4.3

Rumored to be something between a Jelly Bean and a slice of Key Lime Pie, Android 4.3 is currently appearing in search results on the Android developers' site.

Numerous excerpts in the results reference "Security Enhancements in Android 4.3"

Click through any of those results and you'll find a page with no apparent mentions of the new Android update, although it is hidden in the HTML. Click through the link in that tag and you get a 404. Dead end. Scavenger hunt over.

Guess we have to wait for the expected unveil of the update … Read more

Offering exciting and challenging gameplay, puzzle games are becoming more and more popular on the Android market. 94 Seconds is not an exception to this trend. It is a fun game that challenges the mind and sparks creativity.

The installation and setup for 94 Seconds went amazingly fast. At 2MB it's probably the lightest application of its kind. There is no unnecessary registration or advanced settings required. The permissions that the application requires are reasonable and noninvasive. Following the installation the app immediately allows players to get into the action. The user interface is easy to navigate and read. … Read more

Do you have any photos or videos on your smartphone you'd like to hide from the general public? Pandora offers to put them into a password-protected box so no one can see them but you. It works exactly as advertised, but it's nowhere near as dynamic as other lockbox apps.

Though it has a name like the music-streaming app and a logo like Dropbox, it's confusingly neither. That means it can cleverly hide in your app menu without raising the eyebrow of someone looking through your phone. When you first use the app, it drops you right … Read more

If you rooted your gadget or installed a custom ROM, then you have more freedom to install apps from wherever you want. SlideMe Application Manager is one of the biggest third-party marketplaces that helps you find apps, but it's not one of the best.

In order to install SlideMe Application Manager or most of the apps it offers, you will need to know about .apk files and other alternate download options. Once you do install it, most of the results you get are apps that exist in the Google Play market anyway. This is fine if you're not … 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

In a pinch and need a data connection on your tablet or laptop? You can use Open Garden to sneak a connection from your smartphone without needing to tether. Setup is easy, but the connection has enough hiccups and jumps to sometimes be more frustrating than it's worth.

Before you can use Open Garden, you have to download another program for your desktop. Once you set up the network, your gadgets will connect automatically whenever they're nearby. It can even work through NFC if your phone has it. However, owners of modern phones can have a more reliable … Read more

Sending and receiving text messages can be problematic and costly when your destination is the Philippines. Chikka Text Messenger solves this dilemma for you by providing a communication hub via online servers.

The application loads quite quickly and the account setup is simple as well. If you possess a Globe, Smart, or Sun mobile phone you may simply enter your phone number and password. All other phone providers must set up an account with a valid e-mail address. Chikka Text Messenger is free for the user who installs it. However, there is a nominal fee for the phone responding to … Read more

Small Street for Mac is a town-building and management game. A free download for Mac OS X, there are in-game purchases of extras and money that help expand the game and the play. Small Street for Mac is available from the App Store and download sites and installs easily.

The goal of Small Street for Mac is to create a town of apartments and houses for citizens, and shops and restaurants for them to work in and buy from. Instead of starting small and building to a large city or nation like some building games, Small Street for Mac stays … Read more

Sizerox is an app for Mac OS X that lets you resize, crop, watermark, and perform other manipulation of digital images. It's not available through the App Store, but it is from several Web sites. The demo version (which superimposes gray squares over your images, rendering them essentially useless) can be upgraded to the full version for $14.95.

The Sizerox interface is clean and easy to use. Most of the interface windows show details about the source and destination pictures, while additional dialogs let you select preferences. Fully supporting drag-and-drop, Sizerox lets you select one or more images … Read more