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The camera on an iOS device is perfect for scanning and sharing documents with other people. However, a simple photograph is not sufficient. Not only does the lighting rarely work for photographing a white piece of paper, there are cropping and saving issues. That's why a tool like JotNot Scanner is so useful by cropping documents, removing unwanted background colors, and creating enough contrast in the final image to easily read the document.

JotNot Scanner is not the only scanning app on the App Store, but it is one of the easier-to-use apps. When you first open it, you … Read more

Instagram users may be searching for a more efficient way to use the app from their home screens. Winstagram - Instagram Widget claims to make viewing your favorite photos easier, but its operational failures make it difficult to use.

Winstagram - Instagram Widget comes at no cost. The download from the Google Play store completed quickly, but installation took longer than expected. It is not clear from the application if technical support is available, and there were no user instructions available, either. Upon startup, the application returned multiple errors, but after several tries it eventually opened. The main screen was … Read more

Would you pay for a desktop wallpaper slideshow? Let's rephrase that: Would you pay for shareware to create a desktop wallpaper slideshow? You might, if it's Wallpaper SlideShow Pro. What makes it so much better than the many free slideshow apps? Like the one that comes with Windows? Lots of things, starting with multiple monitor capability. You can custom-fit each separate image, too, so you no longer have to choose whether to center, fit, or stretch them all. You can add overlays like calendars and text, too. As we noted, Wallpaper SlideShow Pro is shareware, but it's … Read more

It's so easy to take pictures and store them on your PC that you could quickly end up with the digital equivalent of the old shoebox stuffed with photos. You keep meaning to organize them into displays or albums, but it just never happens and eventually you aren't even sure who some of the people are or why you took the photos. Thankfully, Picture Collage Maker Pro offers a simple way to help you organize your photos into customized albums, calendars, special occasion cards, and more.

As soon as Picture Collage Maker Pro is installed, you're directed … Read more

Vocabulary .NET is a free tool designed to help users learn new words and new languages. It incorporates Google Dictionary and TTS, and it comes with an English dictionary, though you can import dictionary files as well as create, edit, and export your own custom dictionaries. It's completely portable, which enhances its educational value, but it requires Microsoft .NET to run. While Vocabulary .NET's basic version is free, you must obtain a commercial license to use all its features, including bilingual translation.

Some of Vocabulary .NET's definitions seem highly questionable. For instance, the two definitions for "… Read more

Call it a rebirth or possibly a renaissance. Either way, podcasts have come into their own on mobile devices, thanks to easy access through the iTunes Store, instant streaming, and the release of thousands of high-quality productions seemingly every day. The issue, until relatively recently, has always been accessing, organizing, and syncing those podcasts on your phone. Apple tried to make this easier with a Podcast app, but bugs and limited support for older devices crippled it early on. Which is where InstaCast 3 comes in. Developed by Vemedio, InstaCast 3 is a complete, all-in-one podcast client for your iPad … Read more

Despite the wealth of content available on YouTube, it still can't be enjoyed offline. 4Media YouTube Video Converter for Mac converts YouTube videos into watchable files, but at a relatively high price for its features.

While the full program requires a payment of $30.99, the free trial version allows a user to test its features, but with a three-minute limit on converted videos. 4Media YouTube Video Converter for Mac downloaded and installed quickly despite a size of over 100MB. After a brief loading time, the program revealed an interface that was slightly cluttered but functional. Instructions existed for … Read more

Even though smartphones and tablets can be both fun and useful for children, these devices also open children up to a dangerous world of unlimited information exchange. Whether it be inappropriate text exchanges, adult Web site content, or excessive usage that may rack up fees, Parental Control will help safeguard your kids.

Parental Control is quick to set up on a mobile device. For the most part it runs in the background and is not visible through normal use. The program itself is password-protected so the child may not simply disable it or delete it. The main portion of the … Read more

WeChat is a social app that gathers all of your sharing and communication tools in one place, including video calls, text messages, and images. To fully experience the app, you'll need to get your friends to use it too, but it's a great way to connect with your friends across all platforms.

To get started with WeChat, you'll need to create a user ID and password, which requires you to enter your phone number and a four-digit code that is sent to you via text message. The app will need access to your Address Book, which is … Read more