I was hooked on Spotify from the very first day I tried it and if you're desperate to get your hands on a Spotify invite in the U.S. then you can get one right now by signing-up here for Klout. You can sign-in instantly with a Facebook or Twitter account and instantly receive your free invite.

Step 1: Sign-in with your Facebook and/or Twitter account and then enter your Zip Code:

Step 2: Copy the invite code and don't forget to send the link at the bottom of the page to 5 other friends and you'll get a free one month trial of Spotify Premium.

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uTorrent has long been one of the best free cross-platform P2P tools around. Now the app's developers have announced they are launching a premium version of uTorrent that will deliver "extra convenience and powerful new features".

According to the devlopers:

µTorrent Plus is designed for people who are looking for a single solution to find, get and play content anywhere, on any device. Hassles with codec and conversion issues, struggles with device shifting, and more will be a thing of the past.

But are there really enough users out there willing to pay for a premium version of uTorrent? The free version is already an excellent application and it's hard to see how it could be improved.

Let us know what it would take to convince you to pay for uTorrent.

Almost two and a half years after its launch in Europe, Spotify has been finally launched in the USA. The European music streaming service has reached deals with major record labels in the US that allows American users to try one of iTunes biggest rivals.

The pricing structure will be slightly different to Europe where there's only Free and Premium. Free accounts in the US will be invitation only but there will be an Ad-Free version for $4.99 a month plus a Premium Account with Mobile Access for $9.99 a month.

Spotify will find the going much harder in the US where established apps such as Pandora, Grooveshark, Rhapsody, Mog and of course, iTunes dominate the music streaming industry. However, according to some market analysts such as Albert Fried & Co., Spotify poses the biggest challenge to all of them. Speaking to PaidContent.org, analyst Rich Tullo said:

Spotify is really the biggest threat, in our view. It’s going to sell into Facebook’s 650 million users, and if you look at the growth of Zynga, it’s clear that an alliance with Facebook is definitely what you want, because it’s the biggest distribution channel out there.

According to my account, I still have the option to "send your family and friends an invitation to join Spotify" so if you're a US user that would like to try Spotify, leave a comment below with a reason why you want to try Spotify, and I'll try sending some invites.

Quicken 2007 won't work on Lion due to Apple's decision to drop Rosetta support. This is possibly the final blow for thousands of Mac users who were bitterly disappointed last year by the latest version of Quicken - Quicken Essentials - because of the decision to drop online features such as the ability to pay bills, store investment transaction history and export to TurboTax. If there were ever an example of a developer trying to their best to alienate Mac users and destroy their own product, it's definitely Quicken creators Intuit.

However, the good news is there's no reason to let Intuit or Quicken 2007 stop you from upgrading to Lion. Here is the only selection you'll ever need of the very best alternatives for Lion:

Moneydance

While Moneydance may not feel quite as intuitive as Quicken for Mac at first, it can do pretty much everything the latter can and was actually one of the first ever financial applications on the Mac so it's certainly not lacking in experience. Most importantly, unlike the majority of financial software for Macs, it supports extensive online banking and bill payment features. You can retrieve credit card statements and bank statements from most major US banks that support OFX standards. Even better, you can use Moneydance to automatically pay your bills for you too and if you're worried about all your Quicken data, Moneydance will import it all from Quicken Essentials.

It's the end of an era for NASA - this weekend they will finally launch their final space shuttle mission Atlantis before the next generation of space craft come into service. Having made its maiden voyage in 1985, Atlantis will make made its last ever lift-off in the next few hours (weather permitting) after over 25 years of service. If you don't want to miss history in the making, here are a few ways to follow the lift-off online:

NASA TV

You can watch every second of the action live on NASA TV from 08:00 EDT and also stream it your iPhone or Android Phone.

If you can't watch it then follow it on twitter either with @NASA:

or @NASAKennedy:

Enjoy the launch and let's hope the weather doesn't delay it!

