HP WebOS Tablet, from early 2011

Hewlett-Packard has been eager to get into the tablet game for quite some time and, though it met a few hurdles in its Windows 7 slate PC development, it seems to be making progress in not just this area, but also that of webOS-running slates, the first of which will supposedly debut in early 2011.
Though a number of special purpose tablet PCs have been in existence for years, media slates have only this year become popular, after Apple unveiled the iPad, to be exact.
HP will try to offer a wider variety of tablets, which is why it is working on not just slates running a version of Windows or another, but also one powered by the webOS platform that it acquired when it bought Palm.
The slate in question is, currently, codenamed Hurricane and will likely become the flagship non-Windows tablet.
Source

Facebook places basics

Places Basics

At launch, Places will be available to U.S. users only. You can check into a location in two ways: through the Facebook iPhone application or by pointing your mobile browser to touch.facebook.com. The browser-based version of Places will work only if your device supports HTML5 and geolocation.

Just tap the Places icon and you'll see a list of nearby Places. Tap on your location from the list, and you can check in, tag any friends who are with you, and add a status update. When you tag a friend, you will be checking them in if they allow third party check-ins. If your friend doesn't allow third party check-ins, then tagging them will be just like tagging them in a status update. No actual check-in will happen.

You can only check in people who are on your Facebook friends list and only when you first check into a location yourself. You can see who else is at your location under the "People Here Now" section for that place.

Facebook says all Places check-ins are visible only to friends by default unless your master privacy control is set to "Everyone."

For more detailed information about Places, consult PC World's report from Facebook's Places launch event. You can also find more information in this Facebook blog post and the Places information page.

Plays Nice With Others

Facebook has decided not to wipe other location-based services off the face of the Earth. Instead these services can use Places to enhance their own offerings.

It's not entirely clear how this will work, but Gowalla Chief Technical Officer Scott Raymond said in an interview with VentureBeat that Gowalla's plan was to allow users to push their check-ins from Gowalla into Facebook's Places feature. It appears you will also be able to import your check-in badges, pins, and Gowalla passport stamps into Facebook.

Bing Maps

It should come as no surprise that Facebook is using Microsoft's Bing Maps to pinpoint locations in Places.

Microsoft made a considerable investment in Facebook several years ago, and other Microsoft services such as Bing search and Microsoft Docs are already integrated with Facebook.


Not Yet Fully Functional

Some have reported seeing messages that Places is not yet available in their area, while others say they can activate Places but the check-in function is not operational.
If you're experiencing similar problems, hold tight the functionality is coming soon. Facebook is slowly rolling out the service and will make it available across the U.S. over the next few days, according to TechCrunch.

Privacy Concerns
The first criticisms over Places and privacy appear to be from the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. The civil rights group doesn't like the fact that there isn't a flat out "No" option to stop friends from checking you in.

If someone checks you in at a location, you receive a mobile notification that a friend has checked you in. Then you must decide to either permanently authorize third-party check-ins or deny them by selecting "not now," according to the ACLUNC. The concern is that by selecting "not now," the request to authorize third-party check-ins may come up again and again until you finally say yes. Also, if you use Places to check yourself in, then third-party check-ins are turned on automatically unless you adjust your privacy settings, according to the ACLUNC.
The ACLUNC also says that the "People Here Now" feature doesn't have enough granular control. The feature only has an option to be turned on (everyone can see your check-in) or turned off (no one can see your check-in). The ACLUNC would prefer to see an option that allows only your friends to see you under the " People Here Now" feature. It also appears that "People Here Now" is turned on by default "if you have previously selected that "Everyone" can see even a single piece of your information," according to the ACLUNC.
Source

Facebook launches Places location based service

Social networking website Facebook has added a feature that allows members to share where they are while on the move.
Places, as it is known, marks the company's first foray into the "location-based services" space, which has become popular with users who want to share where they shop, eat or play
Places will initially only be available in the US through Facebook's iPhone app or by logging onto its smartphone site.
The company plans to extend the feature to all its 500 million members as soon as it can.
The product, which uses the GPS on smartphones, works by getting users to tap a "check-in" button to see a list of places near where they are. From there they can choose the place that matches their location and "create a story" in their friends' News Feeds on the site.
Users can also let people know who they are with by "tagging" any Facebook friends, but only as long as they check-in to the location as well.
The networking site has given users controls over what and how much information they share on the service. Facebook said Places is about "broadcasting to your friends, not the whole world".
Users can remove themselves if someone tags them. They can also disable the feature if they are not interested.
Source

Tips on how to use foursquare

If you want to become mayor, check in to places that you know that you’ll be able to check in to frequently, as many times as  pos­si­ble. Didn’t find your place on Foursquare already? Add it. Don’t  forget and don’t neglect  someone else may steal your mayorship from you.


