One of the first things that anyone who gets their first Android device notices is the overwhelming number of apps that they have access to! Rest-assured every n00b out there spent countless hours (days?) downloading, installing and uninstalling a zillion apps from the Market. I've gone through the same cycle and having recently wiped my phone back to factory condition, I came up with a list of must-have apps that I would put back on it. And that is what I share with you today.
Before I get into that, a big word of caution! There is a difference between the way Apple's AppStore and Android Market work. Apple has a rigid system of approving apps that are made available on their AppStore. While their rules might not be to all of our liking and a lot of great apps dont make the cut, this system ensures (or atleast tries its best to ensure) that the apps that you do get from their channel are safe to use on your device. This reduces the possibility of downloading malicious apps (like virus / trojan laden ones). Google embraces a more open philosophy and is more lenient with allowing developers to publish apps on their Android Market. This is good in general for developers and end users but also keeps the door open for potentially dangerous apps making their way into the Market. You can read about some of the latest threats here http://j.mp/i74deD While this may seem scary, its relatively easy to reduce chances of you getting a malicious app on your phone. First of all, dont go into an app downloading frenzy. There are hundreds of thousands of apps out there, but you dont need all of them. Figure out which are the ones that you are actually going to use and keep those on your phone. When it comes to getting games especially, make sure you download apps from reputed app publishers. Remember, if a virus / evil app hacks your phone, it is because you downloaded it in the first place! Just like phishing sites on the Internet, you need to be careful with the apps that you put on your phone and subject them to a level of filtering and scrutiny before you install.
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, lets get down to the list of apps!
Launcher Pro
(Homescreen Launcher, FREE, Download from Market)
I'll go ahead and say it - This is THE best launcher for Android till date. What is a launcher? Its what you see on your phone's screen. It is the user interface that puts all your phone's apps and functionality in one place and presents it to you in a easy (or not so easy) to use kinda way. Except for the Google Nexus One and the Nexus S, all other phones come with a customized version of the launcher that is stuck on by the phone manufacturer. The problem is, in some cases the implementation is not so great, I've seen my phone respond better than a Samsung Galaxy S purely because of the way the launcher is implemented. So, long story short, getting a Launcher can help speed up your phone Even if you have a Nexus phone, a launcher can give you more customization options. I've tried tried ADW, Zeam, etc. but kept coming back to Launcher Pro. I use the free version which comes with enough functionality and customization options. So head over to the market and get it already!
Swiftkey
(Keyboard, PAID, Download from Market)
The beauty of Android is the level of customization that it offers you. You can replace the keyboard that your phone came with! Why would you want to do that you say? Well, unless you are using a HTC device or a Gingerbread keyboard, you are probably unhappy with the way your keyboard works. The Gingerbread keyboard is a HUGE improvement over the older Android keyboard but Swiftkey is better! In fact it is so good, it is the only app on my phone which I paid for! (Costs less than what you'd pay for a drink in a pub!) This app has an algorithm that analyzes your usage of words from the messages you type and figures out how you frame sentences. Based on that, not only does it autocorrect your words, it predicts the next word you are looking to type! It keeps learning and your experience with it gets better and better over time. I found it better than Swype and it has saved me thousands of keystrokes and made me 20% more efficient in my typing! Go get it and trust me, you wont regret buying this app.
Dolphin Mini
(Browser, FREE, Download from Market)
The stock Android browser maybe fine for most folks but lacks the finesse and additional functionality that we are used to in our desktop browsers. Dolphin Mini may not be the fastest browser out there for Android (Opera anyone?), but gives a very clean Google Chrome kind of experience with tabbed browsing and full screen support.
Google Reader
(RSS Reader, FREE, Download from Market)
This is the Official Google Reader app. And I know a lot of you are huge fans of the web version of Google Reader. Then this is a must have app for your Android phone. Its very clean and simple, allows you to take your favorite RSS feeds with you wherever you go and you can read up on your phone at a traffic signal, in elevators or even on the toilet!
Dropbox
(File Syncing, FREE, Download from Market)
If you dont already have Dropbox on your computer, get it NOW! You can sync your files online and across computers with Dropbox. 2GB account is free! http://db.tt/NEa7Ukc The Android app gives you access to all your files right from your phone and is a lifesaver at times when you want to access a copy of your important documents like PAN card or Passport. Just keep a copy on your computer's dropbox folder and access it whenever you want with the dropbox app on your phone. Its that simple!
Epistle
(Note taking, FREE, Download from Market)
There are hundreds of note taking apps out there including Evernote. But my vote goes for Epistle for its simplicity and mainly its integration with Dropbox! This app saves all your notes as text files within a folder on your dropbox account and keeps them synced at all times. So when my wife wants me to buy some stuff on the way back home from work, she opens up the shopping list note on my home computer and updates the list. This gets synced with dropbox and when I stop by at the supermarket and open the Epistle app on my phone, I can magically see what she wants me to get! This is just one of several cool uses for this app apart from the fact that you have a back-up of all your notes.
