the new presentation capability has been widely seen as a competitor with Microsoft’s popular PowerPoint tool.

The presentations service in Google Docs allows more than one user to view the slides while a moderator controls the presentation.

Google has reminded users, however, that the tool is still in ’simple, early stages’ and will change as time goes on.

‘Putting documents in the cloud surrounded by easy to use features for collaboration and sharing can save people hours of inefficiency and frustration and even enable new ways of working together,’ commented Sam Schillace, director of engineering for Google Docs.

The search engine also announced this week that it is launching its AdSense service, which displays targeted ads on websites, for publishers with websites developed specifically for mobile phones.

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The long-awaited new line of all-in-one iMacs has been released by the California-based computer giant Apple.

Brand new 20 and 24-inch widescreen displays encased in aluminum and glass give the machines a modern, sleek look.

Intel Core 2 Duo processors, an iSight video camera and the digital media organiser iLife 08 are all included with the machine.

Apple’s chief executive, Steve Jobs, said: ‘This new iMac is the most incredible desktop computer we’ve ever made.

‘Our new design features the innovative use of materials, including professional-grade aluminum and glass, that are highly recyclable.’

The designers built the new iMacs with an eye on cutting down desktop clutter and creating a streamlined multi-tasking tool.

A new cutting-edge keyboard is only 0.33 inches thin at the front and users have the option to buy the new wireless keyboard.

Apple has also updated some of their other lines such as the Mac Mini and the iLife & iWork software packages.

Last month saw the release of the wildly popular iPhone, which functions as a phone, mp3 player and web browser.

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