A couple of weeks ago we wrote about a tool called BGInfo. Reader Paul Kru pointed out that "BGinfo . . . is a great tool, but it's not completely freeware. No Sysinternals products are really freeware . . . unless you download them to each PC [or] server individually."

We found this was true, but now that Sysinternals has been absorbed by the borg Microsoft, the licensing terms have changed. On Microsoft's TechNet site for Sysinternals, the FAQ says, "Companies can now install and use the software throughout their organization, as opposed to a single-user limitation."

In addition, there is an odd restriction: You cannot load or use Sysinternals utilities freely on computers you support but do not own -- for that you need to "contact Microsoft Sysinternals Licensing . . . and inquire about fee based licensing options." These new licensing terms apparently apply to all Sysinternals utilities.

It is also worth noting that the FAQ says, "We will no longer offer the Sysinternals source code for download or license." For a while at least, the source code is still available, but if you want to get it, move fast.

A few weeks ago we discussed RocketDock, a free tool for launching applications that is reminiscent of Apple's OS X launcher. If you liked that, here's some more user interface candy for you: ÜberIcon, published by Punk Software, the creators of the aforementioned (we don't get to use that word too often) RocketDock.

You know how, when you launch an OS X program, the application's icon zooms out in a sexy kind of way? Well, that's what ÜberIcon does, but for Windows 2000, XP and 2003. ÜberIcon provides more than just a zoom out; it also can make the icon bounce (it expands out, then back in) and flat-out (which we won't bother to describe, because it is kind of weird). You can control which effects it uses and unload it if need be, using its system tray icon. It needs only 1MB of RAM. Do you need ÜberIcon? No. Is it fun to have on your desktop? Yep.

Finally, we know what your life is like: You are stressed, wired, hyper and in need of some solid sleep. Or maybe you're having a postprandial energy low and just need to hide out in the server room behind the router rack and catch a reinvigorating 20 minutes.