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Review: FaceBody mashes photographed faces onto animated bodies

FaceBody is an interesting app in that it gives you two options for how to create and manage the animated bodies and heads you create in your images. The core draw of the app is that you can place your own face (or that of someone you know) on the body of a cartoon character, but this is purely optional, and the result is an interesting array of slightly awkward animated figures.

When you open the app, you can choose to take a photo of your face right away (or anyone else's). A handy onscreen guide shows you where … Read more

Review: Times Tables Game offers a colorful if limited multiplication learning tool

Times Tables Game does a good job of tapping into many of the things that make a good educational app for the iPad, but it is missing some very important components. Due to a limited trial, sometimes messy interface, and convoluted menu system, it works best when a parent directly oversees play by the child.

Times Tables Game is designed to help children learn their times tables in a colorful, easy-to-use interface. With animals, lots of bright colors, and flowers onscreen, combined with light animations, the app is pleasant to look at, though it can get busy and the directions … Read more

Review: Send pictures to your local Walgreens using PicDrop - Scrapbooking Friend

PicDrop - Scrapbooking Friend solves the photo printing problem by enabling users to wirelessly send pictures right to a local Walgreens to get processed. This is one application that scrapbooking users must have.

After a virtually instant download users will observe one of the most easy-to-navigate user interfaces. It features large, easy-to-read icons and a bright colorful scheme. There is a minor setup procedure that requires inputting some information regarding Dropbox, Facebook, and other Web sites that may be used in conjunction with this app. To get started using PicDrop - Scrapbooking Friend, the user must first select photographs that … Read more

Review: Focus attention on your pointer for presentations with Highlighter for Mac

When giving live or recorded computer presentations, the mouse pointer can be easily lost to viewers. Highlighter for Mac focuses attention on the pointer, but lacks any other features for presentation that would make it more useful to most users.

While it downloaded and started up without any problems, the program did lack technical support. Fortunately, Highlighter for Mac's basic purpose and operation made the lack of user instructions or tutorials moot. At startup, the only thing that happens is a red circle that follows the pointer around the screen, highlighting it for easier viewing. There were no options … Read more

Review: Back up computer files using Backuplist+ for Mac

Backuplist+ for Mac lacks advanced features, but performs basic backup operations well. It's worth a look for those who want more flexibility than native backup utilities, such as Time Machine, provide.

The 2.2MB download completed quickly, as did the installation after acceptance of a lengthy user agreement. Unfortunately, Backuplist+ for Mac offers no user instructions, which was a disappointment due to the rather hard to decipher menu. The application has no graphics or clearly labeled main buttons. A bar at the top allows the user to select the backup file's destination. Users can then create different backup … Read more

Review: Otaku Camera (Free) makes photos "comical"

Otaku Camera makes any photo look like a still from an awesome comic book. In addition to adding style to your photos, it gives you headlines about anime, cosplay, and more. It's certainly a must-have app for any anime fans.

Otaku Camera only gives you a handful of generic overlays to start with, but offers almost hundreds of new things to download in its shop. These feature your favorite characters and stills from manga and anime like Tiger and Bunny, and Berserk. During testing, everything in the store was free. That makes it seem unnecessary to have it all … Read more

Review: Rdio gives users access to 20 million songs

Rdio takes many of the changes we've seen in music sharing over recent years and compiles them into a single, easy-to-use interface that offers a bit of everything for different types of music lovers.

Rdio's function is straightforward. Subscribe and gain instant access to 20 million songs. Create playlists, download other playlists, or search for bands or albums you want to listen to. Where it stands out is the deep social integration and the ability to create and download playlists to your device for offline listening--something other services like Pandora don't allow. The interface is very intuitive, … Read more

Review: Soften your screen brightness with Screen Shades for Mac

When working in a dark environment, some users may find their screen to be too bright even when the brightness is already on the lowest setting. With Screen Shades for Mac, users will now be able to fine-tune their Mac's brightness even more.

Screen Shades for Mac is very basic freeware. The app is small in size and the installation only took a few seconds to complete. Upon launching the app, a menu will pop up, allowing the user to turn on the effect, which will add a tint and darken the screen of their Mac. Right below the … Read more

Review: IDoNote2 offers a note-taking alternative on iOS

There are a lot of alternatives on the App Store to the built-in note-taking tool provided by Apple on the iPhone. That doesn't necessarily mean those apps are good alternatives, and in the case of IDoNote2, it is unclear what advantages you are supposed to gain by using this app, instead of Apple's.

The idea behind IDoNote2 is elementary--take notes and view them in a clean white interface. Unfortunately, nearly every aspect of the app performs poorly. From the fuzzy, low-resolution interface to a cluttered and cramped input screen and an organizational system that lacks any sorting options--IDoNote2 … Read more

Review: Alter the sound of your voice with Voice Changer Plus

Voice Changer Plus is not necessarily unique, but its clever interface and integration of multiple free voices and sound effects for altering or even transforming a recording are not only well done, but also incredibly fun to use. This is a very feature-rich, free app that provides all of the core functions in the lite version, and that makes it easy to use without any unnecessary menus or barriers.

Open Voice Changer Plus and you are shown a single screen where all of the functions can be accessed. The first step is to record your voice as you say something. … Read more