Windows: Security is probably one of our main concerns as computer users. This is why we all should take it seriously and use the necessary security apps to protect our system and personal data. AVG 8 is an excellent choice to avoid virus infections and stay safe while browsing the web. This last version features a totally revamped interface and a new anti-spyware tool.

Mac: Do you find you’re having a hard time remembering login info for all your domains? DomainBrain is a smart little app that lets you store all your precious information and easily protect it with a password. You can organize entries in nested folders and view all your information in one go. DomainBrain should ensure you never forget login info again.

Pocket PC: If you can’t afford to hire a personal assistant to take care of your daily schedule then simply install Pocket Informant on your PPC to do the job for you. The application offers a more powerful alternative to the built-in Calendar/Contacts/Tasks applications, to help you better organize your time. What’s more, the program syncs with Outlook, ActiveSync and other sync solutions.

Windows: If you’re tired of listening to music and would like to have a more active role, try mixing it! With Zulu DJ you can take your first steps into the world of music mixers thanks to its ease of use, variety of tools and special effects. The program supports many audio formats and lets you mix songs just by dragging and dropping them onto its interface.

Mac: You might want to have an alternative to iTunes when it comes to managing media on your iPod. Floola lets you see all music, videos, photos and other files stored on your iPod, handle your playlists, and even copy songs to and from most iPod models. It also offers support to Last.fm and podcasts. A must for music fans with iPods.

Pocket PC: We all know how good Google Maps is for finding your way from A to B, but did you know you can also hook up the powerful mapping service with your GPS receiver? Google Navigator provides a quick and easy way of obtaining map and location information using your GPS-enabled Pocket PC.

Windows: If the standard Windows Explorer is too limited for you, you need an advanced file manager like Q-Dir. Thanks to its multi-pane interface with customizable layouts and file color codes, you can move and copy files or folders in a much easier and faster way. Plus, it doesn’t require installation and can be conveniently run from a USB key.

Mac: The following program is also related to USB keys. Curb lets you clean the trash from your removable media. Drag and drop your key icon onto its interface and it takes care of trashing files for you. You have four different options for secure removal (including 35 pass!) of the files, making this a simple yet secure solution to trash files from USB keys.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the Pocket PC platform is awesome but, like many people, I find it a little cumbersome sometimes and the fact that I have to tap tiny icons. Pointui Home changes all that, skinning the Windows Mobile interface and allowing you to control your device’s basic features using your fingers.

I was nearly stung by a bee yesterday, and the experience has called into question my survival skills. I’ve since realised that I wouldn’t have had a clue what to do had the critter’s attack been a success. As a result, before I venture outside into the nice weather again I’m going to make sure I’m fully prepared for any dangers that may await me by loading up my phone with a selection of essential first aid software.

I started by installing 1st Aid & Emergencies on my Pocket PC, a piece of software that offers advice on how to handle a range of emergency care situations, from a nosebleed or sunburn to a life-threatening heart attack or stroke.

This app doesn’t cover every eventually and you can never be too careful, so I also took the liberty of arming my PPC with Pandemic Flu Survival Guide in case there’s a sudden outbreak of bird flu. And, in my experience, if the birds don’t get you then the insects probably will, so I also stuck a copy of Anti-Mosquito on my mobile phone. This state-of-the art app lets off a sound frequency that repels the blood suckers. Don’t worry though, because it’s virtually inaudible to the human ear.

I also downloaded Blood Pressure Watch and Easy Pulse in order to monitor myself in case the thought of all these terrible things that could happen to me got too much for my poor old heart. What’s more, I’m now keeping a track of my general level of physical fitness using Nokia’s Wellness Diary, which monitors stuff like my weight, eating habits and exercise. Perhaps all this is a bit excessive and I’m being paranoid about suffering an illness or injury. Oh God, here comes that bee again, quick, where’s my mobile?

If you thought it had been a little quiet around here of late, that’s for a very good reason. We’ve all been hard at work implementing and testing a new codebase for Softonic English which makes the site smarter and easier to use, as well as adding some great new features for users.

The homepage, while appearing quite similar to its previous version actually includes numerous changes and enhancements, including a new high-visibility zone for blog posts like this one; much better category listings; dynamic charts which show whether programs have moved up or down since last week and a smoother, cleaner design.

Our program page has also undergone some important changes. Apart from some cosmetic adjustments and enhancements, we’ve also made it much easier to interact with programs, meaning that the tools that let you rate, review, bookmark and track your favourite software are always easily accessible.

But the biggest new feature for the site is our new user profile page. Visitors to the Spanish Softonic will already be familiar with the features available in the new profile page. Now you can pick an avatar, visit other profiles, see your visitors and more. We’ve also got the Soft-O-Meter, a popular feature on the Spanish site which shows your level activity on Softonic.

