The Android picture gallery is viewed by many as the best one in the game, but what if there are other apps that could outdo the leader himself. So if you feel up to a challenge make sure to check out QuickPic, which is said to be one of the biggest contenders.

The app was created by alensw.com, a Chinese developer for whom QuickPic paved the way to over 92,000 downloads and one sure success story.

The user-interface of the app is great and very fluid, it seems to just gel in with the fluidity of the entire Android ecosystem without breaking a sweat. Also, users have the option to display the gallery pictures either in normal gallery format, grid format, list format or multiple pictures.

What really differentiates this app from the stock gallery would be the the high-resolution touch that the developer has integrated. Moreover, the speed-browsing features really saves the time of flicking through pictures. Some say that the developer has tried to adopt the iOS gallery for Android and in certain aspects I can say that they have succeed to a certain extent.

Overall, QuickPic is more than just simple gallery app with only the bells & whistles, as the users can rotate, shrink, crop pictures, set wallpaper with best quality, do effective file management, with options to sort, rename, create new folder, move and copy pictures. The app also has its share of drawbacks, but the awesome feature make up for it.

Related Links:
Developer Website
QuickPic on Google Play

Ever been playing a video game and thinking "I can do better?"

Now you can let you imagination run wild with software that allows you to make your own games.

Construct 2 is ideal for those just getting into designing games or those who want to get their idea up and running quickly. It promises stability and reliability in its graphics, as you gradually build your skills.

The software offer a complete manual, numerous tutorials and a community where you can help and find some support. Be a regular in their forum and network.

Another great thing about Construct 2 is that you don't have to publish through the makers, Scirra. Beware of similar free software where you can lose control of your ideas and copyright.

All in all I loved Construct 2's retro feel with modern smoothness - it's all about the characters, their world and situations you create, rather than being overwhelmed by the reality and technology.

With the free edition of Construct 2 you get sprites, sound effects and original music (with certain limitations on the number used) for you to add to your games and up to 100 events with a maximum of 4 layers on each layout. It might not seem like much but in essence it does allow the user to create simple games from start to finish just like this one, Space Blaster; all right on your computer without any programming knowledge necessary. Like the paid versions you get Box2D Physics Engine, Intuitive User Interface, you can upload it to browsers like Chrome or play offline. Another little extra I love is putting it on Facebook and going viral.

Related Links:
Construct 2 Official Website
Scirra on Facebook
Scirra on Twitter

FxCamera is a straight shooter; it does what it says and does it to its maximum potential. If you need any proof, just check out the download numbers, which should speak for themselves.

Created by ymst, the developer might got close to a fail when it comes to his previous creation, but has scored gold with FxCamera, a brilliant job to say the least. Personally, this is one of those few apps that gel into the whole Android ecosystem without breaking a sweat.

The app provides some very stunning camera effects that completely eliminate the need of any extra editing. The effects look crisp, nice, and subtle, making this a perfect package of fun and productivity. The FxCamera effects include ToyCam, Polandroid, Fisheye, SymmetriCam, Warhol, Normal.

Compared to the original camera resolution, FxCamera shots lessens the resolution, but maintains a good quality for social-network sharing, which is a good thing after all. Overall, this app really makes the cut for every Android user who is heavily into editing pics and adding that panache touch to them. A great idea and work by the developer.

Related Links:
Developer Website

Always envied the photo effects of the big-wig fashion magazines? Loved the way the beauty of the landscape was shown through your eyes? Well, no more do you require a photo-suit costing a bomb as Color Touch for Android works like a charm.

Created by Swiss Codemonkeys, this developer is an experienced player in the Android Market scene. Casual and fun apps might be their forte but on a serious note, they really do not disappoint with Color Touch a bit.

The whole app circles around image manipulation and users will love it for the extensive number of tools it has to offer. Basically, select any image from the phone gallery, new picture from the camera or from Facebook and you can literally do pretty much anything that your heart desires.

Though Color Touch is a free and casual app, some of the results it churns up after a smart editing session is just great. The app once fired up requires the user to select an image either from the gallery, camera or Facebook. Once the image has been selected, the real game begins. In-App there are three tabs, namely Paint (here the editing takes place), Effects (Choosing of various settings) and Caption (to edit text color, background of text, add marging, Top title and Bottom title).

Under the effects sections, users are spoiled for choice between Original, Mono, Sepia, Old Mono, Old, Infrared, Auto-Contrast, Color Balance, Contrast & Color Balance, Color Rotate, Cross Process, Boost Dark, Lomo, Negative, Solarize, Thermal, Xray, Old Magazine and Zoom. Whew. this is more than anyone can handle, nevertheless the choices are making this app a perfect tool for all.