Foursquare resets its leaderboard on Sunday nights. To maximize your weekly tallies, make sure you start early in the week.

Check in to new places every time you do so, these grant you 5 extra points, and these can add up quickly.


Get familiar with how to unlock your special badges and work on unlock­ing them. Here are two great badges lists: TonyFelice.WordPress.com and TheKruser.com.


Don’t cheat. For the sake of the community, don’t check in to  places if you’re not really there. This only hurts the whole user  experience on Foursquare.

Asus to launch Android tablet in 2011

Asus plans to launch a Google Android-powered tablet in March 2011. The 10-inch tablet will sell below $399 said CEO Jerry Shen.
The Android model is among the several tablet devices to be launched by the computer maker in the coming several months.
Another tablet device that will have a 12-inch touchscreen and cost around $1,000 will reportedly launch in December or January, CEO said.
Termed Eee Pad EP121, this tablet will be more expensive because it will be able to turn into a laptop computer when hooked up to a docking station that will come with the tablet, according to Shen when asked about the expensive pricing.
Eee Pad EP121 will run Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor.
Asus is also launching another Microsoft-powered tablet EP101TC. The 10-inch tablet will run on Windows Embedded Compact 7 operating system with an ARM CPU processor and 64 GB of storage. It will be priced between $399 and $499.
The company will also be launching a Linux-based e-reader priced at $300 in October.
Source:

Netflix to stream Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM movies

Netflix Inc. will pay nearly $1 billion during the next five years for the online streaming rights to movies from Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM in a deal that could help convert even more people to the idea of getting their entertainment piped over high-speed Internet connections.
 The agreement announced Tuesday marks another breakthrough in Netflix's bid to stock its online streaming library with more compelling material, so it can keep its subscription service relevant as on-demand video systems supplant its core business of renting DVDs through the mail. The online streaming push also helps the company reduce its postage bill for mailing DVDs.The deal also makes the three studios' joint pay TV venture, Epix, immediately profitable.
 Streaming movies provide more instant gratification than renting DVDs through the mail or from a store because the video can be delivered within 30 seconds over a high-speed connection. The video isn't stored on the computer hard drives owned by subscribers; it's just shown on a connected device, such as video game consoles. The concept has become more popular as more households have gotten high-speed Internet access and Netflix has obtained the streaming rights to more recent movies and TV shows.Read more

Apple releases iOS 4.0.2 and 3.2.2 update to fix PDF security flaw

Apple has quickly patched the recently uncovered security flaw with how PDF files are handled in Safari in iOS 4.0.1 and earlier for the iPod Touch and iPhone, and iOS 3.2.1 and earlier for the iPad.


The problem was originally uncovered with the release of jailbreaking software by the iPhone Dev Team, which took advantage of the flaw by loading the software when visiting the jailbreak website.

The updates to fix this problem should now be available via iTunes, and it is highly recommended that you install it; however, be sure to back up your iOS devices before applying the updates.

How To Remove Twitter’s “Who to Follow” Feature

For Internet Explorer Users

    * Install IE7Pro add-on and run Internet Explorer
    * Goto Tools > IE7 Pro Preferences
    * Select AdBlock under Modules and click on Ok.
    * Restart the Internet Explorer and select IE7 Pro Preferences from the Tools menu.
    * Go to AdBlocker from the list menu on the left
    * In the Filter Type dropdown list, select Div Filter and click Add Filter.
    * Paste “recommended_users” (no quotes) in the Rule line. Click Add
    * Once again click on Add Filter.
    * Paste “recommended-similar-users” (no quotes) in the Rule line. Click Add.
    * Click Ok and refresh your Twitter page.
    * No more “who to follow” suggestions!
For FireFox Users

