Seen the Light

[Robster3]

Yeah i am a late comer to Android been a iPhone user for ip4s,5 and 5s and BB before that. I believed the Apple fans (i am one) about Google play store being not as good. Every app i have needed i have got and have only had to pay for one. I am no power user and have only started with a Moto G with a insane battery life. ( A day and half with b/tooth and wifi on and at 48%). Might look at the new HTC later.
Things i like:

Bit bigger screen.
No home button, no swiping, fingerprint was always hit and miss for me, turn it on gives me time/weather on screen straight up.
Notification light: Man i missed that for missed calls/messages with BB. No more pushing home button to check when on silent.
Bluetooth App, i use a bluetooth handset in my office and car all day, one touch to turn on and off.
Airdroid: Love how i can message anyone from my mac and iPad, not just iphones/iMessage.
Google Drive: Got heaps of photos in it.
Found a good app on the mac store that syncs my mac contacts with gmail, Contacts sync for google Gmail.
Got the free office app.
Won't be giving up my MBPr or iPad but can't see myself going back to iPhone even if they make a bigger screen.

Anyone got any tips or other apps i am missing?

(not trying to start a war here just genuine first timer to Android, everything else we own is Apple.)

 

[Rodster]

My favorite is "Mr Number", nuff said. Nothing like sending robo and spam callers to the lovely sound of silence as they get disconnected.

 

[Robster3]

My favorite is "Mr Number", nuff said. Nothing like sending robo and spam callers to the lovely sound of silence as they get disconnected.

Nice, thanks, hate answering those no caller id calls, now they can go straight to voicemail How good is that.

 

[Robster3]

Anyone use HD Widgets. Cloud.Tv? Worth the $1.99?

 

[Lloydbm41]

Nice...

Here are a few apps to check out.

1. Zedge - ringtone and notification sounds
2. Any.do To-do List and Task list (and be sure to add the app Cal - Calendar Google/Exchange. Works hand in hand with Any.do app)
3. Auto Finder
4. Battery Percent for KitKat (this puts the battery percentage within the battery itself, but you will only see it once the battery drops to around 50%)
5. Cast Store for Chromecast (once you buy a Chromecast, this app is a must get)
6. Energy Bar (great simple app that gives you a colored bar at the very top of your screen and changes color and length depending on the amount of battery you have)
7. File Explorer (a must have)
8. Google Opinion Rewards (Google will send you a simple 1 or 2 question survey from time to time and for answering the question, you get money deposited into your account to buy apps in the Play Store)
9. MX Player (plays any type of video)
10. Power Toggles (keeps those quick needed settings like bluetooth, wifi tethering, etc on the homescreen in a nice small widget)
11. Pushbullet (a must have app to transfer anything from a PC, Mac, Android device or iDevice)
12. QuizUp, Smash Hit and Epoch 2 - Have fun with these games
13. Timely Alarm Clock - A must have
14. tTorrent - Torrent Client App
15. Not sure if this will work where you live, but TV Show Favs is a great app
16. Not sure if this will work where you live, but check out Mobilligy

 

[PDFierro]

Just the opposite for me, as most of the apps I use are not on Android. But you should be covered with the basics.

 

[Robster3]

Just the opposite for me, as most of the apps I use are not on Android. But you should be covered with the basics.

Didn't take long

----------

Here are a few apps to check out.

1. Zedge - ringtone and notification sounds
2. Any.do To-do List and Task list (and be sure to add the app Cal - Calendar Google/Exchange. Works hand in hand with Any.do app)
3. Auto Finder
4. Battery Percent for KitKat (this puts the battery percentage within the battery itself, but you will only see it once the battery drops to around 50%)
5. Cast Store for Chromecast (once you buy a Chromecast, this app is a must get)
6. Energy Bar (great simple app that gives you a colored bar at the very top of your screen and changes color and length depending on the amount of battery you have)
7. File Explorer (a must have)
8. Google Opinion Rewards (Google will send you a simple 1 or 2 question survey from time to time and for answering the question, you get money deposited into your account to buy apps in the Play Store)
9. MX Player (plays any type of video)
10. Power Toggles (keeps those quick needed settings like bluetooth, wifi tethering, etc on the homescreen in a nice small widget)
11. Pushbullet (a must have app to transfer anything from a PC, Mac, Android device or iDevice)
12. QuizUp, Smash Hit and Epoch 2 - Have fun with these games
13. Timely Alarm Clock - A must have
14. tTorrent - Torrent Client App
15. Not sure if this will work where you live, but TV Show Favs is a great app
16. Not sure if this will work where you live, but check out Mobilligy

thanks

 

[gotluck]

Just the opposite for me, as most of the apps I use are not on Android. But you should be covered with the basics.

