Apple iPhone 5 second 'fastest rising' search term on Google

Apple's yet-to-be-released iPhone 5 was the second "fastest rising" search term on Google in 2011, while users were also keen to learn about cookies and copyright.

Google has released its annual Zeitgeist report on the most popular search terms of this year.

The royal wedding in April between Prince William and Kate Middleton was the "fastest rising" search term of 2011, followed by "iPhone 5".

Apple was widely expected to launch the fifth generation of the iPhone in October, but the California technology giant instead launched the iPhone 4S, an update on last year's iPhone 4.

There has been further speculation that the iPhone 5 will follow next summer, so it is likely that the term will also feature highly on next year's Google Zeitgeist report.

Other technology terms in the "fastest rising" list included daily deals service Groupon, which is being investigated by the UK's Office of Fair Trading, and Apple's iPad 2, the tablet computer launched in March.

The full list runs as follows:

1. Royal wedding
2. iPhone 5
3. FIFA 12
4. Groupon
5. iPad 2
6. Ryan Dunn
7. Adele
8. Minecraft
9. Rebecca Black
10. Ed Sheeran

Google's top 10 "fastest rising" searches for consumer electronics or gadgets in 2011 was also led by a rumoured Apple product, the iPod Touch 5G.

The fifth generation of the market-leading multimedia player is expected to launch in March 2012, potentially alongside Apple's hotly-anticipated iPad 3.

Also on the list was the HP TouchPad, the tablet computer given a dramatic price cut following sluggish sales, and the ASUS Transformer, a hybrid between a tablet PC and a laptop that has received rave reviews this year.

The full list runs as follows:

1. iPod Touch 5G
2. HP Touchpad
3. Acer Aspire 5742
4. ASUS Transformer
5. Dell Inspiron Duo
6. Acer Iconia
7. Beats Headphones
8. Epson Printers
9. Netgear Router
10. 32-inch TV

Technology also featured in the 'What is..?' list, covering the most popular questions submitted by users.

This included an interest in internet cookies due to the new guidelines on how websites can use them, along with questions on copyright following various legal efforts to fight online and digital piracy.

The list also featured 'What is iCloud?', referring to the new cloud storage service introduced by Apple for iPhone and iPod users in the autumn.

Read the full list below:

1. What is AV?
2. What is scampi?
3. What are truffles?
4. What are piles?
5. What is 4D?
6. What are cookies?
7. What is copyright?
8. What is Zumba?
9. What is iCloud?
10. What is probate?