    * Install AdBlock Plus and open your Twitter page.
    * Click on the arrow on the right of the AdBlock Icon and select Preferences from the dropdown list.
    * Click Add Filter and paste this string: ##*#recommended-similar-users
    * Once again click on Add Filter and paste this string: ##*#recommended_users
    * Click OK and refresh your Twitter!
For Chromium (Linux) or Chrome (Windows) Users

    * Install AdBlock
    * Goto Extensions from the Tools menu
    * Select AdBlock and goto its Options
    * Goto Blacklist tab and edit it and add the 2 lines as below
    * In Blacklist box, Add: twitter.com##div[id="recommended_users"]
    * In Blacklist box, Add: twitter.com##div[id="recommended-similar-users"]
    * Click on Save and you’re done!

Google acquires social games maker Slide

Google made another play for the social networking space Friday with its acquisition of Slide, which makes games, applications and widgets for websites such as Facebook and MySpace.

The San Francisco developer provides free apps that Facebook users can install on their profiles in order to play simple games with friends or to arrange photo slide shows.
Slide's SuperPoke application and its animal-centric variations, for example, are a family of popular social games with which players can virtually hug friends or raise a pet pig. A feature similar to Slide's Top Friends was eventually implemented by Facebook into every profile, allowing users to rank online buddies.
Faced with the skyrocketing popularity of Facebook, Google has been searching for ways to make products that are more fun and collaborative.

AOL SafeSocial service for parents

AOL quietly launched a new subscription service that gives parents a way to keep track of their kids' activities online -- with their consent. The service analyzes posts and tweets for potentially inappropriate discussions, makes sure kids aren't becoming online friends with anyone suspicious, and collects relevant pictures posted online for parents' review, among other things.
Although many online sites and services offer parental controls for their own Internet properties, this appears to be a move by AOL to expand that approach beyond its own walls. SafeSocial cites Twitter, Facebook and MySpace among the social networks on which it can track activity.
The site, dubbed SafeSocial, hasn't been publicly announced or acknowledged, that we can find, but it's currently available at safesocial.com. After a free trial period, the service costs $9.99 a month, or $14.99 a month for up to four kids, according to an FAQ.

NewsBasis to Connect Reporters and Publicists

NewsBasis, a start-up,with an online marketplace to match businesses and organizations that want to broadcast their messages with journalists working on topical articles. It also has a tool for sources to footnote articles across the Web with their points of view

Journalists post questions or search for sources with a particular expertise or point of view. Reporters can ask questions anonymously to avoid tipping off competitors. They can set an expiration date for their question and remove it when it has been answered to avoid getting bombarded with pitches.


Companies, public relations agencies and academics search for questions or, if they choose, get notification by e-mail whenever someone posts a relevant query

On NewsBasis, sources can also add a footnote to articles across the Web, so when reporters are doing research using their Web browser, a tab will appear indicating that a NewsBasis source has offered a different point of view or corrected a fact.

Seagate Momentus XT drive

Seagate has announced it is now shipping ‘Momentus', “the world's fastest 2.5-inch laptop PC hard drive. “The Momentus XT drive combines a 7200RPM spin speed, 4GB of solid state memory and Seagate's Adaptive Memory technology to deliver unprecedented hard drive performance,” says the company. It installs as easily as a traditional 9.5mm-high notebook drive for new systems or laptop upgrades and, unlike early hybrid drives, operates independently of the operating system and the motherboard chipset

Microsoft to sell Arc Touch Mouse for just $70

Microsoft will be unleashing their Magic Mouse competitor mouse very soon.

The mouse is the result of a Microsoft Research program dubbed "Mouse 2.0". The project detailed different designs for a prototype multi-touch mouse and one of the prototypes looks similar to the current Microsoft Arc Mouse. Microsoft officials published a research PDF paper in October 2009 which contained pictures of a possible multi touch mouse. Microsoft's hardware twitter account tweeted two different pictures over the past week (see below).

According to an online price listing, the mouse which will do multi-touch will cost you $69.95. Yes, you are right, this price matches to the price tags found on Apple’s Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad. It remains to be seen how exactly will it look like and how smoothly will it perform.

