2.1

Review: Screenshot Helper makes hiding the mess on your desktop a snap

Screenshot Helper for Mac solves the common problem of eliminating desktop clutter from screenshots. It is an elegant and uncomplicated tool that performs without any glitches.

Upon startup, a dialog window appeared, suggesting a change we could make to our System Preferences in order to make "more compatible" screenshots. We ignored this suggestion and had no problems, though this may be helpful for users who may share their screenshots with others and run into problems. Upon dismissing the warning, everything on our screen, except the dock and menu bar, disappeared and was replaced with solid white. The white … Read more

Windows 8.1 vs. Apple: Twofer or tablet?

Will new Windows 8.1 hybrids finally expose the iPad for what it really is, a mere tablet?

That's what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer suggested this week.

When speaking at the company's Build Conference on Wednesday, he described in colorful -- and maybe just a tad exaggerated -- terms how tablets don't measure up to laptops (or even pencil and paper).

Enter the "2-in-1," as Microsoft likes to call hybrids. During his keynote presentation, Ballmer brandished the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix as an example of a 2-in-1 he has used.

The Helix can be a pure … Read more

Microsoft's pitch for hybrids: Tablets alone don't cut it

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer pitched upcoming "2-in-1" devices hard Wednesday at the Build Conference. Part of the pitch included mocking the dedicated tablet experience.

Here's what Ballmer said.

How many of us have gone to a meeting with somebody who brought a tablet and then when it comes time to actually take notes, writes them down on pencil and paper. Or can't get at the spreadsheet...or try to use it in terminal emulator mode...or take [a long time] to set up and turn their tablet into something that approximates a PC.

That statement -- … Read more

Review: ClipGrab grabs videos from the most popular video-sharing Web sites

ClipGrab downloads and converts Internet videos with ease and offers more features than most other YouTube downloaders. It doesn't download very quickly, though, and the video and audio quality won't be the ideal. However, if you need a program that downloads videos automatically, you might want this one.

When you try to install this program, it will try to change your default browser and add some extra programs. If you dodge those, the program, itself, downloads very quickly. Its layout is very minimalistic, but it puts all the tools you need right in your face. You can search … Read more

Review: ZC Video to iPhone Converter modernizes your video collection for mobile

ZC Video to iPhone Converter fills in for one of the larger missing features in iTunes, converting almost any video format into iPhone-ready MP4 for playback on your mobile device. While it is not perfect and there are some issues with the interface, ZC Video to iPhone Converter manages to do a decent and quick job of converting those files and ensuring they play back at high quality on your phone.

After installing ZC converter, you can immediately load a video from your hard drive for conversion. Choose a video and it will load with metadata for editing. You can … Read more

Review: ZC Video to iPod Converter allows you to take any video on the go

ZC Video to iPod Converter solves the problem faced by anyone with non-standard video clips on their computer, converting them into iPod-friendly MP4 format. The tool works with most video formats, and with a few exceptions was quick and responsive in our testing. While there are some issues that can make it harder than necessary to get started, the resulting videos are what matter most and they are generally of very high quality.

After installation, which takes only a few moments, you can immediately load video files into ZC converter. There are numerous options including cropping to fit the iPod … Read more

Review: Fit Radio provides numerous thematic radio stations for your workout

Fit Radio takes one of the more popular features of other radio curation services and builds an entire app around it. The result is a stripped-down music discovery and radio app that works perfectly for those who are heading to the gym and don't already have their own playlists.

The purpose of Fit Radio is to create and curate playlists of songs that are perfect for anyone going to the gym or working out at home. It combines a number of features in terms of DJ-supported playlists and custom songs to give you a choice among dozens of possible … Read more

Review: Old Fart Booth gives you a peek into the future

Old Fart Booth is far from the only photo modification app on the App Store, nor is it the best; but with a sleek interface and impressive effects, it can be a lot of fun to play with. Using facial matching technology and what appears to be a very sophisticated filter, Old Fart Booth presents realistic images of what you or your friends could look like in old age. The results may be a bit disturbing, but are also very entertaining.

When you open Old Fart Booth for the first time, you will need to sift through a fair number … Read more

Review: Supiki English offers fun, game-style English language training

Supiki English Conversation is a smartly-designed and expertly-crafted app that combines game-like elements with the conversational tools of the iPhone to teach English. The app works very well in many situations, but is often limited by the steep price of upgrades and the lack of control over which lessons you can use. For those that fully invest in Supiki, it offers many fun surprises that dabblers may not have the chance to experience.

When you start using Supiki, you can access a handful of lessons for free. Other lessons will unlock as you complete the initial ones, but because of … Read more