Entertainment For Lively Minds
Android Apps you love
Posted by JohnW on 22 February 2011 - 8:31am.
Inspired by the thread about apps on the inferior Apple products, which ones would you not want to be without on your Android phone... I'll start:
- DocumentsToGo (Better than the iPhone version - data entry, especialy in spreadsheets, is so much easier)
- Wikidroyd (Wikipedia when you can't get a 3G signal)
- ES File Explorer (For file management on the go)
- AndFTP (so that I can get at everything on my NAS drive - so that's just about everything - wherever I am in the world)
- Passwd Safe (All my passwords on a free app that uses the same database as the accompanying free desktop application)
- Missing Sync (Just works in the background to sync everything important on my phone to my Mac)
- Guardian (Free - Grabs a big chunk of the mobile Guardian pages overnight)
- More from JohnW.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Some more
Tabular - grabs Guitar tabs for when you just have to know how to play "Achilles Last Stand"
G-Strings Free - An excellent Chromatic guitar tuner
Jam-box Any chord you like.
My Tracks - map out your run, walk, Bike route with help from Google Maps
Dropbox - Move files between any computer/device and the cloud
KeePass Droid - Password Safe/generator compatible with PC version
Squeeze Control - Control your Squeezebox players from your phone.
WiFinder - Scan for Wireless networks. Handy for LAN troubleshooting
The ones I use the most
Swype
Swype is an alternative keyboard that lets you type by dragging your finger over the keys in one continuous motion. There's a bit of a learning curve, but it really speeds up text entry.
Google Listen
Wireless podcast syncing, which you can manage from Google Reader. Doesn't always download first time, but a real timesaver if you listen to a lot of podcasts.
TuneIn Radio
Internet radio client.
Album Art Grabber
For finding missing album covers for your music library.
Wow..
..I feel like such a pariah,
I'll just take myself and my inferior product off to the library and do the right thing for the regiment.
Even though I'm Apple-phobic
I certainly wouldn't class their products as inferior. However, I am an Android gal, so here are my faves:
ThinkingSpace
Brilliant mind-mapping app, with files which also open in FreeMind (free PC - and Mac? - mind-mapping software). Use this for capturing on-the-move thoughts on anything I'm planning (holidays, Christmas dinner etc)
Moodagent
All you iTunes devotees have probably got this, but the Android app is pretty good too. It takes all your music, compares it to their profile database and lets you generate playlists based on "mood", either set from 5 sliding scales (happy, tempo, angry, tender, sensual) or based on any track you give it.
I find it much better than playlists based on genre as I can set it with whatever track I can tolerate on my morning commute and let it find gems I'd forgotten about, without it occasionally jolting me out of my seat with a random shouty track.
Humour alert
Sorry, the bit about being inferior was suposed to be a joke. I have an Android phone because it can do the things I want to do, better than an iPhone can - I suffered with an ipod touch as a PDA for nearly a year so I've tried both sets of apps. I would rather work to get it set up as I want it rather than have it easy to set up and hitting the wall sooner. Horses for courses. Anybody that claims that one is better than the other is an idiot (and that would never apply to me!!!!)
Apple inferior? Good man!
Apple inferior? Good man! I've got an Xperia X10 and I think it's the business.
I don't think I've used any of the ones you mention. Some of my favourites are:
- Browser
I just use the default browser, I don't tend to bother with many web-page based apps since I can access them that way (Wiki etc). Except for...
-IMDB
For all those "what's he/she off" moments.
Useful Ones
-Vignette Demo
Superb Camera Application.
-Amazon Kindle
You know what this does.
-Adilko
Another Kindle-type eReader, but this one opens eBooks from sources other than Amazon quite easily.
-Soundtrail
I've struggled to find a decent free dictaphone, but this si the best one I've come across so far.
-Shop Savy
Barcode scanner (via camera) which will immediately tell you in a shop if you can get the same item cheaper online.
Other obvious ones
-Shazam (identify most song playing if you hold phone up to the speaker)
-Facebook
Games
-Angry Birds (obviously)
-aTilt 3D Labyrinth (brilliant and totally addictive)
-Paper Toss (another addictive one, you have to throw paper into a bin, whilst considering the "wind" strenght from a nearby desk fan. More fun than it sounds).
-iOthello
-Invadroid (it's space invaders under another name)
-Word Up (Mrs Presentable is addicted to this one)
Instruments
I've got loads of musical instrument applications, my favourite is just called "Synthesizer". "Ethereal Dialpad" is nice too.
Curious
Does the Shop Savvy app ever show that the in-store goods are cheaper?
Unsurprisingly, no.
Unsurprisingly, no. I haven't used it all that much yet though as it's a recent discovery.
I did recently use it on the new British Sea Power album in HMV and found there was only £1 difference, so I just bought it in the shop as I fancied taking a new cd home that day.