Macs won't recognize Blu-ray devices because Apple chose not to support them in OS X. However, one developer has come up with a way of forcing OS X to accept external Blu-ray players in the form of Mac Blu-ray Player.

Mac Blu-ray player lets OS X recognize Blu-ray devices instantly so you can watch Blu-ray discs. Not only that, but it supports almost every format out there so you can use it as your default player. For the first three months it's completely free to use although a watermark is placed on the screen and some features will be deactivated.

To play protected Blu-ray movies you need an internet connection, because Mac Blu-ray Player has to acquire a license to play the movie on your system.

When you start it up for the first time, it will prompt you to select which files you want to associate with it so it won't take over your media files unless you allow it to:

On the same day that Facebook announced it has added Skype video calling,  Skype for Mac has just been updated to version 5.2.0.1523 to finally include group screen sharing.

There have also been a few other improvements including improved multi-tasking, a sidebar enhancement, support for Mac's built-in HD and Logitech's B910 HD cameras and some minor bug fixes.

These tweaks and improvements still don't address the major gripes of many Mac users concerning the interface however and probably won't stop the exodus of people downgrading to the old version 2.8. Added to the recent takeover of Skype by Microsoft and the rise of Apple's Facetime (and now even Google+'s new Hangout feature), the Skype team are going to have to do much better than this to hold onto their Mac user base.

Download Skype for Mac 5.2.0.1523 here.

With the recent release of the Golden Master version, it looks like Lion will be officially released either this week or next. Before rushing into upgrading though, take a deep breath and consider some of the following to ensure you have no nasty surprises:

• Lion will only upgrade if you're running OS X 10.6.8.
• Your processor must be an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 or Xeon CPU.
• You must have at least 2GB of RAM.

If you're unsure about these 3 basic requirements, click on the Apple logo in the top left of your screen and select About This Mac:

If all of the above are correct then consider the following:

• Obtain an Apple ID. If you're an iTunes user, you'll already have one but if not, you'll have to create one because for the first time, Apple are releasing a new operating system via the net i.e. The Mac App Store.
• Have a credit card ready. Lion costs $29.99. If you don't have a credit card, you can use an iTunes gift voucher. Note that Apple Gift cards will not work in The Mac App Store.
• Make sure you have at least 8GB of free hard drive space. If you're need to clean some space but can't quite identify which files are taking-up so much room, try DaisyDisk or OmniDiskSweeper (which is now free).
• Backup your hard drive. If something should go wrong with the installation of Lion, it's essential that you have a backup of your data. Time Machine comes free with OS X and is ideal for this or alternatively, Super Duper! is another excellent backup tool.
• Lion doesn't support PPC Macs so Rosetta Apps won't work with it. If you're running older versions (usually 5 years or more old) of any of the following and can't afford to upgrade them to an Intel version, don't install Lion just yet as they either won't work or you will experience problems with them: Creative Suite, Quicken 2007, Microsoft Office 2008, Rosetta Stone Language Software, Freehand and Appleworks. For a breakdown of which major apps are and aren't compatible with Lion, check here.
• Have some updated Printer Drivers handy. Since some older printer drivers require Rosetta to work, you may find that your printer doesn't work with Lion. You should be able to find updated drivers on the developer website although if the printer is really old, you'll be out of luck.
• Be extra cautious if you use Apple Mail or Aperture. Both applications are particularly sensitive to OS changes as was illustrated with Mail when Snow Leopard arrived. It may be worth waiting at least a few weeks before upgrading to Lion if you rely on either or both and can't afford to waste time re-configuring them.
• Throw away your Magic Mouse and buy a Magic Trackpad (about $69). Well, you don't have to throw away your Magic Mouse but you'll probably feel like it if you've ever used a Magic Trackpad. Lion has been optimized to be more like using an iPhone so you'll miss out on many gesture features if you don't have a Magic Trackpad although it's not essential.

If you are concerned about teething issues when upgrading, the best single piece of advice is simply wait! Most of the problems with Snow Leopard were ironed-out within a month-or-so of the release and so if you're not desperate to have Lion on your Mac immediately, take it easy.

There are bound to be issues that arise after upgrading, so if you discover any when Lion is released, let us know in the comments below!

Microsoft's two biggest sources of revenue are Windows and Office. After several months of beta testing, the release of Office 365 therefore marks a significant change in the way Microsoft is attempting to do business. The company has been effectively forced into this situation by Google Docs which is completely free to use and offers a competitive alternative to buying Office. However, the one advantage Microsoft have is that not only is Office a more powerful and complete package than Google Docs, but millions of people and businesses trust it and use the desktop version of it everyday.

In theory then, Office 365 sounds like a win-win situation. For the first time, users no longer need Office installed on their computer - they can access the entire suite online for a small monthly fee with all the functionality as if it were installed on their computer. Individual users get to use the Office suite for a modest monthly fee (up to $6) without having to pay the hefty price for the full package while companies no longer need a tech department to maintain and administer Office onsite. Microsoft meanwhile get a steady revenue stream every month and perhaps most importantly, guaranteed income from lucrative updates to Office which users will be obliged to pay for to continue using the service.

Sounds too good to be true? Let's take a look:

When you sign-up for Office 365, you have to create a domain name for yourself which isn't too painful. This domain (yourname@yourorganisation.onmicrosoft.com) will be used for all of your Office 365 activities:

When you log-in, you're presented with the main dashboard. Office 365 will then attempt to setup with Outlook Online, Lync Online and Sharepoint Online. This can take a few minutes:

Thunderbird, the open source mail client from Mozilla, has just been updated to version 5.0 bringing more stability, speed and features to users.

Amongst the most important improvements are a new Gecko 5 engine, new Add-ons Manager and a revised account creation wizard to improve email setup.

Tabbed messaging, one of Thunderbird's strongest features, now supports reordering and dragging tabs into different windows. Attachment sizes are now displayed along with attachments, plugins can now be loaded in RSS feeds by default and there are several theme fixes for Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Mac users can now enjoy support for 32 and 64 bit Universal builds but Thunderbird no longer supports PPC Macs. Altogether, Mozilla claim there have been over 390 platform fixes that improve speed, performance, stability and security.

Download Thunderbird for Windows or Mac and let us know what you think!

It seems that the philosophy of many software developers nowadays is 'slicker is better'. So many apps are updated with increasingly minimalistic interfaces, intended to make them easy to use. Sometimes this works, but sometimes it removes functionality, features and power that made the app so what it was. Almost every time a company redesigns an interface, be it Apple or Facebook, there is always a backlash by users who don't see the need for change. Apple have just learned this lesson the hard way in the wake of the recent release of Final Cut Pro X which has been met with outrage by video editing professionals.

Will Apple relent like Twitter and the unpopular Quickbar? Do the disgruntled users really have a point?

It was clear from the initial screenshots that Final Cut Pro X bore more than a passing resemblance to the more basic iMovie - and professional video editors don't want to feel like they're using a Mickey-Mouse tool to edit their videos. Reports are already emerging that Apple are having to issue refunds to angry dedicated users who are outraged at what they see as the dumbing-down of Final Cut Pro X.

And you only have to look at the comments in the Mac App Store to see how irritated professional users are. One such user rages summing-up the feelings of many:

This application should not be called FINAL CUT PRO as it is in NO WAY COMPATIBLE with older versions of FCP. Basically rendering the app useless if you are in need of accessing older FCP projects. Its basically IMOVIE with a few improvements.

Another says he's on the verge of tears:

I can't believe what apple did with FCP X... this is no longer a professional application... this is just an upgrade of iMovie!!!

1. You can't view an external monitor like a production monitor. 2. Hundreds of preferences and features are GONE!! 3. Settings are GONE as well...

