BARRY'S BEST WINDOWS, ANDROID AND IOS APPS

Watchdog Task Manager (Android) - Be notified about misbehaving apps

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:14:44 PDT

Many knowledgeable people tell us that apps that kill every other running app are not needed on Android devices. This may well be so (it's still fun to do though, makes us feel powerful), and if it is true we really don't need app killers. Unless a single app just freaking loses it and goes on a rampage!

In that case, what you need is an app that will spot the misbehaving, riotous app and allow you to kill that single app.

Developer Quote: "You don't need a task killer. But you do need a way to make sure a background app doesn't lose control and eat up all your CPU. Watchdog monitors your apps and alerts when one loses control, allowing you to kill just that single app."

Watchdog Task Manager is available as a FREE or a paid app on Google play!

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Lightning Launcher (Android) - Small but powerful launcher

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:15:42 PDT

A small, fast and super-customizable home screen launcher replacement for your Android device. It's free and totally worth checking out.

Lightning Launcher is FREE on Google play!

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AppRemover (Windows) - Uninstall Leftovers from Security Programs

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:34:24 PDT

Many security programs, when you try to uninstall them, have the habit of leaving behind bits and pieces of themselves. This detritus can clutter and even destabilize your PC's delicate mechanisms. You definitely don't want that!

AppRemover can search your system for these unfortunate stowaways, find them, and flush them. It's a free executable that needs no installation. Just download it and run it and watch it do its thing.

Download AppRemover

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jv16 PowerTools 2012 - Registry Cleaner and Windows Utility Suite

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Wed, 30 May 2012 03:47:41 PDT

People love power tools, and here are some excellent digital power tools for your Windows PC that will help you get it and keep it running like a dream, encompassing a suite of utilities with everything from general cleanup and speed up fixes to managing your start-up programs to registry fixes to security optimizations and much more.

Developed by Macecraft Software, jv16 PowerTools 2012 is a brand new version of their excellent utility suite for Windows. It comes with a huge number of improvements (see the extensive list here). With an amazingly small download (only 10.4 MB), the installation is smooth and simple with clear, well-thought-out dialogs. Set up takes only a few minutes to complete and you're quickly ready to optimize your system.

Another nice thing about the setup is the absence of any attempt to slip bloatware past you. This is something I've seen more and more and I find it sneaky and underhanded. Happily, this setup process is straightforward and has no such attempts included.

The program itself is not a resource hog like so many commercial suites, so once running you won't have trouble with resources running low. As it starts, the program analyzes your system, then restarts and brings you to the nicely laid out welcome screen and main interface.Since the program has scanned your system, it's able to give the results of its first checkup: Registry Health and PC Health. As you can see from the screenshot below, my PC has some issues!

The first thing you notice is the list of main choices of tool suites on the left side: Home; Registry Tools; File Tools; System Tools; Privacy Tools; and the three other main menu choices: Backups; Action History; and Settings. Clicking on any of these tabs reveals the specific tools available under that heading. The total number of tools available is quite remarkable and it's hard to imagine anything you'd need that isn't included.

A very nice and comforting touch is, when running any of the available tools, the developers allow you to choose the level of aggressiveness vs. safety you prefer, as well as giving you simple explanations of what each tool does.

A quick look at the Settings tab brings up several options for customizing the program to your needs and liking. You can tweak the interface, customize your backups, et cetera.

The program, jv16 PowerTools 2012 is available as a $29.95 instant download, which is a very reasonable price for such a comprehensive suite of tools for your PC. Alternatively, you can choose to download the free trial version and try it for 60 days before deciding. I think you'll enjoy the ease of use, the clear interface and dialogs, and especially the new health and speed of your Windows PC!

Download Macecraft Software's jv16 PowerTools 2012

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AirDroid (Android) - Manage your phone wirelessly!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:13:34 PDT

Developer Quote: "AirDroid is a fast, free app that lets you wirelessly manage your Android from your favorite browser."

Wires are so yesterday. When you think about it, didn't they call radio "wireless" when it was first invented like a thousand years ago? Anyway, you don't have to plug your Android phone into your PC to manage it on your PC's browser, that's my point. And you can do it with style and panache, and even some aplomb if you like, by using this free app.

Check out the screenshots:

AirDroid is FREE on Google play!

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Solid Explorer (Android)

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 19 May 2012 10:12:14 PDT

Developer Quote: "...the most attractive, eye catching and intuitive file manager for the Android."

One of Android's features that sets it apart from iOS is the ability to see what's on your device. Sweet freedom. But with freedom comes responsibility, or so we've been told, so you have to make sure not to mess with any vital innards. That's pretty easy if all you're doing is looking for and working with data like music, photo or other personal files.

