Discussion on:

The 20 most useful Android smartphone apps of 2011

This is a very educative article, thanks, never knew that Android apps has this much.

Android is the best! I only agree with three of your top 20. That means there are so many apps available. The photo editing and camera apps are endless. Vignette and Camera Zoom FX are two of the best. QuickPic is the best photo gallery substitution out there. AndroZip is a great file manager. I love DoubleTwist for music and video controls. See so many options in Android. You cannot go wrong!

Not productive, but in the same vain as Shazam, I really like the SoundHound app. Don't know about Shazam but SoundHound even lets you hum into your phone and also returns the lyrics. Never ceases to impress.

1) KeePass for Passwords. Save password file in DropBox and will be automatically synced to desktop, etc. KeePass is OpenSource.
2) WeatherBug - tried weather.com and Moto's built-in, but WeatherBug works best for me
3) RadarNow - Fast, accurate radar map of current location
4) WhitePages-free version - driving around town and need to look up a restaurant number - use WP's. Can then add the number/business to contacts.
5) Google Reader - sync with Google Reader, RSS feeds, etc.
6) Dolphin browser because I like tabbed browsing. . .
7) Fuel Log - if you like to track vehicle related stat's
8) Craig's Notify - simply awesome tool to monitor Craig's List for things you just can't live without (ok, maybe just want!)
9) Droid Light - who doesn't need a flashlight now and then?
10) 2X client - great, free Terminal services client.

+1 on Evernote and DropBox

If you have rooted the phone, and thanks to HTC that is a simple process, then I would add Rom Manager and Titanium backup which will also sync with dropbox.

I don't think you have to be rooted to use it, but QR Droid is another cool app.

Besides many of those mentioned here, I also use AVG Antivirus, Beat the Traffic (to find out about delays and road closings up ahead), Juice Defender, OpenTable (for making reservations) and TuneIn Radio.

I love Soundhound for the song recognition app. It's works about 98% of the time. I have also been a big fan of Evernote!

gStrings (free version) is a very useful guitar tuner. It can sound notes and has an analog meter type display for keeping the old axe in tune

- I use Google Listen as my podcatcher - why should I sync to a PC when I'm going to listen to it on the phone anyway. As an added bonus, when I killed my phone a few months ago and had to get a replacement, it sync'ed right up to where I was.
- OnAir lets me connect to my phone via WiFi (Windows Sharing)
- Again, not exactly productive, but I use Pandora quite a bit also.

Agree with neil above on RadarNow and WhitePages, but disagree on KeePass. I had KeePass (for BlackBerry - before I got my Android) eat my passwords...twice. I now use SplashID (not free) and sync them to my desktop so both are useful.

Thanks for the heads-up on KeePass - thankfully i haven't had any issues since beginning using it a year or so ago (PC only then). Good reminder to get the database backed up somewhere other than DropBox!

I'm sure they have a mobile version now.

How do you get it to download podcasts that are only available on itunes if you're using an android phone? I find that I have to download into itunes, then move them over via the sync command on Windows Media Player

Have a go at SWYPE. It's really very fast at creating text messages...I've forgotten how to type (almost...)

I agree 100% - SWYPE is absolutely necessary for an electronic keyboard! I couldn't live without it. Keep in mind, though, that SWIPE is not available on the Android Market. You have to go to their website - beta.swype.com

My Motorola Atrix (Android 2.34) comes loaded with SWYPE but I hate it!

My Motorola Atrix (Android 2.3.4) comes loaded with SWYPE and I love it!

I use VCOrganizer to sync tasks and notes to outlook. I don't have an exchange account and I don't completely trust some online service providers.

Bill

There are probably as many opinions on this topic as there are Android power users. Here's mine:

Advanced Task Killer: meh!
Better: Elixir; SystemPanel App

Taskos: meh!
Better: Astrid; Best: Astrid (free) plus Astrid Power pack (paid).

DroidAnalytics: meh! mAnalytics: yuck/ugly/limited.
Better: Analytix

Google Docs: unnecessary if you have Documents to Go

Astro File Manager: meh!
Pales in comparison to: File Expert

Shazam: fair
Pales in comparison to Soundhound

Google Finance: meh!
Better: PageOnce and/or anMoney

But the text that shows up on the screen under Droid Analytics is unfortunate.
So now that I got that out of my system, I find the following Android Apps useful:
DoggCatcher for podcasts
Lookout Mobile - Phone location / remote wipe / back up and AV
MediaConverter
Netflix
Xfinity
TweetDeck
Wifi Analyzer
Xfinity TV
ZumoCast
TapaTalk

+1 on the Wifi Analyzer. Especially on my Android tablet that has no 3/4 G capability.

