Android application reccommendations

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
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Well, there's one for iPhone... why not one for the rolling juggernaut Android! I have found some really cool apps so far, and thought i'd share some. All of these are available from the Android Marketplace:

Wavesecure - FREE

Awesome, awesome app. It basically lets you track and backup your phone data (SMS, contacts, logs) to their servers, in case it is stolen. You can use their website to remotely lock the phone, wipe all data, even pinpoint the location of the device (I tested it as working)... provided it's turned on.

Sign up now while in Beta and it's free for life too... https://www.wavesecure.com/wavesecure/Android.aspx

Handcent - FREE

A messaging replacement app that completely replaced the default one. It can be customised as you wish in numerous ways, and has the most intuitive layout of any app of it's kind. It's also light on resources, and more stable than HompSMS now in my opinion.

Essential http://www.handcent.com/

Food Finder - FREE

It erm... finds food. A comprehensive list of local restaurants, seperated by type and category, in alpha order. Tested this myself and it seems like it covers 90% of bases, and you can call or email each place direct, as well as see location on a map, and even get turn-by-turn directions there!

Very useful in my opinion http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...nder-xniq.aspx

Qype - FREE

Same principle as Food Finder, but extends the search to nightclubs (surprisingly including erotica), pubs, areas of interest, historical and cultural places etc etc.

Very comprehensive http://en.blog.qype.com/2009/12/10/a...cial-features/

Screebl - FREE or $1.99 for PRO

A genius little application... this allows you to get around the annoying screen timeout issue by having Screebl set and detect what angles you would like the phone display to remain active at... so for example screen timeout fast while lying flat on a table (presumably unused), or to stay on and active when held at upright angles (presumably in use).

Works like a charm http://www.androidtapp.com/screebl/

MixZing - FREE

A replacement music app, better than the default Android one and much better featured

Well worth the download http://mixzing.com/android.html

Cardio Trainer - FREE

A workout tracker, and a very good one. You simply turn on the GPS, set the program options to what type of workout you are doing (running, cycling, skiing etc) and it will track your distance, speed, calories, and provide you with regular voice updates on your progress. Also uses google maps to trace your path, and very accurately I might add.

Well worth having http://www.worksmartlabs.com/cardiotrainer/about.php

ColorDict - FREE

The dictionary app to end all dictionary apps. Tons of modules can be added, from German, Chinese to Wikipedia and The Bible, and it displays everything in colour coded search results that make it a complete cinch to read.

One of my favourite apps, a must-download http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...dict-jmDD.aspx

NubiNews - FREE

The best News reader bar none in my opinion. Integrates with many major general and tech news sites, as well as the usual weather etc. Cleanest, most intuitive UI i've seen.

Get it http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...eader-wmj.aspx

ES File Explorer - FREE

In my opinion one of the best file explorers for Android... easy and intuitive layout. Great features (FTP, LAN), and does the job with minimum fuss.

Get it http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...d-pop-znE.aspx

Fring - FREE

One of the best do-it-all messaging clients... it supports easy integration of Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger... and anything else worth using.

Best of its' ilk http://www.fring.com/android/

WikiMobile - FREE

Like the name suggests, a Wiki client for Android. Great UI and uses very little data.

Great app http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...obile-xFD.aspx

FahrplanCH - FREE

Yeah, nowhere near as good as the iPhones own official SBB app, but basically does the job of checking times etc

Will do for now http://de.androlib.com/android.appli...d-sbb-zmE.aspx

NESoid Lite - FREE

A NES emulator. Installit and then put the corresponding ROMs on your phone and voila... you have a NES for nowt. Haven't found a single game that doesn't work yet.

See here http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...-nes-jpmB.aspx

SNESoid Lite - FREE

A SNES emulator. Install it and then put the corresponding ROMs on your phone and voila... you have a SNES for nowt. Haven't found a single game that doesn't work yet.

See here http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...lite-jEpC.aspx

Bettery Graph - FREE

Simple yet effective... shows the last day or week of battery use in a nice, easy to read graph. Great for seeing how your battery is being sucked by different apps and uses.

Power up http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...attery-Fz.aspx

UPDATE 13-03-10

More Icons - FREE or $1.99 for Pro (get the paid version though)

Absolutely and utterly bloomin essential. In the space of one regular icon... you can fit 4. No problem hitting the smaller icons even with my larger fingers. Backs up your widgets for easy restores too. Absolutely essential in every respect if like me youfound the default icon size too big and couldn't organise your phone very well.

Info here http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...dget-xjED.aspx

PDANet - FREE or $23.95 for Pro

Allows hack-free 3G tethering... using it now. Essential. Lite verison doesn't allow secure sites... paid version does.

