Best apps for a new android user...

[The Game 161]

Was going to post this in the apps forum but think thats just for iphone?

anybody got any good must have apps to take advantage of the android software?

 

[swoosh0217]

Some galaxy widgets are pretty cool apps from play store if you are into live wallpapers.

 

[chagla]

Was going to post this in the apps forum but think thats just for iphone?

anybody got any good must have apps to take advantage of the android software?

here r some really goood android apps, i think they will come handy. enjoy new new android experience.

All are available on Google Play store. Swype keyboard can be downloaded from its website. all are free apps.

unified remote - remote control/browse/shutdown (and much more) pc from your phone. works really well.

gesture search - hand gesture universal search. indexes everything on phone, contacts, apps, music.

airdroid - perform 90% of tasks using wifi. no wire needed! transfer files, send/receive messages, app management etc. any computer through Opera, Chrome, Firefox or IE etc.

mysms - send/receive sms through a website even when the phone is not within reach. the only requirement is the phone must be on and have signal. really handy in offfice or school environment.

SWYPE keyboard - type really fast with one finger without lifting.

 

[The Game 161]

here r some really goood android apps, i think they will come handy. enjoy new new android experience.

All are available on Google Play store. Swype keyboard can be downloaded from its website. all are free apps.

unified remote - remote control/browse/shutdown (and much more) pc from your phone. works really well.

gesture search - hand gesture universal search. indexes everything on phone, contacts, apps, music.

airdroid - perform 90% of tasks using wifi. no wire needed! transfer files, send/receive messages, app management etc. any computer through Opera, Chrome, Firefox or IE etc.

mysms - send/receive sms through a website even when the phone is not within reach. the only requirement is the phone must be on and have signal. really handy in offfice or school environment.

SWYPE keyboard - type really fast with one finger without lifting.

great stuff

I hear easy phone sync is great for transferring music and contacts from itunes? is that correct?

 

[chagla]

great stuff

I hear easy phone sync is great for transferring music and contacts from itunes? is that correct?

for contacts, try exporting them to something like csv file or contact file, then login to your gmail and import them. try this tutorial?

http://www.funkykit.com/how-to/9562-how-to-extract-iphone-contacts-to-csv-file-from-itunes.html


Well, on android since you can drag and drop folders you can simply copy your entire music folder to the storage. Media player on ANdroid will recognize a folder with music in it. I personally don't use any music sync app. However there are apps that can sync your itunes library.

"airsync" by doubletwist. $4.99 seems like a very good app.

 

[tbayrgs]

Was going to post this in the apps forum but think thats just for iphone?

anybody got any good must have apps to take advantage of the android software?

My help us if we knew what you hoped to be able to do with your phone. IIRC from another thread you're coming from an iPhone so you'll be able to find Android counterparts of nearly all major apps and probably most of your others.

The real beauty of Android is the freedom and flexibility your have. You can set any app to serve as your default for a specific function, i.e. browser, music player, email, calendar, etc. A good place to start is probably the keyboard. Try the stock version on whatever device you end up with and if you don't like it, you can change it. Swype and Swiftkey are 2 of the most popular--my personal favorite is Swiftkey--predictive text is so good I can very nearly complete entire sentences just from its suggestions.

There are a bunch of good browsers--I personally stick with Chrome for the syncing across platforms/devices but also like Dolphin.

Google Play Music works great for either streaming your music library from the Google cloud (free service) or from your device.

I'm also a big fan of Nova Prime launcher--allows for a more stock appearance but also adds great features like gesture based actions, unread count badges, and use of alternate icon themes.

SwipePad provides the ability to perform actions (i.e. Home button) or launch apps by touching edges of the screen.

As far as widgets, I use BobClock, Minimalist text, Android Pro Widgets (specifically twitter and calendar), Eye in the Sky weather, and Widget Locker (for alternate unlock sliders and lockscreen widgets). I like Android Pro Widgets because they allow for various themes and the ability to adjust the transparency of the background--like my wallpaper to be consistent across the screen. I use Widget Locker to replace the default lock screen with the Jellybean slider with the ability to quick launch apps from the slider.