It also reads those barcodes in which you can hide weblinks. I'm not sure what they're called, but I had one in an email from The Magic Numbers once which linked to a free download.
they're called QR codes, and the first time i got one to 'work'
it scared the bejaysus out of me. You know with the bog standard barcode, you have to hold the phone quite still and it doesn't always pick it up...the QR code works almost instantaneously!
Not yet mentioned
Evernote - for syncing notes and reminders between phone and various computers.
3G Watchdog - keeps track of how much data you use in any given month, very hand if, like me, you have only a set limit within your allowance.
Dolphin Browser - Adds tabs and user-definable gestures to the usual browsing stuff, plus various plug-ins available. I never use the default browser now.
Movies - a quick and easy way to find out what's on in your area.
Pkt Auctions eBay - Best eBay app on Android.
Mobile Metronome and gStrings Free (guitar tuner) are both in regular use in instrumental lessons.
Gmote lets you use your phone to remotely control your pc/mac.
beebPlayer is an unofficial iPlayer app, which will also stream live TV & Radio.
Here in That Big Smoke, London (tube map and info) and TrainTimes have both proved themselves useful, as has OysterCatcher, which can point you to the nearest location for topping up your Oyster card.
All of the above are free. The only app I've paid for is SwiftKey, a replacement keyboard I find very handy.
beebplayer...
has sadly been withdrawn from the marketplace.
thanks for the tip off on 3g watchdog, I need that!
just trying out gmote
hadn't realised it has one other unexpected feature-the PC server programme has a built in music player and so if you tell it where your music files are it will play them using the Android app as a controller.
Not just mp3, seems happy with m4a as well. Happy to play from the iTunes directory without invoking itunes. Primitive interface but quite handy.
My fave android apps that haven't been mentioned yet...
Cardiotrainer (free, with premium modules available)
Fantastic GPS tracker programme for walkers / runners. Can also store all your gym workouts. Also can be used as a calorie counter if you're a Chubby Checker like me.
DailyStrip (free)
App for checking out comic strips. There are hundreds on there, from the mainstream to the lesser known (I particularly like 9 Chickweed Lane, Lio and Pibgorn).
Abduction 2 (paid)
Charmingly silly jumping cow game)
Paid?
I've never looked into paid applications for my Android, how does it actually work? Something to do with your Google log in, rather than your phonebill?
You select the paid app through the market
in the same way as you would a free app. Then you authorize your payment through Google Checkout (you set it up once with a credit card, then it remembers that for all future orders).
You might want to get your Checkout account set yourself up on your PC first to save hassle: https://checkout.google.com/
Cheers
This is going to get expensive isn't it :)
It could do...
but I've not spent *that* much on apps, and I find they're generally very good value for money (if you download a stinker you've got a short window in which to claim a refund).
I don't tend to just buy paid apps right off. Instead, I tend to download the free version of an app, use it for a while, and once I know I like it, I'll upgrade to paid for any of the following reasons:
1) to get the app ad-free
2) to get extra features
3) just to support the developer!
Ooooh, forget to mention Where's my Droid which is unbelievably useful if you leave your phone somewhere daft while it's switched to silent.
Not the only way
Quite a few apps are available as direct downloads from the authors. You need to change your phone settings to allow it.
You end up paying less because there's no commission.
Another way to pay is to get a free app from the Market that needs an activation code that you get from the author's website. I've bought two now where I've saved cash because I've been able to buy an upgrade because I've owned a previous version on another mobile platform (Palm or Windows).
I don't think I've actually paid any money to the Google Market at all ...... yet!
it's curious that all the competitors to the Apple products
feel the need to measure themselves by the relevant Apple product - "iPad killer" etc. I've never seen Apple even acknowledge the existence of any other company in the same market space. I suspect there's a reason for that :-)
Yeah whatever
we were discussing Android Apps right? Plenty of Apple evangelists on the forum I'm sure you can find another thread where you can all congratulate each other on your choice of mobile phone.
That's all well and good..
(unless the original poster needs to make a derogatory comparison.)
A thread, as you know is an elastic thing.
As the OP
As the OP - I've already clarified that the Apple comparison was intended to be light hearted. I have far more Apple products at home than Android (actually a ratio of 7:1). I prefer the increased freedom that Android gives me but the iphone is a very nice machine that does what it says it does and does it pretty much out of the box which is what most people want.
Until all machines can do everything, it's pretty much impossible to make a direct comparison so anyone that says one is better than tghe other is clearly a deluded fool.
I Agree
I expect there's a reason too. My guess would be that It's blinkered arrogance! HP used to do things their own way as well in the dim distant past until they realised that they weren't as much better than everyone else that they first thought.
Oooh let me see...
Paid:
Good Beer Guide very handy
London Journey useful
Free:
Parkdroid where's my car?
Rainy Days when will it start/stop raining?
Our Groceries where's the shopping list?
OS Atlas Free where am I?
Ringdroid make your own ring tone.
White Noise Lite handy noise masker.
