Mobility

10 indispensable Android apps

By // January 25, 2012, 3:09 AM PST // jlwallen

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  • Introduction

    A year ago, I put together a list of 10 must-have Android apps. Since then, things have really changed. Not only has the Android platform evolved into a much more stable, reliable, and powerful platform, the apps have also grown.

    My original list of essential apps remains unchanged. But other apps have now either improved or come to the surface -- and they certainly deserve a list of their own.

    Note: You can read the full post in our 10 Things blog.

    Photo credit: Copyright © iStockphoto.com/juniorbeep

     

  • Google Docs (Free)

    If you use Google Docs a lot, you'll appreciate the tablet-friendly Google Docs app. It lets you collaborate with other Google Docs users; edit spreadsheets; view your documents; upload and convert files to the Google Docs format; take a photo (with your device) of printed text and convert it to a Google document; and easily share docs with your device's contacts.

  • Thumb Keyboard ($2.29)

    If you use an Android tablet, you MUST buy and install Thumb Keyboard. Your typing will improve, and you'll be able to type longer and more comfortably. This is one of the first apps I install when testing or upon purchasing a new tablet.

  • Intuit GoPayment (Free with approved account)

    Intuit GoPayment allows you to accept payments from anywhere at any time. Money is deposited into a GoPayment Prepaid Visa Card account and can seamlessly integrate into QuickBooks. Once you download the app, submit the in-app application form. When approved, you can start taking payments. You will even receive a free credit card reader that attaches to your mobile device.

  • Kindle for Android (Free)

    Kindle for Android is one of the finest ereader apps available. It enables your tablet or smartphone to gain access to millions of books -- and it allows you to read them under any light, use a built-in dictionary, and sync your ebooks with your Kindle or PC.

  • Google+ (Free)

    For many businesses, Google+ seems to be a  better fit than Twitter or Facebook. So why not make use of it on your tablet or smartphone? With seamless integration into the Android platform, using Google+ on an Android device is simpler and more elegant than the other social network apps.

  • LogMeIn Ignition ($29.99)

    LogMeIn Ignition is the most expensive app on the list. But it's also one of the most important ones if you use LogMeIn to handle remote administration tasks. I use this tool daily, and on a number of occasions, I have deployed it for clients.

  • Beautiful Widgets ($2.89)

    If you're looking for an awesome collection of widgets to add to your tablet or smartphone home screen, look no further than the feature-rich Beautiful Widgets app. It lets you personalize all the widgets, so you can configure them to look and behave exactly how you like them.

  • ROM Manager ($5.99)

    If you have a rooted device, you owe it to yourself to look into ROM Manager. With the help of a great UI, it lets you easily apply nightly builds. It also makes switching ROMs a snap and you can even back up your ROMs.

  • Poweramp (Free)

    If your Android device also serves as your music playback device, you owe it to yourself to install Poweramp. For me, this app is worth it just for the 10-band graphic EQ. For others, the vast number of supported formats will make this a must-have music app. You will also find plenty of other features, such as outstanding OpenGL-based cover art animation and gapless playback.

  • AirDroid (Free)

    AirDroid is a handy little app that lets you take control of your Android device from within a Web browser. The PC and the mobile device must be on the same wireless network, but once you have AirDroid working, you will find it an easy way to work between your PC and your mobile device.

Introduction

A year ago, I put together a list of 10 must-have Android apps. Since then, things have really changed. Not only has the Android platform evolved into a much more stable, reliable, and powerful platform, the apps have also grown.

My original list of essential apps remains unchanged. But other apps have now either improved or come to the surface -- and they certainly deserve a list of their own.

Note: You can read the full post in our 10 Things blog.

Photo credit: Copyright © iStockphoto.com/juniorbeep

 

Related Topics:

Mobility Security Hardware Software Apple Android Google

By Jack Wallen

Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He’s an avid promoter of open source and the voice of The Android Expert. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.com.