I've also used Airdroid and iSyncr to move files from computer to device but found I prefer the simplicity of Android File Transfer on my Mac--plug in and just drag and drop.

 

[LSUtigers03]

Airsync is very good if you're going to use doubletwist.

 

[The Game 161]

My help us if we knew what you hoped to be able to do with your phone. IIRC from another thread you're coming from an iPhone so you'll be able to find Android counterparts of nearly all major apps and probably most of your others.

The real beauty of Android is the freedom and flexibility your have. You can set any app to serve as your default for a specific function, i.e. browser, music player, email, calendar, etc. A good place to start is probably the keyboard. Try the stock version on whatever device you end up with and if you don't like it, you can change it. Swype and Swiftkey are 2 of the most popular--my personal favorite is Swiftkey--predictive text is so good I can very nearly complete entire sentences just from its suggestions.

There are a bunch of good browsers--I personally stick with Chrome for the syncing across platforms/devices but also like Dolphin.

Google Play Music works great for either streaming your music library from the Google cloud (free service) or from your device.

I'm also a big fan of Nova Prime launcher--allows for a more stock appearance but also adds great features like gesture based actions, unread count badges, and use of alternate icon themes.

SwipePad provides the ability to perform actions (i.e. Home button) or launch apps by touching edges of the screen.

As far as widgets, I use BobClock, Minimalist text, Android Pro Widgets (specifically twitter and calendar), Eye in the Sky weather, and Widget Locker (for alternate unlock sliders and lockscreen widgets). I like Android Pro Widgets because they allow for various themes and the ability to adjust the transparency of the background--like my wallpaper to be consistent across the screen. I use Widget Locker to replace the default lock screen with the Jellybean slider with the ability to quick launch apps from the slider.

I've also used Airdroid and iSyncr to move files from computer to device but found I prefer the simplicity of Android File Transfer on my Mac--plug in and just drag and drop.

apps i download will be the same as on iphone. Apps that you can download for music too. Finding a good app to be able to download my itunes into my S4.

 

[jeffe]

apps i download will be the same as on iphone. Apps that you can download for music too. Finding a good app to be able to download my itunes into my S4.

i'd recommend downloading the Google Play Music Manager onto your computer.

Tell it which folder your music is stored in and it will upload a copy of your music to google play music that you can then stream. You can have it scan the folder to upload new music automatically as well.

In the Google Play app you can then specify which songs/playlists you'd like to store on your phone for local playback and it will download them to your device automatically. Everything else you will be able to stream.

For instance, every song I 'thumbs up' is downloaded to my device for local playback and everything else is available to stream. I purchase music from Amazon and Google..both become automatically available on my device without me really needing to do anything.

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Was going to post this in the apps forum but think thats just for iphone?

anybody got any good must have apps to take advantage of the android software?

I'd also recommend LightFlow...it will allow you to customize the LED notification to a per app level. ie: Purple LED = sms, Green LED = Email, Blue LED = tapatalk notification and so on..

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for contacts, try exporting them to something like csv file or contact file, then login to your gmail and import them. try this tutorial?

http://www.funkykit.com/how-to/9562-how-to-extract-iphone-contacts-to-csv-file-from-itunes.html


Well, on android since you can drag and drop folders you can simply copy your entire music folder to the storage. Media player on ANdroid will recognize a folder with music in it. I personally don't use any music sync app. However there are apps that can sync your itunes library.

"airsync" by doubletwist. $4.99 seems like a very good app.

I agree with Chagla. Your phone is connected to your google account so it is easiest to backup your contacts to your google account (https://www.google.com/contacts) and then they'll sync automatically to your phone.

 

[Stuntman06]

I would have to say SwiftKey or Swype. Both are excellent keyboards.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Pocket app is the best wallet app I've used so far and it syncs with Dropbox. They also have a Desktop app for PC and Mac.

Maniila app

X-plore is the best file manager ever.

If you Tweet a lot of just like to follow, Falcon Twiiter Widget is God send.

