Ultimate Android Apps 2011

[This blog was reposted on my new website andrewmarklynch.com, check it out for all my latest stories.]

Following is a list of essential apps for an Android phone, tried and tested extensively by me, a nerd. For non-nerd enjoyment.

All apps are FREE, except where stated. Android Market pages linked.

Stock App Replacements:
some of the native apps are slow or poorly designed. Here's to great 3rd party apps!

- Home Launcher - the GUI your phone runs on. essential replace.

   - for customisation, ADW Launcher 

   - for speed, Zeam Launcher

- SMS 
   - Cabbage Ultimate (€1) - use your network's webtexts and never pay for SMS again!

- Dialer 
   - Dialer One

- Mail 
   - Gmail

- Pictures Gallery 
   - QuickPic - a quicker way to view your pics on the phone

- Keyboard - SwiftKey (€3), or Swype

   - both are good, very different styles. using Swype at the moment, bit of a learning curve.

 
- Apps Market 
   - AppBrain - a useful alternative to the Android Market for more app variety

- Web Browser - get rid of the stock browser, it's slow and rubbish

   - for customisation, Dolphin Browser

   - for speed, Opera Mini

- Music Player - again, the stock app is a bit lacking

   - Winamp - really whips the llama's ass

   - Google Music - all music in the cloud, stream to your phone, or save for offline listening

- File Browser 
   - ES File Browser - this app does everything: Bluetooth transfers, file management, wirelessly access your computer, sync to Dropbox. can't believe it's free. it's even got a media player!

- Notes & Tasks
   - Evernote - great app that syncs notes with desktop

   - Astrid Tasks - a to-do app that reminds you with alarms, syncs to google calendars, and more.

- Lock screen 
   - No Lock - turn off the lock screen. no more swiping every 5 mins.

Connectivity:
get the most out of your Android phone's Wi-fi. Goodbye Wires!

- Airdroid - wirelessly connect to Computer, transfer files through Internet browser on PC/Mac. simulates a nice GUI desktop, prettier than using ES File Browser.

- Dropbox

- Dropsnap (€2.80) - automatically uploads your pictures to a Dropbox folder

- Eircom WiFi Access - automatically connect to encrypted WEP Eircom networks

- Twonky Mobile (€2.12) - stream to Xbox, transfer files over WiFi to other phones, waayyy faster than Bluetooth

- Wifi Analyzer - detects nearby networks and lets you know their security level and location (which wall should I stand next to?)

- Viber - uses Wifi or mobile data to make free calls to other smartphones

Music:
with SD cards of up to 32GB, why carry another music player?

 
- Grooveshark App (€4) Grooveshark is on the way out, apparently. still a great app tho.

- TuneIn Radio - browse & listen to radio - live, local, and global

- gstrings Free - guitar tuner app

- Soundhound - listens to songs playing and identifies them

- PimpMyMusic - music file tagger

- Ringdroid - make ringtones out of your music files

- Doggcatcher - great little Podcast manager (€3.70 to buy)

Security:

protect all your info, or lock phone if it's nicked

- Prey - used GPS to locate - and lock - your phone if stolen. can get the number of a sim card put into it after marked stolen, and text it to you.

Tools / Utilites:
some other handy little apps

- Tiny Flashlight

- Barcode Scanner - scans barcodes and QR codes and looks em up

- Entertainment.ie app  - cinema, theatre, music listings

- App2SD - automatically moves apps to SD card to free space

- Disk Usage - tells you where your space is gone on the phone

- Documents to Go - open Word, PDF, Powerpoint

- Volume Control + - prevent phone changing volume accidentally when volume buttons pressed

Simply genius!

- Tasker (€4.50) - everything that makes open-source great, and Android superior to iPhone.