The best part about Color Touch and the reason why I personally recommend it is that the manipulation of the image area is decided by the user and not the app itself. So, for example, if someone wants 50% area to be Lomo, 25% area Solarized and 25% area Sepia, well that is totally possible. The inclusion of a brush for adding the effects to the desired area ads to the whole Intuitiveness factor. In-app adding effects to the most minuet points is easy as 1-2-3, thanks to the zoom tool in the Paint section.

Overall, the app is one great development and definitely the finest in its genre. New users will take some time adapting to the whole process, but once learnt, there is surely no turning back. A big thumbs-up to the developer and the functionality of Color Touch. My personal rating 5 out of 5.

Related Links:
Developer Page on Android Market
Color Touch on Facebook

Always loved the professionalism associated with the premier Adobe Photoshop suite? Having a powerful iOS device within your reach, but the image manipulation suites available on the App Store just do not do justice to your creative poweress or are just downright there to make a hole-in-your-pocket? Whatever the reason might be, Photosynth by Microsoft is the answer to your prayers.

Developed by Microsoft Corp, there is not much needed to say or tell. Microsoft in itself is a huge name and quality is assured as well as guaranteed. This is one app that every image manipulator on iOS should own.

Photosynth has gone through many changes and the latest version 1.1 brings in the lengthy change-log. So now you have a more streamlined sharing option, with direct email sharing also being a part of the package. Also a big boon for users would be the option of having cropped images of panorama saved directly to the camera roll. A great feature indeed.

Photosynth is actually a panorama creation app that makes it seamlessly easy and fun to use. The app packs in some very intuitive feature, making it a pleasure to use for all users. The app uses the latest in computer vision technology and allows users not only to make a panorama from left to right, but also up and down, enabling the capturing of a full “sphere”. Wow, this earns the app true brownie points for sure.

Overall the app is great with almost no bugs. The quality is great, seamlessly integrated; social-networks addicts have a reason to rejoice and Panorama pictures never looked so good. This is one app where words might not do justice, but trying it will. The tools available make this one of the most intuitive editors out there in the App Store.

Related Links:
Official Website
Photosynth on Twitter
Photosynth on Facebook

If you are one of those people who love to customize the look of their smartphone, then GO Launcher EX is the app for you. Through this app, Android users can give an all-new look to their smartphone at their own free will.

GO Launcher EX is the extended version of the original GO Launcher. What really works out for this app is the bells and whistles it sports. You can customize everything from home-screen, themes, smooth operation experience, as well as other practical utilities that are thrown in the packaging.

GO Launcher EX gives any Android phone an UI that was platform specific previously. In essence, users get the HTC 3D cube UI on their Android smartphone, and the folder option just screams iOS from the first-look. For example, an HTC Sensation user using GO Launcher EX can use an all new UI and dump the default HTC Sense; Samsung users can replace Touch Wiz; and DROID users can replace Motoblur. All without breaking a sweat.

After installing the application and hitting the 'Home' button, a option message pops-up. Stating the default User-Interface to be used, depending on the handset manufacturer and their default UI. The greatest feature is the option of custom icons, theme icons and default icon.

The application also provides with some really nice home-screen animation options, and it really does give a new-look to your smartphone. Unlike other Theme apps, GO Launcher EX does not mess up the smartphone fluidity and intuitiveness. Everything stays the same, without any sacrifice on the performance of the handset.

A number of GO Launcher add-ons are available, making the entire UI of your Android smartphone an eye-candy and at the same time increasing the productivity of the handset. Android Market is flooded with GO Launcher EX themes, and the one that caught my attention was the Honeycomb GO Launcher EX.

This particular theme really gives the Android Honeycomb look with the entire color scheme, Use-Interface, Icons, widgets, app tray and transitions. Not to forget, the overwhelming response this UI has received. To get more GO Launcher EX themes, just search for GO Launcher EX themes in the Android Market, and spoil yourself with the choices.

The developer website says that version 2.62 is due for release next week.

Related Links:
GO Launcher Website
Honeycomb GO Launcher Theme
GO Launcher EX on Facebook
GO Launcher EX app on Facebook

Synfig Studio might not be the simplest software to master but once you get it up and running, you'll have a 2D animation software that rivals most of its contemporaries. The best part of all is that it's absolutely free.

The program was created to serve as an alternative animation tool and features plenty of features essential to a 2D artists arsenal. Development of the program was spearheaded by Robert Quattlebaum, lead software engineer and founder of the now defunct, Voria Studios.

Professionals and non-professional animators will benefit from having this program. It's a software that's packed with features to make work easier and more polished.

Touted as an "industrial strength 2D vector-based software package," the program provides an impressive list of features animators can take advantage of. Some of these special qualities include:

• Support for a good amount of layers
• Designed with an animator's perspective in mind
• Works great with pen tablets
• Provides HDRI (High Dynamic-Range Imaging)
• Full support for gradient paths and so much more!

