What are some Apps/Widgets that you love and can't live without?

[ayobonus]

Hi all!

I just got my new 2013 Nexus 7 a couple of days after the launch from Amazon. This is my very first Android device ever. I've been a long time Apple user, but as of late, I'm getting really bored of iOS and I think it's really stale. I've always wanted to get into the Android/Google ecosystem, but I've always hesitated. I wanted the original Nexus 7, but I never was able to pull the trigger. This new Nexus 7 was too good not to buy. So I did it, and I've got to say, I love this little tablet, and I love Android. I'm still learning the ins and outs of the Android OS, but I'm getting used to it. And I really love it.

I've been tinkering with some apps and widgets, and I've found some really good ones. But I've been wanting to ask a bunch of experienced Android users what they recommend in terms of apps/widgets, and I also just wanted to know what apps/widgets Android users use that they can't live without.

So let me know of any apps/widgets/services/etc. that you could recommend to a brand new Android user. And just let me know of any app or widget that you use on your Android daily that you cannot live without.

Thanks everyone, and I'm really glad to be a part of the Android family!

 

[kozlosap]

Pulse, Google+ & Google Now, Tune In Radio Pro, Google Keep, Nova Launcher Prime, UCCW widgets and Zooper Widgets Pro, DashClock, Camera Zoom FX. For productivity I like Pocket Informant P13 and A1 Calendar. Have fun!

 

[gmurphy0487]

I'm a big fan of flip board. Tapatalk is great if you frequently visit forums. Also, try a few games. Game play is great on the new nexus 7.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Diknak]

Google Now (the widget is awesome), Flipboard, Reddit is Fun, Google+ (turn on photo uploads), Dropbox, Evernote, Hangouts, MightyText (if you have an Android phone), NFC Launcher (automation), Tasker (automation), Ingress (if you can tether).

 

[stkorn97]

Swiftkey is always my number 1 app to be installed back on a new device. Beyond that, Ive been toying with come UCCW widgets which are pretty awesome, Dashclock I just recently learned about and love it. I love the new android central app also, much easier than loading actual site on tablet/phone. Theres more, but most people covered them already.

 

[tflash]

Hi all!

I just got my new 2013 Nexus 7 a couple of days after the launch from Amazon. This is my very first Android device ever. I've been a long time Apple user, but as of late, I'm getting really bored of iOS and I think it's really stale. I've always wanted to get into the Android/Google ecosystem, but I've always hesitated. I wanted the original Nexus 7, but I never was able to pull the trigger. This new Nexus 7 was too good not to buy. So I did it, and I've got to say, I love this little tablet, and I love Android. I'm still learning the ins and outs of the Android OS, but I'm getting used to it. And I really love it.

I've been tinkering with some apps and widgets, and I've found some really good ones. But I've been wanting to ask a bunch of experienced Android users what they recommend in terms of apps/widgets, and I also just wanted to know what apps/widgets Android users use that they can't live without.

So let me know of any apps/widgets/services/etc. that you could recommend to a brand new Android user. And just let me know of any app or widget that you use on your Android daily that you cannot live without.

Thanks everyone, and I'm really glad to be a part of the Android family!

I'm only listing apps that are not a system app.

HD widgets for toggles that aren't in the 'quick settings' pulldown menu, like mute and GPS settings.
Micro CPU monitor - helps me tell if CPU is cranking away for some good reason, or not doing anything to justify a screen delay ect.
GPS monitor - helps me see if GPS is locking on to satellites properly.
MX player with custom codec v1.7.16 to add back DTS sound support and play any video file.
BubbleUPnP - Server/ renderer program to stream videos (also a great music player) to and from computer/ N7/ Blu Ray player/ Smart TV ect. (This one should be a system app!)
ES file explorer - This should be a system app. (Who ever heard of an operating system without a file manager?)
Firefox web browser with flash support and adblock plus (both sideloaded)
GrooVe IP - for making FREE (no really, it's really free) VoIP calls with a google voice number.
Splashtop for mirroring my PC screen.

That should get you started.

 

[tflash]

Swiftkey is always my number 1 app to be installed back on a new device. Beyond that, Ive been toying with come UCCW widgets which are pretty awesome, Dashclock I just recently learned about and love it. I love the new android central app also, much easier than loading actual site on tablet/phone. Theres more, but most people covered them already.

Hacker keyboard is my fav. It has a the numbers showing on the top row and has ARROW KEYS for full screen editing.

