apps

Use Duolingo on Android to learn languages while mobile

In the past I've written about Babbel for mobile and Rosetta Course (mobile version of Rosetta Stone) for language learning when you have spare time. Now another contender enters the ring, and has a lot of promise.

Duolingo turns learning a language into a game, more so than the other apps. You are given a few hearts (representing your health pool) that you don't want to lose during the learning levels. Hearts are lost by answering questions incorrectly. Once you finish a lesson with hearts remaining, you'll earn an achievement to track your … Read more

How to update apps in iTunes 11

You may have noticed in Apple's recent iTunes update that they played a little game of "hide the app update button." Well, not to spoil the surprise, but we uncovered it.

Instead of its usual location across the bottom of the App pane in iTunes, you now have to select the new Updates tab located above the pane. Once selected, an Update All Apps button will appear in the previous location on the bottom.

Apple also decided to festoon any app in need of an update with a red Update ribbon. Logically, you might think that you … Read more

Star Apps: OKCupid co-founder Christian Rudder

If a profile like Christian Rudder's turned up in an OKCupid user's search results, it would certainly merit a deeper look. As a Harvard graduate, who's helped launch and sell two successful companies (SparkNotes, in 1999, which sold to Barnes & Noble; OKCupid, in 2004, which sold to Match.com) and an indie musician who's appeared in the romcom, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," he'd be a catch by most standards.

Download.com caught up with Rudder, who's also OKCupid's General Manager and Editorial Director, to discuss his company's … Read more

Get Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram on Android Home with SO.HO

SO.HO by Inq Mobile wants to be the first thing you see when picking up your Android smartphone by replacing your launcher -- TouchWiz, HTC Sense, stock, and so on. Instead of only offering access to Facebook updates from your connections, SO.HO lets you see updates from Twitter and Instagram as well.

To get started, you'll need to install the most recent version of SO.HO on your Android. Then, connect the social-media accounts you want to see updates from. Once finished, you can easily switch social-media accounts from the top left-hand corner menu.

The … Read more

Windows 8 update includes Start button (sort of)

CNET Update is high in fiber:

In this episode of Update:

- See what changes Microsoft has in store for Windows 8.1 coming later this year.

- Give your pockets some breathing room with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone.

- Save $70 and become a selfie master with the cheaper iPod Touch.

- Count calories with Google's new nutrition search feature.

- Share safe-for-work photos with new status updates on LinkedIn.

- Find your way to the Facebook event with Waze's latest feature.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch … Read more

Sweet! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic lands on iPad

If you're a gamer and "Star Wars" fan, your day just got a little better: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) arrived on the iOS App Store for iPad.

Supported by Apple's iPad 2 (running iOS 6) and newer iterations, Knights of the Old Republic costs a stout $10, but the 1.98GB download (which unpacks to 2.5GB) represents many hours of entertaining "Star Wars" gameplay. Game developer Aspyr ported the classic game originally created by Bioware.… Read more

Dear Microsoft: Add folders to the Windows 8 Start screen

Microsoft has a host of changes in store for Windows 8.1, including a nod in the direction of a Start button that the company is referring to as a Start "tip." But one feature I think would prove more useful would be a simple folder option for the Start screen.

As you install more apps in Windows 8, the OS keeps populating your Start screen with more and more tiles. The more apps you install, the more cluttered and crowded your Start screen becomes. Anyone who installs several dozen or more apps can easily find themselves having … Read more

Google adds color labels to its Calendar app for Android

For those extra-organized people, Google has updated its Calendar app for Android to add color labels and a new date and time tool.

The color labels palette lets users customize events or calendar listings with a choice of 24 colors. Certain important dates can be highlighted in different colors to especially catch users' attention.

As far as putting in certain events, the redesigned date and time tool lets users customize time zones and schedule events to be repeated on certain days, weeks, or months.

In other Google news, the tech giant also announced on Wednesday that it's revamping … Read more

Carpool creation site open for business

Launching with an ethos of "Keep it simple," the Group Carpool site is designed around the idea of making it easy for large groups of people to organize drivers and passengers.

James McBryan, programmer of Group Carpool, says he grew frustrated with using Google spreadsheets to match up drivers and passengers for backpacking trips. He set up this new Web application to provide a means of arranging transportation for specific events.

To create a carpool, you don't need to register for an account or log in with Facebook. It merely takes clicking the "Create a carpool&… Read more