TweetDeck
(Social Networking, FREE, Download from Market)
This is one app that integrates Facebook, Twitter, Buzz and Foursquare (does anyone I know even use that?) functionality. So you get an integrated timeline where you can see updates from all the services in one place. You also get a widget that you can place on your homescreen and post updates to all the services at once. It feels lighter and I think it uses less data than having the Facebook and Twitter apps all running individually on your phone. Need I say more?
SwiFTP
(Network / File Sharing, FREE, Download from Market)
If you have a WiFi router at home then this is a must-have app. With one click it runs an FTP server on your phone and makes the contents of your phone accessible over WiFi. You then type in the FTP address on your computer and copy files to or from your phone over the WiFi network. No wires! You can use it to even stream audio and video files from your phone!
If you want to access just your SD card then no rooting needed but if you also want to access phone memory then you would need to root.
Skype
(VoIP, FREE, Download from Market)
The Skype service needs no introduction. With this app you can make free Skype to Skype calls over a WiFi or 3G network. The only cost involved is the data plan charges that you pay your WiFi or 3G cellular provider. If you buy Skype credit, you can make calls to cell phones and land lines at cheaper rates. I use this route for making calls to my friends in the US and save a ton on international call charges.
Widgetsoid
(Widget / Utilities, FREE, Download from Market)
This is one widget app that does it all. Highly customizable! It gives you clock, battery, network / WiFi indicator, custom widget bars for contact and app shortcuts, network, screen and power control. The list is almost endless. Get it and spend some time playing around with it. I'm sure you'll like it.
Z4Root
(Rooting App, Get it here http://j.mp/gjvLIi )
If you decide to root your phone, this app will let you do it with one click. There is enough info about the pros and cons of rooting out there. So google up and read about it. This method should work for most phones. There are also other apps like 'super one click' that you can try. I rooted my phone the day I got it and there is no looking back.
Root Explorer
(File Browser, Get it here http://j.mp/fZEITT )
This is a file explorer that requires root. On a rooted phone, it allows you to access and modify contents of your phone memory and system folders. I would recommend using this if you want to get rid of unwanted junk apps that your phone manufacturer / carrier put on it before selling it to you. Once you install Root Explorer, head to '/system/app' folder in your phone and delete the files pertaining to the apps that you want to get rid of. The files would be with .apk and .odex extensions. If you dont want to delete, you may want to make an alternate folder on your SD card and move the files there. This way you can restore the apps at a later stage if you want to.
Before I get into that, a big word of caution! There is a difference between the way Apple's AppStore and Android Market work. Apple has a rigid system of approving apps that are made available on their AppStore. While their rules might not be to all of our liking and a lot of great apps dont make the cut, this system ensures (or atleast tries its best to ensure) that the apps that you do get from their channel are safe to use on your device. This reduces the possibility of downloading malicious apps (like virus / trojan laden ones). Google embraces a more open philosophy and is more lenient with allowing developers to publish apps on their Android Market. This is good in general for developers and end users but also keeps the door open for potentially dangerous apps making their way into the Market. You can read about some of the latest threats here http://j.mp/i74deD While this may seem scary, its relatively easy to reduce chances of you getting a malicious app on your phone. First of all, dont go into an app downloading frenzy. There are hundreds of thousands of apps out there, but you dont need all of them. Figure out which are the ones that you are actually going to use and keep those on your phone. When it comes to getting games especially, make sure you download apps from reputed app publishers. Remember, if a virus / evil app hacks your phone, it is because you downloaded it in the first place! Just like phishing sites on the Internet, you need to be careful with the apps that you put on your phone and subject them to a level of filtering and scrutiny before you install.
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, lets get down to the list of apps!
Launcher Pro
(Homescreen Launcher, FREE, Download from Market)
I'll go ahead and say it - This is THE best launcher for Android till date. What is a launcher? Its what you see on your phone's screen. It is the user interface that puts all your phone's apps and functionality in one place and presents it to you in a easy (or not so easy) to use kinda way. Except for the Google Nexus One and the Nexus S, all other phones come with a customized version of the launcher that is stuck on by the phone manufacturer. The problem is, in some cases the implementation is not so great, I've seen my phone respond better than a Samsung Galaxy S purely because of the way the launcher is implemented. So, long story short, getting a Launcher can help speed up your phone Even if you have a Nexus phone, a launcher can give you more customization options. I've tried tried ADW, Zeam, etc. but kept coming back to Launcher Pro. I use the free version which comes with enough functionality and customization options. So head over to the market and get it already!
