Apple offers versions of its iWork suite (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) for both the Mac OS and iOS platforms, and given that the new school year is right around the corner, students might be weighing the options for creating and managing projects using either iPads or Macs.

While having been a fan of Apple's iWork suite in OS X since its debut and enjoy having the apps available for other platforms, I have been somewhat skeptical of using the iPad or iPhone to write a full report, a formatted resume, or managing calculations in a spreadsheet. Being a touch-only device, I've considered the iPad in large part as a viewing tool where you can look up information and browse through it, rather than buckling down and creating intricate and detailed content, especially with regard to office-related tasks. While Apple's touch-based input panels in iOS have made entering strings of text relatively easy, and along with gestures it provides a unique approach to drawing and arranging objects in applications, the question does arise as to whether this approach is adequate for more-detailed work such as word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets.

Overall the differences between Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on both platforms is in the capabilities of the two platforms, and herein lies the main determination of what will suit the end user's needs. When using iWork on the iPad, for the most part the iOS' limitations are a bit of a drawback when it come... [Read more]

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Scouring the Google Play Store for apps isn't always easy. When looking for an app you'll probably know the category it falls into, and you might know the name of something that works similarly to what you're looking for. Unfortunately, it's still a lot of work to sort through each entry until you find the perfect one.

You could look at app reviews online, or check star ratings in the Play Store, or you could try looking at Recommended For You.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Just open the Google Play Store and tap on Apps, then tap on the banner that says Recommended For You. This feature will help you find apps that are +1'd by your friends on Google+, popular based on geographic location, or similar to other apps you're already using. In fact, Recommended For You may seem familiar if you've used the Google Play Store on the Web, since it's been live there for the past month.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

When you see an app you aren't interested in, you can tap on the small circle with the line through it on the right-hand side of the list. This will prevent it from showing up in the list again.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

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If you've only got a 1 or 2GB plan, adding a data-saving app like Onavo Extend might be a step in the right direction. You may remember my post about Onavo Count, an app for calculating your data usage, which is very similar to this one. The big difference between the two is that Extend takes saving data a step further by using its servers to compress data you request before it gets sent to you.

This app does come with a couple of caveats, though. First, it's not ideal for large file downloads, as it will reduce your speed. Second, some Web sites may not load properly, or at all, but this seems to happen in a limited number of cases -- as noted by comments on the Google Play Store. (In my experience, all of the Web sites loaded.) However, you can disable the app at any time if your download speed is too slow or you find a Web site that won't load.

The newest version of PayPal for Android is out, and it sports a refreshed interface, complete with the "Holo" styling typical of apps designed for Android 4.0 and above. All of the main navigation is at the top, with the familiar dotted menu button sitting on the top-right of the Action Bar.

With all of PayPal's core features now split into three tabs -- Account, Send, and Request -- PayPal 4.0 is easier than ever to use. Plus, it now looks and feels more in line with its sibling PayPal Here, the company's answer to the Square Card Reader app.

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PayPal for Android is available for free download... [Read more]

Android users in several European countries can now use Amazon's app marketplace.

The company announced today that its Appstore is now available to consumers in the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. As with the store in the U.S., users will be able to find and download Android apps to either their smartphones or tablets.

Now that Amazon has expanded to more countries, the company's marketplace is even more a competitor to its chief alternative, Google's Play.

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Outside of the Android market, Apple's App Store is still going strong. Earlier this y... [Read more]