Recommend me some Android apps, please.

[RedM]

Got a HTC Desire in sexy black (they didn't do white, Paul) turning up on Saturday.

 

What apps should I be looking at?

 

Oh, and Thorin once mentioned APPS2SD but I can't find it. What's the crack with that?

[JustGav]

I'll ask tomorrow at work

 

You using the App shop then?

[Wez]

Do they have one that turns it into an iPhone

[RedM]

I'll ask tomorrow at work

 

You using the App shop then?

 

I'll be giving it a go. Why? Is there an alternative?

 

Do they have one that turns it into an iPhone

 

Yes. It's called iWantanoverhypedpieceofcrap.

[Wez]

[JustGav]

I'll be giving it a go. Why? Is there an alternative?

 

Nope, please do use the App Shop I have a vested interest

 

Yes. It's called iWantanoverhypedpieceofcrap.

 

Aaah, would this be the iphone that can't multitask and soon won't support flash

[michael]

With so many apps to choose from you might want to give us an idea of what you plan to do with the phone but if you just want to showcase features and act like an iPhone type you could try these ones:

 

WiFi Analyser

Google Sky Map

Google Maps (streetview and turn by nav)

Locale

Ocado (Maybe it's just me that enjoys that one)

Goggles

beebplayer

last.fm

Spotify

Shazam

Aloqa

Urbanspoon

F1 Pocket 2010

Wavesecure

Picsay

Footprints

My Tracks

Robo Defense

Places Directory

ShopSavvy

Tricorder (if you like Star Trek, I don't)

 

You might like Cardio Trainer if you are still running.

[RedM]

With so many apps to choose from you might want to give us an idea of what you plan to do with the phone but if you just want to showcase features and act like an iPhone type you could try these ones:

 

WiFi Analyser

Google Sky Map

Google Maps (streetview and turn by nav)

Locale

Ocado (Maybe it's just me that enjoys that one)

Goggles

beebplayer

last.fm

Spotify

Shazam

Aloqa

Urbanspoon

F1 Pocket 2010

Wavesecure

Picsay

Footprints

My Tracks

Robo Defense

Places Directory

ShopSavvy

Tricorder (if you like Star Trek, I don't)

 

You might like Cardio Trainer if you are still running.

 

Bloody hell. You've been busy.

 

As for what I plan to do with it, well, make calls and erm... that's it. I had already spotted that Cardio one along with Runkeeper (yes, I am still running) but beyond that and a couple of ingredients checkers I don't really know what the phones can do.

[michael]

I don't really know what the phones can do.

 

Everything.

[JustGav]

I was highly impressed at how seemless it integrated into exchange, I know the iphone does it, but I do really prefer the android interface.

 

For those IT focused, there is even a Nagios plug in for android

http://community.nagios.org/2009/11/11/nagmondroid-an-android-nagios-interface/

 

I'm hopefully getting one of our developers to write me a custom application for monitoring some systems of ours. By all accounts the android is a LOT nicer to program for as well than the iphone.

[RedM]

Everything.

 

I actually find that intimidating.

[Wez]

For those IT focused, there is even a Nagios plug in for android

http://community.nagios.org/2009/11/11/nagmondroid-an-android-nagios-interface/

 

There are Nagios apps for the iPhone as well

 

EDIT: just to add I also use mine for SSH, VNC and RDP, although RDP can be tricky on a small screen but its usable for emergencies

[JustGav]

There are Nagios apps for the iPhone as well

 

EDIT: just to add I also use mine for SSH, VNC and RDP, although RDP can be tricky on a small screen but its usable for emergencies

 

Didn't know that, I've been a crackberry person for a while

[Soop Dogg]

Layar (Augmented reality search thingy)

Mileage (for recording fuel spend in your cars. Does cool graphs and stuff)

SportyPal (Uses GPS & Google Mapsto log running/cycling etc)

Gmote (use your phone as a remote for playing music on your pc)

Shazam

Google Voice Search

ShopSavvy (Barcode Scanner)

Google Sky Maps

Hi-Hiker Pro

Decibel (Sound meter that can be calibrated)

Last.fm

Advanced Task Killer (for stopping running apps - you'll need this to STOP it multitasking at times!)

Traffic4England

beebplayer (BBC iPlayer)

Movies (Movie news/reviews/trailers/local cinema times/what's new on DVD etc)

 

Just search for stuff you might find useful - there's probably an app for it out there!

[RedM]

Layar (Augmented reality search thingy)

Mileage (for recording fuel spend in your cars. Does cool graphs and stuff)

SportyPal (Uses GPS & Google Mapsto log running/cycling etc)

Gmote (use your phone as a remote for playing music on your pc)

Shazam

Google Voice Search

ShopSavvy (Barcode Scanner)

Google Sky Maps

Hi-Hiker Pro

Decibel (Sound meter that can be calibrated)

Last.fm

Advanced Task Killer (for stopping running apps - you'll need this to STOP it multitasking at times!)

Traffic4England

beebplayer (BBC iPlayer)

Movies (Movie news/reviews/trailers/local cinema times/what's new on DVD etc)

 

Just search for stuff you might find useful - there's probably an app for it out there!

 

Blimey! There's loads there. I hope I'll have room for them all.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this APPS2SD thing?