New online Rdio

Rdio, the latest creation from Kazaa and Skype founders Janus Friis with Niklas Zennström. Its offering is closest to MOG's -- both incorporate elements of social media to yield better music discovery and a more entertaining service. It also offers a $5-a-month web-only service and a $10-a-month mobile version

Both services allow you to search for tracks or artists, browse new releases (although only MOG makes this easy on a mobile device) and play an unlimited number of songs on demand for a flat fee. Rdio also enables you to virtualize the digital tracks you have on your PC -- the "match collection" function on the downloadable Rdio desktop player looks at your iTunes or Windows Media Player library and adds those titles to your collection in Rdio (just the titles, not the tracks themselves).

While Spotify struggles to bring its free music-on-demand service to the U.S., a growing number of companies are filling the gap -- although not on the same terms. For example, Guvera offers a limited number of free downloads on demand to those who'll tolerate some targeted advertising (and who don't mind a less than comprehensive selection of tracks). MOG and Napster offer unlimited on-demand streams for $5 a month. Rhapsody does the same for $10 a month, with the added bonus of mobile streaming to smartphones (MOG does the same for $10 too, and Napster's mobile version is on its way).

Another subscription service joined the fray Tuesday: Rdio, the latest creation from Kazaa and Skype founders Janus Friis with Niklas Zennström. Its offering is closest to MOG's -- both incorporate elements of social media to yield better music discovery and a more entertaining service. It also offers a $5-a-month web-only service and a $10-a-month mobile version. I've played with and enjoyed Rdio and MOG, although they have different strengths and weaknesses.

Both services allow you to search for tracks or artists, browse new releases (although only MOG makes this easy on a mobile device) and play an unlimited number of songs on demand for a flat fee. Rdio also enables you to virtualize the digital tracks you have on your PC -- the "match collection" function on the downloadable Rdio desktop player looks at your iTunes or Windows Media Player library and adds those titles to your collection in Rdio (just the titles, not the tracks themselves). That's a great feature in concept...

...but I didn't have any luck when I tried it on my work PC. My guess is that the software was stumped by the PC's small library of obscure MP3s (more on that later).

MOG doesn't try to replicate your collection; instead, it automatically catalogs the tracks in your library that you play most often and adds those titles to your online profile. That's a particularly useful feature for the mobile version of MOG, although for some reason the favorites in my online profile didn't find their way onto my smartphone. I'll take it on faith that the feature actually works for other MOG users.

The more compelling features of Rdio and MOG are the ones that let you follow in the footsteps of other users whose tastes you admire. Rdio aggregates onto a single page the activities of your network (i.e., the people you're following) -- the albums they've been playing most often, the records they've added to their Rdio collections, the people they've started following and the playlists they've created. All of these are jumping-off points for sampling and discovering new music.

You can also drill down deeper, going to any Rdio user's profile page to see and play what they've been listening to and read any reviews they've written. You can also collaborate with friends on joint playlists. Rdio helps you find people to follow by making recommendations based on what you've been playing. It also recommends music based on your listening habits.

MOG doesn't combine friends into a browsable network the way Rdio does. Instead, it acts more like one giant web of people interconnected by the artists and bands they like. From a band's MOG page you can jump to the profile pages of the MOG users who play that group's songs most often, which leads you to the other bands and songs they like.

You can follow the MOG users whose tastes are most appealing, but that just means you'll be notified in a Facebook-like news feed when they contribute something to MOG (e.g., a review or a blog post). MOG began as a platform for blogging, and it offers a rich array of content from users and music bloggers from around the net. In fact, it has the richest collection of music news, reviews and features of any of the subscription services; by comparison, Rdio is quite thin.

The same is true for their mobile applications. MOG's app offers far more functionality such as the ability to browse MOG's charts, recommended tracks and user playlists, without being harder to use. Rdio's sole advantage is that its app is available for the Blackberry as well as the iPhone and Android phones. MOG is just on the latter two, at least for now. Both also have the ability to cache songs on the phone so you can listen to them even when you're offline -- a nice feature for people with iffy connectivity or non-unlimited data plans.

Rdio Website
source

RIM launches BlackBerry Torch

The BlackBerry Torch with RIM's thumb-loving keyboards with a 3.2-inch touch screen -- smaller than the iPhone's 3.5-inch and the Droid Incredible's 3.7-inch displays.
It's the first BlackBerry with both a touch screen and a keyboard. With a slide-out keyboard, the hardware looks (and, according to some earlier testimonies, feels) like Palm's Pre, the portable hardware veteran's own touch-screen-driven reinvention.