Surely these apps have equivalents, unless you are a musician

 

[PDFierro]

Surely these apps have equivalents, unless you are a musician

Nope. I use a lot of creation/productivity apps, the likes of which there are no equivalents or alternatives available. Developers for those kind of apps usually go iOS-only. My top 20 apps are literally not available on Android, or even good alternatives. Many people seem to think you can find that stuff on the Google Play store, but you can't. This isn't meant to bash Android, just giving facts.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Enjoy.

You can be productive on Android too. You just have to look around. It's scary, especially since the biggest concern will be malware and junk apps, but honestly, just use your best judgement, look at screenshots, and developer websites.

There are some great obscure gems there.

 

[mib1800]

Nope. I use a lot of creation/productivity apps, the likes of which there are no equivalents or alternatives available. Developers for those kind of apps usually go iOS-only. My top 20 apps are literally not available on Android, or even good alternatives. Many people seem to think you can find that stuff on the Google Play store, but you can't. This isn't meant to bash Android, just giving facts.

Why dont you give us a list if your top 20?

For me there are so many useful time saving productivity and automation apps which I have on android which are totally have no equivalent on ios.

This isn't meant to bash ios, just giving facts.

 

[CyanLite]

Why dont you give us a list if your top 20?

For me there are so many useful time saving productivity and automation apps which I have on android which are totally have no equivalent on ios.

This isn't meant to bash ios, just giving facts.

Agreed, automation and productivity apps on Android are just genius. Tasker alone, can do so much stuff that it blows my mind every time I open it. Best part is that iOS can't get these apps even if they wanted to. With Android, it's only a matter of the devs realizing that the Play Store now has the most apps and is also probably the fastest growing store.

 

[iPhone-swe]

I'm currently stuck with my iPhone 4, almost bought a Nexus 5 a few months ago, but changed my mind in the store and didn't buy it. Now I have been eyeing Windows Phones. This is hard

 

[khha4113]

Here are a few apps to check out.

1. Zedge - ringtone and notification sounds
2. Any.do To-do List and Task list (and be sure to add the app Cal - Calendar Google/Exchange. Works hand in hand with Any.do app)
3. Auto Finder
4. Battery Percent for KitKat (this puts the battery percentage within the battery itself, but you will only see it once the battery drops to around 50%)
5. Cast Store for Chromecast (once you buy a Chromecast, this app is a must get)
6. Energy Bar (great simple app that gives you a colored bar at the very top of your screen and changes color and length depending on the amount of battery you have)
7. File Explorer (a must have)
8. Google Opinion Rewards (Google will send you a simple 1 or 2 question survey from time to time and for answering the question, you get money deposited into your account to buy apps in the Play Store)
9. MX Player (plays any type of video)
10. Power Toggles (keeps those quick needed settings like bluetooth, wifi tethering, etc on the homescreen in a nice small widget)
11. Pushbullet (a must have app to transfer anything from a PC, Mac, Android device or iDevice)
12. QuizUp, Smash Hit and Epoch 2 - Have fun with these games
13. Timely Alarm Clock - A must have
14. tTorrent - Torrent Client App
15. Not sure if this will work where you live, but TV Show Favs is a great app
16. Not sure if this will work where you live, but check out Mobilligy

For battery, I use Power Toggles. It can put a much better battery percentage icon on Notification bar. Besides that, it's also a very useful power control tool.

 

[gotluck]

Nope. I use a lot of creation/productivity apps, the likes of which there are no equivalents or alternatives available. Developers for those kind of apps usually go iOS-only. My top 20 apps are literally not available on Android, or even good alternatives. Many people seem to think you can find that stuff on the Google Play store, but you can't. This isn't meant to bash Android, just giving facts.

