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One of the most reliable web browsers around the net, Mozilla Firefox has been relied on by many for safe web browsing and its ability to allow multiple downloads (unlike the Internet Explorer’s (IE) of just 2 parallel downloads). It has been trusted by many for years since its development. Although doubted by many during its initial launch, it has grown much into a household name for net browsers. Today, it has achieved much and is currently the world’s most used web browser, comparable to the IE.

One of the few reasons why Mozilla Firefox became so popular was because of its uniqueness in the web browser. For one, it allows users to customize their own version of the Firefox with various themes like Aero Fox, NASA Night Launch and much much more. As compared to the IE’s standard look, the Firefox is much more user-friendly and users could download various themes to constantly have a fresh look for the browser. It also provides thousands of add-ons to keep the web browser unique and users can customize them to make it their own personal web browser. It is also one of the first web browsers that allows tab browsing, in which only recently did IE also implement that feature. To the layman, it simply means to view multiple web pages without opening up more than one web browser windows, allowing it to be easy to keep track of what the users are actually viewing.

The security of the Firefox is also something that many rely on. Unlike the IE, which is virus-plagued, the Firefox has much less viruses to worry about and has a much better capability to hold back attacks from the cyberworld. Due to its constant security updates to prevent virus attacks, it is heavily updated by the latest virus protection technology, and hence, many people feel much safer using the Firefox, knowing well that they and their personal information are protected from unauthorized access.

Personally, I’ve been using the Firefox for several years now and it has proven its capability to me by protecting me against viruses and safeguarding my personal information. The ability that allows me to customize the very look of my browser continues to keep my browser fresh and not a boring old standard outlook of the IE. Ultimately, it is a reliable web browser. Although some websites, especially the official government and some education websites requires the use of the function of the IE to work properly, Firefox is currently trying to be adaptable and try to accommodate such websites to ensure that they are able to work in the Firefox.

All in all, Mozilla Firefox is a very reliable and trustworthy web browser that protects the people’s interest as well as keeping harmful viruses off the reach of our computers. For those who are considering Firefox, hesitate no more, for which it is one that would definitely live up to the expectations of many.

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This is for the soccer fans. And once again, EA Sports comes up with a smashing hit, the latest series of the world-renown game series, FIFA 08. Made available on almost every single popular console, this version has found its way into many awards, such as many of IGN’s top awards (Game of the Year, Best Sports Sim, etc).

Being already a very popular series amongst football fanatics, this game makes the virtual world of soccer much more realistic with its new features, never before attempted gameplay ideas that even other football series find it hard to accomplish. EA Sports have implemented the new idea of manual crossing/manual through balls (i.e. to pass the ball into empty spaces without any team players in it). This allows gamers more mobility to move their players around the pitch and send the ball flying in all directions. Contrary to the old format of crossing the ball into the box, the new format of manual crossing requires players to aim the direction of the cross through moving the directional key while holding onto the cross button for the power gauge. This makes the game much more challenging and allows players to make awkward crosses. All these new features are supposed to change the image of FIFA being a fairly simple game to a much tougher one.

As for me, I really am quite a fan of soccer. Having played almost all of the FIFA series since 2000, it was quite shocking for me to personally try out the new way of moving the ball. I had never expected FIFA to be tough to grasp. (You guys haven’t seen how I fumbled over the controls while I was at my first tryout of the game.) It’s getting hard to score a goal.

The new mode of Pro-Coop Season is quite interesting. It forces the player to personally customise a player and add it to an already existing team. And starting from scratch, the gamer has to grow its player into the star of the next season. There’s this catch: Gamers are only supposed to control their own player and all other team members are controlled by the AI. This means that you would have to move your player to your team members, not the other way round, in order to have the ball passed to you. Nevertheless, you would be the captain of the team and all members would definitely pass the ball to you no matter where you are on the pitch if you call for the ball. This mode also allows gamers to play with their friends through this co-op mode. All human players in this game mode would be in the same team and would all have to start afresh with an original character with low initial capability. Cooperation is definitely needed for you to actually play well in this mode, since you are handicapped with weak players.