During RIM's announcement Tuesday, the Canadian phone maker left no ambiguity about the Torch's importance to its product lineup -- "It is the best BlackBerry, ever," RIM says in its marketing materials.

Convincing the self-proclaimed "CrackBerry" addicts to leap into the world of touch screens won't be easy, especially after a few missteps with RIM's prior attempts at touch-screen phones. A combination of weak hardware and feeble software plagued the BlackBerry Storm, initially touted as Verizon Wireless' answer to Apple's and AT&T's iPhone.

Like the iPhone, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available exclusively on the second-largest wireless network. AT&T stores will begin selling the Torch on Aug. 12 for $199 with a two-year contract, and the shops will have demo units available starting Tuesday afternoon for customers looking to try one out.

The Torch is the first phone to include BlackBerry 6, an overhauled version of RIM's mobile operating system.

Adding to the stellar BlackBerry e-mail and messaging client, this software adds a Web browser based on the same technology that powers Apple's Safari and Google's Android mobile browsers. With tap- and pinch-to-zoom features, the Torch looks to be a fully capable Web surfing device, unlike some of its BlackBerry brethren.

The Torch's software also includes Visual Voicemail for quickly scanning messages, integration with social networks and downloadable apps. Of course, the BlackBerry App World is noticeably more barren than the Apple and Android stores, which have garnered greater interest from third-party developers.

The device has a track pad for scanning e-mails, 8 gigabytes of storage (expandable up to 32 gigabytes), a 5-megapixel camera with a flash, headphone jack, Wi-Fi, BlueTooth and GPS. The internal processor is slower than many competing smart phones.

Free Antivirus Download

Here are the most popular free Antivirus available to download.

Download the top Free Anti-virus from here :

1. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
2. Avira AntiVir Personal – Free Antivirus
3. Avast Home Edition – Free Antivirus
4. Norton AntiVirus 2010 – Free Tial Version – 30 days
5. Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 – Free trial version – 30 days
6. ThreatFire AntiVirus Free Edition
7. ESET NOD32 Antivirus – Free trial version – 30 days
8. Microsoft Security Essentials – Free Antivirus , Antispyware

Deposit checks with the iPhone

For Chase bank customers on the go, there’s one less reason to stop by an ATM.

Chase last month added a feature to its banking iPhone application enabling customers to virtually deposit a check using the smart phone’s built-in camera.

Called Quick Deposit, it requires a snapped picture of the front and back of an endorsed check, which is then submitted to Chase via the app. The amount is deposited directly into your account; Chase encourages customers to destroy the physical check as soon as it clears.

Chase isn’t the first American bank to offer mobile check deposit services, but it is the biggest thus far. Last August, USAA, a privately held bank and insurance company, added a feature on its iPhone application that works much the same way as the Chase version.

The app requires an iPhone 3 or higher and is free for customers enrolled in online banking, with no cap on the number of deposits made with the feature. Customers can deposit up to $1,000 in an account in a single day, with a $3,000 monthly limit per account for deposits made using Quick Deposit.
Source

Apple investigating iOS 4 complaints

Apple Inc. said it's investigating complaints by some iPhone 3G users of bogged down speed, drained battery life and excessive heat when their device is updated to the new iOS 4 software.

The operating system, which debuted in June, boasts more than 100 new features for the new iPhone 4 and the prior model iPhone 3GS, but some of the features are not compatible with the iPhone 3G.

Source

Improve Your Businesses Wireless Security

A business wireless network should be a network that is safe from hackers and unauthorised users. Here are some steps to secure your network from such intrusions;


Create a Wireless Security Policy
Create a policy that specifies who can use the network, and how to protect the network This is one below is taken from a Cisco template I found on a website;
- Acceptable use policy, to specify what types of network activities are allowed and which ones are prohibited.
- E-mail and communications activities, to help minimise problems from e-mails and attachments.
- Antivirus policy, to help protect the network against threats like viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.
- Identity policy, to help safeguard the network from unauthorised users.
- Password policy, to help employees select strong passwords and protect them.
- Encryption policy, to provide guidance on using encryption technology to protect network data.
- Remote access policy, to help employees safely access the network when working outside the office.