This file manager is rated five stars on the Android market. It shines because it is easy to use and looks great. So take a look and see if you don't just love it!

Solid Explorer Beta is FREE

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Introducing "Lean and Hard (dot com)"

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:19:47 PDT

My regular readers, I ask you, have I not served you well these past many years? Have I not consistently posted good and wonderful apps that you have been able to use for fun and profit? Now that I have your attention then, allow me to introduce you to my newest blogging venture, Lean and Hard (dot com).

While some of my gutter-minded friends will snicker at the name and insist that it has a mildly pornographic connotation, I assure you that it is about physical fitness. You see, my goal in life, as far as my body is concerned, is to be both lean and hard. Meaning thin and muscular. But if some folks think it's about sex and this mistaken idea prompts them to visit, I won't be upset.

I have started blogging about my travels toward this end and offering tips, motivational ideas and what humble advice I may have to assist you if this blissful condition is already or will become your own goal. I think you'll find the blog interesting and helpful. I hope the blog will also become somewhat of a community, a place where like-minded guys and gals can share their own stories.

So, now I ask you to visit my newest blog and subscribe to our RSS feed or sign up for free email updates.

StudioLine Digital Photo Basic 3 (Windows) - Free Image Editing and Archiving

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:45:26 PDT

If you're looking for a program that offers some solid, if basic, image editing and archiving features but is still free for personal use, you can check out this one.

Developer Quote: "With StudioLine Photo Basic 3 you'll get a software package that includes many popular features of StudioLine Photo Classic 3. You can even take advantage of dual-monitor support and the Smart-Update function will keep the software current – and it's free!"

Download StudioLine Photo Basic 3

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Facetones FREE (Android) - See your friends' latest Facebook photos on a call

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:35:35 PDT

Developer Quote: "See a Video of your friends Facebook pictures whenever they call or text you!"

Okay, I'll admit this can be wonderful or disconcerting, depending on what's going on with your friends, but it's better to know most of the time. Here's how it works. When you install the app you then connect it to your Facebook account. The app looks at your phone's contact list and matches any of them with their Facebook pages as it can.Next, when/if one of your friends calls/texts you or you them, the app displays a slideshow of their latest Facebook photos.

The app claims that you'll never be at a loss for words with your friends, since your phone shows you what's been going on with them. Sounds interesting, no? Here are some listed features:

- Automatic matching of friends and address book contacts
- Plays auto-generated video slideshows of your friend's pictures when your friends call
- Plays auto-generated video slideshows of your friend's pictures when you call them
- Plays auto-generated video slideshows of your friend's pictures when they text you
- Manual matching of friends with address book contacts
- Updates the pictures displayed in the slideshow with your friends’ latest pictures
- Increased syncing speed with Wi-Fi

Facetones FREE is... wait for it...FREE! on Google play

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Cool Retina Wallpapers (iOS) - Funky-cool HD wallpaper by the million

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:02:35 PDT

Don't worry iOS-lovers, you won't be left out on Barry's Best! Since I'm bi-phonal I will always remember you! Here's a gargantuan collection of hi-resolution wallpapers for your sweet iOS device's screen. These are truly cool, just as the app's name implies!

Cool Retina Wallpapers is FREE in the App Store!

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Planets Live Wallpaper (Android) - Some cool-looking planets!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:44:10 PDT

Going through planetary withdrawal? Searching for your next planet fix? Look no further! This beautiful live wallpaper will have you sailing in planetary bliss.

Developer Quote - "Enjoy the beauty of our Solar system. It shows the Sun in his mighty beauty and the planets crossing the screen in front of it!"

Planets Live Wallpaper is FREE on the Android Market!

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Weatherwise (Android, iOS) - Weather with imagination!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:19:27 PDT

Developer quote: "...imaginative app touting weather with personality."

You'll be entranced by the cool animations and graphics, which is the whole point of a weather app, right? Besides actually getting information on the weather, anyway.

Features:

View the current weather and five-day forecast using the built-in geolocator

Add and save up to 5 locations

View the local time for each location

Get all the details by hour including humidity, visibility, and precipitation

Check it out...

Weatherwise is FREE on the Android Market and in the iTunes App Store!

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You may lose Internet access in July, unless...

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:37:55 PDT

...you make sure your computer is not infected with DNS Changer. According to experts, "If your computer is infected with the DNSChanger virus, your summertime Internet activities will be seriously curtailed -- as in buh-bye. But a special Web site can help you fix the problem" (CNET).

