Software

KakaoTalk Messenger puts a really exciting spin on the free-text app by adding fun icons and a great layout. The only problem is that it doesn't really seem to have caught on very well. It has enough going for it that it might be worth sharing with your friends, though.

You can only chat with your friends if they've already signed up for KakaoTalk. During testing, it only found two people from a contact list of hundreds. For what it's worth, KakaoTalk Messenger seems to be more popular in Korea, with many top Korean celebrities having accounts. … Read more

K-9 Mail brings support for multiple e-mail addresses and high-tech features, but it's not easy to set up. It leaves Microsoft users out in the cold for the most part, too. If you know how to manually set up an e-mail client, this app will delight you. If you don't, you might want to stick with the default app on your smartphone or tablet.

This app claims to not support many Hotmail or Outlook e-mail addresses. It will require an app-specific password if you want to sync with Gmail, too. If you're having trouble, you have to … Read more

Contacts plus offers great social media support and loads of features, but makes some head-scratching design choices. It makes too many decisions for you and it flings some downright annoying pop-up notifications to your phone. However, if you have the patience to tweak it, you might find some things you really love about the app.

Contacts plus combines your phone's contact list with your contacts from social media. It supports the usual suspects like Facebook and Twitter, but LinkedIn, Google+, and even Foursquare come along for the ride, too. It's easy to see how you're connected with … Read more

Aqua Mail combines advanced features you won't find in other e-mail apps with a basic layout. It lets you view and back up multiple inboxes with stellar custom menus. Its endless-scrolling and HTML coding support makes it a truly remarkable e-mail app.

If you're using mail services that require two-factor authentication, it may make this app tough to set up. You might have to generate an app-specific password or jump through other hoops to get in. Once you log in, your mailboxes sync really quickly. It only took Aqua Mail a few seconds to load an inbox that … Read more

Combine a screensaver with a full-screen digital clock display and you have Clock Saver. This free, Flash-based screensaver is small in size but big in impact: You can see its digital display across a very large room. It displays hours, minutes, and seconds as well as AM/PM and the day of the week. Lots of apps do that, you say, and some do more. Sure; but Clock Saver has two things going for it: Its utter simplicity and its retro-cool, low-res digits, which look like something from the Moon Age. You'll need Flash Player to use this screensaver. … Read more

With an interface that is easy to use, speedy performance, and useful conversion features, Pixillion Free Image Converter for Mac would be a helpful program for those who need to modify their digital photos. However, the free version comes with some limitations.

While the installer is well designed, it attempts to install an Internet toolbar by default. For those paying attention during the process, this can be prevented by unchecking a checkbox. Pixillion Free Image Converter for Mac's main interface is quite intuitive and easy to navigate. A large plus sign allows files to be added to the program, … Read more

OmniDazzle for Mac offers a set of desktop enhancements that include visual effects for aiding in presentations or just having a little fun while sitting at your computer. Even though most effects work well, some are a bit glitchy.

Installation was the regular matter of downloading and copying to the Applications folder. When we launched the app the first time, it brought us right to the help screen, which offered a good breakdown of what the app does and how to use it. OmniDazzle for Mac only allows one effect to be active at any time, so we selected our … Read more

As a functional idea-mapping program with a streamlined interface, MindNode Lite for Mac helps users think creatively and organize their thoughts logically. The software performs as advertised even though the free version comes with certain limitations.

While MindNode Lite for Mac lacks any user tutorial or walk-through, the main menu is designed well enough for most users to pick up easily. The main window contains a large white space, where a center box is placed by default. Here, the user can enter the title of the first entry, or node. Moving the cursor around the area of the first box … Read more

As a basic presentation tool, Highlight for Mac enables users to draw on their screen using a mouse or trackpad, and does it fairly well, with only minor frustrations along the way.

Highlight for Mac costs just under a buck and is available through the Mac App store. Once purchased, it downloads and installs quite easily. There were no hints or quick tutorials on first launch, nor is there a Help file or even a Preferences panel accessible from the menu bar. However, there is a direct link to an online manual available on the app's official Web site. … Read more