 

[ayobonus]

Thank you to those who have responded! I'm getting some really cool apps here, thanks for the recommendations!

Anyone else? I'm open to anything!

 

[Diknak]

oh, I forgot about Swype. Some prefer SwiftKey, but I like Swype better because I think it has better predictions and replacing words is much faster.

If you have small kids, Zoodles is a perfect app.

 

[TraderGary]

Kindle, WeatherBug Elite, RealCalc, SwiftKey, Amazon App

Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)

 

[guruachary]

Kindle, WeatherBug Elite, RealCalc, SwiftKey, Amazon App

Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)

Kindle is fine but limits you to books from Amazon store. I prefer Moon+ Reader as it not only reads Kindle format, but a few others too. So I can download any ebook from any website in different format.

And oh, my fav apps: Android central, Android Central Forums, Tapatalk, Facebook & Tripview (real-time app for Sydney city rails).

Sent from Samsung Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

 

[keilflex]

Zooper widget no doubt, weather bug elite. App cache cleaner

 

[elysm1]

Kindle, WeatherBug Elite, RealCalc, SwiftKey, Amazon App

Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)

When I tried to download Amazon, it told me that it wasn't compatible with my device? Anyone?

 

[Jack13]

Adobe Reader, Podkicker, Amazon, Amazon MP3, Walgreen's, Dolphin Browser, Flixster

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[iOS Gravity]

Adobe Reader, Podkicker, Amazon, Amazon MP3, Walgreen's, Dolphin Browser, Flixster

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Chrome browser and Flipboard.

 

[pfunnyjoy]

EBay! And definitely ES File Explorer.

Guess we have to wait for Amazon Mobile to update, says it is incompatible in Play Store. I miss that one!


Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)

 

[cpaight]

+1 to everyone who already mentioned UCCW...even if you don't want to build your own, it gives you access to tons of widgets that all the talented devs come up with. I'm currently using JackClock and also partial to HurleyClock. Also gotta have a good launcher like Apex or Nova. If you like podcasts, Pocketcasts is about the best I've found.

 

[stkorn97]

+1 to everyone who already mentioned UCCW...even if you don't want to build your own, it gives you access to tons of widgets that all the talented devs come up with. I'm currently using JackClock and also partial to HurleyClock. Also gotta have a good launcher like Apex or Nova. If you like podcasts, Pocketcasts is about the best I've found.

Yeah, I picked up a sense 5 skin for UCCW and I love it. Very simple but really well done overall. I like all the options that are opened up having that app.

 

[Wobblin30]

When I tried to download Amazon, it told me that it wasn't compatible with my device? Anyone?

The tablet version has not been updated for 4.3. Phone version works though

 

[Nemephosis]

I like Airdroid (for transferring files to my phone over wifi) and the Power Nap Widget (cause I am a lazy *** lol)

Also, AppSales to see what apps are reduced in price. Maybe you have your eye on one you wouldn't buy for full price, but now it's 80% off and is much more worth looking into. I got Archos Video Player (another one I would recommend even at $5) for $1 on sale.

Soundhound lets you tag and ID music playing, much recommended over Shazam. Faster and more accurate.

AndChat is a very good Android IRC client.

My Data Manager is a terrific way to keep tabs on the data you use. I would have recommended something else right up until a week ago when they decided they wanted it to look pretty instead of actually work. They failed at making it look pretty as well, so I write it off as garbage and replaced it with that.

GWiki is a good Wikipedia app.

Wolfram Alpha should be on everyone's phone, really.

Google Sky Map is recommended. Powerful stargazing tool and totally free.

If you are rooted, or plan to root:

Greenify. Sometimes, apps just seem to like to run themselves. Facebook is a huge offender, and worse, it came with my phone and I couldn't uninstall it (well, I could now that I am rooted but this works better.) It hibernates apps so that they can't run in the background. You will lose any notifications it may give you but the upside is... it isn't running in the background and eating battery or processing power.

XPrivacy (not in Google Play Store, will have to google it.) You can give granular permissions to apps. Why does a game need access to phone calls, the internet, contact list, your camera and SMS/MMS features? It doesn't, plain and simple, so you can block those permissions with this. Be very careful though. Sometimes things will run fine. Sometimes they will run but a little crippled. And sometimes they just won't run at all. Start enabling some of the permissions until it runs and then you will know which one was blocking it.

Titanium Backup: Because sometimes the answer really is just "duh".