The new warning message that appears when trying to purchase an app from Apple that you got from somewhere else.

In an effort to keep users from accidentally purchasing a piece of software they might have gotten elsewhere, Apple is included a new warning system in the Mac App Store that lets buyers know when they already have the app they're trying to buy.

The new warning, picked up by MacWorld this morning, only appears when you attempt to hit the buy button from the product page of an application that's already installed on your computer. A small drop-down warning then comes up to confirm whether you want to re-purchase the software before moving on to the payment password screen.

The move represents the first real awareness of the Mac App Store with software that's been installed outside of Apple's marketplace. It also adds to the previously existing feature that would let you find and recover software you've already paid for.

As noted before, the Mac App Store does not have a return policy. Instead, Apple encourages customers to go to application developers directly for assistance, then contact its App Store customer support if that doesn't get them anywhere. Nonetheless, the company has allowed returns in certain situations. The inclusion o... [Read more]

A small piece of the next-generation Google Chrome guts called Native Client arrives in Chrome stable about a month after it landed on the beta channel, as new audio technology also gains a footing. Google Chrome 14 stable for Windows (download), Mac (download), and Linux (download), also makes a spate of security fixes for all platforms, and some useful changes to the Mac version.

Chrome 14 is the first version of the browser to support Native Client (NaCl), an open-source technology that allows C and C++ code to be securely run in the browser. It basically lets software run within two protected sandboxes, which will theoretically cut down on browser-based threats dramatically. When completed, NaCl will power Web apps to run as smoothly as programs that are hosted on your hard drive.

As implemented in Chrome 14, NaCl works only for Chrome Web Store apps, though Google plans to expand NaCl so that eventually it powers the entire browser.

Also new in Chrome 14, the ... [Read more]

DialMyCalls (shown here for iOS, but also available for Android) can automatically call everyone in your group and play a recorded message.

A couple months back I told you about Mr. PhoneTree, an iOS-only app that can automatically call every person in a group and play a recorded message--a huge time-saver for anyone who manages, say, a soccer team or social group.

Although the app came with 25 call credits to get you started, you had to purchase credit bundles after that. If you're looking for a cheaper solution and have minimal automated-call needs, check out DialMyCalls for Android and DialMyCalls for iOS.

The app is buggy and confusing in places, and much more limited than Mr. PhoneTree, but it does have one ace up its sleeve: it allows you one free phone blast per week (up to 30 seconds long and to as many as 25 people).

DialMyCalls comes from the Web-based service of the same name, but obviously it's far more convenient to set up and la... [Read more]

(Credit: DotEmu)

R-Type for Android takes you way back to the '80s with its classic humans-versus-aliens storyline and retro shoot-'em-up style of game play. Because the Android version is more or less unchanged from its arcade predecessor, it is sure to make you feel like a kid again (or a slightly younger adult, depending on how old you are now).

While there is a rich plot that drives R-Type, its details are relatively inconsequential. All you need to know is that you are piloting a futuristic starship, and your primary objective is to shoot lots and lots of aliens. With the help of your upgradable weapons, speed-ups, and Force pods, the task is sure be a blast, so to speak.

But a word of warning: if you've never played R-Type before, it is extremely difficult. With aliens sending barrages of blasts at you, sometimes it feels impossible to maneuver yourself out of harm's way. Luckily, the Android controls are surprisingly smooth, and let you steer your ship with precision. So that's at least one element working in your favor.

Overall, we are excited about this pitch-perfect reincarnation of one of our favorite old-school arcade hits. And $2.99 in the Android Market seems more than reasonable, considering the number of quarters we used to drop for R-Type back in the day.

Steve Jobs showing off automatic downloads at the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year.

As the chorus of complaints grows over Apple's unwillingness to merge Apple IDs, it appears the company might soon change its stance on the matter.

According to MacRumors, two of its readers have contacted Apple CEO Tim Cook to see if Apple will eventually allow users to merge their Apple IDs. Those readers, MacRumors says, received word from an Apple executive relations employee, who said that the company is planning to allow for that functionality.

Apple has long denied customer calls for merging IDs. However, with the launch earlier this year of automatic downloads, complaints about that policy started to grow. The feature allows people to automatically download, to their devices, music, apps, and iBooks that had already been downloaded on other platforms, like their computer. The issue, though, is that in some cases, users had been downloading content to a device from one Apple ID, and have another Apple ID assigned to, say, their iPhones. In those cases, content cannot be synced between the devices.

Children off the streets and in the classroom? Shorter days? New security suites? Yes, it's that time of year again when most computer security suite makers implore you to update to the latest version. We've looked at nine new premium suites so far. Some have made only incremental changes, and others were so eager to ditch their dirty bathwater that they almost lost the baby, too.

Bitdefender Internet Security 2012

Note that as other suites gets released, we'll be updating this story. And for those of you who like the wayback machine, here's last year's roundup.

So far this year, we've looked at nine premium suites: Panda Global Protection 2012, ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2012, Bitdefender Total Security 2012, Kaspersky Internet Security 2012, Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2012, ... [Read more]

(Credit: CNET)

A new monster truck game came out this week and it got me thinking about off-road games on the iOS. I remember playing and writing about a few early on, like 2XL ATV Offroad and then later Reckless Racing (both are definitely worth checking out), but hadn't really seen that many off-road games recently.

In my search to complete this collection I found that good monster truck games are underrepresented in the iTunes App Store, but still managed to find a couple of old favorites that are worth checking out.

This week's collection of iOS apps is all about 4x4s. The first is an oldie but goodie with excellent off-road physics. The second is a side-scroller with huge jumps and four different types of vehicles. The last is a new monster truck game with tons of jumps, stunts, and destruction.

This open-world racing game offers excellent physics even if the graphics are a bit dated.

4x4 Jam ($1.99) is an off-road racer that lets you drive wherever you want--an ongoing and changing landscape continues in every direction. This game is from... [Read more]