Run a quick search for "notepad" on Google Play, and you'll see that there are at least 1,000 apps claiming to fit the bill. The good news is, we've taken the time to show you a few notepads that are absolute must-haves, especially for students just getting back into the groove of school.

Evernote (Free) These days, the all-powerful Evernote feels more like a platform than a single, independent app. It has a full menu of companion downloads like Skitch, Evernote Food, and Evernote Hello available, and tons of developers are racing to integrate its services into their third-party titles as well. Nevertheless, at its core, Evernote is still a fantastic note-taker.

In addition to its power across devices (there are native apps for most major platforms), what makes Evernote so special is its ability to incorporate different types of media into its notes. It lets you add text, voice clips, pictures, files, even location stamps. What's more, you can collaborate on any of your notes with friends, so long as they're Evernote members as well. And if you have a tablet, you'll get an even more spa... [Read more]

Every parent fears losing his or her child. Whether you're shopping at a department store, or visiting a theme park -- a lost child is a very real possibility.

A new iOS app, Lost Kidz, wants to help reunite parents with a lost child as soon as possible. iOS users can install the app and set up an account, free of charge, to receive alerts of missing kids nearby, based off of their iPhone's current location. The alert will contain a photo and information about the child to help you quickly identify, and reunite the lost child with his parents.

If you're a parent, you can sign up for a paid account, 99 cents per year, allowing you to send an alert should your child become lost.

Here's where you come in: in order for the app to be truly effective, you need to install it. The more users who have the free app installed and set up on their iOS device, the more likely the missing child alerts will be seen. It won't cost you anything but your time to set up your account and then you can hide the app in a folder and forget about it.

There is an Android version of the app in the works, and it should be released by the end of the year.

Download Lost Kidz from the App Store.

Parallels Desktop 8 has been made available for public purchase, offering faster graphics and improved startup and resume times over previous versions. If you need to run Windows or any other operating system on your Mac, then while dual booting is arguably the fastest and most stable option for executing code, another approach that perhaps has more utility is virtualization, where you can open a window to the hardware on your system and allow a second operating system to run simultaneously.

In the past week, the developers for the top two commercial virtualization programs for OS X (VMWare Fusion and Parallels Desktop) have announced new version upgrades that promote faster graphics, better integration into OS X, and quicker boot and resume times for guest operating systems (especially Windows). These features are similar to advancements made in prior versions of the programs, to increase compatibility and speed in order to offer users a more seamless experience with secondary operating systems and do so better than the competition.

Both VMWare Fusion 5 and Parallels Desktop 8 were announced last week; however, VMWare Fusion beat Parallels Desktop to the punch by making its latest ... [Read more]

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Matching the colors on larger items you can't tote into stores or around town can sometimes be difficult -- especially when it's something like your walls or furnishings. If you love color matching and coordination, then SwatchMatic is the app for you.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

All you need to get started is an Android device with a camera and a copy of the SwatchMatic app. Once installed, simply point the app at an object to start matching the color. When you see a color tab in the wheel that looks like an exact match, or at least something close, tap on any color tab in the wheel. A whimsically named palette will be generated for you, along with a robot donning the colors.

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

When you find a color that isn't quite a perfect match (due to lighting or camera quality), you can actually adjust it within the app until it's spot on. Tap on the rectangular icon at the top of the screen that looks like a list. Then, tap the color palette you want to work with. When the picture of the robot loads, touch the slider icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. From there, you can adjust the RGB values of each color. Don't forge... [Read more]

A look at Firefox OS.

New images have hit the Internet and purport to show what could be the design for Mozilla's upcoming Firefox OS Marketplace.

Engadget published photos yesterday of what it claims is the app store for Firefox's mobile operating system. The images show a small listing of apps, including Solitaire and Word Wars. Several app categories are listed, including business, games, and books and reference.

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According to Engadget, once users click on an application to get details, they'll find a rating and the option to submit a review to the community.

Mozilla gave Firefox OS its name back in July. In addition, the company announced that it had signed a few new partners for its initiative, including Sprint and ZTE. When the operating system, which sits on top of a version of Linux but runs applications in a version of F... [Read more]

(Credit: RadiumOne)

Previously available only on the iPhone, Via.Me today makes its way onto the Android platform. While it may seem like just another silly social network joining an already jostling crowd, Via.Me's strongest selling point is the ease with which you can use it to post pictures, videos, and even audio clips to Facebook and Twitter, all from a single interface.

To get started, first sign into Via.Me using your Facebook or Twitter account. From there, it will connect you to your friends who are also on Via.Me. Then, just as on Facebook or Twitter, you can scroll through their updates in your Via.Me feed.

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To create a post, hit the + button on the top right and choose New Post. Here's where Via.Me really shines. You can easily attach a photo, video, or audio recording to your message, and choose whether to simultaneously post to Twitter or Facebook.

You can also attach any existing file from your device's Gallery, and ev... [Read more]

Touch comes to Panda Security for 2013 (photos)

Windows 8 support and a new interface for touch screens arrive in Panda's 2013 security suites, released today.

Following the mid-summer update to Panda Cloud Antivirus, Panda's 2013 line-up of Panda Antivirus Pro 2013 (download), Panda Internet Security 2013 (download), and Panda Global Protection 2013 (download) offers a competitive range of security features. But if you're not already a Panda fan, it's hard to see what's in this year's release that would convince you to jump.

Related stories:

• ... [Read more]