Handy Android Apps
11 OCTOBER 11
While the Android Market may not have as many apps as the iPhone App Store, there are still loads to choose from, and with more being developed and released every day it can be difficult knowing which really are the best. After doing a bit of research (and trial and error), we found out about the following most useful Android apps.
doubleTwist
This has to be our most favourite app. It has been dubbed the iTunes of Android - it leverages your iTunes library but presents a nice easy interface for your Android phone. In addition to providing an interface to sync all of your media, it can also be used to search and install applications from the Android Market. What's also great about doubleTwist is that it syncs over the air using the wireless network, so no more plugging in.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a great cloud service that automatically syncs a folder of files between multiple devices. This apps extends Dropbox to Android and interacts with other apps (such as Documents To Go) to open the files. It allows you to access PDFs, image files and business documents by simply dragging them to a folder on your computer and allowing you access from your smartphone.
Evernote
Have you ever been in a seminar or even just having a chat with someone and you realise that you want to jot down some notes. Rather than having to carry a notebook and pen with you everywhere you go (so old school) you can simply use your smartphone device to take notes. Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organised, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders - and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.
Taskos
There are plenty of to-do apps to choose from but Taskos seems to provide a clean, easy, Android-friendly user experience. One cool feature is voice recognition, which lets you speak a task that the app then turns into a to-do item (you may need to correct a word or two).
Documents To Go
The free version of Documents To Go offers a great little reader for Microsoft Word and Excel files. You can upgrade to the full, paid version if you want to be able to create and edit files and also add PowerPoint files to the mix.
Tripit
This is a great app for keeping track of all of your travel itineraries. You simply forward your confirmation emails for your flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. to Tripit and the app automatically organises them into trips with all your details and confirmation numbers. Much easier than having to frantically search through your inbox when you get up to the check-in counter!
Places
This an awesome app that comes already installed. It's super handy for finding shops and services near your current location. From restaurants to ATMs and medical facilities, this app is very accurate and takes advantage of the business information from Google Local. This app is better than the info you get from a GPS unit (or app) and it's also integrated into Google Maps.
Amazon Kindle
Even if you don't have a Kindle you can still download the Kindle mobile app to your phone and read books while you're on-the-go. It can be pretty handy, as you always have your phone with you, so you can pull it out and read a few pages anytime you've got a couple of minutes free.
Facebook
If you have a Facebook account then you can download the Facebook app on your phone, so you can keep in touch and upload status updates while you're out and about.
Google+
If you have a Google+ account then you can download this app to use Google+ on your phone. It has some great interactive features.
Google Goggles
This is a fun app that does visual searches. You can take pictures of things and then the app tries to tell you what they are. Google uses image recognition technology to recognise objects and return relevant search results. It's limited in its scope at the moment, but it is pretty cool, and definitely a peek into the future. One of the coolest features is the ability to take pictures of text in a foreign language and let the app translate it for you. In a foreign country, this can help you read street signs and avoid going to the wrong bathroom! It can translate words in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. On a more practical level, Goggles is also a QR code reader.
Photoshop Express
Photoshop is the most popular photo editor in the world and it's mobile app doesn't do anything to hurt that reputation. But while the desktop version is known for having a boat-load of features, the mobile app is distinguished by its simplicity. It's the perfect app for simple crops, brightness adjustments, and sharpens, for example.
SoundHound
This app is in the same vain as Shazam (if you want to know what a song is, hit the button and hold your phone towards the sound, it'll query its database and then return the name of the artist and the song), but what makes this app even more impressive is that it lets you hum into your phone and it can also return the lyrics. Shazam is the simpler app, perfect for people who simply want to tag a track and move on. But SoundHound is better suited to music aficionados who want to get all the information related to the song, and possibly even discover new music along the way.
Flashlight
This app uses the flash light on your camera and is a really handy app when you're trying to find your keys in the dark!
