How do you replicate the experience of love at first sight on a dating app? That's the obstacle that "The Bachelor/Bachelorette" host Chris Harrison, series creator Mike Fleiss, and Perceptual Networks founder Cheyenne Ehrlich, have attempted to overcome with the development of the new, aptly-titled dating app, At First Sight (iOS, Android).

To capture the real-time intimacy and connectivity (or lack thereof) of in-person dating, At First Sight relies on video-based profiles, precise questions, improved chat and social features, and proprietary, behind-the-scenes technology to help members determine chemistry straightaway. Messaging and content restrictions as well as customizable privacy settings ensure that all members feel safe and secure throughout the engagement process.

Download.com chatted with "Bachelor"/"Bachelorette" host Chris Harrison about the lessons he's learned over the course of the last 26 seasons--and his recent divorce--that he has applied to the dating app, his other favorite apps, and whether he... [Read more]

YourExtraLife is part social network/experiment with a touch of video game, incorporated into one app. Recently released earlier this month on iOS, YourExtraLife is the creation of four indie developers out of Quebec, Canada. Their ambition is to create an app that can help people enjoy new experiences and emotions, and learn new skills through a variety of challenges. The end goal is to have users slowly move out of their comfort zone by trying things they otherwise might not.

After creating an account via Facebook or e-mail, you'll see a list of five category trees: Gourmet, Nightlife, Culture, Romance, and Altruism. Pick one or as many as you want to try and let the challenges begin! The app works on a crowd-source approval system. You start with an easy challenge that the app tasks you to complete, before submitting a picture for the community's approval. Earn some badges once your picture is declared legit and unlock new challenges.

Each category starts out with an easy assignment: Share a cause on Facebook, list five artists that you love, etc. It then gets progressively tougher. The first gourmet task asks you to take a picture of your favorite ingredients, and then they raise the bar with try some blue cheese, make some tasty guacamole, and prepare an all raw food meal. Don't be surprised if later down the road you'll need to star... [Read more]

The new Google Maps for Android.

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Just two days ago, Google started rolling out a new version of Maps. While the app is still making its way to each user, there have been many complaints surfacing about two main issues: offline caching being too complicated and the loss of access to My Maps.

Thankfully, Google responded quickly to the first issue, allowing users to save maps by tapping a button. However, the company neglected to add a way for you to access your saved maps. But that's OK; you have thumbs and can use another way to access them from your Android. Here's how:

(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET)

Step 1: Open Google Maps in a Web browser on your smartphone or tablet. Tap the arrow button in the top right-hand corner, and then... [Read more]

Windows Phone 8 users will soon see a slight update offered for their operating system.

Microsoft on Thursday announced update 8.0.10327.77, which includes several minor fixes and updates. Among the updates is the ability to more easily select and download music from Xbox Music, as well as listen to FM radio from the Music+Videos hub. A new Data Sense feature will be bundled with the update, allowing users to see how much data they've used.

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Other than that, there isn't much to write home about -- the remaining enhancements are just fixes for Skype, Internet Explorer,... [Read more]

Xara Design Pro X9's illustration tools can be used to create complicated vector art.

Creative types alienated by Adobe Systems' Creative Cloud subscription program have a new alternative for some of their work: new image-editing, illustration, and layout software from Xara.

Last week, the U.K. company released the new version 9 of Xara Page & Layout Designer, and this week, it released the ninth version of its flagship product, Xara Designer Pro X9. The former is geared for page design tasks for which people might use Adobe InDesign, and the latter bundles that layout tool with the company's other newer version 9 products, Xara Photo & Graphic Designer X9 for illustration and photo editing and Xara Web Designer 9 for Web site design.

Xara Design Pro X9's photo-editing tools now include a healing brush to clear up blemishes.

(Credit: Xara) [Read more]

Mozilla's Firefox OS simulator is a Firefox add-on that lets people test their software without an actual phone.

Mozilla is at an awkward stage with Firefox OS: it wants its brand-new mobile operating system to attract developers, but there are very few phones available in the real world. To bridge the gap, the organization offers a phone simulator, and on Thursday, it updated the Firefox OS simulator to version 4.

Among the new features in the software, which is an add-on to the Firefox browser for personal computers, according to a blog post by Firefox OS developer advocate Angelina Fabbro:

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