top5

The Top 5 worst downloads of Spring 2009

The end of the aughts is nigh, and the first few months of 2009 have brought us new corporate bailouts, new unemployment figures, and a new batch of download disasters. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get to 2020. Until then, here are five of the worst downloads from the beginning of '09--maybe we can just laugh ourselves into the future.

Be sure to check out CNET TV Editor Tom Merritt's hilarious video (on the left) on these five gems and just what happened to Peter Butler, my "Worst Downloads" predecessor. … Read more

Top 5 deadliest viruses

In the wake of the Conficker worm, we dug into our research vault, known as the Web, and ferreted out the five deadliest computer viruses/worms of all time. Turns out all we needed to do was read the London Times. And all they needed to do was ask a security company.

It goes without saying that you should watch the video to see what the Top 5 are. But you have another incentive: for this week we are giving away a size-large throwback CNET fleece, as modeled in the video by Intern Chris Knox and Producer Sarah Harbin.

Watch the video, … Read more

CNET TV: Top 5 worst downloads

The are good programs and bad programs, and then there are the horror shows. Every three months or so, we take a playful look at some of the least impressive software programs to come down the pike.

From Canadian Rock Radio to telepathic communication with aliens, there's a lot not to like about this oddball crew. Just in time for Halloween, CNET TV's Tom Merritt counts down the five scariest downloads of fall 2008.

CNET TV: Top 5 worst downloads of summer 2008

Every few months, we like to playfully poke fun at some of the less successful software on the site. While there are countless great products created (and covered in this blog, hopefully) every week, these five software applications are not included in that group. These programs are the other sort of download software--the head-scratching variety.

We love you, software publishers, we really do. Some of your products...are another story.

Watch CNET TV's Tom Merritt count down this summer's list of the worst software on Download.com, and see if you don't find yourself wondering, "What … Read more

Top 5 online music stores

As one may suspect, working in digital music gives a person a somewhat skewed view about the permeation of online music in the general population. Everyone (aside from audiophiles and vinyl buffs) is getting their music fix though the Web nowadays, right? Wrong. Although digital music is on the rise, it's still well behind CDs in terms of overall sales ($2.8 billion versus $15.9 billion, according to one report).

Another report forecasts that digital music sales won't surpass physical media for another four years. Well, what say we prove some people wrong (always fun) and shave … Read more

CNET Top 5: Worst downloads of 2008 (so far)

2008 is nearly halfway over, which means that poor CNET Download.com senior content manager Peter Butler has reached deeply into the trash heap to pluck out, shake off, and crown with glory the most useless downloads published this year. He's handed the best of the worst over to CNET Executive Editor Tom Merritt for show and tell. Hey, even truly horrendous software deserves its moment of shame fame.

CNET Top 5: Worst downloads of 2008 (so far)

Top 5 Election Resources

First, watch the video where I count these down, then if you want the links, come on back here.

Glassbooth Project Vote Smart Smart Voter Political base

Blogs Michelle Malkin Instapundit Crooks and Liars Huffington Post Daily Kos

Video: Best downloads of 2007

To every sweet there is a sour; to every storm cloud, there is a silver lining. We took care of the sour storm clouds first with a demonstration of the worst downloads of 2007 on CNET Download.com. I reiterate editor Peter Butler's disclaimer that the absolute worst downloads, stuffed with spyware or adware, never make it near our site.

The amusing mudslinging for misdirected software aside, may we now present Tom Merritt's ever-humorous take on the five most awesome downloads to break out in 2007. These applications that will save you time, and possibly a whole lot … Read more

Mac vs. PC: CNET TV Top 5

Now that Mac OS X Leopard has arrived, and Microsoft's Windows Vista slowly gains more acceptance, it's time for another battle of the heavyweight operating systems. Tom Merritt counts down the five biggest differences between Mac and Windows in another edition of CNET TV Top 5.