Hey everyone. New to Android. Just wanted to get peoples opinions on some must-have apps. Also looking for any tips and tricks that someone coming from the apple world may not be aware of.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Best Apps
- Thread starter TheRealMapes
- Start date
Android System WebView http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.webview
ASTRO File Manager http://market.android.com/details?id=com.metago.astro
Calendar http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.calendar
Calendar Status PRO http://market.android.com/details?id=com.SagiL.calendarstatuspro
Camera http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.GoogleCamera
Chrome http://market.android.com/details?id=com.android.chrome
Chromecast http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app
Cloud Print http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.cloudprint
CNN http://market.android.com/details?id=com.cnn.mobile.android.phone
Deliveries http://market.android.com/details?id=de.orrs.deliveries
Docs http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs.editors.docs
Drive http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs
Dropbox http://market.android.com/details?id=com.dropbox.android
eWeather HD http://market.android.com/details?id=com.Elecont.WeatherClock
Fancy Widgets http://market.android.com/details?id=com.anddoes.fancywidgets
Fancy Widgets Unlocker http://market.android.com/details?id=com.anddoes.fancywidgets.unlocker
FileDrop http://market.android.com/details?id=com.growme.filedrop.lite
Finance http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.finance
FlightTrack http://market.android.com/details?id=com.mobiata.flighttrack.five
Gmail http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.gm
Goggles http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.unveil
Google App http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox
Google Keyboard http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
Google Opinion Rewards http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.paidtasks
Google Play Books http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.books
Google Play Games http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.play.games
Google Play Movies & TV http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.videos
Google Play Music http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.music
Google Play services http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.gms
Google Play Store http://market.android.com/details?id=com.android.vending
Google Text-to-speech Engine http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.tts
Google Voice http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice
Google+ http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.plus
Hangouts http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.talk
Hotel Tonight http://market.android.com/details?id=com.hoteltonight.android.prod
HP Print Service Plugin http://market.android.com/details?id=com.hp.android.printservice
Jorte http://market.android.com/details?id=jp.co.johospace.jorte
Keep http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.keep
Lookout http://market.android.com/details?id=com.lookout
Maps http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps
Messenger http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging
MightyText http://market.android.com/details?id=com.texty.sms
Music Maniac Pro http://market.android.com/details?id=com.unmeaning.unscrutinized.unstinting
MX Player http://market.android.com/details?id=com.mxtech.videoplayer.ad
News & Weather http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget
Nova Launcher http://market.android.com/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher
Nova Launcher Prime http://market.android.com/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher.prime
OfficeSuite http://market.android.com/details?id=com.mobisystems.editor.office_registered
Pandora http://market.android.com/details?id=com.pandora.android
Pushbullet http://market.android.com/details?id=com.pushbullet.android
Local Trains/Transit
Share Apps http://market.android.com/details?id=com.theronrogers.shareapps
Shazam http://market.android.com/details?id=com.shazam.encore.android
Sheets http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs.editors.sheets
Slides http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs.editors.slides
Smart Voice Recorder http://market.android.com/details?id=com.andrwq.recorder
TalkBack http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback
Translate http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate
Uber http://market.android.com/details?id=com.ubercab
Volume http://market.android.com/details?id=ca.xvx.volume
Wallet http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.walletnfcrel
YouTube http://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.youtube
Share Apps https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...iral&utm_campaign=Share%2BApps&token=d5zkTVDj
i suffer no hardships doing this -
Battery Tips for Android
1. Toggle off High Accuracy GPS Mode, Bluetooth, NFC,
Hotspot/Tethering. Toggle on only as needed. (Set GPS Mode to "Battery
Saving" Mode).
2. Display Brightness - Turn off Auto Brightness and Reduce Setting
Bar to Minimum Acceptable to you.
3. Sign out of any unused Google Services like G+, Google Now, Hangouts, etc.
4. Disable Location Reporting and Location History.
5. Beware of constantly syncing in background Apps and Bloatware like
Facebook, Twitter, Weather Channel, Games, Google News/Weather,
Non-Push Email, etc. Set Sync interval for every 1 hour or more and
change settings to stop the syncing of data you don't need. Delete
their Apps and use their Web Page if acceptable.
6. Turn Off Hot Word "Hotword Detection" Always Listening Mode in
Google Search if you don't use it.