Finally, we’ve launched Softonic Deluxe - a premium edition of Softonic designed for true fans of software. Deluxe members get access to a special edition of Softonic, free of advertising and with 100% guaranteed high-speed and secure downloads. For more info about Softonic Deluxe or to get a free trial, click here.

We’re always working on more features and already have loads of exciting new stuff in development… but we’ll let you know about that later. For the moment, take a look at the new, improved Softonic. And as always, please let us know if you’ve got an opinion on the site or an idea for making it even better!

Counting devices have come a long way since the days of the abacus and most of us now have a calculator to hand on our mobile phones. Many of these default calculation programs are pretty crude though and are far too basic for the likes of scientists, maths students or financial workers, who often need powerful equation-solving tools in their daily lives. Luckily there are plenty of third-party calculators you can install that will make your phone as smart as Stephen Hawking. Here are some of the best:

• MxCalc SE - Programmable calculator that specializes in financial mathematics
• Abakus - Perform complex engineering and business calculations on your Sony Ericsson
• Best Calc - Displays 24 digits and performs a wide range of scientific functions
• Calcium - One of the most gorgeous and enjoyable-to-use calculators you’ll see
• SpaceTime - Advanced Pocket PC calculator with support for 4D graphs

Windows: Though Windows is relatively easy to customize, there are still a few options that remain hidden under unknown menus. TweakNow WinSecret unveils them all in an attractive, well organized interface where you’ll be able to tweak all sorts of special Windows settings concerning appearance, security and behavior.

Mac: The Sudoku fad may have been replaced by all the brain training games popping up everywhere, but Sudoku is still pretty popular, and remains a very enjoyable logic game. SudokuAdept is great for beginners as it features loads of settings to help you finish off your sudoku and adjustable difficulty levels, great to help you progress.

Mobile: Looking to travel during the weekend? GPS Tuner offers high precision measurements to show you detailed maps. The application works very well whether you are on the road, out on a boat, hiking in the mountains or even flying. GPS Tuner also makes it very easy to manage, modify, import and export your waypoints.

Windows: Are you tired of castles and soldiers historical strategy games? Give the genre a twist with Sins of a Solar Empire, a real-time strategy game set in outer space. Command your spaceship troops and explore other planets while struggling to manage resources properly and taking your civilization to the highest levels of social and scientific development.

Mac: If you have a busy schedule, staying on top of tasks is crucial. Dejumble is a menu bar item which lets you not only create your own tasks, but also view them in a list, add tags and enter notes. The application integrates with iCal, so your tasks are stored there too, and comes in a simple floating window which can be launched quickly from the menu bar.

Pocket PC: If you’re anything like me then you’ve always dreamed about living in a world entirely made out of clay. Well, now you can thanks to Platypus, a side-scrolling shooter where all the game’s elements are made from clay. You take command of a doughy spacecraft and must blast invaders out of the sky. Watch out for the splatty explosions - they’re out of this world!

Pocket PC:UNO is one of the most wickedly intensive card games ever created, and you can now play the game on your mobile phone. UNO Classic 2007 is a gorgeously presented recreation, with loads of characters and backgrounds to choose from. Don’t worry if you don’t know the rules because they’re very well explained here.

Windows: If you wan to add even more functionality to your Firefox browser, this extension is for you. With Auto Context you get an extra web context menu that pops up when you select any word or text, and offers a customizable selection of tasks from searching that text on Google to opening it as an URL. Auto Context can also work with other compatible extensions so that you get the most from them all.

Mac: Want to focus only on today’s work? Then the Today application for Mac should help you out. This program synchronizes perfectly with both Apple Mail and iCal to show all your tasks and events for the day. It can be opened up from the Dock or the menu bar. And if you don’t want to bother opening up iCal you can create new tasks and events straight from Today. Try it out now (I mean today)!

Did you just delete a file by mistake? I know how it feels… Don’t worry: you can now fix it with Glary Undelete. This easy application scans your hard drive (or any other drive, including removable ones) and displays a list of deleted files along with their degree of recoverability. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll have your accidentally deleted files back in no time.

SIDPLAY is the ultimate music player for any Commodore 64 fan. The application will allow you to download and listen to thousands of sounds from the classic console. These can be synced regularly and, thanks to the iTunes liked interface, they remain really well organized. You can even create your own smart playlists and export to your iPod.

