DROIDWALL

REVIEWS   :-

DroidWall is one of the best ways to protect the data on your rooted Android phone.

I review a lot of Android apps: Many of them are junk, some are so-so, and a small number are great, providing functionality that should be included in every Android device. DroidWall (for rooted devices only) is among the elite few. Why? Because DroidWall allows you to specify which apps can access the Internet--giving you more control over your phone and enabling you to protect yourself against unauthorized data connections.
Unfortunately, many apps misuse their permissions in order to upload your contacts list without asking, report your physical location to third-party advertisers, or abet other invasions of privacy. DroidWall puts the power back into your hands. The app's simple dashboard controls how your installed apps can access the Internet. Each app is listed with two checkboxes: One is for Wi-Fi data access (useful for keeping apps that use a lot of data from eating up your cellular data), and the other is for cellular data. Check the box to allow access; leave it blank to deny access. When you're done, activate the firewall.
Of course, many apps (for example, your Web browser) have legitimate reasons to access the Internet. Blocking these apps may cause them to behave erratically or may prevent them from working altogether. If an app doesn't have any obvious legitimate reason to connect to the Internet, however, you can probably block it without adverse effects. If you do experience problems, you can always go back into DroidWall and re-enable an app's network connection if you must--or turn off the firewall entirely if you don't plan on using it.
It's worth noting that many free apps rely on in-app advertising for revenue. In such cases, the app may try to connect to the Internet in order to serve up advertisements. Using DroidWall to block the app will block the ads--but it will also block the app developer's revenue stream. On the other hand, many advertisers track your location and other information, and DroidWall can put a stop to that unwelcome behavior.
The privacy and security benefits of DroidWall are comparable to desktop PC firewalls and justify the effort it takes to root your phone.

GAS BUDDY

REVIEWS :-

This excellent app can save you money when it's time to fill your gas tank.

                   The days of cheap gasoline may be gone for good, but the free GasBuddy app for Android can help you find the best fuel deals in town. GasBuddy is very easy to use: The app uses your GPS location to search for nearby gas stations, then returns a list that you can sort by price or distance. The list is conveniently organized into tabs for Regular, Mid-Grade, and Premium gasoline, as well as Diesel fuel. Clicking on an item gives you more details such as the gas station's phone number, services offered, and directions (via the Google Maps app) to help you get there.
You can also switch to a view that shows the gas stations and their prices as thumbnails on a map, relative to your current position. Click a thumbnail to go to a page with more details about the gas station. I prefer the map view because to me it feels more visually intuitive than the list view.
GasBuddy has some other nice features like the ability to filter results by gas station brand, toggle between metric and imperial distance units, save searches, and save individual gas stations as Favorites.
I tested GasBuddy in Oakland, CA and soon discovered a spread of 32 cents per gallon between the cheapest and most expensive gas stations in my area (a radius of approximately five miles). That means that I could save as much as $3.84 the very first time I fill a 12-gallon gas tank. Think about it. Here is a free app that actually can save you a significant amount of money on a recurring expense. How awesome is that?
GasBuddy uses crowd-sourced reports from users to provide up-to-date prices, and each price listing also shows how recent the price report is. If you register an account with GasBuddy, you can join in onreporting gas prices for a chance to win a $250 gas card. It's worth noting that you can also log in to GasBuddy online with any Web browser to access your Favorites and saved searches. It's definitely worth checking out, as the Website has some interesting features, like regional and national gas price “heat maps,” that complement the mobile app nicely.
I uninstall many apps after I review them, but I like GasBuddy so much that I plan to keep it on my phone. The only thing it lacks is the ability for a user to rate or review an individual gas station. Such a feature could be helpful to warn other users of potential problems such as poor service, unsafe conditions, or bad gasoline. Oh well, there's always Yelp for business ratings and reviews.

LOOK OUT MOBILE SECURITY

REVIEWS  :-

Offering up a triple-threat of protection, this free, easy-to-use app is a must-have for every Android phone owner.

Lookout Security & Antivirus provides free security protection, contacts backup, and remote locating and screaming for both phones and tablets. The app requires you to create a free Lookout account, which can be accessed by going to mylookout.com and signing in with your account credentials. Upgrading to a premium account ($2.99/m or $29.99/yr) adds safe browsing, a privacy advisor, backup of pictures and call history, and remote locking and wiping.

