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PC users have a lot of choices in free system cleaning utilities these days. Most seem to offer disk and registry cleaners and a variety of Windows tools like startup managers and uninstallers. They all seek to balance ease of use, system safety, and effectiveness. EasyPC Cleaner Free fits the description. We found it an effective disk and registry cleaner, once we'd set it up to meet our needs.

EasyPC Cleaner Free's attractive, efficient interface is much like most similar tools in general layout and design. It has a series of large buttons labeled 1-Click Clean, Disk Clean, … Read more

Nearly a year after its release, Gran Turismo 5 for PlayStation 3 is still getting huge updates based on fan feedback, according to Sony's official PlayStation blog.

Later this month, Polyphony Digital will roll out a big refresh to the popular racing title that boasts many noteworthy improvements. The best part is that the update will be free, and that the game is getting a price cut from $59.99 to $39.99 in the U.S.

All cars will now have an interior view, a feature previously only available for premium vehicles. There's also word of shortened load times (Gran Turismo 5 has one of the most epically long install times of any PS3 game) and improved menu response, which was a somewhat annoying issue previously when players just wanted to get into a quick race.

Another nice addition coming to GT5 is the ability to save progress during endurance races. In the past, events like the Indy 500 were very tedious, because if you shut off the PS3 you'd have to start over. NASCAR fans will also be delighted to see the addition of 11 cars from this year's season. … Read more

Computers, like most other machines, require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. PC Brother System Maintenance Free is a comprehensive suite of utilities that can help your system stay in top condition. Even if you're not particularly technically savvy, this program has plenty of tools you can use to improve your computer's performance.

The program's interface is attractive and easy to navigate. Four tabs--Optimize, Security, Tools, and PC Info--contain the program's main features. The Optimize tab includes tasks for performance, appearance, network, and security; you can select which of these you want to include and … Read more

Expensive high-tech digital radios used by the FBI, Secret Service, and Homeland Security are designed so poorly that they can be jammed by a $30 children's toy, CNET has learned.

A GirlTech IMME, Mattel's pink instant-messaging device with a miniature keyboard that's marketed to pre-teen girls, can be used to disrupt sensitive radio communications used by every major federal law enforcement agency, a team of security researchers from the University of Pennsylvania is planning to announce tomorrow.

Converting the GirlTech gadget into a jammer may be beyond the ability of a street criminal for now, but that … Read more

Following Western Digital, Toshiba announced today that it's now shipping its first 1TB standard 2.5-inch, 9mm-thick internal hard drive for laptops, the MQ01ABD series.

This is the company's first 2.5-in internal hard drive that's based on the 500GB-per-platter technology that offers the areal density of 744Gb per square inch.

Previously, most high-capacity 2.5-inch internal hard drives came in the new 12.5mm thickness standard and therefore were not compatible with most laptops and other applications.

The new drive comes in capacities from 250GB to 1TB, features SATA 2 (3Gbps), and spins at 5,400rpm. … Read more

We all encounter times when we need text with a little pizzazz, whether we're working on a Web site, a presentation, or something else that requires eye-catching visuals. Pos Text Effects is an easy-to-use program that lets you create text-based graphics that can be used as signs, headers, banners, and so on. Even if you don't know anything about design, Pos Text Effects is a piece of cake to use.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive. First, type or paste your text into the text box. There are typical formatting options here, including buttons to set … Read more

Western Digital announced today that it is now shipping the WD Scorpio Blue 1TB, its first 1TB internal 2.5-inch hard drive for laptops that has the same 9.5mm thickness as drives of smaller capacities.

While 1TB is not the largest capacity on the market for a drive of the 2.5-inch design, most other current 1TB or larger drives, including the previous version 1TB of the Scorpio Blue, come in the 12.5mm thickness standard and therefore are not compatible with most existing laptops.

WD says that the new WD Scorpio Blue 1TB is designed for mainstream notebook computers and has an areal density of 500GB per platter, making it possible to keep the dual-platter drive in the standard-thickness design. For the first time, laptop computers will be able to offer 1TB of storage without having to resort to external solutions.

According to WD, the WD Scorpio Blue features low power consumption and cool and quiet operation, and is resistant to shocks of up to 400Gs. The drive itself spins at just 5,200rpm, slower than the typical 5,400rpm. … Read more

Desktop time and date displays are nothing new to Windows, which traditionally lags behind the aftermarket when it comes to timekeeping. There is no shortage of such displays; most are free, and many reproduce analog clock faces, though most use digital displays. Some are simple and straightforward yet almost completely customizable, like DS Clock from Duality Software. It displays the time and date in a wide range of formats in an unobtrusive, compact linear window. It synchronizes with atomic clocks and time servers around the world. It also displays pop-up reminders using Calendarscope, and it's compatible with Swatch Internet … Read more

After the WD Caviar Green, Western Digital announced today a new green hard drive that also offers up to 3TB of storage, the WD AV-GP.

The company says that the new drive is designed specifically for audio and video applications, such as DVRs, Media Center PCs, and surveillance systems; will deliver 24-7 reliability; and uses less power thanks to WD's GreenPower Technology. According to WD, the AV-GP drives have been field-tested to have a rated 1-million-hour mean time between failures.

The new WD AV-GP drive has a SATA interface and comes in 2.5TB and 3TB capacities. Note that … Read more