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ie8 fix

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Privacy tool fails to protect

This privacy program aims to clear your browsing history and free up space on your computer; however, several error messages prevented us from getting a clear picture of this program's abilities.

During the installation process for ID Privacy Shield, we received an error message. We were able to bypass it and move on to the user interface, which was quite eye-catching. From first glance, it appeared very easy to navigate, with prominent command buttons running down the left side of the window. The program includes a history cleaner, file shredder, and disk cleaner. But more often than not, when … Read more

Installation monitor a real drag

ID Install Watch monitors your PC during the installation and removal of programs to ensure that all is running smoothly. But from the get-go our computer's performance slowed to a grinding halt, and the program itself froze on us.

The user interface has a professional design, with large command buttons running down the left side of the window for opening the installer watch, taking and comparing system snapshots, and exporting your findings to an XML file. Tabs separate your file and registry information. We first tried to take a system snapshot. A window appeared, but that's when the … Read more

Sketchy performance

This free tool performs one function and one function only: it lets users adjust the transparency of any active window. But for such a simple task, we found its performance sketchy at best.

Windows Alpha Blender settings can be accessed by right-clicking on the taskbar icon and selecting the Properties option. The sparse menu that appears offers vague instructions. There is some guidance for adjusting the transparency, which requires using two hotkey combinations. There is also a slide bar for adjusting the transparency level. Once we selected our transparency level, we used the hotkey combinations to turn the transparency action … Read more

Sled on

The iPhone and iPod Touch version of the cult classic Flash game "Line Rider" is every bit as enjoyable on the slim, slick phone as it is online. The nearly identical controls let you draw a track for Bosh the sledder to ride once you press Play. An eraser tool and infinite undoes make it easy to adjust a deadly pitch, and the flag button helps you mark a new starting place for your rider, so you don't have to start at the beginning each time you test a length of track.

Creating a route can be … Read more

Addicted to mah-jongg

Beware, after playing just one game of Moraff's "MahJongg 2009," you'll find yourself eager to come back and play more. We just wish the trial period lasted longer.

The user interface is colorful, easy to navigate, and offers users a few extra features. Prominent menu buttons reside at the top of the window, and allow you to choose from different game designs, and apply game settings, such as the number of matches, and tile-set displays. There also are buttons to undo and redo moves. In terms of extras, you'll find a radio that plays soothing … Read more

Top-notch file encryption

Encrypting files doesn't get any easier than with PixelCryptor, which has the unique approach of using pixel data from selected images to encrypt files and folders.

The professionally designed user interface is extremely easy to navigate. Users are presented with four menu options that are displayed as icons: About, Encode Files, Decode Files, and Help. Clicking the encode button introduced a wizard-like window that walked us through the encryption process. We named our encoded file, added files and folders, selected an image to use for the encryption, and chose a destination for the encrypted file. Users also have the … Read more

Not that useful

Slingpage is a free program that lets you send your favorite Web pages to your friends while you're browsing, but they have to be a Slingpage member as well, making this tool not quite as useful as we'd hoped.

Once you install the program, you have to create a free account which requires personal information. The program does have a very professional user interface, with bright, colorful buttons residing on a toolbar. It includes a search field, a button to sling the page to your friends, a chat feature, and a button for adding a note to the … Read more