My top 15 Android apps by category

I came across a top 20 Android Apps recommendation and I came away really disappointed. It might partly be that the article was old and something better had come along.

Keeping that in mind I am going to make this a series in which I keep updating this list as I find new apps that may replace or be more helpful than ones that I have highlighted here.
Next time I update I will add in the QR codes and a few pictures.

Tools:
Evernote: This is a must download on the phone and all your other computers. At first glance you might think this utility is just for note taking, but it’s usefulness goes beyond that. If you have ever tried using Chrome-to-phone because you want that connectivity, but found the execution useless then using Evernote would fix your problems. Getting links and information from device to device and saving information that can be accessed from your laptop, phone or desktop couldn’t be easier.

Google Maps: So much good stuff. It has voice navigation, live traffic, street view, yelp+phonebook in a sub app called Places that one-click dials or navigates. I wrote up a post just about Google places and how much I like that sub app. There is too much to write here about what Google Maps does so here is a link to Google Maps for mobile.

Best Social Apps:
My6Sense: a more intelligent friendfeed. After using this app for more than a month it really is a helpful way to see posts that you may have otherwise missed. It sifts through a lot of junk and provides articles that you will want to read. When I first downloaded My6Sense the focus was too narrow and as much as I like what it was recommending it was cutting too much of everything else out. I never saw any friend’s posts from Facebook. They have since changed that issue and now have a solid blend and also now get a solid recommendation from me.

I have used Tweetdeck Beta, Seesmic, and the Twitter app. As much as I love and use Tweetdeck on my desktop I keep finding myself skipping the logo placed on my phone. I instead find myself opening the all applications drawer in search of the Twitter app.
I think Seesmic might have been the winner here, but I just don’t use Twitter on my phone often enough to keep the stream moving along. I launch Seesmic Android and see tons of tweets from days passed before I get my fresh content loaded. If you are the type that turns on the app and runs it all day long then I would recommend Seesmic, but if not I would suggest just using the Twitter app.

Utility:
GoodMorning: I LOVE this app. The alarm through the clock for HTC is fine, but it rocks waking up to whatever song loaded on my phone and a personal message overlaid followed by what is on my calendar for the day, the current temperature and then the forecast. It may sound funny, but on weekends sometimes I wait to hear what the forecast will be to decide if I should get out of bed right away or not. If it is says the current temperature is 52 degrees and rain I will be sleeping in for an hour.

Checkins:
GetGlue: I will admit I haven’t tried Foursquare yet. Where Get Glue differs is it isn’t a location-based check-in, but an activity check-in. It allows you to share your interests with friends on Facebook and Twitter if you want to or just with the Get Glue network.
You can also get recommendations from your friends or suggestions from other users that have liked something you have too. You earn stickers instead of badges and when you earn enough of them they will send them to you in the mail. Depending on what stickers I get I may slap them to my computer case or if it is a sports team like the SFGiants a made up button might be cool to add to a bag.

WeReward: This location-based app does what it says. It rewards in coupons or discounts. Well at least it does when you can get it to work. If they can ever get the program stable or if another app adds this ability to their check-ins then I will let you know. I have dabbled with Brightkite and Facebook check-ins, but I often don’t see the point of no incentive check-ins.

Functionality:
Swiftkey: I used SlideIT Keyboard for quite a while, but recently switched to Swiftkey. I feel that using your finger to write instead of type is faster, but SlideIT was failing me. It would continually auto correct to the wrong word because it was convinced I was trying to input a different word even if I took the time to type it in letter by letter. They could fix this by giving a higher priority to learned words, but it doesn’t and buries your learned words and that is the exact opposite of Swiftkey.
Swiftkey learns from what you have typed previously and recommends your next word. It guesses pretty accurately what you are trying to type within the first few letters entered. I am on the waitlist for the next Beta testing for Swype or I am going to wait for the official app to come out and I will let you know if it can beat out this reigning champ.

AppBrain: Adding functionality to a crazy Android Market. Tons of apps, tons of worthless and worthwhile, how do you sort through it all? AppBrain. You can write and read reviews without downloading and you can sort apps in so many ways like: hot past 24 hours, hot this week, most downloaded all time, etc.

Games:
For now I will just link you over to my post about must have Android games
An update is Angry Birds full version is now available.

Camera Utility:
Retro Camera: I like this one the best, but it does have its limitations. The viewfinder is small, but it does a pretty good job recreating classic cameras that took classic shots.
Camera360: This utility has a lot of options. I honestly haven’t spent enough time fooling around with it, but with what I have tried I am pretty impressed with.

Shopping:
Google Shopper: Take a picture or scan a barcode. It will come up with reviews and information on the item and online prices + stores near your location and their prices compared to where you are now.

Entertainment (audio/video consumption):
Last.fm: Straight forward, Last.fm is a streaming music player that I prefer over Pandora
Stitcher: Like listening to podcasts? Stitcher Radio is the way to do it on the go.
SlingBox: Awesome. You know what Slingbox is. This is how you can watch and control your DVR from a phone.

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