Thursday 29 December 2011

Android the most popular mobile OS from the house of Google. What makes a Smartphone Smart is the amazing apps and the performance of the device. Here in the case of Android the apps make the Smartphone more smarter than they really are. The Android Market may not have as many apps as the iPhone app store yet, but there are still enough to be overwhelmed, and its growing at a breakneck pace. This indispensible Android apps serve a number of purpose with little overlap. Some are free and some have a price tag, but all of them are at (or near) the top of their category. So let’s get into the list-



One of the realities of having a multitasking mobile OS in Android is that you have to manage your apps so that they dont hurt performance or battery life. Advanced Task killer is one of those apps you hope you dont need, but you sometimes must have. It allow you to kill an application with a single click. This particular app killer includes an ignore list, a widget version, and a long – press to menu feature.


This app turns the Android camera into a barcode scanner. You simply scan a product’s UPC code and let the app go to work to find it in Google product search or a search on the open web. You will be amazed at how fast it works. If you need to find product reviews (or  price comparison) while shopping, all you have to do is scan the barcode with your camera and open up your results. No more having to Google a product and sift through pages for reviews and or prices.


Photoshop is, of course, the best known photo editor in the world and its mobile app doesn’t do anything to hurt that reputation. But while the desktop version is known for having a zillion features, the mobile app is distinguished by its simplicity. It’s the best Android ( and iPhone) photo editing app for simple crops, brightness adjustments, and sharpens, for example.

4. Bump

Bump is a fun (and useful) idea for sharing info between two phones using the accelerometer, and it works across Android and iPhone. You can use it to share contact info(yours and others) photos, and apps. You simply open the Bump app, choose what you to share, and then hold the phones in your hands and bump your hands together.


Handcent SMS is a great app that can replace the default messaging app. It is highly customisable and just way better looking. It lets you easily set different notifications for different contacts, change the background for texts, change the colour of bubbles for different contacts, and so much more.


This is a fun app that is a little but ahead of its time. It does visual searches. You can take pictures of things and then the app tries to tell you what they are. It’s limited in it’s scope but it is pretty cool, and it’s definitely a peek into the future. One of the coolest features is the ability to take pictures of text in a foreign language and let that app translate for you. In a foreign country this can help you read street signs and avoid going into the wrong bathroom. :)


Ever look up at the night sky and try to tell your friends that name of the constellation you’re pointing at, or try to remember which planet that is in the southern sky? Google sky map let’s you point your Smartphone at it and get the information. This is part of a new breed of apps called “Augmented Reality” apps that layer digital information on top of real world experience.

8. FeedR

FeedR is an RSS reader that works ass both an app and a widget. FeedR can add preconfigured feeds or you can add your own personal favourites. This app beats the competition with its ability to truly auto update. Many other feed readers ( especially those in the widget categories) require a user update to function properly. FeedR handles all updates in the background, with no intervention.

9. Shazam

If you want to impress your mobiles with a mobile app, show them Shazam. Ever hear a song being played at a store or on the radio and ask yourself, “Oh, what song is that?” That’s where Shazam comes in. Just hit the button and let it listen for 15 seconds, query its database, and then return the name of artist and the song. It  has about 80% success rate.


A lot of geeks I know like to say that our smartphones are becoming more and more like the Tricorders on Star Trek. Well, here is a fun app that turns your Android device into virtual Tricorder. It even offers some useful environmental information including GPS data, wireless data and ambient sound measurement.

0 comments:

Post a Comment