Here's where you can go to detect the malware and fix your machine if necessary...

http://www.dcwg.org/

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Google Drive spotted!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:04:54 PDT

Get a glimpse of Google Drive... Expected on Windows, iOS and Android next week!

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PowerCam (iOS) - Power photography at your fingertips!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 06:43:46 PDT

How will you use this power? Hopefully for good and not evil. Check out some awesome features:

•Improved image capture quality

•Photo Collage allows easy, customizable options to merge several images into a single image

•Feel the power of TRULY instant live filters. Magic mode (now, with face-tracking) lets you apply an array of filters and effects in full-on color for BOTH photos and video—no “simulated” previews here--a PowerCam Exclusive!

•Choose from more than 50 awesome effects and filters. Also on board: tilt-shift, to miniaturize objects and landscapes; splash of color to de-colorize objects around your focal point to make it pop, and tons of dynamic and static effects for any occasion.

•Share your latest creations instantly! PowerCam’s has built-in single or batch uploading for images and videos to Flickr, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, E-mail and other photo and video sharing sites. Now share videos over 15MB in size!

•Select from scene modes; which automatically adjust exposure, lighting, and balance to match the shooting environment; letting you focus on getting the shot.

* Fool-proof self-portrait captures with exclusive FaceTimer – uses the FaceTime camera with face-tracking to snap the portrait with a count-down to the shot after the iPhone is steady.

•Get fantastic zoom performance – zoom in or out without sacrificing image quality. Works great with either the rear-camera or the FaceTime camera (if equipped).

* Language support: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese (simplified & traditional), Korean, Japanese, Greek, Hungarian and Polish.

PowerCam is FREE in the iTunes App Store!

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LINE Camera (Android) - For those who don't get Instagram

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:05:50 PDT

I confess. Like many people who are scratching their heads at the news that Facebook just paid a billion dollars for Instagram (count Jon Stewart among them), I don't get it either. I tried it. I even tried to like it. That rocket failed to launch.

For us (I like to think of us as the little boys who can clearly see that the emperor has no clothes), there is an app that has many many cool things you can do to your photos that actually make them look better. Check out the feature list:

♥Many different frames and stamps are available
Decorate to your heart’s content with over 100 different frames and 600 fabulous stamps including popular ones from the LINE app.

♥Cute and fashionable filters
Create and fine-tune your ideal photos with our special filters.

♥Brushes and texts that can be used as stamps
Design and use your own unique stamps with illustrations and messages.

♥Share your photos with ease
You can use LINE, Facebook and other SNS services to share your photos.

・Timer Function
・Over 600 Stamps
・Over 100 Frames
・14 Unique Filters
・156 Brushes
・Create stamps with brushes & texts

Share Photos with:

・LINE
・Facebook
・Twitter
・mixi
・weibo
・Cyworld
・me2day

LINE Camera is FREE on the Android Market!

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Ultimate Call Screen HD Free (Android) - Full-screen caller ID

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 12:52:39 PDT

This app gives you a sweet full-screen caller ID and much more Check out all the features:

Ultimate Call Screen HD: Fullscreen Caller ID. Call Blocker and Sensor actions!

Ultimate Call Screen HD Free combines a Fullscreen Caller ID replacement, contact picture manager, call blocker, and, on top of that, sensor-base actions such as rejecting calls by turning the phone screen-down. All this on the same package, working from Android V2.1 to ICS, on any resolution on any phone.

Although there are some limitations on this free version, there is no limit whatsoever on the number of contacts you can personalize or block. There are no adds and no timeouts. I believe on added functionality for value, not crippling the app to force buys. You can buy the license an unlock the extra features on this app from a link to Google Play on UCS Settings.

IMPORTANT: after choosing the HD picture for a contact, in the detailed contact view, check "Contact will use personalized..." or it will still use the default.

Feature List (Free version):

General:

- No limit on number of contacts to personalize. You can personalize each and every contact call screen.
- Fully working from Android V2.1 to ICS (lots of other apps don't work above 2.2)
- Fully working on HTC phones running Sense UI (lots of other apps can't answer calls in Sense)

Full Screen Caller ID

- Press "Back" when UCS is handling a call to jump back to your regular phone interface.
- Contact manager with fast scrolling, and auto-adjusted index based on actual contact list. You can choose pictures from gallery or take from camera.
- A builtin image cropper with multi-touch zooming.
- Per-contact block status configuration.
- Preview each contact callscreen on the fly from the Contact Manager.
- Define a global default HD picture for those contacts you don't feel like personalizing (and for unknown numbers)

Call Blocker

- Block individual contacts. The Contact Manager will show in red letters which contacts are blocked for easy managing.
- Global Activate / deactivate call blocking, overriding individual contact block status. Useful in situations were you want to block people during certain hours (like at work), but don't want to individually unblock all of them later.

