Looking for a way to organize all of the media you have installed on your computer? Data Crow can help make the job easier. The program works by searching various media that's stored inside your computer and creating an easy-to-navigate catalogue that you can use.

It works on both Windows and Mac OSX or Classic. The program itself is a few years old but it still works great and provides a simple way to access all your media without having to frantically search for them in your random folders. Moreover, Data Crow is free for download and features a public license.

From software, movies, music or books, Data Crow easily retrieves these and places them in a neat and accessible spot. The only thing you really have to do is enter the name or title of the item you want cataloged and the program does the work by searching online for all the info. For movies or books, the program searches for info in places like Amazon and IMDB. When it comes to music files, Data Crow often just uses the tags already embedded onto the files.

The interface is pretty basic and contains all of the features you need. The left portion of the screen provides you with the different categories of media you have. On the center as well as the right portion you'll find all of the information pertaining to a specific media. You can add as well as manage the information by using the toolbar on the upper part of the screen. You'll also find the search online option right here.

Although the program does work well, it runs in a Java platform which has lead to several bugs here and there. In spite of this, Data Crow manages to get the job done without much complaint. Once you become familiar with the interface, it's a breeze to use and performs an exceptional job.

Related Links:
Data Crow Official Website
Data Crow on CNET
Data Crow on Tech Radar
Data Crow on High Tech Legion

Android is largely an open ecosystem and sometimes it seems like too many things are happening there at the same time. The most effective way to know what is going on behind-the-screen is having an Assistant. Yes, we are talking about the Android Assistant with over 17 new features!

Developed by Aaron Smith, this app really packs-in a punch with all the bells and whistles. Android smartphones are packed to the gill in terms of memory, RAM, processors, so an app acting as an assistant is a big boon for advanced as well as causal users.

Many times smartphones run a host of background apps that slow up the phone, drain the battery quick, produce glitches during multitasking, or interfere with the data connection. Here comes in Android Assistant, which helps the users to keep a complete check on all the background processes and unnecessary actions using up the device resources.

The app has 17 features that would help users to keep track of progress manager, cache cleaner (system & browser cache), file manger, battery use, volume control, ringer, startup time, system info, system clean-up and many more. The features that really place all the power into the hands of users.

The app is loaded to the gills just like the high-end Android monsters we all love and is a must-have app for every advanced user, as well as users just wanting to play around. A great option for Android 2.2 and above is the additional option to move the app to the SD card via the APP 2 SD applications. Overall a great administrative tool with perfect tool integration.

Related Links:
Android Assistant on Android Market

iOS is one of the most versatile smartphone ecosystems, but the entire Apple restriction scene bogs it down for advanced users. Thankfully there are third-party apps such as iDownload PLUS, a free download manager for iOS developed by AppFactor and said to be one of the most powerful and swiftest download managers on the App Store.

iDownload PLUS removes the restrictions on the number of download files at one time. This is a major plus point for all iOS users on an unlimited data plan.

iDownload PLUS gives users the option to download files, images, texts directly from the Safari browser. Also, a great addition is the ability to share links, texts, images on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, MySpace with just a tap. Version 1.3.8 also adds the ability to share via SMS feature.

iDownload PLUS adds a plethora of in-app options and is great for people who work on-the-go. So, users can now view documents in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power-point, txt, htm, html, rtf file formats. Users cannot edit them, but surely can view them anytime. Also iDownload PLUS supports unzipping of RAR and ZIP files on the device itself and that is quite a neat feature. The app also adds a Live-Download bar with information on file size, download speed, and progress bar.

Audio and Video player also got some slick additions. Video in .mp4, .m4v, and .mov formats can be directly played on the device and there is the added functionality for TV-out display. In addition, users can now save album-art associated with mp3 files to the photo gallery all while having the option of adding their own custom image. A feature common to both audio and video is scrubbing, with upto 42x speed in landscape mode and upto 28x speed in portrait mode.