Swiftkey
(Keyboard, PAID, Download from Market)
The beauty of Android is the level of customization that it offers you. You can replace the keyboard that your phone came with! Why would you want to do that you say? Well, unless you are using a HTC device or a Gingerbread keyboard, you are probably unhappy with the way your keyboard works. The Gingerbread keyboard is a HUGE improvement over the older Android keyboard but Swiftkey is better! In fact it is so good, it is the only app on my phone which I paid for! (Costs less than what you'd pay for a drink in a pub!) This app has an algorithm that analyzes your usage of words from the messages you type and figures out how you frame sentences. Based on that, not only does it autocorrect your words, it predicts the next word you are looking to type! It keeps learning and your experience with it gets better and better over time. I found it better than Swype and it has saved me thousands of keystrokes and made me 20% more efficient in my typing! Go get it and trust me, you wont regret buying this app.
Dolphin Mini
(Browser, FREE, Download from Market)
The stock Android browser maybe fine for most folks but lacks the finesse and additional functionality that we are used to in our desktop browsers. Dolphin Mini may not be the fastest browser out there for Android (Opera anyone?), but gives a very clean Google Chrome kind of experience with tabbed browsing and full screen support.
Google Reader
(RSS Reader, FREE, Download from Market)
This is the Official Google Reader app. And I know a lot of you are huge fans of the web version of Google Reader. Then this is a must have app for your Android phone. Its very clean and simple, allows you to take your favorite RSS feeds with you wherever you go and you can read up on your phone at a traffic signal, in elevators or even on the toilet!
Dropbox
(File Syncing, FREE, Download from Market)
If you dont already have Dropbox on your computer, get it NOW! You can sync your files online and across computers with Dropbox. 2GB account is free! http://db.tt/NEa7Ukc The Android app gives you access to all your files right from your phone and is a lifesaver at times when you want to access a copy of your important documents like PAN card or Passport. Just keep a copy on your computer's dropbox folder and access it whenever you want with the dropbox app on your phone. Its that simple!
Epistle
(Note taking, FREE, Download from Market)
There are hundreds of note taking apps out there including Evernote. But my vote goes for Epistle for its simplicity and mainly its integration with Dropbox! This app saves all your notes as text files within a folder on your dropbox account and keeps them synced at all times. So when my wife wants me to buy some stuff on the way back home from work, she opens up the shopping list note on my home computer and updates the list. This gets synced with dropbox and when I stop by at the supermarket and open the Epistle app on my phone, I can magically see what she wants me to get! This is just one of several cool uses for this app apart from the fact that you have a back-up of all your notes.
TweetDeck
(Social Networking, FREE, Download from Market)
This is one app that integrates Facebook, Twitter, Buzz and Foursquare (does anyone I know even use that?) functionality. So you get an integrated timeline where you can see updates from all the services in one place. You also get a widget that you can place on your homescreen and post updates to all the services at once. It feels lighter and I think it uses less data than having the Facebook and Twitter apps all running individually on your phone. Need I say more?
SwiFTP
(Network / File Sharing, FREE, Download from Market)
If you have a WiFi router at home then this is a must-have app. With one click it runs an FTP server on your phone and makes the contents of your phone accessible over WiFi. You then type in the FTP address on your computer and copy files to or from your phone over the WiFi network. No wires! You can use it to even stream audio and video files from your phone!
If you want to access just your SD card then no rooting needed but if you also want to access phone memory then you would need to root.
Skype
(VoIP, FREE, Download from Market)
The Skype service needs no introduction. With this app you can make free Skype to Skype calls over a WiFi or 3G network. The only cost involved is the data plan charges that you pay your WiFi or 3G cellular provider. If you buy Skype credit, you can make calls to cell phones and land lines at cheaper rates. I use this route for making calls to my friends in the US and save a ton on international call charges.
Widgetsoid
(Widget / Utilities, FREE, Download from Market)
This is one widget app that does it all. Highly customizable! It gives you clock, battery, network / WiFi indicator, custom widget bars for contact and app shortcuts, network, screen and power control. The list is almost endless. Get it and spend some time playing around with it. I'm sure you'll like it.
Z4Root
(Rooting App, Get it here http://j.mp/gjvLIi )
If you decide to root your phone, this app will let you do it with one click. There is enough info about the pros and cons of rooting out there. So google up and read about it. This method should work for most phones. There are also other apps like 'super one click' that you can try. I rooted my phone the day I got it and there is no looking back.
Root Explorer
(File Browser, Get it here http://j.mp/fZEITT )
This is a file explorer that requires root. On a rooted phone, it allows you to access and modify contents of your phone memory and system folders. I would recommend using this if you want to get rid of unwanted junk apps that your phone manufacturer / carrier put on it before selling it to you. Once you install Root Explorer, head to '/system/app' folder in your phone and delete the files pertaining to the apps that you want to get rid of. The files would be with .apk and .odex extensions. If you dont want to delete, you may want to make an alternate folder on your SD card and move the files there. This way you can restore the apps at a later stage if you want to.