Thick Buttons makes keyboard easier to use
Winamp my mp3's.
Listen Word podcast natch.
Traffic layer on Google Maps
Navigation
are any of these battery saver apps much cop?
I'm getting around a days charge out of my phone. I guess with a full screen to light up, and a constant connection to t'interweb, it's gonna be hard on juice anyway, but if there's something I can do to lower consumption???
(I note there's a load of apps just running in the background - one's I've downloaded, I presume I can kill these with a clear conscience and save on processing power?)
A days charge
is about normal for a Smartphone with a full screen. That will be taking up most of your battery life.
Android is very good at managing apps and deciding whatever to keep running in the background. You are better off letting it do it's thing, and trust that it is working hard to preserve battery life.
You might want to try only switching WiFi on when you need to use it, and maybe check whether you have any apps which are set to auto sync (Facebook etc) and maybe switch some to manual.
Obviously reduce the screen brightness, or have it automatic so it adjusts according to how much life you have, and reduce the timeout on it before it switches off.
Try here too:
http://androidforums.com/
Thanks for that, Doc...
Wifi only gets turned on when i'm at home...and (shudder) I only learned to do that after a pal of mine was aghast at me eating into my monthly download allowance when I was in his living room.
"Piggy back on my network, you daft c***" I think he said...
Naw - so long as a days charge is average, then i'm doing okay!
Deactivate data when you're not using it
As well as deactivating wifi, I discovered that deactivating the data network when I wasn't actively using it dramatically extended battery life on my GalaxyS.
One forum suggested that it used a lot of juice just searching for the best signal, even when you weren't using data.
No good turning off the data of course if you want your phone to alert you to every new tweet or e-mail, but I just turn them all on when I'm ready to give them some attention.
Jesus H you're right...
I switched off *all* data this morning. For the last few days, at half nine, I'd be on around 90% battery, and it'd be 60% or so by now.
with no wifi, and no internet connection, it's still at 80%. As I'm at the desk, it's not like I need it. So, I'll switch on wifi when i get home and see what the story is. I honestly didn't think that the 'net connection would hog that much memory, but I guess if it checks, say, Gmail, Yahoo, twitter, facebook and a few news sites every few minutes, that's gonna have an effect....
Yay!
Glad it seems to be working so far. When I first tried deactivating all data, I put my phone to one side and didn't need to use it for 3 days. Went back to it expecting to have to recharge from scratch - still had 70% left (though I think that was a bit exceptional).
Fantastic tip
I will remember this next time I'm low on battery and a long way from a charger.
Can't do it normally as I am embarrassingly reliant on checking data services on my phone (the Word blog, twitter, email...)
Common sense methods are probably more effective
Such as...
Set your screen to it's lowest brightness - perfectly workable unless you're in direct sunlight.
Turn off wifi, GPS & bluetooth unless you're actually using them.
Use something like Advanced Task Killer to identity and kill any unnecessary background processes. You'd be amazed how much bunk comes on automatically when you start your phone up.
You can find out what's eating up your battery life at the moment by looking in your settings, under "About Phone" -> "Battery" -> "Battery use".
Cheers for the tips
Google Goggles is rather fun. Picture recognition, works scarily well.
Audiogalaxy is useful, you can access your entire music library from anywhere as long as your computer is switched on and you've got a Wifi connection
Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja obviously.
DoggCatcher is my Podcast app of choice, plus it can stream podcasts if you simply cannot wait to download the Word Podcast
I do think the Android apps market is still playing catchup with Apple but give it a few months....
Is DoggCatcher
much better than Google Listen? I like Google Listen, but if the download isn't successful first time round, it just displays an error message and doesn't try again (necessitating a manual refresh).
Can you still manage subscriptions in Google Reader?
Swype
Simply astonishing, Alchemists back in the day enjoyed less wow factor than this gem. Seems bizarre at first, but now I don't know how I ever managed without it.
Seconded
Swype and Navigation are the two features I'd be lost without if I was to switch to an iSmug, as well as Winamp, which means I never have to plug my phone into my pc any more. I'm waiting for the usual "game-changing" hyperbole when Apple catch up.
Oh, and a brilliantly integrated suite of cloud syncing facilities that would cost me 90 quid from Apple.
Teamviewer
http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx
I've only just discovered this and it's the bollocks. It's also multi-platform and FREE!! Particularly useful for when a distant relative (of the "which one is the "Any" key" variety) has some pc trouble.
If you want Swype...
I've just tried to download it from the market (all your glowing reviews have persuaded me), but it doesn't appear.
It looks like you need to register for the beta trial at: https://beta.swype.com/android/create/
and then you'll be able to download it.
Fill yer boots!
Tweetdeck. Twitter &
Tweetdeck. Twitter & Facebook in one app.
Tune-In Radio. Excellent internet radio app.
3G Watchdog. Keeps track of my limited data usage.
Swype. Great keyboard.