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pieces

Bring your project into the center ring

Circus Ponies Software's NoteBook is a versatile organizational application that can help you create electronic "notebooks" to track, manage, and work on almost any kind of project. This program uses the metaphor of a traditional paper notebook to reduce computer clutter and keep you organized. The power of NoteBook comes from its ability to pull together information from multiple sources--e-mails, PDFs, spreadsheets, Web pages, and the like. For example, you can automatically "clip" content from any Safari or Mail window into a NoteBook page, while NoteBook remembers where the information came from, so you can … Read more

Conquer a medieval world

Carcassonne is the extremely well-done iOS version of the popular, German-style board game of the same name.

The interface of Carcassonne is a faithful, interactive adaptation of the physical board game, in which players take turns placing small, square tiles to create a medieval landscape with roads, cities, cloisters, and fields. In some ways, the touch-screen Carcassonne is almost superior to the physical game. You can touch and drag tiles into place, rotating them with a tap, and the app highlights legal placement options (and marks with a scratched "X" any squares that can no longer be used). … Read more

Task management software

ToDoList provides a set of easy-to-use tools for monitoring several tasks and due dates. The program's efficient layout is designed to keep users informed of progress and upcoming deadlines on everything from simple tasks to major projects.

The program is a little intimidating to start off with, since it's really not much more than a blank screen with a lot of strange-looking command icons. Fortunately, the Help file's tutorial quickly gets you on track. Populating the list took only a few minutes. You can make notes, set due dates, mark your progress, and color-code everything. Completed lists … Read more

Addictive puzzle game

JawDropper 2007 is a basic puzzle game that involves matching groups of similar objects in order to clear the game board. Although we have seen similar games before, JawDropper's attractive interface and many options make it one of the best.

The program's graphics are quite attractive and sleek. The default version features credibly 3D-looking balls, but users can choose from many different backgrounds and JawDropper objects. There are seasonal themes, such as jewels, flowers, billiards balls, and many others. All of these were high quality, and we had fun playing with different combinations of backgrounds and objects. The … Read more

Addictive word game

Word-game enthusiasts around the world may find a new addiction in WordZap Deluxe--if they can swallow the $20 fee, that is.

Part Boggle and part Scrabble, WordZap offers a set of letters from which you must create enough words to beat your computer opponent. As in Boggle, if you and the computer create the same word, the word cancels out. A timer adds another constraint. You can increase or decrease the difficulty level in several ways. WordZap assigns a handicap that adjusts to your performance but which you can also change manually. You can also change settings related to word-length, … Read more

Serving up fondue for another go-round

If my prediction for beer-can chicken gaining in popularity doesn't come true, I have a backup plan: fondue. The once-popular, and practically mandatory, party accessory seems to be making a comeback. In a world where Internet fads come and go like the dying breeze, I see no reason why the fondue party cannot once again dominate the casual get-together scene. Any planned interaction at a party serves two purposes: first to keep your guests entertained, but more importantly, set activities act as an ice-breaker.

Your guests will certainly be talking upon seeing this Blomus 24 Piece Fondue Set. Accommodating … Read more

The 404 270: Where we better have a wiki page by the end of this show

The 404 is a big supporter of open-source information, so we invite our buddy Nic Hill, director of Truth in Numbers: the Wikipedia Story, to shed some light on the site and its ongoing controversy. He gives us the full rundown on how Wikipedia works, his experience working on the film, and his travels around the world expounding the merits of information and community.

Free digital content is an intrinsic right, or at least it should be. That's the Wikipedia.com ethos, and we're still in the dark about how the site actually works. Luckily, Nic Hill is … Read more