Anyone using the Windows Phone 8 mobile platform is likely pleased with personalization and interactivity offered by the competitor to iOS and Android. The convenience of live tiles, which are both customizable and frequently updated, has taken the starting point offered by Windows Phone 7 to the next level. The increased integration with apps has no doubt assuaged naysayers who weren’t that impressed with the prior iteration. That said, those attempting to utilize YouTube on Windows Phone 8 were no doubt disappointed to find that the app was not optimized for use with this platform, appearing as nothing more than the web version resized for mobile, with little functionality or added value to spare. Luckily, however, Windows seems to be addressing the lite fare featured in their application Marketplace – YouTube, in particular, has undergone an expansive update that completely revamps the interface and functionality for Windows Phone 8 users.

One feature that users are sure to appreciate right off the bat is the quick access search bar. As you may have guessed, this functionality allows for faster, easier video searches within the application, so if you know what you’re looking for, you can now gain access in a snap (or a tap). But it’s also a lot easier to save and share, as well, when you find YouTube videos you like. One of the major draws of this visual medium, aside from pure entertainment value, is that it allows users to spot and share video trends with their cadre of online and mobile contacts. And the newly updated application for Window mobile does not disappoint in this regard.

First, you can save your faves with a feature called pinning. It’s not the same as creating a pinboard on Pinterest, for example, but the idea is in the same vein since the functionality allows you to collect and store the videos that you love for easy reference later on. Whereas previously you might have had to seek out a particular video every time you wanted to show it to someone new, pinning lets you save playlists, searches, and specific videos. And thanks to the addition of My YouTube you can create a profile to more easily manage your personal playlist. But of course, the ability to share via text, email, and social media is the icing on the cake for this app, which would otherwise only realize half of its potential use value.

Of course, that’s not the end of the upgrades. Also sure to be popular is the Kid’s Corner feature that allows parents to censor content on their children’s phones (or their own). So if you have videos pinned to your YouTube channel, or even to live tiles, you can decide whether or not to allow access to others using your phone via this feature. The long and short of this updated app is that it provides Windows Phone 8 users with the features they might expect from a comparable program on similar devices (iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy 4, for example). It could even help you to get YouTube views for your own channel thanks to increased sharing opportunities. And all you have to do is head to the Windows Marketplace to download this awesome update.

If you number yourself among the fashion obsessed, then chances are pretty good that you’ve got a closet space so jam packed with clothing that putting together a creative and stylish outfit every morning can be something of a trial. As you dig through piles of clothing is search of the perfect scarf to compliment your ensemble or the right pair of trousers to match your cardigan, you may start to wonder if the pursuit of fashion is really worth all the hassle. In short, the passion you had when you started building your wardrobe may have faded to the point that putting effort into your appearance has become more of a chore than a single-minded joy. Luckily, there is an app for that. And if you’ve long longed for a program that could help you to put together a virtual look in a snap so that all you have to do is grab the pieces and throw them on, you cannot pass up the Stylebook application for your iPhone.

For only $3.99, the amount you might pay for your morning cuppa Joe at Starbucks, you can have an app with the potential to save you time and money, not to mention daily stress. The functionality is both comprehensive and simple to navigate. You’ll start by populating the “closet” with images of your own clothing. Add tops, pants, dresses, and other items of clothing, along with all of your favorite accessories, including shoes, handbags, jewelry, hats, sunglasses, and more. And don’t forget that you can create custom categories to organize as you see fit. Once you’ve managed to input your entire wardrobe, the fun really starts.

The editing features allow you to isolate each garment from the background in the pic you snapped, and once you’ve done so you can start grabbing individual pieces and putting them together in a photo spread to create you favorite “looks”. This feature allows you to add unlimited pieces, so you don’t have to stop with just the foundations of your ensemble; you can pile on jewelry and other extras to really create a polished look that allows you to grab and go. But it gets even better. Once you’ve created a ton of looks you can populate your calendar so that you know exactly what you’re wearing for the week or even the month. This is great if you’re planning a trip or if you just want those few extra minutes of shut-eye in the morning that you might otherwise spend in front of your open closet.

