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RatMaster is a fun and challenging puzzle game in which users reconfigure mazes to allow their rat to reach the cheese at the end, all while avoiding snakes and other potential dangers. The simple premise and sometimes difficult puzzles make this game easy to get hooked on.

The program's graphics and interface didn't totally blow us away, but they are definitely above average. The music and sound effects were appropriate and added to the game's experience, but they can be turned off if desired. Game play is intuitive, and a Help file explains the basic rules of … Read more

The dot-com era had eToys, Webvan, and Pets.com. The digital-entertainment boom has SpiralFrog.

The day SpiralFrog likely reserved a corner in the pantheon of the Web's most noteworthy busts came on July 14, 2008. At 2 a.m. that day, an agitated Amir Khan, an executive at hedge fund 3V Capital Management, SpiralFrog's main financial backer, e-mailed several fellow board members at the pioneering ad-supported music service.

Khan was frustrated by SpiralFrog's marketing efforts. In one case, the start-up spent $300,000 to host a video from pop singer Alicia Keys that managers claimed would draw … Read more

Alex Kochis, Microsoft's director of Genuine Windows, posted a blog late Thursday addressing the "leak of a special product key" of Windows 7 RTM (release to manufacturers). This confirmed the rumor on Tuesday that an ISO file of Windows 7 RTM sent to Lenovo that contains a master key--a number used to verify the authenticity of the software--was leaked to the Internet.

According to the blog, "The key is for use with Windows 7 Ultimate RTM product that is meant to be preinstalled by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) on new PCs to be shipped later … Read more

It's day twenty-seven of our relationship. The Pre and I are getting along just swimmingly and I fall in love a little more each day...

I'm not the super geeky girl who can tell you how to install homebrew apps or hack your camera's default settings, but I've been around electronics long enough to tell you, the Palm Pre is one rockin' hot gadget.

I've been very impressed with the quality and sturdiness of the Pre. I'd originally looked at purchasing the Centro but was advised against it. Too many people told me it … Read more

TouchCursor offers users an alternative to moving their mouse around to select items on screen. Thanks to its simple layout and functionality, this niche program will find a home with keyboard lovers.

The program's interface was delightfully simple, ushering users through a bare-bones configuration. Users who have never even set up a program like this will likely be able to move easily through everything and use its key commands. Any questions can be directed to a comprehensive Help file. Using TouchCursor was as simple as we hoped. Users need only hold down the space bar and hit the designated … Read more

Most of the time Macs run smoothly; however, once in awhile the computer might experience sluggishness or something else out of the ordinary. To rule out system problems, check out OnyX. OnyX lets you verify your Mac's Startup Disk and the structure of System files, and it offers several configuration tools to let you tweak the Finder, Dock, and other native applications. If you're a do-it-yourself type of person, or would just like a way to tweak some settings, OnyX might be just the tool you're looking for.

Also this week we have the latest version of … Read more

The abstract concepts of "botnet" and "Trojan" just became a lot more concrete for me.

In less than an hour on Thursday, I was able to use programs readily available on the Internet underground for as little as $300 to infect several Windows clients and take complete control of them in a test environment.

In contrast to the real world, the McAfee Malware Experience event, which was akin to a Malware 101 class (or, in my case, Malware for Dummies), served up printed step-by-step instructions for us nonhacker journalists. But McAfee researchers said the programs used--real … Read more

A few months ago I mentioned that America's Army--the free, downloadable first-person shooter sponsored by the U.S. Army--would be receiving an upgrade this year. Well, the time is nigh.

If you hurry the time may be nigher than you think. FilePlanet has beta keys for America's Army 3--the Unreal Engine 3 powered, latest version of the America's Army franchise. They only have a limited amount, and it's first-come, first-served. Although I don't actually know how fast they're going.

Note that you must be a FilePlanet subscriber to be eligible for the key. So … Read more

Federal authorities accused Adonis Gladney of selling counterfeit Microsoft product keys, and on Thursday he was convicted of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Gladney, 24, is believed to be the first person convicted for DMCA violations dealing with the circumvention of security protections on software, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian. Typically, product keys are used to activate software and are printed on Certificate of Authenticity labels that accompany legitimate products.

Missakian, who prosecuted the case in Los Angeles along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Wu, said the conviction is a sign that administrators at the … Read more