It’s been a while since I reviewed the indie Roccat Web Browser for OS X. Roccat was at version 2.3 when it was the subject of my last critique, and it’s now up to version 3.1, which was released a couple of weeks ago. I’m happy to report that it’s been refined and tweaked to a point where most of my previous criticisms have been addressed, and it’s now a stable and speedy performer.

Ever been in a situation where an Apple online service—like iMessage, Facetime, or iCloud—wasn’t working as expected and you weren’t sure if the problem was on your end or Apple’s? Well, there’s a handy web page you can check on Apple.com that will tell you what the status is of every online service they support, including the various web stores and iCloud.

Still a few more days left to get 10 gigs of free cloud storage. Through April 11, Mac users can get a “freemium” 10 gigs of Dolly Drive Storage, Sync & Backup for Mac. Dolly Drive subscriptions include cloud storage for having a virtual hard drive, file syncing and online backup along with integrated capabilities for local backup and a bootable clone for immediate disaster recovery.

Most public WiFi networks are insecure or poorly secured, which means any user on the network can freely view the information you send and receive. If you’re worried about securing your private information, Cloak can help you guarantee your privacy on public WiFi networks.

Maxthon Cloud Browser versions are available for Windows, OS X, iOS and Android, and it’s designed to provide users with a seamless and unified user experience across multiple devices and platforms. I can’t speak to the Windows and Android versions, but I’m unevenly impressed with the OS X and iOS variants.

Using an iPhone in Ireland to connect to the Internet? Get your passport out. The legislature of Ireland, the Oireachtas, is exploring the topic of Internet safety and cyberbullying, and the possible need for legislation and regulation of online comments. It’s going about as well as you might imagine, with one senator, Eamonn Coghlan, suggesting that people should pay to post online, and also use a passport to register their IP address.

Starting a new search engine in the 2010s sounds as absurd as coming out with a new word processor in the 1990s. But DuckDuckGo, which searches using primarily crowdsourced information, is a refreshing throwback to the days before Google got into the business of mining your online habits for internet gold. The results are fast and relevant, and your data is not tracked.

iCloud aims to make cloud services simple, but the tradeoff there is a lack of capabilities (try creating a shared PhotoStream from a folder of pictures on a USB drive). The MacMate team was on hand at the recent Macworld expo to show off their combination of cloud storage, web gallery, and website hosting services, for those who miss the power and flexibility of MobileMe.

A proxy server is a remote computer, usually in another country, that you access remotely to make it look like your computer is also in that location. Finding, accessing, and setting up your computer to use a proxy can be a royal pain, but Netshade, a program for OS X, makes it as simple as a double-click.

What were you doing Christmas eve? I was getting recipes together for Christmas meals, then I was in church singing Silent Night, which is such a pretty song. Unfortunately, I didn’t tell you all about Heroes of the Realm, so I’m doing so now. It’s OGPlanet’s free-to-play card/strategy RPG that offers numerous challenges and deep gameplay right from your web browser.