1) Catch notes - even better than Evernote, 2) Shhhh! when you mute your phone it asks "for how long?" nice if you're like me and forget to un-mute...it's also useful if you accidentally mute, 3) remote notifier - nice if your phone rings on the other side of the house - you get a pop-up on your PC, 4) youmail app - not just a great service..great interface - jump to messages, 5) hurricane hound - 'tis the season!, 6) Picture dial - peoples photos - 8 to a page - tap the right side of the photo, get their default number or SMS (which you set), tap the left, get all their contact info, 7) App Monster Pro - saved my sanity more than once when i had to reformat and reload apps; 8) Sound Manager - automatically turns my ringer down at night and other great things . 9) best route free - shortest driving time over multiple destinations, Enter destinations and it tells what in what order to drive to them. Confusing interface but useful

Love catch notes. Works better for me than Evernote as you don't always have to be signed in. You also don't have to register 1st to use Catch.

Not sure about top 20, but definitely some missing apps here.

As for low-level file system access, Total Commander finally went android and beta is avail for free

As for other non-google apps I actually use frequently:
ebay,
open signal maps,
BBC news,
Android Terminal Emulator,
CoolReader (the best book reader out there, i.e. epub etc),
ES File Explorer,
HandyCalc,
MyBackup Root,
MoboPlayer,
Telnet,
SIP Droid,
Wifi Analyzer,

and the last but not the least the awesome 2X Client!

All of the above are free apps btw

My latest favorite app is Touchdown from NitroDesk, Inc. It is a replacement for the Exchange app that comes with the Android, and what a great replacement it is! I *love* this program. Worth every penny of the $20 it costs if you are a business user and use Microsoft Exchange to access Outlook info - email, calendar, contacts, tasks, notes. On my HTC Incredible it works flawlessly and the interface is very clear and easy to use. Definitely a "top 20" app. It's available for free to try for 30 days. I'm very happy with it.

While I'm here, I'll mention that I second the nomination of Documents to Go. Much, much better than Quickoffice. Another great app.

oh my goodness how could I forget PDA Net - tethered, your phone becomes a modem for your laptop. one time buy, then rest, free (unless you have a restrictive data plan)

Mint by Intuit -- just fantastic, but it has to have access to all your accounts, including your bank. Also has a PC version and its free.

(and let's admit it, some apps can be very impressive)
is a bar-code reader/price comparison gizmo called
Groupons
*who knows, one day i might actually buy a smartphone*

Aldiko

This keeps all the grocery store and other store cards and, for some, the coupons they have. I have tossed half the cards I used to carry. Now I just bring up the app, select the vendor, and it displays a big version of the bar code for them to scan. Fast and easy.

I use File Expert as my file manager. This one can turn you device into an HTTP or FTP server - talking about wireless tethering with your PC!

World Newspapers: If you like to read the latest news from your home state or country.. I use it just about every day to read the SF Chronicle and New York Times
Yelp: The monocle feature is amazing.. uses your camera to show local (ie what you are pointing your camera at) Yelp ratings in real time
RadarNow: Geeky weather radar maps
GoogleSky; Uses GPS and gyro to show you the stars and constellations in real time, type in your sign and see where it is..
Ulysse Gizmo: Geeky compass and much more
Netflix: A must

XConstruct: Build a bridge for a train to cross.. waste some time.. all good

What are your recommendations for the top 20 apps exclusively developed for iPads?

I would like to see the top 20 iphone only apps and the top 20 android only apps. most of th good apps seem to be available on both platforms

After having tried out a lot of them, the Windows classic Total commander is finally available. Recommended.
For reading pdf files, I recommend RepliGo reader. A fast, no nonsense pdf application.
For calculator, I use calcbuddy.
And for mail, I use K9-Mail, a huge improvement on the built in mail.
and for a swiss knife tool, I use zdbox, a small application, that allows for fast uninstall, application move to sdcard, task killing and application access control...
And not to forget, the GO SMS Pro, for sending sms & mms messages.
For quick notes I use Catch.

Lastpass and Xmarks are great apps (but you have to have a paid subscription to the service to use them). I am in love with PrinterShare -- let's me print from my tablet anywhere around the house to my networked printer.

A great app for family organization is Cozi - has a calendar, shopping, todo lists, all in one.

Waze is a cute little direction/map app that uses crowdsourcing so that you know when there are slowdowns or speed traps.

Looking at the first image of your desktop screenshot, "DroidAnal" sounds quite concerning... deflinetly an app i would't try myself

after I discovered SlideIt, it is hard for me to write without it.

It cost a few $, but you can try for free.
Also a vote for KeePass, WhatsApp, DropBox,SimpleNotes, QuickPic, MoboPlay and Draw!

A question: Is there a web where we can vote our preferred Android Apps?.