The game no longer makes deals with the in-game points earned during matches, but rather, with currency such as the Pound Sterling (£), Euro (€) or the Dollar ($). This makes the game more realistic and even closer to the real-life soccer world. Also, the game has an interactive league option that allows gamers to link onto the Internet and download real-life fixtures, team build-ups and formations. This allows gamers to play these fixtures and bring their team to victory in the virtual world. FIFA has never been so closely linked to the real life before.

All in all, FIFA 08 is definitely a game soccer fans out there would want to get. Especially if you’re an owner of PS3 / Xbox 360, you would want to get your hands on this. Why? Because the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game feature an improved game engine with superior graphics and different commentators, much better off than the PC and PS2 version. Personally I’ve tried the PS3 version and seriously, it rocks. Be sure to get them from the nearest retailer near you.

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ZoneAlarm, a name familiar to many. In its many years of service, ZoneAlarm has already protected many against malicious programs and hacking attempted on our computers. Saviour to many, it has defended bravely in the face of the ever-growing strength of hacking attempts. Protecting its clients is what ZoneAlarm does best.

Still wondering what ZoneAlarm is, it is actually a firewall which protects the user’s computer from invasion of malicious softwares and hacking attempts. Security levels can be set at a level suitable for the users themselves, from simple program access to the computer to assaults from programs to the network, ZoneAlarm is effective in preventing such programs from gaining access to your computers and networks.

To put it simple, ZoneAlarm protects the computer by putting it behind a firewall. Ever heard of the term “Prevention is better than cure”? Simply, ZoneAlarm prevents such issues from happening. For those who wants more from ZoneAlarm besides the standard firewall function, it also provides other services such as Anti-Viruses and Anti-Spyware detection programs. Hence, the ZoneAlarm security suite provides an all-rounded protection from malicious programs.

Even the most common programs would have to ask for permission in order to function. If permission isn’t granted, the programs would not run and would simply freeze in the boot-up scene. Allowing time for the user to consider whether to allow it or not. If any unknown programs want to gain access to the computer, the user has the choice to deny access first and go online to check the security of such programs. Then, if the program is found to be safe for usage, users could access the firewall and allow such programs to function.

However, there’s this tiny drawback. When the security level of the firewall is shifted up to maximum, issues like cookies and other tiny background programs also have to go through the system, making running programs take much longer as security alerts and asking of permission for access to the computer would make many pissed with the constant permission alerts and confirmation alerts.

ZoneAlarm is a very good substitute for the Windows Firewall. Personally, I never actually bothered about the Windows Firewall when i used ZoneAlarm. I just feel that there’s no need to have both on at the same time and the firewall that Windows provide is pretty vulnerable to attacks and doesn’t seem to have much freedom for the user to control the programs’ eligibility to have access to the computer/network. It also doesn’t show which programs are blocked and which are not. Moreover, Windows Firewall doesn’t seem to have the ability to allow programs to function properly behind the firewall but in the case of ZoneAlarm, it allows programs to work properly behind it as long as the individual details of the programs are set up properly to do so.

All in all, for those who are in desperate need for a firewall or a security system that is guaranteed to work, ZoneAlarm is the choice for you. Best of all, Zone Labs (the developers of ZoneAlarm) provides a free edition of the firewall for personal usage. So, ZoneAlarm is not only effective, but also pretty much a full-coverage firewall which takes care of almost all program access.

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Warcraft has been around for more than a decade now and despite its age, it is still a competitive game played during the annual World Cyber Games (WCG). It has continued to improve and fascinate the fans of Warcraft through its various series and expansion pack. In its newest sequel, World of Warcraft (WoW), the storyline is derived from the story of Warcraft III.

