These are the best apps for Android that I think you must have on your Android device.
Best apps for Android
1. Skyfire
The USP of the Skyfire browser is that it supports Flash content, popping up a little window when it detects an embedded YouTube video or something similar. The actual Flash business is handled by Skyfire’s server, which does all the computery stuff, then sends the file to your handset. A bit clunky on slower Android phones, but it works like a dream on models with faster processors.
2. Advanced Task Killer Free
It’s surprisingly difficult to close an Android app, and after spending a few hours with your Android phone you might find it feels a bit sluggish because so many apps are running quietly in the background. So a task-killing app like this is a must; two clicks, and you’ve released megabytes of memory and freed up oodles of processor power. A $5 pay version adds a one-click widget and an “auto kill” function, but I find the free version perfectly good enough. ATK has a more user-friendly interface than competitor TasKiller, and it focuses on killing lagging apps rather than essential Android services.
3. File Manager HD
File Manager is one of the first Honeycomb-optimized file managers for Android. It’s one of those utilities you have to have on your Android 3.0 tablet, no questions asked. With Android, you’re not forced to use a separate program on your computer to add or move files around, so a file browser of some sort is awful handy. You can use it to keep track of and sort all your pictures, videos, documents, and anything else you can think of that you’re keeping around in your tablet’s storage space.
4. Evernote
After the Android version of Dropbox, the next best solution for keeping all your ‘business’ in one place is Evernote – which lets you stash and sync all your text notes, voice memos and files on your phone and access them through a desktop computer.
5. Google Maps Navigation
An absolute must-get. As long as you have Android 1.6 or above, the latest update to Google Maps introduces turn-by-turn voice navigation, simultaneously devastating the satnav industry while boosting the in-car dashboard dock/charger accessory scene. Route calculations are done at the outset of your trip, minimising data transfer en route and keeping you on target even when the GPS signal drops. It’s amazing, it works, and it’s free.
6. Dropbox
The Android version of the insanely popular stuff-syncing app has arrived, and while Dropbox is a little lacking in the sort of fancy auto-syncing options many were hoping for, it still works as expected. Files have to be specifically downloaded to your phone to be edited or shared, which is not quite the automated dream offered by the desktop tools, but it’s still Dropbox on Android. Six months ago that was a distant, crazy fantasy.
7. Amazon Kindle
I never warmed up to the Amazon Kindle e-reader, but I’m a big fan of the Kindle mobile app. Since it was released I’ve read a lot more books simply because my smartphone is always with me and I can pull it and read a few pages anytime I’ve got a couple minutes free.
8. Advanced Task Killer
One of the realities of having a multitasking mobile OS in Android is that you have to manage your apps so that they don’t hurt performance or battery life. Advanced Task Killer (or ATK) is my favorite. It even comes with a widget that you can tap once to kill all open apps.
9. Tripit
I dig Tripit. It is by far the best app I’ve found for keeping track of all my travel itineraries. It runs on some great backend systems. You simply forward your confirmation emails for your flights, hotels, rental cars, and more to Tripit and it automatically organizes them into trips with all your details and confirmation numbers.
10. Seesmic
Twitter is an amazing instant-intelligence engine and it was made for mobile browsing. Although there’s an official Twitter app for Android now, Seesmic is still the best Android Twitter client.
11. Barcode Scanner
This app turns the Android camera into a barcode scanner. You simply scan a product’s UPC code and let the app go to work to find it in Google Product Search or a search on the open Web. You’ll be amazed at how fast it works. This is great for when you’re shopping retail and you want to check the price of a product online before buying to make sure you’re paying a fair price.
12. Dolphin Browser
Dolphin is one of the best mobile Web browsers. Period. It is fast, reliable, has real tabs, gestures, and multi-touch. Although the default Android browser is an okay solution, it simply doesn’t compare, feature for feature, to Dolphin. Dolphin is also much faster than most of the other Android solutions. My big question: Why is there no Chrome for Android?
13. Google Voice
Google Voice is an application that provides you a phone number that can ring at multiple places or devices. It allows you to access all of your voicemail and text messages over the Web. For people who need privacy, the app can also make outgoing calls such that the receiver gets only the Google Voice number and not your phone number.
14. Expensify
One of the key best practices of managing a business is that you also keep track of the expenses. Expensify is an application that imports your credit card receipts and converts them into PDF reports that you can save or send conveniently. It’s also very easy to keep tab of cash expenses, upload images of your receipts, create reimburse expense reports using direct deposit and log mileage. The application works well on all currently released Android phones.
15. Facebook for Android
Facebook for Android makes it easy to stay connected and share with friends. Share status updates from your home screen, chat with your friends, check out your News Feed, review your upcoming Events, look at your friends’ walls and user info, check in to Places to get Deals, upload Photos, share links, check your Messages, and watch videos.
Download the best apps for Android
[ad]
Search Android Market
- Open Android Market on Your phone
- Go to “Search”
- Type “(the name of app in the list above)” in the search field and hit “Search”
- Once you find the “(the name of app in the list above)” app, choose “Install” and follow the instructions