Educate your Employees
Educate your employees and get them involved in protecting the network. Use informational posters and training about security, passwords, and privacy to help you keep your business information and communications secure.

Secure the WLAN
- Use strong encryption: When you install your network, set up the strongest wireless encryption you can. WEP encryption is adequate, but WPA and WPA2 are better options.

- Secure communications: Encrypt data that travels on the network, and authenticate users to be sure you know who is using the WLAN.

- Change the default network name to something that is hard to identify so it is unrecognisable.

- Use MAC address control lists combined with encryption to restrict user access.

- Be sure that management ports are secured with non default names and passwords.

- Hide the access points to prevent tampering.

- Use video surveillance cameras to monitor your office building and site for suspicious activity.
Protect Your Company from Outside Threats
Protect wireless devices with the same security you use for the your company network. (i.e. firewalls, VPNs, and antivirus software)
Protect Your Wired Network from Wireless Threats
Install wireless intelligent protection switching (IPS) devices to prevent unauthorised, "rogue" access points and other wireless threats.

AISoy 1: The World's First Robot With a Conscience

Spain has designed the world's first robot with its own "conscience" and "life", which will "entertain, teach and be a companion" to humans who purchase it.


The AISoy 1, which will go on sale in August, is the first social android developed by Spanish firm AISoy Robotics, which is now bringing its creation out of the laboratory.
 
The robot is capable of learning from experience and modifying "its behaviour, values and actions it can undertake at specific times," he said.


If you take two AISoy 1's and leave them in two different families, within two months they will be totally different because they will have had different experiences

Starting August, any family will be able to buy the robot, which is in the final phases of production, and it will be sold via the AISoy 1 website.

Although the price of the domestic robot has not yet been made public, the firm says that it will be 'less costly' than alternative prototypes developed by other firms.

3D books

The popularity of 3-D entertainment has been given a boost by a slew of recent films, including sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" and Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland".




Several companies are also offering 3-D televisions and a 3-D video game console will launched soon.



At South Korea's Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, researchers used 3-D technology to animate two children's books of Korean folk tales, complete with writhing dragons and heroes bounding over mountains.



Pictures in the books have cues that trigger the 3-D animation for readers wearing computer-screen goggles. As the reader turns and tilts the book, the 3-D animation moves accordingly.



"It took us about three years to develop the software for this," said Kim Sang-cheol, the team leader of the project.



Kim said the technology could be used for any type of book and sees it eventually being used for images displayed over smart phones or at museums to enhance exhibits.



But those waiting for 3-D books may have to wait long.



"It will take a while to market this technology to the general public," Kim said. He was not sure of the eventual price but thinks it will be affordable enough to be mass marketed.



Source: Reuters

The follow to following ratio on twitter

There is no such strict rule that you must maintain this ratio but it is preferable that you do so. It's simple. Always make sure there are more people following you than the number of people you follow. When you see someone following a huge number of people but with only a few followers, the first thought that comes to mind is, the person is a spammer. If you see someone with the same number of followers as the number of followees then you get the feeling that this person follows almost everyone who follows him/her.It is a good idea to have maintain the balance.



So, what would be a good ratio.  would be 1:2, i.e. following half the number of people of those who follow you. It doesn't have to be strictly that way. You can choose to have it 1:3 or anything else, but do remember that you do need to follow people to make them aware of your presence on Twitter, or else no one would follow you. Just don't follow too many. Also, you don't have to do this but it makes you more appealing, increasing your the chances of getting more followers.

Appls Magic Trackpad

The apple website store came up with refreshed mac systems and the all new Magic Trackpad for Apple iMacs and Mac Pros. Its in the series of Magic Mouse. One of the favorite device that every mac user wants to go for. And the new Magic trackpad ads mouse like device with your mac pros and imac computers.

This is the first multi touch trackpad for imac and mac pros comes at 69$ to buy in apple store.