Must get http://www.junefabrics.com/android/index.php

xScope - FREE or $2.99 for Pro

Simply the best browser I have yet used for Android... better than stock and better than Dolphin. UI is intuitive and packed with features... and it's fast... very fast. This is now my default browser and will stay so.

Review here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUAYy...layer_embedded

Timerrific - FREE

Basically this wawesome app lets you set phone behaviour for all times of the day... enabling full control of everything from data to ring volume depending on the conditions you set. SIlent and no data at night, quiet during your weekly meetings... almost anything is possible.

Info here http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...iffic-jqq.aspx

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Here is a list of other good apps I find useful that don't need to be gone into in-depth, and you can see for yourself as you download and use them:

2010 World Cup Soccer Livescores Color Flashlight Funny Jokes Google Sky Map Google Translate GPS Status HotelsByMe News Pro Places Directory Shazam Stopwatch WiFinder

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So, that's a really quick overview of my favourite apps, it's likely there's tons I haven't found yet wort adding to this list, and I will add stuff as I go.

Feel free to add your own!

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I recommand the application "WINDOWS MOBILE 6.5":

In case your device is stolen, it will be nearly unusable by everyone.

Damned why did i bought that htc hd 2 cr@p?

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Please don't use this thread to complain about your HD2, lets try and keep it uncluttered and on topic. Cheers.

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Android looks interesting and so do the apps. I have been a long time user of Sony Ericsson. Currently using the X1 but have had P990i, P1, P910i, P900 and P800. Since they moved from Symbian to Windows Mobile they have got worse.

I am now seriously changing to a Android based phone so I can get all those cool apps but also a phone that funtions well and is intuitive.

What phone do you recommend so I can then follow you app recomendations??

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Well I have a Motorola Milestone and am in love with it. Do a search on the forum and you will find the thread I made.

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SE X10 Android coming in March.

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Yay, another modern SE phone cursed with out-of-date software (Android 1.6) and a zillion bugs. No thanks.

From the Engadget hands-on:

It's going to suck, as has every other high-end SE phone of the last 3 years.

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Totally agree! I got rid of my P1 within a week. The P990i is still the best of the bunch.....but even then! A definite no to the X10 from me. Android (non SE) it is!

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Also worth mentioning is that chompSMS can send international texts via the 'chompSMS network' for 12-10 raps per text - a far better rate than for instance Sunrise.

I've used it extensively with no complaints.

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Sunrise is only 0.10 CHF per text anyway, so you wouldn't be saving anything. Swisscom on the other hand... 0.20 CHF per text... criminal!

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Also for international texts?

What subscription do you have? With the 'global' option I pay 0.40 chf/text.

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Oh sorry international texts... that'll teach me to skim read.

Definately good value via Chomp.

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all apps below are free.

Quick settings - app that lets you change many settings on one screen such as: brightness, Screen time out, volume, gps, ringer types, wifi etc.

Advanced task killer - kills all running apps, speeds your phone up.

Mabilo ringtones - good selection of ring tones from songs of all kinds to actuall ringers and message alerts

Soccer livescores - live football scores

Voxofon Call Abroad - cheap internatioal calls and text. Not sure if it works in CH but its fantastic in the US

Meebo IM - AIM, Yahoo, MSM, Gchat, etc... uses data not texts for message sending/recieving

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Layar is quite fun when you look at mountain peaks

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It's impoirtant to note that Android devs themselves reccommend AGAINST using task killers as they can have adverse effects on the running of the phone, by terminating running services prematurely and interfering with important system processes.

Android has an efficient memory management built-in that terminates running processes automatically after periods of inactivity... it knows when to stop services in order to free up memory for other things.

This is not Windows chaps, it's essentially Linux... and it manages memory in a less boggy and leaky way. Don't worry about task killers, they're really not needed.

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windows memory management is much better than linux.

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I think you'll have to be a bit more specific and then substantiate your claims.

(Though this thread is probably not the right place).

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Can you please expand on that and explain why, with links if possible? I'm no linux guru at all (I don't work with it), but I remember reading some articles a while back that said Linux was superior in that respect. I dredged one up here:

I can't fiond any articles saying Windows is much better. Anyway regardless, this is not a linux vs windows thread, my comment was essentially saying task killers are not needed on Android, as stated by the Google devs themselves.

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Looks like a lot of Off Topic in this thread...

And a lot of good apps for Android...

(I wont be commenting on how im still looking for 1 good app on windowsmobile then )

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Not really much off-topic at all despite your posts.