No matter what phone you have, being able to download apps is one of the greatest features of any smart phone.
There are numerous post about iPhone apps here on ChurchDrop, but we’re going to constantly attempt to cover all handsets, carriers, and OSs.
So, with that being said, here’s a big list about 10 Android Apps that you should definitely check out:
Astrid
Description:
Astrid is a todo list/tracking system for Google’s Android built with your productivity in mind. Astrid’s goal is to be simple to use with features you need to stay productive and get things done.
Screenshots:
Dolphin Browser
Description:
If you aren’t happy with the generic browser that comes with your phone, Dolphin is the way to go. It offers tabbed browsing, multitouch zooming, syncing with Google bookmarks, and the ability to flag sites that you might want to read later. You can even download YouTube videos.
Screenshots:
Google Voice
Description:
Google Voice for Android remains the best way to use Google Voice on a mobile phone. If you have a virtual Google Voice number, you’ll be able to make outgoing calls and SMS messages easily, including international calls that run about 2 cents per minute. This app also lets you integrate your phone’s built-in address book and call log for voice calls. There are other third-party apps out there that tap into Google Voice, but stick with Google’s native app; it works almost seamlessly.
Screenshots:
Astro File Manager
Download it here
Description:
The app lets you back up apps on your SD card; you can’t run them from there, but you can swap out apps you aren’t using. It lets you browse your phone’s file system, examining and moving files. It also gives you a very detailed peek into which apps and processes are running, with info about how much memory and CPU power each process is using. Along with ATK, Astro will help you keep your Android system tidy and under control.
Screenshots:
Pandora Radio
Description:
Pandora Radio is your own FREE personalized radio now available to stream music on your Android phone. Just start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs or classical composers and Pandora will create a “station” that plays their music and more music like it.
Screenshots:
Jewels
Description:
Jewels is a highly-polished, free Bejeweled clone. The game is highly addictive and serves as a great way to pass the time on your commute. Different modes let you play this as a strategy game or an action game, and if you’re competitive, you can share your scores with others.
Screenshots:
Foursquare
Download it here
Description:
Foursquare is a neat location-based social networking app. The integrated Google Maps feature allows you to get views of places in your area, so you can easily go from one restaurant to another (it doesn’t hurt that it comes with Yelp integration as well). Then you can “check in” to various locations to alert your friends that you’re there. It also works with other social networking sites, as you can share your check-in status on Facebook and Twitter also.
Screenshots:
Double Twist Player
Description:
DoubleTwist Player for Android is a slick media player app that helps make up for the lack of iTunes on your phone. Combine it with the desktop version of doubleTwist, and you’ll turn your Android device into a portable multimedia powerhouse that syncs music, (un-DRMed) iTunes playlists, and videos as well as any Apple hardware does. It’s a must-have for all music lovers.
Screenshots:
Movies by Flixster
Description:
There are a lot of good movie apps out there, such as Fandango and Moviefone, but Movies by Flixster gets our nod here because of its complete experience. Movies will inform you of the latest top flicks and movies coming out, as well as theaters near whatever location you enter. It provides trailers, reviews, information, and Rotten Tomatoes results for all the current movies. You can’t buy tickets through this app, but you can find out everything else you need to know.
Screenshots:
Talk to Me Classic
Description:
This nifty app has been updated since it first made our list in 2009. Originally, Talk To Me translated only English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian, with its speech-to-speech functionality. Now it has many other languages from which to choose. On top of adding languages like Chinese to its speech-to-speech arsenal, you can now translate many other languages by typing what you want translated into the program. This app is a must-have aid for any traveler.
Screenshots:
Are there any other apps that you would add to this list?
Chris Hill says
I’m really loving these:
NewsRob – It’s a free rss reader that connects with google reader. Great UI. You can control how often it updates. It uses very little battery life.
Vignette(demo version) – It’s a camera/pic effects app. There are over fifty effects you can use with your phone’s camera or current pics. The only downside to the free demo is you can’t use your phone’s full resolution.
SCVNGR – Similar to foursquare but offers unique challenges at each location and point system scoring for competitive peeps.
LoKast – Just hit the Android market today. iPhone users may be familiar with this already. It’s a music/pic sharing app that is proximity based. You can share files with people around you within 300 feet. The iPhone/Android cross-compatibility makes this a must have because Android users can contribute immediately even though it’s new to the market.
Google Goggles –
Allows you to take a pic of most anything and it will automatically Google search the image. It also works with your GPS location to reveal Google places you’re close to directly through your camera lens to your screen.
Kyle Reed says
Great list. Thank for all of these
Tyler says
I’d add any task killing app. Those are a must have. I use “TasKiller” and I’ve liked it a lot.
Dropbox is also a great app to have on your phone so you can access any files that you’ve loaded on there from any computer.
Kyle Reed says
Yes, any app that has killer and task in it is awesome.
Chris Hill says
NewsRob – Free RSS reader that connects with Google reader. Great UI. You
can choose how often it updates and it uses little space and battery life.