7. Turn Off Auto Camera/Photo Upload or at least set it for Upload on WIFI Only.
8. Turn Off Vibrate on Touch for Display, Keyboard, etc.
9. Turn Off Touch Sounds and Unlock Sounds.
10. Turn Off Ambient Display/Active Display Notifications if you don't need it.
11. Don't use a Live Wallpaper. Use a dark wallpaper if possible.
12. Set Display Sleep Setting to 2 Minutes or Less.
13. WIFI Settings - Advanced -
a. Network Notification - Set as OFF.
b. Scanning Always Available - Set as OFF.
c. Keep WIFI on during Sleep - Set as ALWAYS if you regularly use
WIFI. OK to keep WIFI on if you regularly use it.
14. Turn Off Always Vibrate in Gmail/Email.
15. Be careful of using too many Live Widgets and what/how often they sync.
16. Set MS Exchange Sync at 30 Days or Less if you use it.
17. Do NOT use a Task Killer App or Battery Saver App.
18. Uninstall ALL Apps that you never use. If you haven't used an
App in one month, uninstall it.
19. Reboot your phone at least once a month.
20. Wipe Cache Partition at least once a quarter or after every OS Update.
21. Consider a Factory Data Reset with a manual re-sync, manual
reinstall of all data and Apps after every major OS Letter Update.
Make sure that all of your data is first backed up to Google and
Dropbox, etc.
"I SUFFER NO HARDSHIPS DOING THIS" - this means that i personally am
giving up NOTHING with these tips. i'm not giving up any features.
there are no tradeoffs for me. a tradeoff or a hardship would be to
turn off PUSH email or use AIRPLANE mode during the day etc.
you have to find your own balance and the tips list is a start but you
must come to your own conclusion as to what's important. it's personal
preference but these are not a big deal to me at all as they do not
affect the function or operation of my phone. these tips do not
deteriorate my experience.
1-20-15
Ryche
Well-known member
- Sep 1, 2013
- 61
- 0
- 6
here's a few I like that may (or may not) have been mentioned above.
Folder Organizer Lite - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...id=com.abcOrganizer.lite&hl=en&token=lQaAE_BA (Allows you to group icons into folders - can turn multiple pages of Apps into an easy to read screen)
Lookout Security - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...id=com.abcOrganizer.lite&hl=en&token=lQaAE_BA
Textra - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...ps/details?id=com.textra&hl=en&token=hBf_NKIG (Alternate messaging platform cause the default Lollipop is ugly...)
Bandsintown - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...tails?id=com.bandsintown&hl=en&token=2lc_ODPE (Great if you are into live music)
Keyring - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...gle.zxing.client.android&hl=en&token=zPvX9Q-I (Great if you have a lot of store membership cards)
Folder Organizer Lite - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...id=com.abcOrganizer.lite&hl=en&token=lQaAE_BA (Allows you to group icons into folders - can turn multiple pages of Apps into an easy to read screen)
Lookout Security - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...id=com.abcOrganizer.lite&hl=en&token=lQaAE_BA
Textra - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...ps/details?id=com.textra&hl=en&token=hBf_NKIG (Alternate messaging platform cause the default Lollipop is ugly...)
Bandsintown - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...tails?id=com.bandsintown&hl=en&token=2lc_ODPE (Great if you are into live music)
Keyring - https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...gle.zxing.client.android&hl=en&token=zPvX9Q-I (Great if you have a lot of store membership cards)
Last edited:
Hypnotoadd
Well-known member
- Aug 24, 2012
- 147
- 0
- 0
Llama or Tasker, to automate things on your phone. Very similar in some ways, but Tasker is more powerful & therefore more complicated to use. (I use Llama.)
For calendar, I love Business Calendar Pro. Swiftkey is my favorite keyboard. United Airlines and Amtrak apps for travel. Chase and American Express for money. Box for file sharing and Weatherbug for weather. Dashlane for password manager.
icu
Well-known member
- Oct 29, 2010
- 555
- 21
- 0
Lots of good suggestions already. Do you have any specific types of apps you are looking for? What do you use your phone for most?
