Even though companies like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Zynga are private, you can still buy stock in them. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now investigating the background of this private stock trading and is conducting investigations. The SEC sent out requests for information from the companies that facilitate the private company stock trading.

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has hit over 200,000 applications in the Android Market with over 103 downloads per second currently taking place. In comparison, the Apple App Store currently has over 300,000 applications available for download. These numbers are according to AndroLib.com, an unofficial Android Market tracker. [Softpedia]

Groupon.com has raised $950 million according to a report that VC experts obtained. The report was an Amended/Restated Certificate of Incorporation that showed the authorization of up to $950 million in Series G preferred stock. This does not necessarily mean that Groupon plans to raise that much in funding as the document only indicates that the company has the authority to raise that amount.

According to DigiTimes, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is planning to release three new versions of the iPad 2 in 2011. The new iPad 2 devices would have WiFi, UMTS, and CDMA options. According to DigiTimes’ industry sources, Apple would release 500,000-530,000 units with a WiFi/UMTS/CDMA ratio of 3:4:3. About 60-65% of iPad shipments are 3G models, which means that people tend to prefer tablets that can connect to the Internet anytime. Apple is planning to improve the iPad by working on make the screen anti-smudge and anti-reflective. Amazon.com made a commercial that knocked on the iPad’s screen earlier this year. The DigiTimes source said that Apple is expecting to ship 40 million units of the new iPad. [DigiTimes]

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is developing a new auto stop-start technology that will be integrated in their upcoming 2012 car models. The auto stop-start technology is also known as idle-stop technology. Essentially the car’s engine will be designed to turn off when it is not in motion. The electrical system will stay on so that you will have music and heat when you are parked for a long time. When the driver puts his or her foot on the gas again, the engine will turn right back on. This technology is currently being used on their current hybrid vehicles like the Ford Fusion. But Ford wants to bring this technology to nearly all of their vehicles by 2012. [CNET via SlashGear]

Etsy is known as the “eBay for arts and crafts.” This year Etsy will be overseeing about $400 million worth of business of which $30-$50 million will be in company revenue from listing and processing fees. Etsy has been profitable for about a year now. Around November 2009, Etsy had processed about $130 million worth of business for that year. [BusinessInsider]

Over on 9to5Mac, a reader had described a Christmas story that involves a high speed chase, a Sonic fast food restaurant, a stolen Land Rover, and a stolen iPhone. MobileMe on the iPhone helped police take down the criminals. Below is the full story (note: the police officer is in the hospital in stable condition):

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has announced a major milestone. The company said that the Kindle 3 is the best selling product in Amazon.com’s history. Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said that the Kindle 3′s lower price point was the key to the device selling at a rapid pace. Previously Amazon announced a milestone that the Kindle 3 was the fastest selling Kindle ever. This is why this milestone does not seem too shocking. Full press release below: