Too much input may cause an out-of-control situation!

Microsoft Flight, the latest in the long running simulator series, will be released as a free to play download on February 29. We had an opportunity to play with the closed beta to see what's changed with this iconic game.

If you sign in with a Windows Live account, you get additional content, but from the off there is plenty to do in  Microsoft Flight. Setting off in an exclusive light aircraft, the Icon A5, you will be given a series missions around the island of Hawaii.

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The desktop version of Chrome is one of my favorite browsers. Considering that I'm entrenched in Google with Google+, Gmail, Google Music, and my Android phone running 2.3.4 (Gingerbread represent!); it's nice to have everything connected.

On Android devices, depending on the hardware maker, the stock browser is bad. Meaning almost worthless to view anything. My 4G LTE connection doesn't even help. Third party browsers like Dolphin Browser HD are great alternatives, but even they have loading issues.

Now Google has Chrome in Beta, I'm very interested if the speed of the desktop program can be matched on Android 4.0.

Even in beta, Chrome is almost perfect.

Facebook has launched a beta version of Facebook Messenger for Windows which allows you to chat with your contacts from your desktop. At the moment, it is only available to a small number of selected beta testers.

Facebook Messenger for Windows not only lets you communicate with your Facebook contacts but also gives you access to your news feed and message notifications giving you access to all the essential tools of Facebook.

The interface of Facebook Messenger for Windows is very clear and divided into two separate windows. One is dedicated to contacts and feeds like the right column of Facebook and the other opens chats. Any notifications appear as pop-ups on your desktop.

Note that although this is the first official Facebook desktop app, there are already several programs that allow you to chat with Facebook contacts including Digsby Trillian Astra, Nimbuzz and Skype.

Download Facebook Messenger for Windows

It's been a long time in coming but the beta version of XBMC 11 has now been released. Version 11 "Eden" adds lots of new features and improvements to the open source home theater software for both Mac and Windows.

The most notable changes are Addon Rollbacks and vast improvements to the default skin Confluence.

There are also significant speed increases thanks to what's known as "Dirty-region rendering", a new JPEG decoder, a simpler, better library, additional protocol handling, better networking support, better handling of unencrypted BluRay content and structures, adjustable display refresh rates in OSX (to match the already available feature in Windows and Linux), AirPlay support, an upgraded weather service, and much more.

You can find details of all the new additions and changes to XBMC in the changelog.

Although not finished yet, there are also important changes in progress to XBMC Live to make it more like a full “*Buntu” version of XBMC with major changes to the boot and install process.

Mac users can get some free Skype credit by signing-up to test Skype's new "Click to Call" service which allows Mac users to make calls from directly within their browser.

The service is in closed beta and you have to take a survey first and sign a non-disclosure agreement with Skype to test it. You're then entitled to an unspecified amount of free Skype credit for calling landlines and mobiles as a thank you gift. In addition, a "larger gift" will be given to the top contributor.

Successful applicants will be contacted over the next few days and you can get started with the survey here. Remember that it's only open to Mac users.

Mozilla has released the final version of Firefox 9 beta meaning it won't be long before it is confirmed as the next stable version of Firefox.

The latest update features improvements to Javascript that Mozilla claims boosts performance by over 30 percent. Mozilla has also tweaked Javascript with something called Type Inference for faster loading times. The other improvement is greater theme integration and swipe navigation for Mac OS X users.

Mozilla's frequent update policy still isn't popular with users - especially because they don't seem to deliver major improvements and break add-ons. Let's hope when the final version of Firefox 9 is confirmed, the transition will be smoother and the improvements more noticeable.

You can download Firefox 9 beta final for Windows and Mac or just wait for it to update automatically.

Google's newest project aims to add a social element into your search for local offline activities. Called Schemer, this new service lets you create a to-do list of activities (schemes) you want to take part in.

Schemer's ultimate goal is to help users find things to do in their local region. From Google's announcement:

Whether it's exploring a new city, checking out a friend's movie recommendations, or just finding new activities for your weekends, Schemer lets you discover new things to do, share schemes with friends, and make the most of your day.

So far, Schemer is in a private, invite-only beta phase, and many of the available schemes aren't actually location specific yet. Ones I've listed on my own profile so far include "get a massage," "become a bestselling author" and "buy an Android tablet," for example. Each scheme has a webpage of its own where like-minded schemers can comment and offer tips on how to achieve the scheme in question, which is where the social aspect comes in. The ultimate goal is to be able to check off each scheme on your to do list as it is completed. Then it's up to you to discover new schemes to add on.

As more users join the service, it's likely that the schemes will more frequently come attached with locations where they can be completed, such as restaurants, downtown venues and outdoor arenas. Google has already teamed up with media properties such as Entertainment Weekly, Lifehacker, National Geographic and Bravo to link with relevant schemes. Schemer users may also opt to create an original scheme if it hasn't already been made, as well as share schemes with friends.

Ultimately, Schemer is another example of Google+'s connectedness with other Google services, making it easy to share schemes among friends and search out activities to add to an ever growing list of activities to do, this time away from the internet.

Schemer is also available as an Android app to those who already have an web-based Schemer account.

Back in October I came across Ace of Spades, a neat little online FPS that mixed Minecraft mining with fast competitive action. The game was recently updated to version 0.7, with a raft of new features that make it much easier to get into. Watch the video below to watch me getting shot over and over again!

The game now asks for your name, so you don't have to open the configuration file and manually change it, and in game you are notified about headshots. The other big improvements are that enemy locations have now been removed from the radar, while bullet tracers are now shown. This makes it easier to find the action, while making it possible to hide from the opposition.

Ace of Spades is tons of fun. Despite still being in beta it's really playable, and the mining aspect makes for an unusual FPS game. You can host your own server, or play on one of the many public ones. The environments are really varied - there are some tight maps for intense fighting and other strange ones, like the huge monolith riddled with tunnels mined by players. You'll never see that in Call of Duty!

Firefox 9 has officially gone from Alpha (Aurora) to Beta now that Firefox 8 final has been released. Mozilla continues to follow the same strategy as Google does with Chrome, creating different development channels to release early versions of their browser as soon as they’re available and keep the final one updated as often as possible.

There are several improvement in Firefox 9, although a few of them will only really benefit Mac users. For instance, there's improved theme integration for OS X Lion and Mozilla have finally added two finger swipe navigation for Lion.

There's also added support for querying Do Not Track status via JavaScript and improved general JavaScript performance courtesy of adding Type Inference. There have been several other minor tweaks too including improved standards support for HTML5, MathML, and CSS and overall stability has been improved.

The interface is pretty much the same as Firefox 8, with a minimalist toolbar and there's still no way of removing elements that you may not want such as Java and .Net Framework. The major downside for most users however is that some plug-ins or add-ons won't work with Firefox 9 yet - so if you have a lot installed, prepare to be disappointed.

Firefox 9 Beta has some useful enhancements for fans of the browser, especially those on Mac.

There are a lot of great sites out there that help internet users find deals on services provided by local businesses. Groupon and LivingSocial are just two examples of sites that advertise daily deals and vacation getaways at discounted rates under certain conditions.

How do you keep track of what deals are being offered when around where you live? Newly launched Deel.io hopes to give you a helping hand on the matter.

Cooperative multiplayer is no new concept, but indie game Way makes the experience totally fresh. It's an attractive platformer, where you play with an unknown partner, and have to communicate with each other using simple expressions and arm movements to explain where to go and when.

As an example, there are part where platforms for one player are only visible to the other. In this case it's most common to guide the player around by pointing. The sections where timing is necessary can be pretty tricky, but they really bond players, and by the end you'll have a great sense of shared achievement.

Graphically, Way reminds me of Little Big Planet (as does the rather floaty jumping), but the communication aspect makes it a really different game. It shouldn't take much over 30 minutes to complete, and believe me you'll be pleased you did. Check out my review here (also available on Mac).

It's been over a decade since Diablo II was released, and it is testament to that game's popularity that there is so much excitement about the Diablo III closed beta and upcoming release in 2012.

Diablo III beta impressions

I played the beta recently, and I think Blizzard has made something that will please fans and newcomers alike. Diablo fans will be right at home with the controls right from the start because there are no big changes. The graphic style is what you would expect from Blizzard, with well defined cartoon-like graphics that are full of detail. It's very atmospheric, and the environment looks great, with some nice touches like crows flying up out trees as you pass.

The beta isn't massively long, but it gives you a taste of how the game has been improved. The general feeling I got was one of smoothness - Diablo III is really slick, and everything just seems to work as it should. The sound is excellent, and visually it manages to be dark enough while keeping everything clear.

Once you've created your Hero, from the usual character classes, you are dropped right into New Tristram, a town that has just suffered a meteor strike that has resulted in the dead rising and attacking. This sets you up on a mission to find Deckhard Cain, who is trapped in the Cathedral.

How to get a Diablo III beta key

If you want to apply for Diablo III beta testing, while nothing is guaranteed, you can sign up for a free Battle.net account, and then follow the instructions here on the official Diablo III site.

If you ever find yourself distracted or annoyed by ads in your web browser, there's a way to fix the issue. OverApps is a handy little tool that will replace ads with interesting content.

The program works in a simple but creative way - it lets you cover up the ads you see on websites with an app of your choice. Want to keep up with your friends' status updates on Facebook? Now you can no matter what webpage you're on. The same goes for Twitter and Flickr. If you're more news-oriented, there's an app that will stream live headlines from CNN. On the other hand if you just want to look at something cute, there are apps that display pictures of puppies and kittens.

Those are just a few of the many app options you get with OverApps. The great news is that the service is currently free in beta version. For Windows XP or higher, OverApps supports Firefox, Internet Explorer and Chrome. For Macs, there's currently support for Firefox.

Here's how it works:

1. Whenever an ad appears on a website, you'll initially see the ad itself (until you program OverApps to override it) and a top drop-down menu from OverApps.

Ace of Spades is a free beta game that Call of Duty-style multiplayer shooting with Minecraft visuals and features. Currently in beta at version 0.60, despite missing a proper game interface, Ace of Spades is a surprisingly playable PC game.

To play quickly, simply download and install the game, then go to the Ace of Spades/play page, choose a server and the game should launch. You can only change your user name by opening the game's folder (click Windows Start button, then All Programs, then Ace of Spades), opening the Configuration file, then replacing the word 'DEUCE' with your chosen word and saving. There are a ton of other hints, tips and importantly controls at the Ace of Spades Wiki.

Environments vary, from randomly spawned worlds, to ones designed by players. All can be mined and built on during battle, which makes for some interesting ideas. The map I played above was two bases separated by an enormous plateau, that had tunnels and chasms carved through it, with fighting taking place all over the place. It's really compelling and I highly recommend it. You'll be hard pushed to find something this good for free!

The other big annual face off has started with EA's Battlefield 3 landing the first punch against Activision's Modern Warfare 3. Today PC gamers can download and play the open beta for Battlefield 3, which features the map 'Operation Métro' and game mode 'Rush'. It's 16 versus 16 online multiplayer, and you will certainly need a powerful machine to get the most out of the game. You have to use EA's downloader Origin, and it's a hefty 3.9 gigabytes.

We'll post our full reflections soon, but my first impressions are excellent. The graphics are simply stunning, movement is more realistic than ever before and the sound is excellent and dynamic. As is always the case with Battlefield, it seems well balanced, but takes some time to get into.

Newbies will be bewildered, and probably get shot a lot. You have to invest time in learning the map, which is pretty big, and until you do, other players will punish you for popping your head out in the wrong place! Take a look at our preview here. Do you think Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be able to match this?