When you first open up Synfig, you're greeted by multiple windows typical of most graphic programs. There's the resident editing window accompanied by a dock for navigation, a time track as well as a tool palette. Although navigating through the interface and finding the right buttons to use requires a bit of a learning curve, the general layout of the interface is quite effective. Once users have moved past the "little quirks" of the interface, it becomes easy to use.

Even though lacking in certain other features like the capacity to import 3D shapes or maybe the usage of bones for animation which would have helped the program attract more users; Synfig is still a pretty solid program. Both passionate beginners and professionals will not have much trouble falling in love with this software.

Related Links:
Synfig Official Website
Synfig on CNET
Synfig on Free Software Magazine

There are already countless image editing software available for free download online, but like many things there's always room for one more. Image Tricks is one of the new kids on the block, and like the new kid it comes filled with tons of bling eager to be shown around.

The program was created by Belight Software, which also offers plenty of other cool, free software that users can download. It uses the Mac OSX Core Image as well as the Quartz Composition for editing.

This nifty program is packed with cool features that most image editors and beginners will find useful.

With Image Tricks Lite you can easily edit your photos and fashion them according to your liking. Some of the features of the program include: 77 core image effects and filters; 35 quartz composition; 13 image generators and 100 unique masks. The software is also capable of accommodating over 20 image formats. It's also possible to export and save files in these same formats.

Some of the specific features include:

• Adjust colors (Saturation, Brightness, Contrast, Sepia, etc.)
• Blur images (Motion Blur, Sharpen Luminance, Unsharp Mask, etc.)
• Distort faces and more (Bump, Pinch, Twirl, etc.)
• Turn a photo into art (Mosaic, Color Pencil, Halftone, etc.)
• Blend two pictures together (Page Curl, Checkerboard, etc.)
• Tile an image, create a kaleidoscope out of it, crop it, and much more!

(Source: iTunes App Store)

Of course, there's a pro version available for the program. It provides more features that come with a one time price of $9.99. Nevertheless, if you just need a program to work on your everyday image editing, you'll have everything you need in this free version.

Related Links:
Image Tricks Official Website
Image Tricks on CNET
Image Tricks on iTunes App Store

Sometimes, it's the little things that can make your life so much more easier. PicsnCaps is a sweet little program that lets you easily add captions to your images. With society's obsession of capturing and keeping memories through photographs, you can be sure that this little software will become quite useful in adding those special anecdotes to your captured moments.

The program was created by Dare Software, a small company down under and headed by an "amateur sketcher." PicsnCaps showcases tons of useful features that its users can take advantage of. Plus, it's offered absolutely free of charge.

Using this is easy. You can just drag and drop an image onto the program and it will automatically open into a full image. You can then write the captions in single or multiple lines. Maybe you'd like to say something about the experience, location, people in the picture or whatever; it's really up to you.

Apart from that, you can also export small images onto emails and send them off. When writing captions, you can add them directly onto the image or just outside of it. There's also an option to rotate, zoom or sort the images by date or file info. The nice things is that whenever you add a note to an image, the original picture doesn't get altered. Instead, the captions are actually attached to the file names and saved in a different file.

Despite its simplicity, the program actually works great. It's perfect for photographers or people who just like to collect pictures. The program works great with a MacOS 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6. Try it out.

Related Links:
PicsnCaps Official Website
PicsnCaps on Downloads A to Z
PicsnCaps on DoDownload

Trying to get rid of duplicate images in your hard drive can be a bit of a pain. Even regular individuals these days can amass hundreds of images in their system. There are times when it's hard to prevent duplicates from showing up in your computer no matter how careful you are. Fortunately, using the Awesome Duplicate Photo Finder makes it easy to erase those duplicate images without much trouble.

The software is compatible with almost any Windows system including Windows 7 and is offered absolutely free. It's a small program that can do wonders in cleaning up your system. 

This amazing tool is quite simple but very powerful. It's packed with useful features that will make your job easier. For instance, the program is pretty smart when it comes to identifying an image. The Photo Finder can identify and compare images even when they have been cropped or resized. It also supports plenty of image formats like JPEG, GIF, PNG and BMP.

Using the software is as easy as installing it and then choosing the folder to be scanned. It will automatically search for all of the images and its duplicates from your computer. Afterwards, it will provide a list of the duplicate images with corresponding locations. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, the program allows both beginners and experts to use it with ease.

The only minor inconvenience really, is that there's no option to delete all of the duplicate images at the same time. Users will need to individually delete each photo that pops up as a duplicate. Of course, this can get tedious if there are tons of duplicate images hiding in your system. However, if you don't mind doing this and don't deal with tons of images anyway, you'll find this software quite useful.

Related Links:
Awesome Duplicate Photo Finder Official Website
Awesome Duplicate Photo Finder on Freeware Zoom
Awesome Duplicate Photo Finder on CNET
Awesome Duplicate Photo Finder on Portable Freeware