While fans around the world watched to see who was wearing what, who arrived with who and who won what (well done to The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow, btw), another up-and-coming star made an appearance: the Apple iPad.

As Apple gears up to launch the device in the US on 3 April, it teased audiences by showing the first ad promoting the new product during the Oscars. You can see the 30-second commercial in all its glory below. But the real question remains: when will UK fans get their mitts on one?

Buzz is starting to roll out to users’ Gmail inboxes as I type. We’re lucky enough to have already had a quick play with it to see what it’s made of.

Some may argue that it’s just yet another social networking tool to add to a growing list. Others are suggesting that the new kid in town has learnt from the bad habits of others and delivered something really innovative and worthwhile.

Clearly, many people will at least try the service out, if for not other reason to see whether anyone else is.

Twitter started off as consumer fodder. And it has achieved phenomenal success. Of late, many businesses have also jumped on the Twitter bandwagon to see how they can capitalise on its popularity (You can see our beginners’ guide to Twitter for business here).

So, with that thinking, it’ll be whether businesses embrace Buzz that shows how well it’s doing. Google reckons it’s already got that covered and claims it’s catering for corporate and individual needs as well as offering a feed-based API for developers.

Nicole’s also feeling a bit buzzy by Google’s latest announcement. Catch her blog here.

Have you experienced Buzz yet? What do you think? Is it all hype and no action or a very useful communications tool? Have your say by dropping us a line.

Apple is remaining tight-lipped on whether or not the rumours suggesting the launch of a tablet PC later this month are true, but Orange’s parent company may just have let the cat out of the bag.

The video posted below, courtesy of Daily Motion, shows the apparent slip-up.

Rumours are continuing to gather pace that the computing giant will unveil a tablet-style device later this month and these latest comments do nothing to pour cold water on such reports.

A tablet PC from the computing giant that already has design savvy users lusting after its laptops, desktop machines and mobile device is hardly a surprising move. But what is interesting is its - apparent - choice to parter with a mobile provider.

France Telecom’s child Orange has dismissed the comments, according to Paid Content UK, saying that the comments have been taken out of context.

“These responses in no way reflect Orange’s confirmation of the existence of the rumoured device,” Orange said in a statement issued to Paid Content UK. “The spokesperson was merely confirming that he is aware of the speculation surrounding a launch and that Orange would be delighted to have such a product were it ever to be available.”

On the other hand, they can also give further life to the increasingly litigious society in which we now live. A UK-based law firm, Bott & Co has launched an app for the iPhone that on the face of it is for a very noble cause. It gives those who’ve been hurt in an accident instant access to a personal injury lawyer. Nothing wrong with that at all.

That’s all well and good for those who really need it. But what about all the other people walking around with neck braces they bought from eBay, or crutches they’ve nicked from their local hospital? That is, those who quite frankly take the proverbial, take the attention away from genuine accident victims and result in people like me being overly sceptical and scathing of apps that have done nothing wrong.

The free Car Incident Assistant iPhone app does encourage applicants to enter the details of their accident and their injury there and then, so here’s hoping that factor does discourage those who live in a fantasy world of blame and claim from doing so more often without good reason.

Technology is great but it often has a habit of showing up just how stupid, or in this case crafty, some of its users can be.

So, now that O2’s exclusive hold over the iPhone is soon to be consigned to history in the UK, is Orange turning around and patting it on the back for a job well done? Possibly in private, behind closed doors, that may be the case. For all we know, Orange and O2 could well be living it up in a large shared house like the X-Factor contestants. Publicly enemies, but privately two mobile operators who enjoy each other’s company and like to party? We can dream.

Although Orange’s latest campaign suggest that the rivalry is still present and correct. And just in case we forget, it’s spending four million quid. Yes you read correctly, £4 million, drumming that message home to France Telecom’s child.

The ‘You’re Covered’ campaign is designed to big up the strength of Orange’s 3G network. Hitting O2 when it’s down or just clever marketing? The users will be the one that ultimately decide on this one. Those that don’t hold out until next year when Vodafone joins in the iPhone that is.

According to the blurb accompanying the launch of Orange’s big-money campaign, the mobile giant’s beefy 3G network now covers more than 93 per cent of the UK population. For those not having to stand on their roof to get reception, they clearly don’t need to be told how good the coverage is, so we can only assume the message is mainly targeted at the others who might be non-believers at this stage.

“This campaign was devised to have a fresh and fun appeal to ensure that people see different versions of the adverts wherever they go, keeping the campaign new and intriguing,” said Spencer McHugh, Orange UK’s brand director, in a statement. “At Orange we’re proud of our network and we wanted to remind customers about this great reason to be on Orange.”

You’re Covered will run from this month until the middle of December, spanning print and outdoors, train stations, buses, airports, shopping centres and so on.

Turn around right now. Yes you there. There’s probably an ad staring back at you. Let us know if there is and take a picture of it. Then send it to to us.

Friday played host to the launch of Zoombits.co.uk in the UK. It’s an online gadget retailer with big hopes to try and satisfy the huge appetite Brits have for all things shiny and new. And, it was started in managing director Jonathan Ruff’s bedroom. Or Memorybits.co.uk was to be precise, which is what ZoomBits was called before its relaunch last week. Originally, memory was the focus, but this has now expanded to cover camera, computer, gaming and mobile accessories, hence the change in moniker.

Some may cast doubt on whether a recession is a good time to launch a business. I’d say the recession is a bad time to launch a bad business or poorly thought-out idea but it is absolutely the right time to unleash innovation and steal some competitive advantage from other players who intend to sit still and wait the bad economic weather out.

Indeed Ruff is clearly a web thoroughbred. He was one of the UK’s top eBay retailers at just 21. Clearly hungry for success, Ruff moved onto the wholesale game, before giving birth to Memorybits.co.uk in his bedroom.

The business has now moved to Jersey, a move Ruff hopes will result in increased savings for customers as well as the business itself.

“This is great moment in our short history and we owe it all to you,” YouTube’s chief executive and co-founder Chad Hurley, said in a post on the company’s blog.

Making the celebratory statement some three years after YouTube was acquired by Google, Hurley added: “As bandwidth has increased, so has our video quality… We’re working hard to keep up with the fast pace of technology to bring you everything you would expect from the world’s largest video site: better quality; a full spectrum of choices and tools for users, partners and advertisers; and ways to make the YouTube experience your own anywhere, anytime.”

So, YouTube has evolved from its very early days and has bigger, even better things in mind for the future. I’m intrigued.

So what’s all the fuss about Google Wave? We’ll be bringing you our considered thoughts about its merits for businesses as soon as we can, but in the meantime the video below tries to explain what Google Wave is and why you should care.

It happens more often than I’d like it to on my iPhone, but I’ve managed to work around the issue by carrying around a PAYGO Orange phone too. Drastic measures, some may say, but it seems to be working for me. Unlike the poor souls in the video below who could well do with a second blower as back-up.

*Warning, this clip does contain some swearing…

We already knew Motorola had an Android handset planned, that wasn’t really news. Although we were surprised to find lots of Orange logos around the building when we headed over for the launch last night. Yes, that’s right, Orange (or T’Orange or O-Mobile as it may or may not be known in the future) has nabbed the DEXT as an exclusive.

Although everyone was either very tight lipped or just not in the know as to how long this exclusivity will last once the handset hits the shops next month.

Check back on the site later today for our first look review of the Motorola DEXT. In the meantime, the video below shows the DEXT in action.