Gadgetory

it's time to track Santa with the help of Microsoft and Google I'm Bridget Carey and this is your CNET update it's that time of year merriment and wonder where children gather around the warmth of a flickering computer monitor to track Santa's journey around the world in real-time you can also keep track on your mobile device as they do every year NORAD the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking big red in real time on Christmas Eve at NORAD Sanna org NORAD is working with Microsoft to create an interactive 3d globe that's touchscreen friendly and it works well on mobile devices for each stop on santa's journey you can pull up facts and images of each location via Bing along with the website there's also the NORAD Tracks Santa app for Windows Phone Android and iOS NORAD has been keeping an eye on Santa for nearly 60 years after a Colorado Springs newspaper misprinted the hotline for Santa as aerospace defense command center and so children called in and the operators gave out updates on Santa's whereabouts throughout the night now the internet takes the tradition to a whole new level over at Google you'll find a portal to Santa's Village google.com slash Santa tracker has numerous games as well as some programming lessons parents with an Android phone or tablet can download the Google Santa tracker app for status updates on Saint Nick but that's not the only holiday online entertainment you could take a virtual stroll through the lavish holiday window displays of department stores in New York and London all using Google Maps business view if you pop by Saks Fifth Avenue you'll find the Cinderella's getting out of her carriage or you can click on over to Macy's at 34th Street to see Santa and his elves hard at work the windows at Liberty London glitter in gold and Bloomingdale's is getting the New Year's Eve party started early look for the see inside marker on maps to explore holiday shops if you're having guests over why not set the mood with a modern take on the Yule Log using a streaming device with a youtube app such as the Roku or Google chromecast you can set your television to play little bubs new magical you log here the soothing purrs of the furry internet sensation with a crackling fire behind her little bub gained fame for a mix of genetic anomalies including dwarfism her teeth never grew in for her shorter lower jaw which is why her tongue hangs out the new Yule Log video lasts 30 minutes there's also an hour long one of little bub from last year that has more than two million views using a youtube app on something like the chromecast is also a great way to set a video playlist of holiday songs while you're entertaining a party that's your tech news update there's always more at cnet.com from our studios in New York I'm Bridget Carey