As you can see there is a huge range of fantastic Android apps. This list really is just the tip of the iceberg, so remember if there's something you think would be handy to do on your phone - there's probably an app for that!
doubleTwist
This has to be our most favourite app. It has been dubbed the iTunes of Android - it leverages your iTunes library but presents a nice easy interface for your Android phone. In addition to providing an interface to sync all of your media, it can also be used to search and install applications from the Android Market. What's also great about doubleTwist is that it syncs over the air using the wireless network, so no more plugging in.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a great cloud service that automatically syncs a folder of files between multiple devices. This apps extends Dropbox to Android and interacts with other apps (such as Documents To Go) to open the files. It allows you to access PDFs, image files and business documents by simply dragging them to a folder on your computer and allowing you access from your smartphone.
Evernote
Have you ever been in a seminar or even just having a chat with someone and you realise that you want to jot down some notes. Rather than having to carry a notebook and pen with you everywhere you go (so old school) you can simply use your smartphone device to take notes. Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organised, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders - and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.
Taskos
There are plenty of to-do apps to choose from but Taskos seems to provide a clean, easy, Android-friendly user experience. One cool feature is voice recognition, which lets you speak a task that the app then turns into a to-do item (you may need to correct a word or two).
Documents To Go
The free version of Documents To Go offers a great little reader for Microsoft Word and Excel files. You can upgrade to the full, paid version if you want to be able to create and edit files and also add PowerPoint files to the mix.
Tripit
This is a great app for keeping track of all of your travel itineraries. You simply forward your confirmation emails for your flights, hotels, rental cars, etc. to Tripit and the app automatically organises them into trips with all your details and confirmation numbers. Much easier than having to frantically search through your inbox when you get up to the check-in counter!
Places
This an awesome app that comes already installed. It's super handy for finding shops and services near your current location. From restaurants to ATMs and medical facilities, this app is very accurate and takes advantage of the business information from Google Local. This app is better than the info you get from a GPS unit (or app) and it's also integrated into Google Maps.
Amazon Kindle
Even if you don't have a Kindle you can still download the Kindle mobile app to your phone and read books while you're on-the-go. It can be pretty handy, as you always have your phone with you, so you can pull it out and read a few pages anytime you've got a couple of minutes free.
If you have a Facebook account then you can download the Facebook app on your phone, so you can keep in touch and upload status updates while you're out and about.
Google+
If you have a Google+ account then you can download this app to use Google+ on your phone. It has some great interactive features.
Google Goggles
This is a fun app that does visual searches. You can take pictures of things and then the app tries to tell you what they are. Google uses image recognition technology to recognise objects and return relevant search results. It's limited in its scope at the moment, but it is pretty cool, and definitely a peek into the future. One of the coolest features is the ability to take pictures of text in a foreign language and let the app translate it for you. In a foreign country, this can help you read street signs and avoid going to the wrong bathroom! It can translate words in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian. On a more practical level, Goggles is also a QR code reader.
Photoshop Express
Photoshop is the most popular photo editor in the world and it's mobile app doesn't do anything to hurt that reputation. But while the desktop version is known for having a boat-load of features, the mobile app is distinguished by its simplicity. It's the perfect app for simple crops, brightness adjustments, and sharpens, for example.
SoundHound
This app is in the same vain as Shazam (if you want to know what a song is, hit the button and hold your phone towards the sound, it'll query its database and then return the name of the artist and the song), but what makes this app even more impressive is that it lets you hum into your phone and it can also return the lyrics. Shazam is the simpler app, perfect for people who simply want to tag a track and move on. But SoundHound is better suited to music aficionados who want to get all the information related to the song, and possibly even discover new music along the way.
Flashlight
This app uses the flash light on your camera and is a really handy app when you're trying to find your keys in the dark!
As you can see there is a huge range of fantastic Android apps. This list really is just the tip of the iceberg, so remember if there's something you think would be handy to do on your phone - there's probably an app for that!