World of Warcraft is perhaps the most successful sequel of the Warcraft series yet, with perhaps more than hundreds of thousands playing on its different servers. It is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) and it is also a Pay-to-Play game. This means that requires players to pay a fee every month in order to gain access to their accounts to play the game.

The game consists of 2 different factions, the Alliance and the Horde, but technically, one character can only be in a single faction. In each faction there are 5 races, namely the Humans, NightElves, Gnomes, Dwarves and Draeneis for the Alliance and the Orcs, Taurens, Undead, Trolls, and Blood Elves for the Horde. Players can choose to play from these 10 different races, each race having its own unique profession skill and ability. In its latest expansion, World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, The Draeneis and Blood Elves were introduced to the games and these 2 races join the Alliance and Horde respectively. In addition to that, the races have the choice to choose between 4 to 6 different classes. These include Druids, Hunters, Mages, Paladins, Warlocks, Priests, Rogues, Shamans, Warriors. (i.e. a character can be a Human Priest or a Dwarven Hunter).

Like any other MMORPGs, there are also computer controlled AIs (Artificial Intelligence) which are also known as NPCs (Non-Player Characters). These characters are not controlled by the players and can only interact with the human players in the event of storyline purposes. However, the unique thing in WoW is that the NPCs are not invulnerable, that means that as long as you have the ability to kill it, it is technically possible to attack a city of another faction through killing the NPCs inside.

My experience in playing WoW is that unless you are able to afford the monthly fees required for the game, it is not advisable to start playing because it can be quite addictive, especially those who have already experienced playing the previous Warcraft instalments. No matter how you think you will be able to resist the temptation and not give in to the addict of playing WoW, it is still very difficult to not be addicted to it as studies have shown that over 40% of youths playing WoW are severely addicted to the game. These numbers do not include those who are just slightly addicted.

All in all, World of Warcraft is a very unique MMORPG that works well to one as long as one is able to afford the monthly payments for the game.

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And once again, the world-renown WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wrestler, The Rock, takes the stage, and this time, it is not on the wrestling ring, but on the stages of Hollywood. After “The Mummy Returns”, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, comes back to the big screen with another smashing new hit, The Game Plan (2007), and he plays the role of Joe Kingman, a superstar quarterback for his Boston-based team which is eying for the championship trophy.

This movie talks about him initially living in absolute fantasy, with girls moving up to him all the time. He is the perfect man for almost every female on Earth, with almost an endless supply of money and sponsors, and with the added bonus that he isn’t that bad looking after all. Nevertheless, there isn’t an absolutely perfect man on Earth, for which his personality could be a point for consideration as he is featured as a selfish man who only aims for glory not for the team, but for he himself, and himself only. However, his life is going to face a drastic turn when he realised that he actually has a 7-year old daughter that he never knew existed with his young ex-wife.

With his newly found daughter, Joe has to balance his life between his daughter and his work - endorsements, sponsors and his forever loving fans. To top that up, his manager, Stella Peck, doesn’t seem to be of much assistance due to the absence of parental experience. She is constantly trying to get Joe focused on his job and not get distracted by his daughter.

This trio would definitely tickle the funny bone in you with their momentary hilarious moments and conversations. Behind all those dazzle of a superstar actually lies a loving father and he would gradually discover his love. Soon enough, he would also realise that the love from his 7-year old daughter beats anything, including all those assets of his.

When I watched this movie, although the movie had several hilarious moments which made my few cousins and I almost fell off the cinema seat laughing, the underlying message of paternal love is still enough to make me feel touched.

All in all, it is a movie still worth watching and if it is still showcased in cinemas at your area, be sure to catch this heartwarming movie with all your friends. The Walt Disney showcase was released on 28th September and was directed by Andy Fickman. It also features other stars such as Madison Pettis as Peyton James, his pesky daughter, and Kyra Sedgwick as Stella Peck, his money-driven manager.

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