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Android fans recently marked the second anniversary of the release of the first Android phone: T-Mobile’s G1 (HTC Dream). The phones and the operating system (OS) have come a long way in those two years, and Gartner Research recently released their findings that Android will be the second most popular mobile OS in the world by the end of 2010.
Since there are so many new Android users all the time, I want to take this opportunity to share some apps I use regularly that I believe users new to this OS would benefit from.
1. Barcode Scanner
Simple yet very handy app. There are several good ones currently on the market; the link is to the one by Zxing Team and is great for the QR codes featured here and many other places. (I also used their Web site to generate the QR codes in this post.)
Market link (These links will only work if accessed on your Android device with the Market working.)
2. Ringdroid
Before my first smartphone I paid more than I remember (and would care to admit) on ringtones: I just wasn’t satisfied with the generic ones that come with phones. Download Ringdroid and never pay for a ringtone again! Not only do you get to use whatever song you have an mp3 of, you also get to choose how long the clip is and and which section it comes from.
This really works best with an app called Rings Extended. With this small app installed Android will ask you if you want to choose a ringtone from the stock Android choices or through Ringdroid.
[Bonus: if you really want to have control over your contact’s ringtones, download Ringo Lite. You can choose both a call as well as a SMS ringtone for each contact you have.]
Ringdroid Market Link
Rings Extended Market Link
Ringo Lite Market Link
3. Handcent
If you are not satisfied with the SMS app that came installed on the phone, give Handcent SMS a try. This robust app gives so many controls over how you send and receive texts, from fonts (packages are separate installs) to LED color to vibration pattern. I haven’t used the stock text app for a long time.
Market Link
4. Google Voice
This is one app that helps set Android above iPhone since Apple keeps rejecting the app. Google Voice is a free service from Google that lets you give out one free number to whomever you wish and calls to that number are routed to any phone(s) you wish. For example during regular business hours my Google number forwards to my work phone in addition to always forwarding to my cell. Google also transcribes voicemail messages - not perfectly, but usually well enough to get the gist - so I don’t use T-Mobile’s voice mail anymore.
The other main features of this app is the ability to call from your Google Voice number and the ability to send a Google Voice call to voicemail and still listen in and interrupt as the caller leaves the message.
Market Link
More after the jump.
5. Shazam
Shazam was the first iPhone app I saw that I thought, “Man, I wish they offer a version for Android.” Lo, and behold here it is! Shazam “listens” to 30 seconds of a recorded song and then searches its database for who recorded it. They tell users that it must be recorded, no live versions or self-sung tunes. When it finds the song it offers links to search YouTube, the Amazon MP3 store, Pandora, and many options to share the song you just found.
Market Link
6. Evernote
Create a free account at Evernote.com and use this handy app to capture and access notes, photos, and audio from anywhere you have Web access. Like they say on their site: “Capture anything. Access anywhere. Find things fast.”
Market Link
7. Layar
Remember Virtual Reality? That’s gone by the wayside mostly and now we have Augmented Reality [Wikipedia link]. The best AR app I’ve found is Layar. (It’s quality enough that it may have come installed on your phone.) Add the layers that matter to you - from restaurants to local Twitter and a lot in between - and see what’s around you through your phone.
Market Link
8. PicSay
I enjoyed the free version of PicSay so much upgrading to PicSay Pro is one of the few app purchases I’ve made. With this great app, add funny or professional effects to your photos like changing colors, add “stickers”, thought/speech bubbles, captions and so much more.
Market Link
9. DriveSafe.ly
I use DriveSafe.ly especially when I’m driving in bad weather. Turn on this app and it will read aloud texts and emails you receive. You can also set an auto-reply to senders. While this isn’t an app I use all the time, it’s very handy when I do need it.
Market Link
10 and 11. Bump and Hoccer
One of the benefits to having a smartphone that I enjoy is being able to transfer information wirelessly. In this category I have two apps that I think tie. Bump is a great, easy-to-use app that one can use to transfer contact information wirelessly between Android devices and even iPhones. However all one can transfer with this app is contact information.
Hoccer, on the other hand, can transfer anything from contact information to songs and images. They also offer a Web client so you can transfer items wirelessly between your phone and computer. The increased functionality comes at a price, though, as is it not very easy to use (especially with the Web client). If you have the patience, I definitely recommend Hoccer.
Bump Market Link
Hoccer Market Link
12. AppBrain
One of the biggest complaints the Android community has about our OS is the clumsiness of browsing the Market and especially the lack of a Web interface. Until Google changes that in upcoming releases, use AppBrain. Download the app to your phone and you can install apps you found on their Website (www.appbrain.com). The site also gives you nice statistics about the apps you have (such as percentages of free vs. paid apps, what categories your apps fall in, etc.). I use this site and app weekly.
Market Link
Which Android apps would you recommend to new users?
10/05/2010