The app speeds up the entire download process and manages it quite well, including an option to pause, cancel and resume download at any point of time without a hiccup.

iDownload Plus adds a multitude of functions to the device. My personal favorite is the Passcode lock feature which locks the app with a password, even when the app is in active state. Multitasking support is a relief and not only do downloads run in the background, audio can also be played and controlled when the app runs in the background.

Overall, iDownload PLUS is a great app and a must have for every iOS device owner who hates restrictions. The amount of options really nails the developers statement that the app itself is the best download manger out there. The app also has a paid version at an offer price of $1.99 (original price is $4.99), but there is no mentioned difference or added functionality between the two.

Related Links:
Developer Website
iDownload PLUS Paid version
AppFactor on Facebook

Having problems with the never-ending virus threats on your smartphone and desktop? Looking for a free alternative, but at the same time an effective solution. So here it is, the AVG Anti-Virus free-edition for Android.

The Android Market is growing at a fast-pace, and so is the risk threat to our devices. Google markets Android as an open-source environment, so there is not a very strict scrutiny when new apps are published by developers. This leads to Malware enetring the Android Marketplace.

AVG Anti-Virus for Android supports both Smartphones and Tablets. The biggest advantage of having this anti-virus installed on your device is that not only does it scans harmful webpages, apps and multimedia content, but also goes through harmful text messages. Developers claim the Anti-Virus protects the user from real-time malware, virus, and other exploits.

AVG Anti-Virus adds a feature similar to the iOS platform, Find-my-iPhone. When AVG is installed on the device and by-chance lost, then the user can locate the exact location of the device via Google Maps. There are other added features such as, Remote Lock and Wipe, Task Killer, Secure encrypted web-browsing, and the ability to scan various files on the device in real-time.

Users who use their smartphone for online transactions are secured, as AVG provides effective anti-phishing methods. Stolen device can become a thing of the past, as even if the handset is in silent mode, a user can remotely activate the ringer.

AVG is no new player in the Anti-Virus war-zone. It provides complete free and paid solutions for desktop environments as well. I have been using the AVG Anti-Virus Free-edition on my PC for more than a year, and it does quiet a decent job. Updates come-in quick, and even though the entire installation procedure is a bit cumbersome, it still does a neat job at the end of the day.

The desktop version offers added security. So when you download an image from the web, AVG scans it automatically before it can be opened. Similarly, when downloading an .EXE file, AVG states a warning for checking the source. Some neat features.
The more recent AVG 2012 update for PC has also integrated Social Networking support. What this basically means is scans links shared on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and other networking sites in real time. Keeping you and your data safeguarded 24x7.

So all Android users who are really into hardcore App downloading, e-mailing, Multimedia Messaging, web-browsing, then AVG Anti-Virus is the best bet for you. Desktop users can head over to the link given below and try out the multiple solutions available out there.

Related Links:
AVG for Android
AVG for PC
AVG Free on Facebook

Need help focusing on the task at hand? If you have always found yourself checking other websites or maybe checking your email when you should be working on your computer, then you might need "Self Control" installed. This handy little program allows you to block off certain websites as well as email temporarily so that you can focus on the task at hand.

The program is the perfect solution for people who have trouble getting any work done, thanks to the constant distraction of various social networking sites, emails or maybe YouTube.  

The software was created by Steve Lambert and is a great help to people who simply cannot control themselves in straying from the task at hand. There are plenty of us who subconsciously check emails or Twitter every once in awhile. Most of these actions often lead us to waste plenty of our much needed attention in finishing whatever job we need to do. With the help of Self-Control, it's much easier to work knowing that no matter how hard you try, you simply won't gain access to the sites you have entered in its parameters.

Basically, you can assign several sites that you know are the key culprits in creating your distraction. Once you have this, you can set the program to blacklist the said sites including email for a set amount of time. Don't think you can cheat though. The program ensures that no matter what you do, you won't get to the blocked sites back until the time has expired. And yes, even if you reboot your Mac, the block will still hold.

There's definitely no stopping the timer but it's for your own good, right?
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Related Links:
Self Control Official Website
Self Control on Brothersoft
Self Control on Wired
Self Control on The Next Web