Why reserve your DVD collection for the house, when it’s possible to take it out and about with you on your mobile? Xilisoft DVD to Pocket PC Ripper allows you to quickly rip DVDs into a Pocket-PC-compatible format. With a variety of custom settings like adjustable bitrate, video size etc., you could convert DVD to Pocket PC supported WMV and WMA easily and fast with excellent quality

After eleven months without news, we finally got our hands on a new version of eMule. The popular P2P client features a bunch of new features and improved functions, such as a revamped Kad protocol, flood protection and spam filters among others, as well as a special “obfuscation” option to prevent your ISP from blocking your file transfers.

Are you the proud owner of at least half a dozen phones? Do you spend your days on the telephone? Then you probably need to find a way of converging all of your devices. Dialectic allows you to control your landline, mobile phones and even VoIP applications from one application, which can dial numbers for you and save them in any contact application. A real productivity boost!

You don’t have to just use your phone for calling and SMS messaging, you know. You can also chat via instant messaging, just as you would do on your home computer. IM+ enables you to do this and boasts support for all the major IM networks, including AOL, Google Talk, MSN, Jabber and ICQ. You can even set up simultaneous connections to all these systems.

If you’re sitting in front of your PC and feel like watching TV, you don’t need to switch your TV set on anymore: simply launch Zattoo and you’ll be able to watch a bunch of online streaming TV channels right on your computer. The program’s latest version, 3.1.1 Beta, includes a TV guide and a channel selector as the main new features.

For those of you that spend a major part of their day writing, having a good program to create and save abbreviations can be a real lifesaver. Typinator for Mac lets you easily create abbreviations, which you can save in sets and use in any sort of document. It also imports snippets from similar applications like TypeIt4Me.

Why bother scrabbling around inside your the many menus in your Windows Mobile Pocket PC, when you can manage your whole life simply from the Today screen? PocketBreeze replaces the built-in calendar, tasks and mail on your home screen with a series of other customisable features. Try it now and your life will never be so well organised!

Need to safely access your files over a remote connection yet worried about how difficult it may be to set up? Not to worry, FarFinder offers a simple Finder interface which can be easily accessed from anywhere. The application will generate a simple URL which will give you access to your folders. The best thing about it? The special interface for the iPhone.

With a package of system utilities like SysInternals Suite you’ll always have the right app for every need. This complete collection of tools enables you to have full control over your system, including running processes, DLL files, presence of malware and much more. Just unzip it into any folder and you’re ready to go!

Bluetooth is great for quickly transferring files wirelessly, but one of the things that annoys me about the transfer protocol is that when you send a file or document from one device to another, the file always ends up in the same folder on the receiving device. Step forward moBlue, a free Pocket PC application that lets you set the folder to save Bluetooth-sent files.

Thanks to the constant improvements in mobile technology, cellphones and PDAs are now among the first things many sailors pack before they set sail. Not only are they useful for relieving boredom and loneliness, but the powerful software available for them these days means that they can even save lives on the high seas.

If you’re planning a trip on the open water then it’s a good idea to use a device with built-in GPS, or buy a GPS receiver for your existing handset. There are many GPS utilities out there that can help you put your satellite connection to best use. Try GPSXC, which is a specialised reader for adventure sports. The program allows you to download maps and satellite imagery and display your current position and set a waypoint from your location and GPSXC even includes a speedometer with time and distance tracking.

Other decent GPS tools worth trying include CellPos, AFTrack, and Compass, which could prove essential if anything happens to your on-board direction finder. If you have a Pocket PC, then give Pocket Sailor a try. This software system allows you to view Transas charts and navigate using a Pocket PC connected to a GPS. Pocket Sailor is an add-on to the Navigator system and allows charts and routes to be downloaded on to a palm top PC.

The weather is a key factor in sailing of course, and there are plenty of decent forecasting tools for mobile phones out there. Handy Weather provides live weather news and you can check conditions for an arbitrary location based on co-ordinates. WorldMate is also pretty good and besides live weather forecasts, it offers a World map, World clocks and a measurements converter.

If you usually work with two computers (home and office, desktop and laptop), FEBE is a great way to have Firefox perfectly synchronized between them. This extension lets you create backup copies of all data in the browser, including bookmarks, extensions, themes, cookies and more. It also supports scheduled backup copies and user-selected backup profiles.

If you’re in the hunt for a new FTP client, and you’ve just upgraded your Mac to Leopard, then I recommend you try out Flow. This newly released application makes use of Leopard technology like QuickLook and offers a really simple way to transfer files. The droplet feature makes uploading as simple as drag-and-drop. Programmers will also like having a built-in editor right in the application.

The Windows Mobile operating system is good, but it isn’t great. If you want to get more from mobile, then get hold of Spb Phone Suite, which adds a whole host of extra features to the OS. These goodies include profiles, call filtering, missed call notification, reject and reply with SMS, photo speed dial and a wireless manager. Once installed you’ll wonder how you managed without them!