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ZenMate Security VPN by ZenGuard has released an updated version optimized for iOS 8. The app protects your privacy by hiding your IP and Securing your device with encryption. The app has been super popular; just 14 months after launch they have broken their 5 million user milestone. ZenMate Security VPN will also now have the Firefox extension, which brings the same level of security to Firefox.

You can download ZenMate Security VPN for free on the App Store now.

One of my favorite things about the iPad offers is how visually stunning so many apps can look by utilizing the extra screen space that the device offers. This is particularly prominant when it comes to Pearltrees.

Originally solely a website, Pearltrees, is an app that allows users to organize, discover and share everything they like on the web. Its developers hope that it'll help users cultivate their interests by allowing them to store websites for future reference and to share with others. It's different for a number of reasons. Holding all the information within Pearltrees means that users can retrieve their information from any PC or iPad device, this also enables users to share amongst a community of more than 200,000 people. There's also the visually stunning side of things that quickly captivates its audience.

The term pearl, in this context, comes from the fact that an individual pearl holds anything the user finds interesting while a pearltree is a collection of web pages as a form of folder system. It's so much more beautiful than a folder structure though. Take a look at the screenshots below. It's very minimalist in looks but while offering a huge wealth of information if the user so wishes. It also lends itself perfectly to the touch based interface of the iPad making it the ideal app to browse and relax with.

Social functions come in the form of being able to team up with others on their pearltrees and thus invite people to join in. The 'Visual Discovery' feature enables people to find new interests related to their favorite topics through a similar method.

Pearltrees is just the glorious kind of app that lends itself to simply relaxing on the sofa one evening and taking in the many, many delights that the internet can offer. Amazing what a change of perspective can do to something we all take for granted!

Is there anything that Google doesn't do? It appears not. It's even come along and revitalized the catalog market now with the iPad app Google Catalogs.

I remember the golden days of catalogs (or catalogues as people on my side of the Atlantic call them), when people would have huge booklets of pretty photos and information about various products, all so that they could browse stores from the comfort of their sofa. This app does pretty much that while saving effort, paper and space by allowing users to browse from their ever-stylish iPad devices.

The app offers a variety of different catalogs, much like the web based version of Google Catalogs that was was discontinued in 2009. Numerous top brands are on offer, such as Antrhopologie, Bare Escentuals, Bergdorf, Goodman, Crate and Barrel, L.L. Bean, Lands' End, Macy's, Neirman Marcus, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, Sundance, Tea Collection, Urban Outfitters and Williams-Sonoma, as well as others that I'm far too uncool/British to know about. It comes to over 100 in all.

The app is simple to use with the ability to zoom in to see products up close, find products in nearby stores and view photo albums and videos. Viewing items according to price is simple enough also. Users can then create their own collages of favorite collections of products and they can get instant access to new catalogs through the app as soon as they become available. Purchasing is similarly easy with a single tap taking users to a merchant's website or information about the nearest store.

Most intriguing of all is that this app has come to the iPad before Android devices. While we're not ones to encourage rivalry between the formats, it is a curious development. Presuambly an Android version will follow in the future.

Either way, Google Catalogs is out now for the iPad and it's a free app.