Vignette (demo version) – Free camera/pic editor. Gives you access to over
50 pic effects. Only downside to the demo version is you can’t use your
camera’s full resolution.
LoKast – Just hit the Android market today. iPhone users may be familiar
with the app. It’s a location/proximity based music and pic sharing program.
The Android/iPhone cross-compatibility makes this app easy for Android users
to participate right away.
SCVNGR – Similar to foursquare but offers unique challenges at each
location. Also works on a point system for competitive types.
PDAnet – Allows me to tether my phone to my macbook pro and use the phone’s
3G connection FOR FREE. No root necessary. At times my 3G connection has
been faster than my ISP. #ComcastFail
Google Goggles – Take a pic of most anything and it will google search the
pic and identify it. Plus it recognizes Google places close by through my
camera lens to my screen using GPS.
Chris Hill says
I’ve been enjoying these:
NewsRob – Free RSS reader that connects with Google reader. Great UI. You can choose how often it updates and it uses little space and battery life.
Vignette (demo version) – Free camera/pic editor. Gives you access to over 50 pic effects. Only downside to the demo version is you can’t use your camera’s full resolution.
LoKast – Just hit the Android market today. iPhone users may be familiar with the app. It’s a location/proximity based music and pic sharing program. The Android/iPhone cross-compatibility makes this app easy for Android users to participate right away.
SCVNGR – Similar to foursquare but offers unique challenges at each location. Also works on a point system for competitive types.
PDAnet – Allows me to tether my phone to my macbook pro and use the phone’s 3G connection FOR FREE. No root necessary. At times my 3G connection has been faster than my ISP. #ComcastFail
Google Goggles – Take a pic of most anything and it will google search the pic and identify it. Plus it recognizes Google places close by through my camera lens to my screen using GPS.
Danny Bixby says
Nice list. Though I have to say gtasks > astrid. At least for how I use it. Especially with my gtasks to tab add-on for Chrome when I’m on pc.
Kyle Reed says
Ya? That doesn’t surprise me though
Chris Hill says
These are the ones I’ve been enjoying lately:
NewsRob – Free RSS reader that connects with Google reader. Great UI. You can choose how often it updates and it uses little space and battery life.
Vignette (demo version) – Free camera/pic editor. Gives you access to over 50 pic effects. Only downside to the demo version is you can’t use your camera’s full resolution.
LoKast – Just hit the Android market today. iPhone users may be familiar with the app. It’s a location/proximity based music and pic sharing program. The Android/iPhone cross-compatibility makes this app easy for Android users to participate right away.
SCVNGR – Similar to foursquare but offers unique challenges at each location. Also works on a point system for competitive types.
PDAnet – Allows me to tether my phone to my macbook pro and use the phone’s 3G connection FOR FREE. No root necessary. At times my 3G connection has been faster than my ISP. #ComcastFail
Google Goggles – Take a pic of most anything and it will google search the pic and identify it. Plus it recognizes Google places close by through my camera lens to my screen using GPS.
Chris Hill says
NewsRob – Free RSS reader that connects with Google reader. Great UI. You can choose how often it updates and it uses little space and battery life.
Vignette (demo version) – Free camera/pic editor. Gives you access to over 50 pic effects. Only downside to the demo version is you can’t use your camera’s full resolution.
LoKast – Just hit the Android market today. iPhone users may be familiar with the app. It’s a location/proximity based music and pic sharing program. The Android/iPhone cross-compatibility makes this app easy for Android users to participate right away.
SCVNGR – Similar to foursquare but offers unique challenges at each location. Also works on a point system for competitive types.
PDAnet – Allows me to tether my phone to my macbook pro and use the phone’s 3G connection FOR FREE. No root necessary. At times my 3G connection has been faster than my ISP. #ComcastFail
Google Goggles – Take a pic of most anything and it will google search the pic and identify it. Plus it recognizes Google places close by through my camera lens to my screen using GPS.
Graham says
Thanks for the list Kyle! I just bought the new Droid X on Verizon and I love it. I’ve been downloading an average of 3 apps a day and just playing with the to see what I like and all that.
Some others I really like are:
1. Seesmic for Android. It’s one of the best twitter apps for android that I’ve found.
2. Advanced Task Killer – (which I noticed you referenced above but didn’t explain it) A must have app for any Android user. Since Android allows for “true” multi-tasking unlike the iPhone… apps stay open even when we exit them. And we’re apt to forget that they’re still running in the background.
3. ESPN Score Center – Gives you a home screen widget that displays your teams scores and much much more!
4. Bible – from LifeChurch.tv … still the best Bible app (IMHO)
5. Barcode Scanner – uses the camera on your phone to read barcodes and look up product information such as prices and reviews.
you know what… I think I’m just going to blog about this too… haha. Been meaning to do another blog post about my Droid. 🙂
But there’s 5 of my fav apps that I use all the time on my Droid!
Kyle Reed says
I wondered if Seesmic was better for the droid then the iPhone. It really sucked on the iPhone. At least a year of so back it did. Might have gotten better now.
seedbox says
Update: Firefox 4 Is launched