ie8 fix

Software

Zite update aims to better highlight stories, publications

Zite, the personal news aggregator, released on Wednesday a new version of its app that aims to help people discover more stories relevant to them, while better highlighting publishers.

With version 2.3, which is now available on iOS devices, the CNN-owned Zite is trying to make its personalized magazine work better for users, especially those new to the service.

As a result, explained CEO Mark Johnson, Zite will now gray out articles that have already been read and make publications' titles appear in what's called the "topic drawer," the list of topics that show up when … Read more

Review: Place watermarks on photos with copyrightInserter for Mac

The aptly named copyrightInserter for Mac adds a copyright watermark to your online images with a minimum of fuss.

This freeware program lacks an installer, which requires the user to click and drag the file to the Applications folder. The folder containing the program also held readme, licensing agreement, and tutorial files. The tutorial file helped, even though the application had an easy-to-use menu. copyrightInserter for Mac has clearly labeled areas where the user can drag folders containing image files. A second box shows where the watermark image may be dragged. The user can also select the general location of … 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: Convert image files using Adobe DNG Converter for Mac

Despite its poorly designed interface and lack of additional features, Adobe DNG Converter for Mac converts image files well, but will not likely appeal to average users who do not work with large numbers of image files.

Adobe DNG Converter for Mac is a free utility that enables photographers to convert the digitally unprocessed image files from many known mid-range and professional digital cameras to a more universal format such as Digital Negative. Download and installation completed quickly, but the application's size of nearly 500MB is overly large for its type. There were no user instructions, but those familiar … Read more

Review: Stop ads with Adblock Plus for Chrome for Mac

Adblock Plus for Chrome for Mac performs well as a basic add-on, and would be a useful addition to most users' browser toolkits.

Adblock Plus for Chrome for Mac is free and installation is quick and painless, with no user interaction required. Operating in the background during browsing, the add-on did not have any interface or visible technical support. During our testing, the program did block more obtrusive ads from sites like YouTube and Facebook. As indicated with the add-on, some basic advertisements can be seen, since the program is designed to encourage less invasive promotions. The add-on as a … Read more

Review: Folder Downloader for Dropbox just gets the job done

Folder Downloader for Dropbox does exactly what you'd think it would, but lacks all of the style and form of Dropbox's own app. However, if you need an app like this, you'll love it.

In case you couldn't guess from the name, this app does require access to your Dropbox account to work. Giving it the right permissions only takes a few seconds, though. How fast the app actually does its business depends heavily on your connection. Folder Downloader for Dropbox borrows heavily from Dropbox's own layout, but inverts it so there is a lot … Read more

Review: Funny Photo Effects brings cardboard photo cutouts to your device

Funny Photo Effects offers to put your face on all sorts of goofy characters. Sadly, it seems way more interested in hitting your phone or tablet with ads than helping you laugh.

Funny Photo Effects is supposed to find your face in the photo you submit and paste it on the cutout you want. However, the facial recognition sometimes takes forever to complete. More often than not, it will tell you your photo won't work and won't even bother to try to find a face. What's worse than the app's shaky performance is the infiltration of … Read more

Review: Hide SMS, lock secret messages keeps plain texts a secret

If you're trying to keep your texts a secret, Hide SMS can help. It's a stylish lockbox for all of your text messages. Sadly, it only works with plain texts. Apps, contacts, and even picture messages aren't included.

This app shows up as different names on the Google Play store and in your apps locker. You may see it referred to as Hide SMS, Keep SMS, or KeepSafe depending on how you're looking at it. Once you load it, you have to set a four-digit password to get inside. You can lock any conversation in your … Read more

Review: Insta Photo Editor is full of ads, not features

Insta Photo Editor will require plenty of patience. You have to sift through ads and tons of other junk to get to the goods this app offers. Once you find them, you'll probably be disappointed.

Before you use this app, you have to page through two different ad requests. These want to put ads on your browser, status bar, and more. You can only say no to one of them, and it keeps coming back every time you load the app if you do. As for the editing, itself, it's pretty standard. You can do some minor crops … Read more

Review: Eye Color Changer makes eyes look cartoony

Eye Color Changer goes so much further than red eye removal to make your eyes look any color in the rainbow. Eye Color Changer's effect looks a little cartoony and bizarre at times, but that's probably the effect most people are going for.

This app's menu could use some major editing, itself--it's quite the eyesore. It houses eight buttons, but only two of them actually go to features in the app you really want to use. The rest beg you to rate the app and download more of the developer's apps. If you can find … Read more