So what are the best android apps?

[soccerballtux]

Unless you never open those apps (and in which case you should probably uninstall them) then worrying about them data mining in the background as opposed to when you open them seems pointless.

If you turn off background data for them they don't send/receive any data till you open them up, which is exactly what they do if you allow them out of quarantine and open them up.

not how it works bro and if you really think it's no different on battery life to permit an app to wake whenever it wants and do whatever it wants, or to only let it run when the screen is already on and processor already not in sleep mode, you're misinformed. go read some android lol. especially with an app like facebook's crap that's just asking for battery drain.

not to mention I occasionally want to leave it running in the background if I'm chatting with a friend. Anyways it's nice to know it's all tucked away and not busy waking up to check on things pushing other apps out of RAM. That's my main reason.

 

[zimbzon]

So far I am loving this BlackPhone concept. U know NSA is so screwing it up for us... and now atleast someone is there is help us

http://www.techbrother.com/2014/01/16/blackphone-new-secure-android-phone/

 

[luv2liv]

Some of my personal favourites.

1. My Script Calculator. Amazing to use with a stylus. Couldn't believe it was free.

wow, this is great! cant believe its free too. wish this was available when i was in school because you gotta be a real genius to input complex equations in Excel

 

[luv2liv]

So far I am loving this BlackPhone concept. U know NSA is so screwing it up for us... and now atleast someone is there is help us

http://www.techbrother.com/2014/01/16/blackphone-new-secure-android-phone/

gimmick.
all voice conversations are already encrypted. however they all have to go through a switch or what we call MSO where it is not encrypted and then rerouted to destinations encrypted. guess where the NSA equipment is installed? that's right, at the switch.

 

[IlllI]

i like helium

 

[techtechie]

doubletwist
facebook
twitter twitter twitter twitter twitter
youtube
and to exercise the mind for fun a game called true or false

 

[pcslookout]

hands down the best app is foxfi

Doesn't work anymore.

 

[pcslookout]

Air Vid

 

[hanoverphist]

Doesn't work anymore.

it doesnt? i was just using it over the weekend...

 

[vshah]

Muzei live wallpaper is awesome
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nurik.roman.muzei

 

[WelshBloke]

Muzei live wallpaper is awesome
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.nurik.roman.muzei

That's really nice, it's the only live wallpaper that I've used that isn't overly intrusive.

 

[shimpster]

Backgrounds HD (30M Downloads)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ogqcorp.bgh

 

[Torn Mind]

Gas Guru gets my vote.

 

[88keys]

Anyone who has a NAS needs to look at this app for Android...

Sync Me Wireless...

 

[JamesV]

Just wanted to say that this is a useful thread.

Got my first smartphone lately, and by reading the thread I was able to get a ton of ideas of what kind of apps to install.

 

[Sanja25]

ShortWay. It is kind of a service, and you can use it to send a contact number to the person who requests it, while you are on the phone talking to him. It is really easy and simple to use.
The main idea behind this app is the fact that everybody is annoyed when they have to give a number to the caller, or when they request a number from someone. With this app, the annoyance is eliminated

If you think this is advertising, you are probably right The app is actually developed by my boyfriend and I am just trying to help him for people to notice the app, cause it really is a great app. Since it is paid, I do not ask of you, please download it, but the least you can do is view this youtube video where it is explained how the app works, and if you think it will be of use to you or other people, I am nicely asking you to consider at least sharing the video. Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esJqzIXMYlo


Thank you all for the understanding

 

[Kaido]

ShortWay. It is kind of a service, and you can use it to send a contact number to the person who requests it, while you are on the phone talking to him. It is really easy and simple to use.
The main idea behind this app is the fact that everybody is annoyed when they have to give a number to the caller, or when they request a number from someone. With this app, the annoyance is eliminated

If you think this is advertising, you are probably right The app is actually developed by my boyfriend and I am just trying to help him for people to notice the app, cause it really is a great app. Since it is paid, I do not ask of you, please download it, but the least you can do is view this youtube video where it is explained how the app works, and if you think it will be of use to you or other people, I am nicely asking you to consider at least sharing the video. Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esJqzIXMYlo


Thank you all for the understanding

Not to knock your app, but doesn't Android's native Namecard functionality do this with a long press already?

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/howto/send-and-share-android-contacts/

 

[Sanja25]

Yes, but it is not compatible with all android versions, for example, I do not have the option on my phone. And this app is compatible with older versions too.
To be totally honest, I did not know that that option existed on some versions, but as I said, my phone doesnt have the option. Plus, here it says that you must run on Froyo or Gingerbread. Another disadvantage is that even if you have the right version, the person you are sending it too may still have a problem if he has an older version. So my boyfriend`s app still has advantages.
I am a little disappointed though that such feature exists, I was so proud that he invented something useful

 

[pcslookout]

No thanks.

 

[sportikaa]

Android country change (Not from settings)? I bought an ACER A500 from China and it is running on the Android OS. Unfortunately, it has all default apps that i don't need, plus i can't download anything from the android market. So is there anyway i can set the software so its like i bought it form the U.S.?

_______________________________

fun video ~ video clips ~ cute video

 

[Rdmkr]

GPlayer for floating videos, that you can open by clicking Share in youtube.

RDM+ for controlling your computer desktop from a distance.

JustReader is the fastest RSS reader program I know of. Really allows you to swipe through articles at zero delay; something I can't usually do on Feedly for example.

500px is an app I use to show off a phone/tablet's screen with when I want to sell it. Gorgeous photography site.

Epic Citadel is a good app for that same purpose; great looking graphics benchmark.

Badland is another gorgeous (2d game) app. I haven't tried it on lower end devices but my guess is it would run quite well since it's only 2D.

Vire launcher is good on lower end devices; doesn't weigh them down much and still looks quite good under the right settings.

 

[s44]

BubbleUPnP is probably the best network media app out there on any platform.

It's a great controller *and* renderer for setting up a DLNA music system (video, too, I think, though it needs an external player app for the actual playback).

It can, if you don't have a media server running, also play straight from Google Drive, Dropbox, Google Music, other cloud storage, or of course files on the phone. If you have root and Xposed, it can also redirect sound streams straight from other apps on your phone (e.g. radio apps).

With recent updates, it can now send audio and video straight to a Chromecast, basically turning the Chromecast into a straightforward cheap DLNA renderer. For media formats not native to the Chromecast you do need the separate BubbleUPnP Server program running on the local network (works on Windows, OSX, Linux, and a number of NAS-specific setups).

And with the BubbleUPnP Server program running it can also let you access your local media from outside the LAN (i.e. on the road).

And, oh yeah, it's actively developed and you can discuss issues with the dev on his XDA thread. Well worth a few bucks for the full license.

 

[mandy4parker]

I use power amp its the best by far for me because of the following features:
1. 10 band EQ
2. seamless playback
3. all key files are supported
4. elegant designs
5. option for song lyrics support

 

[alexeus]

Skype and PowerAmp seems to be the top... but there are plenty of other awesome application for Android, as Seesmic for example.

 

[jhansman]

Not an app per se, but the Xperia Z/Z1 wallpapers are a lovely addtion to my S4. About the only app I couldn't live without is Swiftkey. It does a much better job now of "sticking" as the default k/b.