Must-have Android apps

Title says it all, I will start of with

Angry Birds

 

netflix

 

The Google maps and navigation apps have caused me to get rid of my old outdated GPS unit.

I bought a dashboard mount for my phone and now use it for my GPS.

 

Flashlight
WiFi hotspot (not sure if that qualifies as an app or not)

 

Endomundo
(For tracking your workout)

 

I use advanced app killer to automatically shut down programs that came with the phone that I can't get rid of. My phone runs much faster without the extra programs running in the background.

 

For my purposes: Advanced Task Killer, Lookout Antivirus, Angry Birds, Stupid Zombies, Alchemy, Netflix Streaming (awesome), Google: Maps, Earth, Skymap, and Music, Dolphin and Skyfire browsers (to me both have their perks, mostly use Skyfire for better options on facebook...) Slacker Radio, Pandora, Soundhound (free alternative to Shazaam), Gtunes Music (downloads) The Ebay app is good if you are into that sort of thing, and the tapatalk app isn't bad for forums.

 

One word: Tasker.

For anyone unfamiliar with it imagine an app where you basically take your phone and say "If X then do Y" where X is basically any context you can think of from being facedown near a given wifi network on a tuesday between 3 and 5pm and Y is anything from changing virtually any phone setting to performing just about any action your phone can do.

The ONLY flaw I've found other than the occasional UI disagreement is that by default Tasker's contexts (the "if") are always AND statements when you use multiples, there's no support for anything else. So if you want for example to go into a quiet and battery saver mode at a set time on certain days but you also want a way to kill that when you get out of vibrate mode manually then in order to avoid a conflict you need to abuse the variable function creatively.

 

Umm, that's not how Android works.

 

Uhhh thanks?

 

Ordinarily Android will background an app and then when you need more memory it will automatically terminate the program and if it was coded well it'll save it's current state to resume smoothly later when reopened. The stock OS is quite good at doing this on it's own from froyo onwards, task killers actually HARM performance by causing you to needlessly have to reload apps from a full dead stop.

There are always exceptions though. Poorly coded crapware and vendor bloat that just loves to sit open all the time no matter what you tell it need to just be given the gtfo.

 

Every time I end up reflashing my phone, there are a few apps I always restore first (I guess that's because I can't live without 'em )

• AdFree Android - gets rid of in-app ads by modifying the HOSTS file (immoral, but convenient)
• Aldiko - a fine reader app for those occasions you aren't using the Kindle/Nook stores
• Amazon Kindle - ahyup
• Craigslist Notification - easily get notified of new stuff on Craigslist based on your criteria (great for used car shopping)
• Dolphin Browser HD - most stable and compatible browser I've ever used on Android
• Google+ - social network of choice these days
• HootSuite - lets me manage my half-dozen personal and business social media accounts from one place
• Google Music - lets me listen to my music collection where ever I go
• Reddit Is Fun - browse Reddit.com on your phone
• Root Explorer - a great file manager for Android
• Tapatalk - browse all sorts of compatible forums (I bet TFP is on there, too...)
• Titanium Backup - back up, restore, and freeze applications, wipe data, and more cool stuff
• XDA Developers - superseded by Tapatalk, but still a good shortcut to the best place to get Android ROMs and support

 

My phone is rooted, so some of these apps only work if your phone is too

Free Music Download - not the most organized program in the world, but great for finding older songs (and some newer)
Google Reader - so far the best way I found to get RSS feed updates
Amazon Appstore - great selection of apps, and every once in awhile their free app of the day turns out to be a gem
CBS SportsMobile - comes with a great widget for headlines and scores
Wireless Tether - might be hard to find nowadays, but well worth the effort, unless you like paying $30 bucks a month for something your phone will do for free
QR Droid - excellent QR reader

 

I'm brand new to android so don't have much yet, but I downloaded c:Geo for geocaching. Free program.

Went and found 4 caches with the kids on saturday and I think I have them hooked. Fun lazy afternoon activity with the family.

 

Handcent SMS --- works wonderfully to replace your native SMS client.
GMAIL
Anyunlock - unlock the phone with any button
Amazon
Amazon App Store - soo much nicer than the android market!
Farkle Dice - great game, somehow i've played this more than any other game
FatBooth - classic!
Wireless Tether - root only - can't go wrong with a little bit of free wifi while out and about!

I'll also second that c:geo is quite epic

 

is it worth rooting my phone? advantages and disadvantages

 

The advantage is that you gain complete control over your phone. You can remove bloatware, add useful apps (like wireless tether), add themes, replace the OS of the phone with custom ROMs that add functionality, etc...

the disadvantage is that depending on the phone, it can be a pain in the ass, and it voids your warranty with your provider. If you ever need work on your phone, or a replacement, you are going to need to reset it to factory settings, which can be tricky sometimes, especially when your phone isn't working right. Its not something to do without reading up on first, and it helps to be a little computer savvy, as you can get in trouble really quick if you don't know what you are doing.

Most newer phones have an active community of developers making ROMs and easier ways to root for them, and, in my experience, have been very friendly and ready to help if you get in over your head.