Top 20 Android Apps Updated
Much of the same and a little of the new. My top 20 Android Apps: New Additions: Skydroid, Scvnger, PDAnet, Talk To Me
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.
Talk To Me: I knew about this app before and forgot to add it to the last list. Although I haven’t been able to test it abroad I am hoping it is a useful tool when I go to China sometime next year. I would love to be able to take a picture of text and have it translated in this same app, but maybe sometime in the future. For you iPhone users I don’t know if there is something similar, but your Talk to Me is not the same app.
Skydroid QR
Skydroid: This one is for you golfers out there. It costs 2 dollars, but is a worth it and if you currently pay for Skycaddie you might be canceling your subscription after downloading. Finding the courses are as easy as typing in a search, downloading courses in under 1 second, and ridiculously easy to use.
Google Maps: has so much good stuff. Google Maps 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.
Seesmic: Has indeed become my app of choice for keeping up on Twitter. Seesmic is an easy to use organized app for keeping track of your Twitter stream.
Utility:
PDAnet: I don’t know how I forgot this one in my last post. PDAnet allows you to tether your phone to a computer sharing your 3G connection on the run. What is nice is unlike the wireless hot spot apps you don’t need to root your phone.
Good Morning
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.
SCVNGR QR
Scvnger: This is another I like the idea, but the app isn’t quite there yet. They have created a points based system that has you doing challenges to earn your rewards. Challenges like checking in can give you 1 point, but doing something like the “All-you-can Eat Challenge” at Barracuda Sushi Katien can get you two. I wish these guys the best, but for right now they need more challenges and there are a few bugs in the Android app.
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.
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:
Angry Birds: I didn’t know if I should add this one because it is so popular. I will try to find something a little more obscure, but just as fun for my next post.
Emulators, NESoid: Take the time to add an emulator. Games you could play on the Nintendo Entertainment System were addictive and fun back in the day and still are now. There are emulators for all the old consoles and now you can reconnect with those old simple and addictive hour killers.
Images from AppBrain: Which I highly recommend in App form and website.
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.
I just purchased Camera ZOOM FX for $4.74 and I have high hopes for it. The two listed above are free, but I am looking forward to seeing all that Camera ZOOM FX has to offer.
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.
