Bird Bar gives you access to your notification drop-down, even when the menu bar isn't visible.

Android: To-do manager Due Today is a GTD-themed organiser that makes it easy to add items, projects and categories, simple to update and manage your to-dos, and multiple views to help you view your tasks in the way that makes the most sense to you.

iPhone (Jailbroken): If you hate responding to texts on your phone and would prefer to do it on the desktop, DeskSMS will let you answer your messages via any IM client that supports Google Chat (or you can just use GChat in your browser). It requires a jailbreak and you might run into some setup issues, but it's definitely worth the trouble.

Android: If you receive many text messages or calls at inopportune times, like when you're driving, Auto SMS might be very useful for you. Not only does it send auto replies, the free app also schedules and reads messages to you.

iOS: When Apple added AirPrint, it was a nice feature in theory but didn't really support many printers and certainly had no support for PDF printing. While there are workarounds, if you want to save content on your iPhone to a PDF file with just a few taps, Print to PDF is the best app for the job.

Android: Even if you're on the Do Not Call register, you may still get frequent calls from businesses with your number or friends or family that won't leave you alone. Call Filter is an Android app that lets you selectively block calls from numbers you don't want to see, or block all numbers that aren't in your contact list.

iOS: ShutterVox is a unique take on the smartphone camera in that it has no shutter button at all. Instead, it listens for specific trigger words before it'll take the photo. All you have to do is tell your subjects to say "cheese!" loudly and ShutterVox will know what to do.

Web/iPhone/Android/BlackBerry: It's hard enough juggling one busy schedule, let alone those of multiple family members. That's where Cozi comes in. The free app brings order to the chaos of modern life with group calendars, to-do lists, shopping lists and journaling.

iOS: iPhones are not exactly great at handling files regardless of where they come from, but downloading anything from the web is particularly problematic. Meteoric Download Manager (MDM) makes it easy to grab files from a simple URL, a web page, and various other sources at fast speeds. Plus, there's plenty you can do with those files once you've got 'em.

iOS users have long had the ability to control their cameras with their iPhones and iPads, but DSLR Controller now brings that to Android for your Canon DSLR.

iOS/Android/WP7/Playbook/Web: personalised news app News360 uses your Facebook likes, Twitter profile, Evernote notebooks and Google Reader subscriptions to deliver highly personalised news to your desktop or mobile device, regardless of which one you are carrying.

Android: If you're sick of typing your PIN, password or unlock pattern on your phone, Unlock With Wi-Fi will disable it whenever you're connected to your home Wi-Fi network.

If you've used your iPhone camera to take pictures of things you want to remember, you've probably also forgotten about those pictures five minutes later. PhotoMind attempts to solve that problem by adding a reminder setting to your images.

Android: If you ever lose your phone and don't have a contingency plan in place, you can remotely install Plan B on your phone and locate it instantly.

Android: Hearing Saver is a handy utility that eliminates the hassle of having to adjust the volume on your Android phone every time you plug in or unplug your headphones. The free app can also automatically mute notification sounds and the ringer for you.

Android: Lockscreen Calendar puts your upcoming appointments and meetings on your lockscreen, saving you from having to unlock your phone, open your calendar, and scroll through your meetings to find out where your next appointment is.

Android: Total Commander is one of our favourite alternative Windows file managers, and now there's a powerful version for Android as well, which brings a one-of-a-kind dual-pane view and a host of other features.

iOS: AirPlay is great if you have a Mac or an AppleTV, but if you want your iPhone's music on other devices you're out of luck. AirMusic solves that problem by serving up your iPhone's library on DLNA-compliant devices like the Xbox 360 and PS3, as well as some TVs and set top boxes. You can even stream to Windows Media Player.

Android: Locking your Android phone's screen is a matter of basic security, but Visidion AppLock takes your privacy to the next level by using facial recognition to lock specific apps on your Android phone.