App reviews: Blackbox, Toggl

Blackbox

This is a fiendishly difficult puzzle app that aims to throw you off your game at every turn. Those who are easily frustrated may want to give this a pass. But for those who like thinking outside of the box, this is a game worth trying. The aim of the app is simple: Turn on the lights. In this case, that means illuminating boxes on the screen. But this is no tap-and-drag puzzler. Solving these levels requires you to think far outside the confines of the touch screen, and will have you tilting your phone and messing with settings to get those little boxes to light up. Play in public and you may look a little silly, to be honest.

The app has a wonderfully sarcastic tone that will dryly encourage you to move on if something seems too hard for you. With a game as devious as this one, it makes sense that players can buy hints from the app for 99 cents each - cheaper if you buy in bulk. Certain puzzles will also require access to your microphone or your camera, so be aware that you'll see phone pop-ups asking for those permissions.

Free, for iOS devices.

Toggl

Managing your time is an important skill to master. Yet while you can schedule every minute of your day, it's hard to really get a handle on organization without knowing how long it actually takes you do to anything. Enter Toggl, a time-tracking app that helps you measure how long you spend on a task.

The app is perfect for those tracking billable hours. But it works for other purposes, too - while there is something a little austere about starting and stopping a timer every time you start a new activity, having that information comes in handy the next time someone asks you how long you need to complete a project.

Toggl requires an account to work, which will also let you sign into its desktop version. It is designed to work for teams and can generate reports. Pro versions are available for $10, $20 or $60, which give greater access to data that can help a small business. But the app can prove handy even if you're going it alone and just need a little more intel on your own habits.

Free, for iOS and Android devices.