Those of you who follow the Free Line with some regularity know about the pandemic of “upgrade fever” that have been making its rounds as of late. Web-based companies of all shapes and and sizes have contracted the illness, from Yahoo to YouTube and everyone in between. The latest “victim” is Google, who was “caught” revamping their customizable start page, iGoogle. The big change this time around concerns the size of Google Gadgets. Although many welcome the new, larger Gadgets, some feel that the new-look tools are now too difficult to work with, especially on their “more traditional” 4:3 monitors. Aside from a few bug and layout fixes, the new page also features new slate of “content partners,” including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and TV Guide. The new and improved iGoogle is now online.

It seems as if Wal-Mart is ready to give the world of online music distibution another try. This time around, the retail giant has replaced the oft-criticized, DRM-infested, WMA files of its previous store with the “ol’ standby” — MP3s. As with the old store, all of the Wal-Mart-branded music is five cents cheaper than iTunes and clean as a whistle. Despite some reports to the contrary, those who bought files from the old store can still have access to their music. The new and improved Wal-Mart music store is up and running now.

Every now and again, you might feel the urge to record that thrilling piece of virtual real estate known affectionately as “your desktop.” This process, often referred to as “screencasting,” is not as easy to pull off as you might think. Enter the ScreenToaster. Unlike most programs of its ilk, ScreenToaster is web-based, meaning that it’s compatible with most major operating systems. All you have to do is click on the big blue button that says “start recording.” Within minutes, you’ll have the ultimate in desktop keepsakes ready and waiting. Simple and effective, ScreenToaster can deliver that “desktop video” that you desire in almost no time at all.

If the thoughts of recording your own desktop just doesn’t thrill you, but you still have that pesky “video itch,” we suggest giving Xtranormal a try. Utilizing a simple drag-and-drop layout, Xtranormal lets you create your own 3D movies with relative ease. The only real downside we found with this service involves dialog. While we weren’t expecting our characters to sound like Mel Blanc or late voice over legend Dan LaFontaine, we were hoping for them to sound like something other than a “twenty year old Speak and Spell.” Our minor gripe aside, Xtranormal is perfect for anyone wanting to try their hand at simple computer animation.

And finally: One of the more difficult things about building a web presence is finding a domain name. Thankfully for all of us, there’s Domainr. Domainr is a handy little web service that makes finding that perfect name a breeze. All you have to do is type in a keyword, like “Free Line,” for example. A list of domian names then appears, complete with availability and pricing information. Easy and painless, Domainr lets you take care of more important things, like the actual construction of your site.