PicsArt - Photo Studio, this is a nice and easy to use photo edit app.

 

[torana355]

ES File Explorer
Kaiten Mail
Xscope or Dolphin browser (Xscope is better but cost more $$$)
Falcon Pro (twitter client)
Nils notifications widget
Nova Launcher
Lightflow

 

[slu]

As a new user myself, this suggestion has been great for me:

Notifications Lock Screen Widget

And I second many of the suggestions above. But if you basically only use major apps, I find Android (on the Nexus 4) to be similar to iOS.

 

[torana355]

As a new user myself, this suggestion has been great for me:

Notifications Lock Screen Widget

And I second many of the suggestions above. But if you basically only use major apps, I find Android (on the Nexus 4) to be similar to iOS.

Yeah it just got a nice update too, brilliant widget!!

 

[The Game 161]

As a new user myself, this suggestion has been great for me:

Notifications Lock Screen Widget

And I second many of the suggestions above. But if you basically only use major apps, I find Android (on the Nexus 4) to be similar to iOS.

That app sounds perfect to me.. The notifications in lock screen from my iPhone is one thing I would miss but with this? Maybe I won't.

 

[paulsalter]

iSyncr - wirelessly transfer itunes (non drm) content

Amazon music player, if you ever download from Amazon music, then with iSyncr above it automatically transfers music back to iTunes when it syncs

 

[adder7712]

SwiftKey!

 

[daveathall]

ICE, In Case of Emergency. NHS Number, medication, who to ring, allergies etc are entered in this app, if one is unfortunate to be involved in an accident the emergency services can get all this information straight from tapping on the app on one's lock screen. (Once unlocked, the app disappears) Best couple of quid I've spent in a long time.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5hcHB2ZW50aXZlLmljZSJd

 

[Tsuchiya]

Another vote for SwiftKey. The one finger typing is amazingly accurate but the stand alone keyboard is close to the ios keyboard for responsiveness. Crazy amount of adjustments can be made with it too like colour and size of the keys.

EDIT: Just wanted to throw this link in here for those using Photostream on their Macs/iPads etc

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39...-your-android-device-to-iclouds-photo-stream/

A basic tutorial showing how to use Automator to move files from the Dropbox photo uploads to iPhoto (and by extension Photostream)

Works pretty well, though of course I'm not sure how to get photostream images back to my S4 (though I guess since it's all I'll use for photos it's moot.

 

[The Game 161]

Great stuff guys

Very useful links

The light flow sounds like a great one to use..

 

[jrodsep]

Press Reader
Avast
Swiftkey
1weather


If rooted:

Cerberus
Adblock plus

 

[Sylon]

Press Reader
Avast
Swiftkey
1weather


If rooted:

Cerberus
Adblock plus

Why "if rooted" get Cerberus? I'm not rooted and I have it. Works fine.

 

[swoosh0217]

When you decide to unlock your boot loader and root your phone (Kind a like Jailbreak), here are the best rom, mods and tweaks to use:

Bulletproof - this will wake up your phone from deep sleep by swyping from the back button towards the home button without pressing the home power button.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2233665


PureXAudio - this will enhance the sound of your HTC One through your headphones (Not the speaker phones since its already loud with the boom sound).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2211163

Maximus ROM - this is a great custom rom. It removes all the bloatware (apps that you don't really need that was added by your provider).
It also enhances the battery life of your phone by 10 percent more.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2189373

 

[Tinmania]

Why "if rooted" get Cerberus? I'm not rooted and I have it. Works fine.

It's right in the app description.

More features for rooted devices: complete uninstall protection (a thief will be able to delete Cerberus only by flashing another ROM), GPS auto-enabling even on Android > 2.3.3. More info on the website in the Help section.

Michael

 

[TJack]

I’d recommend a backup app. I use Trubackup , (used to use Ti) it’s a cloud based app that stores all your data ( phone and tab) on dropbox , so (god forbid) you lose/ damage your phone, the app lets you do a really painless reinstall. I downloaded it free here as they had a Free Download Launch Offer - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tfl.tbp