The Hottest Apps of 2011, Week 12! ~ Technology And Information

Internet Explorer 9. Interest in Microsoft’s latest web browser (abbreviated as IE9) has picked up due to last week’s list. Again, IE9 promises faster loading times and better support for web standards—which should cover two complaints about earlier versions of Internet Explorer. Read: Every Version of Internet Explorer Acid Tested and IE9: 2.35 Million Downloads on Day One.

WebM for IE9. The WebM Project seeks to create an open online video format based on HTML5, a relatively new technology supported by newer versions of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Opera. WebM for IE9 is one of the first extensions for the ninth incarnation of Microsoft’s web browser.

Glary Utilities. Here’s an “award winning” app that’s actually several in one. Glary Utilities promises a faster Windows experience. The utility features a registry cleaner, anti-spyware and -malware functionality, a database on how to fix certain application errors, and much more.

Sync Allway. There are numerous services that promise seamless syncing between your online account, computers, mobile devices, and anything else that can store data. Sync Allway lets you take a homebrew approach, turning your Windows PC into a synchronization control panel that supports desktops, laptops, USB drives, remote servers (FTP/SFTP), and online data storage services.

Dictionary.NET. It’s no surprise that you can download a dictionary app for your PC, especially one the relies on Google Translate for lingual conversions. Dictionary.NET works as advertised, with complete definitions and word etymologies for words both ancient and new. The only caveat with Dictionary.NET is that it needs to be online to accomplish anything useful.
Staff Picks

SpeedFan. Computer hardware enthusiasts swear by this utility. It shows real-time data on CPU voltage, fan speed, hardware temperatures, HDD recovery data (S.M.A.R.T.) and other information that overclockers and other computer pros rely on in the quest for the ultimate rig.

SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition. The numerous anti-spyware and -malware offerings available online is a welcome trend. SUPERAntiSpyware attempts to stand out not through its cheesy name, but its thorough examination of a system booting up or shutting down. Like any other app in its genre, SUPERAntiSpyware regularly checks for and downloads updates.

Adobe Photoshop Express. You’re probably familiar with the desktop version of the scaled-down variant of Adobe’s main cash cow. But the app linked here is actually for the iOS. It promises comprehensive image editing tools, all controlled through the iOS intuitive multi-touch interface. All work can be synced with an online Photoshop.com account.

Songbird for Android. Few apps allow Android users complete control over their Android device’s media collection. Yet Songbird provides exactly that. No matter where your files are located on your pocket gadget (or how you placed them there), Songbird makes it easy to sort songs into playlists and control playback through a minimalist interface. Users can even set a song as their phone’s ringtone and easily configure Bluetooth headsets for a wireless listening experience.

Facebook for Android. It’s Facebook for Android. What else would you need to know? The app provides most of what’ll found on your desktop browser, redirecting users to a touchscreen-friendly version of the popular social networking service for what it can’t provide (touch.facebook.com). A glaring omission: no chat feature. But the new way Facebook handles messages should address this shortcoming somewhat.(tom's hardware)