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Recommend APPs for Android newbie

klyaxar

klyaxar

Newbie
I imagine this is not the first thread asking this but....

I'm total convert from Iphone, ordered my Galaxy S2 yesterday and would like to know what are the "can't live without" apps for the Android OS.

Thanks in advance.
 
Welcome to Android Forums!

The Android ecosystem is not a one-size-fits-all community. We are a diverse bunch with different needs and interests. While one person may use a certain set of apps all day long another would never use them.

That said, a lot of people find the stock mail and messaging apps lacking in features and replace them. I am not fond of the gallery so I use QuickPic. There are plenty of alternative music players as well.

I don't know if it would be helpful, but this is a list of all my apps currently installed.
 
Welcome to Android. Tell us what you want to use your cell phone for and that would better help us to make recommendations. For example: I use my phone as my MP3 player, creating and editing word documents. I use is as my GPS. Keep up with my exercising and calorie in take, etc. I use my phone for a lot of other things, but wanted to give you a general idea.
 
itsallgood said:
Welcome to Android. Tell us what you want to use your cell phone for and that would better help us to make recommendations. For example: I use my phone as my MP3 player, creating and editing word documents. I use is as my GPS. Keep up with my exercising and calorie in take, etc. I use my phone for a lot of other things, but wanted to give you a general idea.
Click to expand...

Things I used the most on my previous Iphone

1. MP3 player
2. GPS
3. Mail
4. Browsing
5. Games ( Bejelwed, Angry birds, etc etc )
6. Sports/News
7. Decibel meter


However I am always open to new things.


Thanks again
 
Welcome to the forums!

If you have a lot of contacts, Google Gesture Search is simply a must have (and check it out, it's nothing like the iPhone gesture search).

My personal favorite browser is Boat Browser Mini, it's free in the Market and does a great job as a fast, light brower. If you like things like tabs on a mobile browser, you want to check out Dolphin HD or any of the other great choices.

I like Meridion for my music player, but most seem to prefer RockPlayer or Moboplayer.

My favorite news readers are News Republic for just headlines and overviews and Pulse for in-depth links to just about anywhere you can think of. Both allow you to customize your news feed choices really easily. Finally, World Newspapers - just what the name implies, and top-notch. All are free in the Market.
 
klyaxar said:
Things I used the most on my previous Iphone

1. MP3 player
4. Browsing
5. Games ( Bejelwed, Angry birds, etc etc )
Click to expand...

I highly recommend PowerAMP for playing music. Lots of features, and a nice interface. I found the stock music player lacking in both these areas.

For browsing, I've been using Opera Mini for awhile. However, ever since I got my Android phone, I've found that I haven't needed a browser as much since there are apps that do what I used to use the browser for (primarily Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo Fantasy Sports, and IMDb).

Games are a matter of personal preference. A couple of my favourites are Fieldrunners and Air Control.
 
If you're going to use your GPS a lot, you'll absolutely will want "GPS Status and Toolbox" to help you get faster fixes. It's a free app on the Market. I also use "GPS Fix," kind of a belt and suspenders solution.

For browsing, almost no one likes the stock browser much. I use both Firefox and Opera, the former for better page rendering and the latter for a better UI and flash. But there's a big group of fans of the Dolphin browser. And there are several other good alternatives.

You'll probably want a good note taking app, of which there are at least a dozen. I like CatchNote, but Evernote is probably the most popular.

Finally lots of virtual keyboard choices. Look at SwiftKey, Swype, and Thumb Keyboard (the latter is good for tablets and large screen phones).

Good luck with your new phone!
 
Oops, did no one mention mail programs?

K-9 mail is great for IMAP and POP mail systems, but is reported to suck on Exchange systems. It's free, but a bit quirky. Works well for me.

Kaiten is a pay version of K-9. I haven't seen a need to switch.

MailDroid Pro is an $18.00 alternative, but it has its fans. There's a free but ad-supported version available.

One thing that you'll find different with Android apps is that there's almost always a good free app for almost every purpose. The very best apps are often pay-apps, but not always. And it's always a good idea to comparison shop Android Market and Amazon for the best price. And you can't beat Amazon's free app of the day.
 
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