Tech Review: Apps help you manage your home business

Entrepreneurs and those starting their own home businesses often find their work hours go from 9-5 to 24/7. But while working from home has its advantages, there are times you have to get out of the house. These apps can help you manage your home business wherever you are.

SignEasy

(iOS, Android; free demo)

Need to sign a document or contract while you're away from your desk? This app offers an elegant solution. With SignEasy, you can affix your signature to PDFs or other documents and then email them. The demo version allows you to sign three documents for free. After that you must purchase a signing package ($4.99 for 10 documents or $29.99 a year for unlimited documents).

FedEx Mobile

(iOS, Android; free)

For small businesses that depend on sending and receiving packages, FedEx Mobile helps manage and track parcels when you are out of the office. You can also easily connect to the FedEx mobile website to see rates and schedule a pickup. Any shipments you set up using the FedEx website on your PC will appear on the app so you can track them from anywhere.

Splashtop Remote Desktop

(iOS, Android; $2.99)

If you are away from your home office and need to retrieve a document on your PC, Splashtop lets you take control of your desktop computer remotely. While using the finger-controlled, itty-bitty mouse pointer on your mobile device is not as easy as using the mouse on your PC, with a little practice you should be able to launch and run programs on your desktop computer from anywhere in the world.

PrinterShare

(iOS, Android; free demo)

You can, of course, easily print a document while you're in your home office, but if you're away and need to print something, this app can be a lifesaver. PrinterShare allows you to locate and connect to nearby Wi-Fi-enabled printers. Be aware not all printers are supported. Download the free demo version first to see if you can print a test page. A separate key (iOS, $4.99, Android; $12.99) turns the app into the premium version, allowing for unlimited printing.

Tech bytes

Head of the class

It's time for midterms at many schools, but final grades are already in for back-to-school computer buying. Port Washington-based NPD Group says PC sales staged a comeback, led by laptops and notebooks running Google's Chrome operating system, which rose 37 percent compared to last year. NPD says Apple notebooks were also "star performers," with sales rising 16 percent. PCs running Windows, however, fell 3 percent from 2013.-- PETER KING

She got game

The stereotypical video game player is no longer a stereotype. A new study from the Entertainment Software Association found that women 18 and older represent 36 percent of gamers, more than double the number of boys 18 and younger who play games. Further, the trade association found the number of women gamers 50 and older grew by 32 percent from 2012 to 2013. -- PETER KING

Facebook adds hyperlocal ads

Facebook will target users with ads based on their most recent location, as the company expands the use of members' data to generate revenue. The hyperlocal ads, which can reach people within a mile of a particular advertiser, will show up for users who allow Facebook's mobile application to access their whereabouts. For those who don't share locations, Facebook will use the current city listed on profile pages. -- Bloomberg News