Of course, that’s not all you can do. You can also search your closet for specific colors, fabrics, and so on to complete a look, and you can share your looks via Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr (or email) in order to get feedback from family and friends. And for those days when your outfit just isn’t working, you can create an inspiration library filled with cool ideas to get your creative juices flowing, or simply go online via ShopStyle to peruse the wares offered by more than 7,000 affiliated retailers. When you think about it, you spend a lot of time in pursuit of beauty, sifting through reviews on sites like Epilator Central in search of the perfect hair removal product, or flipping through fashion magazines in order to learn about the latest trends in cosmetics and clothing. Considering how much time Stylebook stands to save you, this is one handy app that you shouldn’t think twice about downloading.

For what better use was the iPad created than image manipulation? While some use it to browse the internet in all its full-color, hi-rez glory and others use it to play video games or watch streaming movies on the go, the quintessential tablet is clearly designed to handle an image-heavy load. Along these lines, it also makes for a handy photo editor, assuming that you’ve downloaded the right software. And one of the latest and greatest applications to hit the market in this genre is Photoshop Touch, which could most adequately be described as a slightly smaller version of the behemoth Adobe product you’ve come to know and love through years of use on your home computer. Of course, this product is also available on the iPhone, but the larger screen size and the retinal display of the iPad were made for just this purpose. And when the visual prowess of the iPad is combined with the many tools Photoshop has to offer, users won’t be able to tear themselves away from the creative possibilities.

Although this app will set you back by $9.99, which signifies a pretty big commitment in the app-sphere, it is customized for use on the iPad, so you’ll find features like selection tools and adjustments geared to touch-pad usage, as well as the layers, filters, stamps, and corrective tools you’ve come to expect from the folks at Adobe. But of course, there is some functionality that’s specific to your mobile devices. It’s a good idea to start with the handy tutorial; even those familiar with Adobe products will want to learn the ins and outs of this app in order to make the most of their purchase and get to the fun of editing their favorite pics.

From there you can begin uploading images from your camera or cloud storage (you get 2GB with Adobe Creative Cloud when you download the app), or you can connect to a Google image search to find what you’re looking for, or even peruse the Photoshop gallery for inspiration and options. Once you import your photo the sky is the limit. For one thing, you can layer to your hearts’ delight, taking snippets of pictures and graphics to create a one-of-a-kind finished product. And thanks to the camera on your iPad you can take advantage of the “fill” feature to refine layers of your project. For example, if you ended up with a vacation photo in which someone was blinking, all you have to do is take another photo of the person after the fact to replace his eyes or his whole face, keeping the rest of the photo intact. You can also scribble to remove parts you don’t like and refine edges (like stray hairs).

Of course, once you’ve created your masterpiece you’ll want to share it with others. And thanks to integration with Facebook and Twitter, sharing is a snap. You can also make prints of your projects wirelessly via AirPrint so you can frame copies of favorites to put on your mantle or send to family and friends. You could even create an online photo album book with your finished Photoshop Touch creations. If you’re looking for a photo editor for your iPad that does it all, you can’t go wrong with this Adobe product. And although it will set you back ten bucks, you’re bound to get your money’s worth if you love to transform your average photo into a work of art.

There are plenty of college students that still rely on a trusty pen and a pad of paper to take notes in class. But in this era of advanced computer technology, there’s no reason to contribute to deforestation and break your back with a bag full of paper. You don’t even have to haul a bulky laptop. Thanks to the tablet revolution you can take all of your textbooks, notes, and assignments with you in one small, lightweight device that can fit in a purse or even a large pocket. And when it comes to taking notes in class, you needn’t worry about begging a pen because yours ran out of ink or borrowing paper because your notebook is full. There are tons of note-taking apps available on the iTunes store to help you hit the high points of any lecture for later reference. And one of the best, according to both users and media outlets, is Notability for the iPad.

