Evening people, I've just swapped my iPhone 4 for an Xperia SP so am currently loading up my usual assortment of apps (facebook/skype/twitter/imdb/netflix etc) and wondered what are the 'must-haves' for android?
Anything I can't live without?
Rob
PS anyone know a good place to get it unlocked? It's on EE, I'm not
Tapatalk, snapchat, dolphin browser, 3g watchdog (3g bandwidth monitor), poweramp (music)
few to get you started
cant go wrong with the popular apps in each category either.
Rob_B (22-09-2013)
Is Dolphin needed anymore? I was under the impression Chrome is ok now?
SwiftKey
Rob_B (22-09-2013)
There are a number of recommendations in this thread: http://forums.hexus.net/android/2380...what-apps.html
Rob_B (22-09-2013)
Newer versions of Android have a data monitor built-in, with the option to warn/restrict data use once you hit custom limits. Although, I also use Call Meter NG to keep track of calls/SMS - it's a nice lightweight app that doesn't run in the background or require fifty irrelevant permissions.
I also think Chrome is fairly decent on the whole now, with a few niggling issues like the implementation of the auto-hiding URL bar, and complete lack of choice when it comes to customising things - it's the 'change it for the sake of it' team's way, or no way at all, as is unfortunately becoming common with Google's apps. Speaking of which, you might want to do some research into a decent offline navigation capable map application if you think you'll need to use such a thing and don't have a decent network signal, as the offline caching bit of Google's own Maps app is just a joke. I'm in the process of researching such a thing myself; IIRC, Maverick and Mapfactor looked promising last time I was comparing a few options.
Adobe's app is IMO a fairly decent choice when it comes to PDF readers (not that I could say the same about their desktop version). Surprisingly, it's not overly bloated, works fluidly, and again doesn't ask for a load of unnecessary permissions.
Barcode Scanner fills the role of the strangely missing QR code/barcode reader from stock Android, although something may be built into MFR custom versions. Lightweight, although maybe with a few more permissions that I'd like to see. There are some far worse ones in both areas though, including some of the most popular ones; although that seems to be the case with a lot of things.
Android strangely seems to lack the ability to sync its time with NTP; it can use 'network-provided time', but some cell networks don't support it, and even the ones that do don't seem to put much effort in keeping it even remotely accurate. I use ClockSync, and while it can't automatically keep the time synced without root (understandably, not that it excuses the feature being absent from Android in the first place), but it has a rootless mode to alert you of drift and assist you in manually setting sub-second accuracy at least, provided your phone resets seconds when the time is set manually.
Stock Android also lacks a filesystem explorer (although at least some MFR versions do include one), and while I've been using Explorer, with a blue filing cabinet as the icon, it's recently been updated and is now asking for a load of, IMO, unnecessary permissions (e.g. for Dropbox integration, which I explicitly don't want near my phone), so I'll just refrain from updating it myself for the time being, but I'll be looking for an alternative. Pity, because it was a nice, no-nonsense utility up until then.
That mostly covers what I'd consider 'essentials' to get you going, but my general advice would be to 'shop around' for apps - the first results are frequently vastly bloated, asking for tons of completely irrelevant permissions, sometimes including some pointless background service eating your battery, etc. You can generally find something that just does what you want without all the faff, with a bit of patience.
Last edited by watercooled; 21-09-2013 at 11:38 PM.
Rob_B (22-09-2013)
Alot of the google apps (maps, quickoffice, etc) are worth it, mx player for video playback, poweramp for music, they're the basic ones I always have. Wifi Analyzer is a handy tool as well, and I use Desk SMS so I can text from my browser ^^
Rob_B (22-09-2013)
Cannot believe no one has mentions Whatsapp, i use this everyday it saves me a lot of money.
There are quiet a few, so i am gonna just list the rest, Airdriod, BBC/Sky News, AndSMB, BS Player, Fing, ESPN Scorecenter, Red Laser, Steam, TheTrainline, TV Catchup. Zedge.
That should get you started.
Rob_B (22-09-2013)
I've got some sort of swype thing built in, same for data monitoring and walkman for my music. Had whatsapp on my iPhone but can't just now as I've got a temp number I'm using.
I'll check out some of your suggestions thanks folks
Last edited by Rob_B; 22-09-2013 at 12:15 PM.
ESPN Scorecentre is rubbish now, its just a bloody twitter feed
I have an Xperia SP and i wasnt too happy with the stock contacts and messaging apps so i got Messages+ and Contacts+, from there i also ended up with their dialer aswell. Viber is another free messaging app thats pretty good, it has a windows client aswell.
I occationally use Yelp to find interesting stuff if im in a new city
Soundcloud app is brilliant, get involved with that for sure!
For a file manager i use ASTRO, it can access all the popular cloud storage services so you dont need to install 3 or 4 apps, you just go through ASTRO.
Unified remote is pretty awesome, you use it to turn your phone into a mousepad/keybaord for your PC
Pulse is a nice RSS feed reader. Lots of sites built in.
I prefer Firefox over Chrome on Android - Give it a try, it works very well.
TVCatchup
xkcdViewer
Nova launcher, if you like tweaking.
Hangouts if you know other people with it - I actually prefer it over Skype now.
Originally Posted by Saracen
Contacts are ok for my usage, I'll do whatsapp/stock for messaging I imagine.
Did you use the built in file commander?
Saw the remote as I was playing around with it, might have a play some more!
Firefox/Dolphin or Chrome then? I used to use Dolphin back when I had a Desire and it was 'meh' Chrome seems a bit unfriendly so far so I might give firefox a shot.
Na i uninstalled the stock one because im so used to Astro.
Universal Remote is awesome for HTPCs.
I just use chrome, synchs all my bookmarks to chrome on my pcs so im happy.
I mostly use ES File Explorer, though Astro is good too.
My default browser is Dolphin, mostly for the gestures and ease of tab management, but sometimes switch to Firefox because I like the typeface better. Just install both and see what you're comfortable with. And yes, I've installed Chrome and Opera too
ES file manager is a must
Where my droid. Phone on silent finder
MX player. will play anything pretty much
Amazon apps. Free app every day
Adobe reader.
Perfect viewer. Comic Reader
Aquamail. Best email widget with spam filter
Aldiko. Book reader
BBC news. Greatest new source
Bloom. Music site.
Splashtop. Remote computer access
Snes9x EX+. Supernes emulator
Myboy. Gameboy emulator
N64oid. N64 emu
And last but not least...
Flying toaster live wallpaper, best live wall paper ever
Double You, Tea, Eff ?!
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