AVG Internet Security Version 8.5 (one-year subscription for one computer: $55; one year for three computers: $75, as of 5/21/2009), has been steadily building a solid following for its protection products. Unlike some security vendors, AVG allows you to opt in to various partnerships (as opposed to opting out), such as the Yahoo Search box, during installation.

Comodo Internet Security Pro 3.8 (one-year, one-user license at $40; no three-user license listed as of 5/21/09) is a newcomer to the consumer Internet security suite market. And based on our experience, the suite is clearly in its infancy. (Note: As this review was being prepared, Comodo released its Internet Security Pro 3.9 suite, addressing some of the performance issues we encountered in version 3.8, such as adding dynamic file inspection for the real-time virus scanner.)

CheckPoint ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 8.0 (one-year three-user license: $70 as of 5/21/2009) provides solid firewall protection along with a host of other security functions If anything, ZoneAlarm Extreme may be guilty of having too many pieces: It bundles together the basic security suite with the unique features of ID theft mitigation and recovery service, online data storage, and the optional PC utility. This premium suite gives a lot of bang for the money, including one year of free identity fraud monitoring.

PC Tools Internet Security ($60 for up to three computers for one year as of 5/21/09) offers a decidedly mixed bag of protections. Symantec acquired the security vendor in 2008 to increase its worldwide market share with consumers in new and emerging regional markets. Since the acquisition, PC Tools maintains a separate development operation from Symantec's consumer business unit (responsible for the Norton Internet Security Suite), and its entry in the Internet security suite market comes with strong heuristic malware detection, but it's weaker in other areas such as traditional malware detection.

G-Data Internet Security 2010 (one-year, one-user license: $30; one-year, three-user license: $40 as of 5/21/09) may not yet be a household name, but this German security suite--now sold in the United States, too--was among the best on malware detection and removal. In a number of categories G-Data scored the best test results and offered more protection features than many other suites. And it's a good value for its price.

MakeMusic has announced Finale 2010, the latest version of its music notation software.

Despite a challenging economic climate, Apple is not shying away from putting more money into the consumer market. In its quarterly conference call last April, the company said it planned to open only 25 stores this year, a fraction of the 247 it opened last year.

You'd think that Apple's legal issues with Psystar over the sale of generic hardware running Mac OS X--and the clone-maker's subsequent bankruptcy filing--would have scared off any other company from picking up that business model. Of course, you might also think that "Bing" is a great name for a search engine. But I digress.

Over 40 percent of mobile web traffic comes from Apple iPhone users, says AdMob.

The nonprofit Center for Internet Security last week released what it termed the industry's only consensus security benchmark for the iPhone, which is aimed at helping IT managers and users reduce the risk of data stored on the device from being compromised.