Software

A capable and multifunctional media player, MplayerX for Mac features generous support online and ample tools available to the user, making it a very capable tool for watching videos.

At around 34MB in size, the application may take a couple of minutes to download. Though it installs painlessly, MplayerX for Mac does not include a splash page or tutorial for new users when it first opens, nor does it open a video window. It only appears in the status bar at the top. The best way to access it is to use the "open with" feature when clicking … Read more

While the built-in Empty Trash function on a Mac provides a strong level of security, Permanent Eraser for Mac uses the Gutmann encryption method, which is five times more powerful, to accomplish the most secure removal of information from your system.

Downloading and installing Permanent Eraser for Mac takes a couple of seconds. Simply drag the app to your Applications folder and double-click on its icon to start it, instantly. There's not really a user interface, but the app will pop up a warning window asking you if you're sure you want to erase the contents of your … Read more

While rather basic, Pixen for Mac includes quite a few distinguishing capabilities for creating pixel art. While this program certainly isn't Paint or Photoshop, it still offers all the expected tools needed for creating pixelated images and animations.

Once installed, Pixen for Mac offers a rather basic interface with all of the tools available in one place. The application allows for using several different backgrounds, including existing image files like photos or wallpapers. It also supports layers allowing for each layer to be edited or removed individually. The standard set of tools will be familiar to most users and … Read more

Pocket for Mac is a clever little app that creates a central location for storing all those links and Web pages you want to read at a later time.

We installed Pocket for Mac via the App Store, and on startup were greeted by a quick tutorial that explained the basics. We set up our account in a minute, and soon were sharing items from the Web. We tried the default method of sharing, which is e-mailing a link from the e-mail address we registered with the app. Soon the link and its contents appeared in both instances of Pocket … Read more

Closet - Clothing Organized is likely to be a godsend for iPhone users with large, cluttered, or disorganized closets. Streamlining the organization process, creating a working inventory of your wardrobe, and allowing you to mix and match the lists you keep into various outfits, Closet - Clothing Organized is a powerful, easy-to-use database creation tool that fashionistas everywhere will love.

When you first open Closet - Clothing Organized, you are prompted to add categories for what you currently own. The app includes dozens of categories from accessories to different types of shoes and blouses. From there, you can create subcategories … Read more

Norton Mobile Utilities combines the feature of a battery manager, RAM booster, and other utilities into one cool package. However, to get extended battery life and additional features you need to upgrade to the full version, but luckily the free app includes enough features to match other all-in-one utility apps.

When you use this app for the first time, it will try to automatically forward your usage stats to Norton. Make sure you deselect that option if you don't want this to happen. The app gives you plenty of stats about how your phone is using its battery, memory, … Read more

Floor Plan Creator includes almost too many tools and grids to help you lay out your home. It's not very easy to use on small-screen phones, though, as it will get too cluttered too quickly. However, if you have a tablet or phablet and want to picture a home's layout before you move or make big redecorations, this is a great way to do it.

The app starts you off with one floor plan so you get the hang of things. Playing with this floor plan is definitely recommended before you start your own, or else you might … Read more

Tech Terms Computer Dictionary for Mac may be a bit of a misnomer as this widget doesn't really provide dashboard access to the definitions of Tech Terms, but it does open a browser window to the appropriate page available on the Tech Terms Web site.

Installation was quite a breeze and the application installed as a widget directly into our Dashboard. The widget, itself, is quite basic and includes a search box. When the user types in a specific term, the widget takes the user to the appropriate page on the Tech Terms Computer Dictionary Web site. During testing … Read more

VLC Media Player for Mac is the all-around reliable, works-out-of-the-box media player that you might never have heard of, though that's no reflection on the app, itself.

We installed the latest update for VLC Media Player for Mac on our test machine without problems. We quickly downloaded the DMG, and then copied VLC to Applications, overwriting our previous installed version. As longtime users of this software, we were happy to see that not much has changed. The interface remained the same, with standard buttons for playback, forward, and back. Advanced controls are available for more options, as well. The … Read more