Sensor based actions

- You can activate/deactivate sensor actions
- You can set the "Turn to reject" feature. Simply turn the phone screen-down to reject an incoming call.

Ultimate Call Screen HD is FREE on the Android Market!

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Wireless Network Watcher (Windows) - Sniff out WiFi freeloaders

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 07:36:54 PDT

Everyone has WiFi. You do, right? But do you know if it's secure? Are your neighbors taking a sip now and then? Use this great little utility to find out!

Download Wireless Network Watcher FREE!

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Dropbox (Cross-Platform) - Why let your files languish on a single device?

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:32:58 PDT

Dropbox is an incredible way to have your files available wherever you are, on any device. Watch the video to see how it works. Click here to get it!

Get Dropbox Here!

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Blurtt (iOS) - Find, caption and share photos!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:52:51 PDT

A well-known fact: The caption makes the photo. In fact, photos without captions can seem pitifully bare. What are we supposed to think about them? What do they mean? Is there something funny about them? Who knows, if there's no caption!

If you have an ounce of creativity in you, you'll want to get and use this app. Search for photos on the web or use your own. Add awesome captions and share the results with individuals, your friends, or the entire photo-caption-loving world.

Blurtt is FREE in the iTunes App Store!

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Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) on MyTouch 4G

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:45:16 PDT

Thanks to MIUI V4.2.1.27 Beta I now have ICS on my MT4G! Woo hoo!

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Taskbar Task Switcher (Android) - The easiest way to switch tasks?

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:06:28 PDT

There are a few ways to switch tasks on your Android smartphone, but I haven't seen this one before. Looks worth checking out. Developer:

Recent activities displayed directly on taskbar. Extremely convenient.

Just slide your taskbar and tap on previous task you were doing. Additional (optional) "return to desktop" button - you can do everything without pressing the home button. Half a second. Simple yet powerful.

Free, no ads.

I especially like that last part!

Taskbar Task Switcher is FREE on the Android Market!

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Google Earth (Android) - Gets a nice update

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:51:13 PDT

Google Earth fans, rejoice, for one of your favorite pastimes (using the app for checking out your girlfriend's/boyfriend's house?) just got better and more fun. Check out the new Earth Gallery in version 6.2 and see multiple layers like city tours, earthquakes and real time flights.

Google Earth is FREE on the Android Market!

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Slice (Android) - Automatically tracks your online shopping orders!!

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 05:42:54 PDT

Some fresh pickings from the Android Market today... This excellent and secure app will track all your online orders without you having to enter every tracking number. Developer:

It’s the only app that tracks your shipments automatically -- no need to manually enter in each tracking number. Slice works with Gmail and Yahoo! Mail to find the receipts in your email and puts your purchase information at your fingertips. We'll save you time .. and maybe some money, too. Here's how:

★ TRACK YOUR PACKAGES

✓ Track FedEx, UPS, and USPS packages automatically. No digging through emails, no logging into multiple merchant accounts, no copy/paste of long tracking numbers.

✓ View which items are on their way and from which merchant, all on a single map

✓ Get push notifications when a package is shipped, out for delivery or has been delivered, so you always know where your stuff is as soon as there’s an update.

★ KEEP YOUR PURCHASES ORGANIZED

✓ Back up your e-receipts and access them quickly -- without having to dig through your inbox

✓ Get notified by Slice when a recent purchase drops in price, so you can contact the merchant and recoup the difference.

✓ Keep track of your Groupons, Living Social and Gilt City vouchers. Don’t miss out on a daily deal because you forgot about it!

✓ Automatically consolidate your purchase history and receipts all in one place, enabling you to
・ keep track of spending
・ search past purchases to recall key details and identify deductible expenses
・ facilitate returns and exchanges
・ find style & model numbers and other item details
・ view customer service phone numbers and policies

Check it out!

Slice is FREE on the Android Market!

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Highlight (iOS) - A people-discovery tool.

noreply@blogger.com (Barry Mahfood) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 05:10:35 PST

According to this article on c|net, it may be the next big thing. Get in on the ground floor of something, finally! The article says, in part, "This year, one app that is poised to carry on this tradition is Highlight, a "people discovery" tool that automatically alerts users to the nearby presence of others with similar connections and interests." Check it out!

Highlight is FREE at the iTunes App Store!

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