The security protection automatically scans apps you install and update and (optionally) new files for viruses and malware. By default it also performs a full scan weekly, which you can schedule for a particular time or day, or turn off if desired.

The backup feature saves your contacts and, if you have a premium account, your pictures and call history to your online account. There you can view them and restore them to the same device should you accidentally erase your data. Premium account holders can choose to restore their data to another tablet or phone, a handy feature if you're migrating to a new device.. Lookout makes backups daily by default, though you can adjust the frequency in the settings menu.

The missing device feature lets you remotely control your device from your online account. By logging in to the Lookout website, you can locate your phone or tablet on a Google Map or make it scream so you can find it even if the device volume is set to low or silent. If you have a premium account, you can remotely lock your tablet or phone to prevent someone from using it, or wipe it to erase all your data in case you have no hope of ever getting it back.

If a thief replaces the SIM card in your phone with their own, the Lookout app will detect the change and show the new number on your online account. You can then use the number to help in catching the thief or, if you are especially devious, you can prank call them at all hours of the night--making them really regret stealing your phone.

If you upgrade to the premium account, the safe browsing feature automatically detects and alerts you if you visit a phishing or malware site. And the privacy advisor helps you identify apps that may be invading your privacy by listing apps that have sensitive permissions, such as those that can read identity info, access messages, or track your location.

When evaluating this app on my Android phone and tablet I didn’t find any major issues. Setting up the app was painless and took only a few minutes. By default, Lookout appears on the notification bar, offering a quick way to open it. Once you open the app, you find a simple, inviting, and user-friendly interface that is extremely easy to navigate.

Though Lookout uses the same uninstall protection as other security apps (setting the app as a device administrator), it would be great to see additional uninstall protection so it’s harder for thieves to remove it.

Overall, this is a great app to help protect your Android smartphone or tablet. However, it’s hard to recommend the premium upgrade for everyone given there are other cheaper or free apps out there that can provide similar protection. For most, the free version will be adequate and you can always upgrade later should you ever need to take advantage of the paid features.

GOOGLE WALLET

 reviews  :-    A few everyday technological achievements that many people take for granted can still make me awestruck when I think about them. With the technology we have in place today, I board a plane to Bangladesh, talk to my family via video call while 12,000 feet above the Indian Ocean, and extract local currency from a machine in the airport when I arrive. Tell me that's not downright miraculous.

But sometimes, I think of the things we should be doing with technology and can't believe it hasn't happened yet. Like, why don't we use computers to vote yet? And what the heck am I doing with a wallet full of credit cards that don't even support Chip and PIN? Google Wallet (free) is the first mobile payment system that could finally pull us out of credit card dark ages. The system lets you store credit and debit card information from all major companies, as well as gift cards, in a secure Android app, and lets you make in-store purchases by simply touching your phone to a PayPass reader and keying in your PIN. Google Wallet also works online, and you don't need an Android device to use that part of it.

Since I first reviewed Google Wallet in October 2011, Google practically overhauled it, removing some but not all of the barriers and concerns potential users had. It used to work only on one phone with one specific credit card, but now supports a much broader selection of both (details below). The way Google Wallet stores sensitive information has improved as well. It is still confusing to find and install the app, but I'll explain how later in this article. Overall, Google has pushed a good idea further, but not to the point that consumers can adopt it ubiquitously—yet. I'm hopeful it will happen, though.

Supported Devices, Credit Cards, and Stores

To use Google Wallet in a brick-and-mortar store, you need one of the following Android devices: Galaxy Nexus (Sprint, AT&T, or T-Mobile), LG Viper (Sprint), LG Optimus (Sprint, Virgin Mobile), HTC EVO 4G (Sprint), Samsung Galaxy S3, Nexus 7.

When the Google Wallet mobile app first hit the scene, it only worked with a special prepaid Google card and one specific Citibank card. Now, you can enter the details of any credit or debit card with the known logos: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. You can also enter gift cards for some stores. The list of stores that use the required PayPass reader has grown since late last year, too, and now includes more than just gas stations and chain pharmacy marts. The list now includes Macy's, Peet's Coffee and Tea, The Container Store, and even New Jersey Transit (and many others, too).

The PayPass reader looks like a small plastic dish attached to a credit card reader at a checkout point (the self-swipe machine at every supermarket cashier). Transactions are swift. Shoppers don't waste time digging around for the right credit card. Clerks stand by while you manage the payment. What was that tag line again? Oh right: Pay and go.