starter

Keep your valuables in check with Kensington's Proximo monitoring system

I'm no stranger to losing things. From leaving my bag on a park bench, to sifting through all my coats in the closet just to find the one pocket I last left my keys in, it's common for things to go by the wayside.

To help with this, Kensington's Proximo Proximity Monitoring System provides a way to keep track of valuables via Bluetooth. With its key fob or tag attached to your items, you can monitor and locate your belongings via an iPhone app. Likewise, you can use its key fob to make your handset sound off … Read more

Start menu resurfaces on Samsung's Windows 8 PCs

Windows 8 users who still miss the Start button will find an alternative on Samsung's new lineup of computers and tablets.

Buyers of Samsung Windows 8 PCs and tablets will be able to download a free Quick Starter program, which adds a Start button and a toolbar to open your files and applications.

The S Launcher program that lets Samsung users access the Start menu replacement was initially supposed to come with new PCs and tablets. But a Samsung rep confirmed to ZDNet in August that the launcher would not appear in the final products. Instead, it will be … Read more

Must-have apps for Windows, Mac, and more

Download.com has been bringing you collections of "starter kits," the best downloads to get you going on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, since 2008. Along with semi-regular updates to our picks, we've also given the collections a new look so they're easier than ever for you to use.

Best apps for Windows covers the free basics such as Web browser, e-mail, music, image editing, and social networking.

Best security apps for Windows collects must-have free tools to keep you safe online, from antivirus and anti-malware to privacy protection and encryption.

Best utility apps for Windows … Read more

Launch your apps with Program Starter

Program Starter by A-B Tools is a freeware program launcher. It lets you organize your most frequently used apps in a customizable tree view menu for superquick access, and it launches tools very quickly with a single mouse click. It handles both installed and portable apps and even launches programs from desktop shortcuts.

Program Starter's interface is about as simple as they come: a compact dialog with a plain white background and a tree view displaying the icons of some of our most popular tools under folder headings such as Audio/Video, Internet/Downloader, Messenger, and Other tools. Clicking … Read more

Best apps for iPad

If somebody was nice enough to get you an iPad for the holidays, make them proud by decking it out with all the best apps.

We've rounded up our favorites so you don't have to wade through hundreds of thousands of apps in the iTunes App Store.

There's no question that the iPad is a great entertainment device, but there's more to it than just games if you know which apps to get. In this collection of Best apps for iPad, we've got several categories of apps to choose from, including productivity, entertainment, social networking, … Read more

Best apps for iPhone

Did you get an iPhone or iPod Touch as a gift this holiday season?

Now that you've got your account set up, the first thing you'll want to do is check out some of the great apps in the iTunes App Store.

The question is, with more than 500,000 apps, which ones should you choose?

We rounded up our favorite apps across several categories so you can get started right away. In this collection of Best apps for iPhone, we've got everything from alternative browsers to the hottest games; they all have reviews you can read … Read more

Best apps for Android: CNET's definitive list

Pick up a new Android phone recently? Or maybe a tablet?

Either way, with a shiny new device in hand, you're probably itching to download some apps, right? Well, allow CNET to give you a hand with that. With a fast-growing Android Market that can seem overwhelming and downright intimidating to some, chances are, you could use a bit of direction.

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce CNET's list of Best apps for Android. It's got some well-known classics and a few apps that we've plucked from obscurity.

While it would have been … Read more

Solar charger can give gadgets, social profile a boost (video)

Solar charger kits that help power gadgets aren't new. But how about one that also enables you to brag to your social network about how much energy it's generating?

The Changers Starter Kit, which costs about $150, uses a flexible solar module and a solar battery. The battery calculates how much energy you capture, and then, once connected to your laptop, uploads that information so it can be shared on Twitter or Facebook. SmartPlanet's Sumi Das checks out the Changers Starter Kit in the video above.

This video first appeared on SmartPlanet with the headline "Solar panels go social.&… Read more

Denso's lightweight starter debuts in the Suzuki MR Wagon

Denso, a global OEM component and technology maker, today announced the most lightweight starter for compact cars--ever.

Because it's about 40 percent lighter than a conventional starter, not only is it easier to install, but also the reduction in weight will help increase the car's fuel efficiency. The Suzuki MR Wagon, which launched in Japan earlier this month, is the first car to have the new starter.

The starter can be used for compact cars powered by gasoline engines of 660 to 1,200 cc displacement, but no word yet on when it will appear in North American … Read more

Reflect back and look ahead

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect back on the achievements of the past 12 months and look expectantly ahead to the potential advancements coming in the near future. So we here at Download.com we did just that.

For starters, we rounded up our top 10 most popular downloads from 2010. The site served up billions of downloads in 2010; check out the roundup and you can find out which 10 Windows programs were the most popular throughout the year.

We also made some predictions for CES 2011. Software and services may take a back … Read more