[JamesArup]

I got a Desire yesterday! It's niiiiiiiiiice! All the iPhone fanboys at work are trying to find ways to trade-in to get one now! hahah

 

It was either this or the iPhone, but I have an iPod Touch, and the HTC comes above the iPhone in pretty much every review I've read! haven't messed with the apps yet, but now I've read this ... I will

 

Cheers, J

[RiceRocket]

Here's a few I got;

 

AppManager - manually back up apps to SD card

Easy Note - stores notes/memos/reminders

NetCounter - internet usage log

Ringdroid - create personal ring/alarm/sms tones

Wapedia - wikipedia without needing the browser

XE Currency - current currency values

StarTranslate - translator for many languages, speaks too

SMS Popup - text messaging

TTS - enables speaking for other apps like above two

Bubble - need a spirit level!?

 

For games;

VoidDefence

Andotris - it's Tetris

Bonsai Blast

Pocket Empires - similar to age of empires/WOW

Jewels

 

Can anyone shed some light on this APPS2SD thing?

 

See here

[JustGav]

Custom kernels FTW

[Thorin]

Got a HTC Desire in sexy black (they didn't do white, Paul) turning up on Saturday.

 

What apps should I be looking at?

 

Oh, and Thorin once mentioned APPS2SD but I can't find it. What's the crack with that?

 

You don't need apps2sd, the desire has more than enough space for apps.

 

I'll ask tomorrow at work

 

You using the App shop then?

 

The what shop? The default google app store is, "Market". There are others (http://slideme.org/ for example) but I've not found a need for them. iPhone users might need other app stores but I don't see a need for them with Android

 

 

3banana - note taking app, syncs online plus other features

aCar - MPG etc etc app.

aDyno - 0-60 times etc.

AnyCut - create shortcut widgets to direct call/sms contacts plus more.

Astro - file manager

Bloo - best facebook app IMO

compass

Scientific calculator

Dropbox - online file storage https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTY3OTM5OTc5

Engadget - frontend for the tech news site

F1 - Formula1 news etc.

Free dictionary

Google maps/sky map/places directory

Gowalla - like foursquare but with seemingly better UK support can't say it's that useful but I'm playing around with it

GPS status

Handcent SMS - Not seen the default messaging app for android 2.1 (I'm stuck on 1.6 ) but this is much better! (ChompSMS is similar)

Key Ring - put store cards (nectar etc.) on your phone and can scan from phone in-store

Layar - augmented reality app

Movies - movie info/cinema showtimes

My Maps Editor - for google maps

My tracks - google's running/cycling/hiking tracking app (cardio trainer is supposed to be better)

QuickOffice - view office files

PDF viewer

Picsay pro - excellent photo editor

proxoid - web proxy for accessing web through usb cable connected to phone

Remember the milk - task scheduler application syncs with the website (astrid is a good free one)

Shazam

Shopsavvy - scan barcodes, compare shop prices in the area

Touiteur - best twitter app IMO

TV-Guide

Ultrachron - stopwatch / countdown timer

Unit convertor

Wapedia - frontend for various wikipedia type sites

wifi analyzer

 

 

Games...

 

Abduction

Bebbled

Bonsai Blast

Chess

Doid mini golf

Frozen bubble

Jewels

labyrinth

opensudoku

replica island

robo defence

snesoid

solitaire

space war

[JustGav]

The what shop? The default google app store is, "Market". There are others (http://slideme.org/ for example) but I've not found a need for them. iPhone users might need other app stores but I don't see a need for them with Android

 

Operators will usually always favour their own offering. However I have heard of something in the pipeline....

 

http://sparxoo.com/2010/02/17/mobile-world-conference-wac-proposes-att-verizon-sprint-global-app-store/

[Thorin]

Operators will usually always favour their own offering. However I have heard of something in the pipeline....

 

http://sparxoo.com/2010/02/17/mobile-world-conference-wac-proposes-att-verizon-sprint-global-app-store/

 

It'll never happen.... well, any time soon anyway.

[JustGav]

It'll never happen.... well, any time soon anyway.

 

hmmmm, usually I would say the same, but there does seem to be a fairly hard push for something to take iStore on from numerous operators/phone manus.

[Thorin]

hmmmm, usually I would say the same, but there does seem to be a fairly hard push for something to take iStore on from numerous operators/phone manus.

 

I don't see a real pressing need for a single unified store across all networks/phones. The app store works well for apple, the market for google, nokia has ovi, and er, I've never used Windows mobile or blackberry.

 

Each phone manufacturer would need to agree a standard platform for developing apps and a standard set of API's. This may happen, likely to be java based, but I can't see everyone agreeing. Even then it would be a nightmare trying to get an app to work on all hardware platforms.

 

With Nokia looking like they'll move to Maemo/MeeGo (Linux based) for their smart phones it's highly possible that there'll be compatible apps between MeeGo and Android but there'll still be huge hurdles on the API and hardware platform front.

[JustGav]

I don't see a real pressing need for a single unified store across all networks/phones. The app store works well for apple, the market for google, nokia has ovi, and er, I've never used Windows mobile or blackberry.

 

Each phone manufacturer would need to agree a standard platform for developing apps and a standard set of API's. This may happen, likely to be java based, but I can't see everyone agreeing. Even then it would be a nightmare trying to get an app to work on all hardware platforms.

 

With Nokia looking like they'll move to Maemo/MeeGo (Linux based) for their smart phones it's highly possible that there'll be compatible apps between MeeGo and Android but there'll still be huge hurdles on the API and hardware platform front.

 

Very valid points, be interesting to see where it goes... I'm busy playing with a Sony-Ericsson X10 mini pro at the mo, cute but screen is WAY too small.

[pistonbroke]

Thanks for the various lists fellas, I've had my xperia X10 for a week and I'm loving it