I'd be interested in what these fabled apps are too. Seriously the only apps on ios that I have not found functional replacements for are related to the musician profession. Your reluctance to give examples is weird

Sure the same exact app may not be available, but I think you just haven't looked through the google play store hard enough and/or are resistant to changing to roughly equivalent apps

Certain android devices have full Wacom support, so creative apps can even be superior..

I have a feeling apps like pdfexpert are on your list, which is great on ios i agree. But it's not like you can't get duplicated functionality on android.

Real time multiplayer games are another strong suit of ios.

 

[Lloydbm41]

For battery, I use Power Toggles. It can put a much better battery percentage icon on Notification bar. Besides that, it's also a very useful power control tool.

The advantage of the one I mentioned is that it doesn't add another icon onto the status bar. It is embedded into the battery icon. No space is lost this way.

 

[haxrnick]

I've found some awesome apps by checking /r/android every Saturday for their APPreciation threads.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/21ntjv/its_saturday_appreciation_time_mar_29th_2014_your/

 

[PDFierro]

I'd be interested in what these fabled apps are too. Seriously the only apps on ios that I have not found functional replacements for are related to the musician profession. Your reluctance to give examples is weird

Sure the same exact app may not be available, but I think you just haven't looked through the google play store hard enough and/or are resistant to changing to roughly equivalent apps

Certain android devices have full Wacom support, so creative apps can even be superior..

I have a feeling apps like pdfexpert are on your list, which is great on ios i agree. But it's not like you can't get duplicated functionality on android.

Real time multiplayer games are another strong suit of ios.

No hesitation at all. Here are my main apps:

Simplenote
1Password
Fantastical
TextExpander
Drafts
VSCO Cam
1Writer
Byword
Final Draft Writer
Final Draft Reader
Dropvox
Launch Center Pro
Day One
Unread
Deliveries
Tweetbot
Diet Coda
Editorial
Weekend Read
iA Writer
Writing Kit

The majority of these are not available on Android. I struggle to find high-quality writing apps on Android. And the apps that are available and/or alternatives, are half-baked and I have no interest in using them.

There is no debating that apps on iOS are more consistent and of higher quality. I almost bought an Android, so it's not like I don't like the platform. But most of the types of apps I use, the developers only make it for iOS. And again, for the apps that are available (or similar ones), I would not want to use them on Android.

For me, my OS of choice needs to offer consistency throughout the whole platform and not just through a few apps. I like Android and almost went with an Android phone, but I just couldn't due to the way I work on my mobile devices. But people have to be blind to not see that apps on iOS are generally better and also that developers target iOS first.

 

[gotluck]

No hesitation at all. Here are my main apps:

Simplenote
1Password
Fantastical
TextExpander
Drafts
VSCO Cam
1Writer
Byword
Final Draft Writer
Final Draft Reader
Dropvox
Launch Center Pro
Day One
Unread
Deliveries
Tweetbot
Diet Coda
Editorial
Weekend Read
iA Writer
Writing Kit

The majority of these are not available on Android. I struggle to find high-quality writing apps on Android. And the apps that are available and/or alternatives, are half-baked and I have no interest in using them.

There is no debating that apps on iOS are more consistent and of higher quality. I almost bought an Android, so it's not like I don't like the platform. But most of the types of apps I use, the developers only make it for iOS. And again, for the apps that are available (or similar ones), I would not want to use them on Android.

For me, my OS of choice needs to offer consistency throughout the whole platform and not just through a few apps. I like Android and almost went with an Android phone, but I just couldn't due to the way I work on my mobile devices. But people have to be blind to not see that apps on iOS are generally better and also that developers target iOS first.

Well they all look to be preference based. None of those apps seem to perform any functionality that is impossible on android. I hear you on app quality, but you speak as if ios is capable of things android isn't. The only apps android cannot do are music latency based. Even airplay to an Apple TV is possible on android.

I still say you aren't trying hard enough, and dug into your ways, which is all fine and good. App quality is generally supeirior on ios and that is why I bought an iPad, but android has more overall capabilities.