10 best free online games

1. Spelunky
Spelunky is about anger, hate and, most of all, death. It looks like a simple enough platform game – an Indiana Jones pastiche set in a cavern full of tricks and traps – and it is. There's nothing complicated about it. Every enemy is avoidable. Every trap can be dealt with.
The catch is that every time you play, the entire game is randomised. In one game you'll stumble through screen after screen of spiked horrors and swarming monsters; in the next, the software will bend over backwards to give you gold and help you on your way.




http://www.spelunkyworld.com/





2. NetHack
Much like Spelunky, this open-source classic makes heavy use of randomisation to give you a new adventure every time you fire it up. However, instead of being a platform game, it's an epic RPG with the unofficial motto, 'The dev team thinks of everything'.
Do you want to blind a basilisk with a custard pie? Abuse shape-changing spells to lay deadly eggs that can be used as weapons? Get blasted by your patron deity if you try praying to them when they're in a bad mood? It's all in here, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.



http://www.nethack.org/





3. Quake Live
This is how far the web has come: one of the best deathmatch games ever created is now available to play from within the confines of your browser.
Well, technically, no, it's not actually in it – Quake Live uses a plug-in and then goes full-screen when you play – but the spirit is still there.
Any modern computer is now able to handle Quake's modest demands, and the game's blisteringly fast action makes it quite unlike any modern shooter. Forget realism. Forget objectives. Sometimes, all you need is a rocket launcher, a perfectly timed shot and the lamentation of the noobs as time permits.
Beware, though: if you haven't played id Software's classic shooter for a while, the frenetic pace of the online action might be terrifying.
http://www.quakelive.com/#home





4. Beneath a Steel Sky
A classic adventure from British developer Revolution, and one that serves two purposes. First, it's fun – a comic-style sci-fi adventure with a wry sense of humour.



http://www.scummvm.org/downloads/





5. Desktop Tower Defence
It's not just a game, it's a whole genre. The idea is simple. In most RTS games, you build units such as soldiers or tanks and pit them against your enemy's army.
In Desktop Tower Defence games, you put down fixed turrets, each with different abilities, with the aim of stopping the enemy making it from one side of the screen to the other. It sounds easy and, like most casual games, for the first few levels it is.



http://www.handdrawngames.com/DesktopTD/Game.asp





6. Digital: A Love Story
Remember the excitement of logging into your first BBS? What if you'd found something more than just files and chatter and naked pictures of assorted Star Trek actresses?
To explain Digital: A Love Story would be giving away too much, so let's just say that it's a great nostalgia trip with a bit of future-gazing thrown in for free. Played out entirely on 1988-style bulletin boards, it starts when you respond to an email from a lonely-sounding girl called Emilia.



The relationship plays out as a hacker's romance as you jump between BBS systems to uncover a conspiracy, mostly interacting by firing off emails to the characters. You never get to see what you've said, only the responses, which adds an unusual but effective disconnect to the conversations.
It's not a long game – only an hour or so of action at most – but it's a testament to the writing that you quickly get sucked into what is basically just typing out a lot of phone numbers. The authentic-sounding music and sound effects help: the sweet siren song of a modem connecting still sends a chill down the spine.



http://www.scoutshonour.com/digital/





7. Neopets
Neopets doesn't feature just one game to complete; instead, it's stuffed with hundreds of minigames. Each of these is located in a different area of Neopia, a virtual world that you must explore with your trusty Neopet (which you design and name yourself) by your side.



http://www.neopets.com/





8. Neptune's Pride
Do you have good friends? Want to lose them all over the course of a month? Then this is the strategy game for you.
The idea is that you only need to log in every now and again to direct your intergalactic fleet around the universe. Your friends, hereafter referred to as 'former friends', do the same.
Read the diaries to see a typical game played out from start to finish.
np.ironhelmet.com





9. Online poker
Who said you needed a massive bankroll to play poker online? If you know where to go, it's possible to earn fairly large amounts of money without investing a penny through multi-table tournaments known as freerolls.
All of the major online cardrooms run tournaments like this to lure in new users in the hope that they'll become addicted and pump fistfuls of their hard-earned cash into the site for many years to come.
Sites to keep an eye on are Full Tilt, Pokerstars and PartyPoker – they're always running promotions. For a day-to-day breakdown of freerolls and their UK times, visit: http://www.freerolltimes.co.uk/poker_freerolls.php.





10. Dwarf Fortress
If you find games like SimCity or Civilisation a little too simple, Dwarf Fortress is the game for you. Technically, its full name is Slaves to Armok: God of Blood: Chapter II: Dwarf Fortress, but absolutely nobody calls it that.



Here for instance is one forum's game, served up in episodic Lets Play format: http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/intro.html. Excellent, yet bewildering.
http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/

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