Designed to help late-night computer users save their eyes, F.lux for Mac provides a softer and gentler backlight for the screen by helping the display adapt to the time of the day.

F.lux for Mac functions flawlessly, although we did have some difficulty finding it once we had closed it the first time. Once it is running, the only place it will be accessible is as an icon in the status bar at the top of the screen. It does not show in recently-used apps or the sidebar, and it does not reopen if you click on the … Read more

After more than 20 years in the making and FDA approval in February, the Argus II bionic eye is finally here. Well, almost. Developer Second Sight says it has selected clinical centers in 12 U.S. markets where it will begin rolling out the groundbreaking technology later this year.

The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, which was approved in February to treat adults 25 and older with severe to profound retinitis pigmentosa, doesn't actually restore vision to these patients, but can allow them to detect light and dark, and thus identify the movement or location of objects.… Read more

For an operating system touted as being highly customizable, its a mystery why more manufacturers don't let you program the (physical) Home button. Of course, one tap always takes you to the home screen, but long-pressing and double-tapping are often programmed to take you to places like the multitasker or a voice assistant.

Unless, of course, you use a workaround.

For many phones with a physical Home button, you can customize its shortcuts with the free Home2 Shortcut app.

Step 1. Download Home2 Shortcut from the Google Play store on your Android device. Immediately after it's installed, launch … Read more

Nook offers lots of books and advanced settings, but it's locked down to Barnes & Noble. If you're already tied to that ecosystem, it's a fantastic app. It's also good way to get a few free eBooks or read new books on your favorite gadget.

This app requires you to sign in with a Barnes & Noble account. Once you do, it will let you read any books you buy on all of your gadgets, including smartphones, tablets and, of course, eReaders. The app makes it relatively easy to browse the entire Barnes & Noble collection, … Read more

There was a time not so long ago when MP3 players were a hot and essential technology, and Apple's best-selling product was the iPod. Now with smartphones and tablets, though, there are many other devices that make great music players. But even if the MP3 player's best days are waning, there are still a number of great products available. Here are our top picks.

Apple's iPod Touch has been CNET's top-rated MP3 player for five years running. With a base model that starts at $229, it is not an inexpensive product, but the breadth … Read more

KidLogger for Mac lives up to its name, providing effective and diverse tools for monitoring the activity on a computer. Even though it is clear that the program is put together by a tech-savvy developer, the primary user of this program will likely be a parent, so it may need a few improvements in the user interface.

KidLogger for Mac downloads and installs easily enough, although a navigation function on the tile bar would be a nice addition. The program provides several different options for the user, including recording keystroke logs, taking Webcam and screenshots at user-specified intervals, and recording … Read more

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

Working from home is a privilege, and in some cases, unavoidable. Here, in our San Francisco office, many commuters were hit hard by the recent BART strikes, forcing those reliant on the public transportation service to be stranded at home. Luckily, working from home doesn't mean you have to be any less productive.

Here are some of our recommended apps to make sure that you stay focused and productive so that you can get the most out of your work, no matter where you're at.

Timers

Time management is key; timers are a great way to keep yourself … 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