The app will set you back $1.99, but this is a pittance when you consider what you’ll get from this handy program — it’s like three apps (or more) in one. Yes, it is primarily designed for the simple task of taking notes, but it provides you with several options for how you do this, and it has plenty of extra features that offer added value. To begin with, you can take notes by writing directly on your pad with your stylus or finger (although the former is probably more precise). And these writing implements will never run out of ink. But you can also use the qwerty keypad (either by touchscreen or with an attached keyboard) to increase the speed at which you take notes.

Of course, if you want to increase your efficiency exponentially, you could also use the recording feature to capture the audio version of the lecture. If you take notes at the same time, you can sync up your written notes with the audio file so that all you have to do is select a portion of your notes in order to play the associated audio in order to recall exactly what the professor said during the lecture. You can also use this feature to add your own voice to notes, to “jot down” memos, or even record V.O. for class projects and presentations.

But there’s so much more. There will be times when lectures include graphic demonstrations. In this case you may want to copy down diagrams, charts, graphs, and so on that the teacher presents on the board or overhead projector. While many note-taking apps don’t offer such functionality, you can definitely draw pictures in your notes with Notability, or better yet, snap a photo with your iPad camera. Or you can upload PDF files to annotate with handwritten, typed, or recorded notes for further comprehension. And you can add photos, videos, and drawings to your existing notes, or even import PowerPoint presentations. You can also use the advanced word processing features to highlight, add bullets, and otherwise polish your notes.

Finally, you’ll no doubt love the focus on integration that allows you to use the cloud. You can email files to yourself (or others) and save them in Dropbox or other cloud storage. And you can organize your files in a number of ways in your Notability library for easy location and access. Whether you’re struggling through a law program, you’re going for a respiratory therapy degree, or you’re simply trying to slog through your general education while you try to choose a major, Notability can help you to get the most out of every class. And with this handy app in tow, you’ll never have to worry about facing a lecture unable to take notes again.

Whether you happen to be an internet marketer yourself or you’re running a business that relies on this growing field for promotion, you are probably aware of how quickly things can change for those taking advantage of online marketing opportunities. For example, although sites like Facebook and Twitter have managed to stand the test of time (hey, remaining popular for more than a few months in the short-attention-span theater of cyberspace is like a lifetime in people years), relative newbies like Google+, Pinterest, and more are always aiming to become the next best thing and supplant the dinosaurs of social media. This means you have to stay up-to-date not only with the latest trending topics and keywords, but also with the social media platforms and marketing strategies that are going to ensure traffic, sales, and other desired results. And by downloading the Internet Marketing Magazine app for your iPhone or iPad you can get the latest scoop on what’s happening in the wide world of internet marketing.

The app is free to download, as are the latest issues of this e-zine aimed at keeping internet marketers informed. And thanks to an expert panel of experienced, international internet marketers, the content of this monthly mag is always topical, timely, and totally geared towards helping users stay informed of relevant information pertaining to every facet of the online marketing world. Businesses are all seeking the same things from their marketing efforts: more customers and more sales. But if you’re operating in the online arena this roughly equates to more targeted traffic. The Internet Marketing Magazine app is an essential tool for making this happen (along with SEO and other practices). But the landscape changes so quickly that it can be difficult for even the savvy internet marketing crowd to keep up, much less the average entrepreneur looking to utilize the opportunities inherent to the online arena.

With articles and advice on a diverse array of topics, from website design and optimization to social media and marketing funnels, this e-zine can provide users with a regularly rotating slate of content that will help you to make the most of current trends in online marketing. Would you like to know how to get your customers to follow through on purchases instead of abandoning their shopping carts before checking out? Perhaps you’d like some tips on how to increase customer retention. Or maybe you need some help creating automated webinars that engage viewers and increase clientele. The Internet Marketing Magazine can provide you with the information and expert advice required to increase your online marketing efforts and reach your business goals.

Even if all you know about internet marketing is that adwords are generally the first step down the long road to creating an online marketing campaign, this resource can help you to get up to speed with the rapidly changing developments in this growing industry. And those that are trying to run successful businesses as internet marketers are bound to get a lot more out of it. Either way, this magazine can provide the tips, tricks, and trends needed to create leads, traffic, sales, and of course, profits. That’s a lot of reasons to love this freebie.