A few I can offer and I may be repeating some:
Twitter - I love Falcon Pro but many also love Fenix
Reddit - Relay Pro
Video - MX Player (although VLC is right there with it)
PC Remote - Unified Remote (I used this with my media PC and it's fantastic)
Email - Inbox - I've grown to love it - the standard Gmail app and also Outlook is good too
Camera - XCam http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g3/development/app-xcam-lg-v5-1-0-t2873604
Gallery - QuickPic
ToDo - GTasks
Battery saver - Greenify (keep aps from waking up your phone till you call on them to launch)
Lockscreen replacement - ACDisplay
File Manager - ES File Explorer
Widgets - Chronus Widgets
Weather - Arcus Weather
Calendar - DigiCal
Launcher - Nova
Podcasts - BeyondPod
Awesomeness - Pushbullet
A few I can offer and I may be repeating some:
Twitter - I love Falcon Pro but many also love Fenix
Reddit - Relay Pro
Video - MX Player (although VLC is right there with it)
PC Remote - Unified Remote (I used this with my media PC and it's fantastic)
Email - Inbox - I've grown to love it - the standard Gmail app and also Outlook is good too
Camera - XCam http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g3/development/app-xcam-lg-v5-1-0-t2873604
Gallery - QuickPic
ToDo - GTasks
Battery saver - Greenify (keep aps from waking up your phone till you call on them to launch)
Lockscreen replacement - ACDisplay
File Manager - ES File Explorer
Widgets - Chronus Widgets
Weather - Arcus Weather
Calendar - DigiCal
Launcher - Nova
Podcasts - BeyondPod
Awesomeness - Pushbullet
Last edited:
To answer the one question, I essentially use my phone for everything. My laptop died and instead of replacing it I use my phone. I use it primarily for the calendar, podcasts, to do lists, etc. But I also use it for general web browsing when I'm home, facebook, etc.
My other question is, people have recommended file managers and stuff. Coming from the apple world where everything was the way they gave it to you, I guess I don't understand that part yet. What is the major advantage?
My other question is, people have recommended file managers and stuff. Coming from the apple world where everything was the way they gave it to you, I guess I don't understand that part yet. What is the major advantage?
File manager lets you find, open, and move files regardless of where they are in your Android file system. This can be very useful. For example, the latest version of Adobe Acrobat for Android only lets you open PDFs that are in a single folder location. If you have PDFs elsewhere in your file system, you can't open them. With a file manager like ES File Explorer, you can navigate to any location in the file system and open PDFs that are there. This is just one example.
Incidentally, it blows my mind that Adobe did this in the latest update.
Incidentally, it blows my mind that Adobe did this in the latest update.
icu
Well-known member
- Oct 29, 2010
- 555
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Yeah that's a major thing that bugged me when I got my iPad. The way they restrict the free movement of just files is mind bottling. I had YouTube video I had downloaded via an app and I wanted to open it up in VLC. There is no way that I could find to 1) Navigate via VLC to open a file in another location or 2) Easily move the file to the VLC's file "folder" or whatever the hell iOS does to organize files. I had to copy the file to my photo stream and export it to VLC - insane.
A program like Es FIle Explorer (my preferred FM because it does just about anything although there are prettier choices) is great for moving files around - accessing files that apps may not see (like physioprof said) - and it can even access local file servers and remote cloud storage - move stuff in between your SD card and phone storage - move file on or off a USB flash drive plugged via a USB OTG cable (NOTE: buy yourself a USB On The Go cable).
scottysize
Well-known member
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,213
- 4
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Probably some repeats, but here are my must have apps for Android Phones:
GasBuddy
5th Grader
Phrase WHeel
Spades
Words with Freinds
Words Auto Cheat
Cozi
BSPlayer
WTF
Brightness Level
Golf Logix
Speedview
GPS Status
DropBox
Photobucket
Group me
Ebay
PayPal
Quicken
Wells Fargo
Alarm Clock Extreme
Fitbit
GSam Battery
Facebook
Tollmate
Mr. Number
100 Pushups
Situps
Touchdown + Key
If Rooted
Root checker
Titanium Backup
Xposed Installer
Xposed Modules - NlpUnbounce (Used to stop wakelocks to assist battery life.
GasBuddy
5th Grader
Phrase WHeel
Spades
Words with Freinds
Words Auto Cheat
Cozi
BSPlayer
WTF
Brightness Level
Golf Logix
Speedview
GPS Status
DropBox
Photobucket
Group me
Ebay
PayPal
Quicken
Wells Fargo
Alarm Clock Extreme
Fitbit
GSam Battery
Tollmate
Mr. Number
100 Pushups
Situps
Touchdown + Key
If Rooted
Root checker
Titanium Backup
Xposed Installer
Xposed Modules - NlpUnbounce (Used to stop wakelocks to assist battery life.
Fancy widget, textra, swiftkey, fancy widgets, news & weather. The battery saving tips have been nice so far too. I've noticed a difference in how long the battery lasts. I used to sometimes have to plug it in when I got home from work, but over the past couple days it's lasted all day until I plug it in before bed. Maybe I'm not using it as much, I don't know. But it's working.
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