This is a Final Cut Express meets iMovie!! I'm so disappointed that I want to cry!! : ( I'm a HUGE apple fan but this is a BIG blow for Professional Mac editors... so disappointing...

These sentiments are understandable. This is what iMovie looks like:

And this is the new Final Cut Pro X:

For a potentially game changing project, it almost crept under the radar but Google today launched Google+ which may rival social networking giant Facebook. A bit late to jump on that band wagon you might say? Many said the same about Google entering the browser wars with Google Chrome and look at the huge success that has had.

However, Google's first attempt at social networking was Google Buzz and that didn't work out quite so well. Undeterred, since then Google have put social networking at their top of their agenda with chief and co-founder Larry Page sending out a memo earlier this year that future bonuses will be linked to the success of Google's social networking success. So will Google+ succeed where Buzz badly failed? Here's what you can expect to see:

Codenamed "Emerald Sea", the development of Google+ has understandably been kept very low key after the ill-fated Google Buzz not only failed to get off the ground but eventually had to settle with the US Federal Trade Commission for breaking privacy laws. Instead, Google have simply opted to announce the release of Google+ on their blog. Gmail users might have also noticed when they logged-on today, a new Contact organizing feature - it's all part of the engine driving Google+ known as Circles.

Opera 11.50 for Windows and Mac has now been released and although there's nothing outstandingly new in it, there's a few nice improvements and tweaks that make it faster than ever.

Opera 11.50 keeps the general design and functionality of the much lauded Opera 11.10, but adds convenient improved features to Speed Dial and adds Visual Tabs, Password Syncing across devices and a faster rendering engine.

The most notable improvement has been to Speed Dial which instead of simply giving easy access to your favorite sites, now allows you to embed your Speed Dial with dynamic information - in other words, web apps within Opera.

You can add new Speed Dial components, simply by searching and adding them within Opera:

If you're old enough to remember hours spent playing Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe on the Commodore Amiga then you'll be delighted to see its been reinvented for Mac in the form of  Speedball 2: Evolution.

Speedball 2 was possibly my favorite game on the Amiga (apart from Kick Off 2) because it was unique, fun, addictive and the action was pulsating. It looks like the Mac version has stayed pretty faithful to the original with the same retro graphics, sound effects ("Ice Cream! Ice Cream!") and brutal gameplay. The aim is basically to outscore and smash your opponents into oblivion whether its with the metal ball that the players throw around the pitch or battering them with the body armor players wear.

Points are won by scoring goals, knocking out opponents, and also by hitting bumpers, stars and ramps on the pitch. This gives the game and element of pinball to it, and means that focusing on goal scoring is never enough. One of the most entertaining features is upgrading players with special qualities such as speed, stronger armor or more powerful throwing actions.

If you were a fan of the original, don't go out and enjoy the sun this weekend. Stay in and try Speedball 2: Evolution on Mac. All weekend.

It's the news many video editors and Final Cut Pro fans have been eagerly awaiting - the release of Final Cut Pro X. Final Cut Pro X is available today for $299.99 from the Mac App Store along with Motion 5 and Compressor 4 for a very reasonable $49.99 each.

Apple claim that the new Final Cut Pro X "reinvents" video editing with a new Magnetic Timeline which lets you edit on a flexible, trackless canvas and Content Auto-Analysis that categorizes your content upon import by shot type, media and people. And it means less waiting around for rendering because Final Cut Pro X now supports background rendering while you get on with editing.

Final Cut Pro X is built for 64-bit Macs and requires an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or above, 2GB+ of memory and an OpenCL-compatible graphics system with at least 256MB of memory. It will only work on OS X 10.6.7+.

This is a re-write of Final Cut from the bottom-up and is a must-try for any serious Final Cut video editor. The screenshots released by Apple make it look increasingly like iMovie, although that's not necessarily a bad thing. iMovie is a great video editor, but it is way too fussy and puny so Final Cut Pro X may well be the happy middle ground.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a trial version as yet, but at ¢299, it's very competitively priced.