Plus

Review: Text and File Hider Plus helps you protect your privacy

For Android users who wish to hide any sensitive data from prying eyes, a security application is absolutely necessary. Text and File Hider Plus can hide your text messages, contacts, phone logs, or any other file of your choosing. It is invisible to the naked eye and requires pin access in the event the program is discovered. This app works smoothly and effortlessly.

Text and File Hider Plus is very light on your resources. It operates in the background while needed and is basically just a hidden file structure. After a quick and easy installation the app disguises itself as … 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: Notepad Plus lets users quickly jot down ideas on their device

Notepad Plus separates itself from the Web-connected memo apps pack not by adding a ton of features, but by barely offering any. While that may be a negative for some users, it's a dream for people who just need to quickly jot down ideas.

The app's layout cleverly mimics a yellow memo pad to make pen and pencil fans feel right at home. You can't change fonts or style, but you can create multiple notes and browse them with ease. The app technically works in both portrait and landscape modes, but landscape mode makes the layout behave … Read more

Google+ app for Android gets post-I/O overhaul

The Google+ app for Android was updated on Monday, picking up many of the features found in the recently refreshed desktop client.

Like the Web version unveiled at Google I/O, Google+ for Android provides users with options such as automatic photo enhancements and Auto Awesome. Other features include the instant hashtagging, quick access to Hangouts, and improved notifications.

Building off of the tools that came with Snapseed, Google+ for Android allows for a myriad ways to edit and adjust photos. With the 4.0 update, it's easier than ever to rotate, crop, filter, and tweak your pictures before … Read more

The 404 1271: Where we Carey on just fine without Yu (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Wrapping up CNET's coverage of Google I/O 2013.

- Nerd fight!

- Follow Bridget on the Twitter.

- Watch CNET Update every single day of your life.

- Make sure you tune in to find out how you can win one of six MLB/NBA 2K Sports prize packs!… Read more

Google I/O news roundup

CNET Update keeps it brief:

It took Google about three hours to deliver the keynote address at its I/O developers conference. But in this episode of Update, I sum up what you need to know in under three minutes.

More on the announcements from Google I/O 2013:

- Google Music adds All Access streaming music (hands-on)

- Google Play adds cloud saves, leaderboards, matchmaking

- Google+ gives photo lovers what Facebook doesn't

- Google Now voice search arriving on the desktop

- Google previews next version of Maps for Android, iOS

- Google revamps Maps with 3D, cards, social searchRead more

Review: Enhance your photos with Camera Plus

The built-in camera for the iPhone is a great tool, allowing millions of people to take high-quality photos and share them near instantly with friends and family when on the go. But the actual app used to take photos is fairly limited. Fortunately, there are dozens of tools on the App Store that provide additional options for things like focus lock, exposure control, and white balance, including Camera Plus.

This version of Camera Plus is the lite version of the app so some of its more robust features are still missing; but even as a free app, it provides more … 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

Review: Prioritize your task list using TodoPlus for Mac

Busy users may need an efficient way to track their tasks. TodoPlus for Mac has all of the functions necessary for organizing to-dos, but the cluttered interface makes it difficult to use.

Download and installation of this free program completed quickly, as did initial set up. No technical support was available and the tutorial was of little help. After moving through the tutorial menus, TodoPlus for Mac began to slow the test computer down, lengthening the time spent switching between different menus. The program's main interface has a cluttered row of buttons along the top of the window. Users … Read more

Get a free month of Hulu Plus

Recently my media-center PC died (well, the hard drive -- when you start seeing boot-screen messages about "imminent hard drive failure," believe them!). All those episodes of "Community" and "Once Upon a Time" I'd DVR'd for later viewing -- gone.

Hulu Plus to the rescue! Yeah, you have to sit through commercial breaks (albeit way shorter ones than during regular broadcasts), but it's still the best (and cheapest) way to watch first-run TV shows.

A typical Hulu Plus trial lasts just seven days, but for a limited time, StackSocial is offering … Read more