Top 10 Free Android Apps For Your Mobile Phone
Written by Simon Barker on February 20, 2010 · Filed under Software
My first Android powered mobile phone was the T-Mobile G1. Gosh I loved it. With its love or hate plastic build, easy to use functional QWERTY keyboard and all the social networking tools I could shake a stick at Android powered phones were definitely for me. Moving over from the likes of the iPhone 3GS, I jumped at the opportunity to go with an OS which was to me, for the customisation alone, better.
I now have a HTC Hero running Android 2.1 and love it – HTC Sense is no longer there, but some of the perks do remain. I can also cross use my apps which I love so much, that if they were to self delete themselves, I would cry – because quite simply I need them all. And so after testing out apps, Android powered phones and the whole shebang, I have drawn up a list of the top ten free Android apps you should have.
Therefore, if you’ve got an Android mobile phone such as the Nexus One, here are the all important apps you should take a look at…
1. Twidroid (Twitter)
Twidroid is quite simply the best Android app for Twitter usage. The free edition, which I have used for 4 months, has many of the features you would want from a Twitter app – with the paid version offering even more features, but not necessary ones. If you have an Android powered handset, and use Twitter – whether for personal or business use, then get this app! It is crazily good, and the UI is pleasing to look at.
Click here for Twidroid website
2. Google Sky Maps (Star Gazing / Astronomy)
Okay. This is admittedly not a practical app. A GPS app. An game app or an app which you would use to solve your lifes little problems, but boy is Google Sky Maps fun to use! For the novelty effect this app has on people you should really try it – people who already have it know what I am talking about, it is the one app which, show it an iPhone user, they will be pretty miffed about. Your mates will love it too. Point your phone at the sky, and it’ll map every single constellation imaginable.
Click here for Google Sky Maps website
3. Note Everything (Note Taking / Organisational)
Note Everything does exactly what is says on the tin! You can pretty much note anything using this app. You can note things in the format of text, paint, voice, checklists and photos. On top of this, shortcuts are very easy to create and you can link them to home, search, send notes, encrypt, reminders and Note Everything even runs with live folders! A must have app for the forgetful type.
Click here to go to a download link for Note Everything
4. Meebo IM (Instant Messaging)
Meebo IM is possibly the best instant messaging integration App. It is compatible with all IM account types – whether they be Google Talk, MSN, AOL, Yahoo or Facebook. Fairly fast yet it can be unreliable, but Meebo IM is great when it does work. In fact, it is an IM necessity.
Click here to for Meebo IM website
5. Advanced Task Killer (Task Manager)
Admittedly Android powered handsets can be a little sluggish sometimes, and sometimes take up to 3 seconds to close an app or web page. That’s because there is so much going on! But, if you are not feeling the love, then you could always download the free edition of Advanced Task Killer. It will display itself as a gadget, and after two clicks will free up your internal memory and rearrange files on your phone a little bit like a defragment! You will definitely see an improvement in performance, and it should reduce the lagginess Android comes with.
Click here for the ATK website
6. AP Mobile (News Aggregator)
Ap Mobile is a news App. And a brilliant one at that. It updates itself regularly, bringing you the latest headlines in every category imaginable – from nature, to technology, to politics, to business > you name it, they’ve got it covered. Free to download, and lots of fact binding up to date articles at your fingertips.
Click here for the AP Mobile website
7. Metal Detector (Fun / Novelty)
Yep. It is another un-practical app. But oh how you should try this. I bet you thought that your mobile phone compass was only good for, well, being a compass – right? Wrong! Download the Metal Detector App and you’ll be very surprised by the effectiveness of this app. It works for me through a wooden table top!
Click here to go to a download page for Metal Detector
8. Chomp SMS (Text Messaging)
Ahh! You are thinking, isn’t that the app with the exact same interface as the iPhones? Well, erm, yeah it is. But that is a good thing! I mean, it is very clean to look at and most of all is free ! I’m really not selling this one am I? Damn it. Okay, just try it – you’ll see it is a great app! Don’t know what it is? It turns your SMS interface into an iPhone replica. Yep, and don’t act like you do not like the iPhone interface.
Click here for the Chomp SMS website
9. Layar (Augmented Reality)
It is a strange app Layar. I use it for fun – as a gimmick, but it could be so much more. Basically, Layar uses your GPS, handset compass and camera to display information on your surroundings in real time. You can hold it in front of you, and see details on landmarks and points of interest, or search for something like ‘toaster’ and all the relevant locations will be up on your display quick time. Nice eh?
Click here for the Layar website
10. Phonebook (Contact Manager)
Last but not least comes Phonebook. What list would not be complete without it? It is really good for managing your contacts, the UI is very slick indeed and sthe app syncs your contacts with pictures and contextual information such as birthdays, missed calls and unread text messages. A nice management app which is totally free!
Click here for the Phonebook website
So there we have it, a complete list of the top ten free Android apps you can get. Do you guys have a favourite app? If so, then let us know! ;).
———
This has been a guest post from Jakk Ogden – The creator of Technology Blogged | The Technology Blog with a human face, be sure to take check it out!
UPDATE: You can now check out Zath’s latest list of 11 Best Android Apps for your HTC Desire / Nexus One (May 2010), be sure to check them out too!
Thats a nice post – I love the metal detector myself! And it is nice to see the Google Sky Map ap getting some love ;). I am pleased that we are now getting the Sky News app for Android – I just bought an iPod touch for music and love the Sky News app on that.
Thanks for the great list :).
Cheers,
Jamie
Just got myself a HTC Tattoo and I’ve got the google sky maps app and it’s brilliant. Would be nice to see some more apps available like sky sports news etc.
I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before a lot of the best iPhone apps start appearing on Android as more and more Android phones are released this year.
I’m looking at getting an Android phone for my next mobile, mainly because it’s so much more open system that also includes multi-tasking than the closed-off and limiting iPhone platform that I’m currently using.
I can not agree more with this post, all of these apps are great! It’s nice to see some Android coverage on zath anyway.
@Simon, wait out for the htc desire. Top specs with htc sense ui!
@jakk (author), thanks for the great round up :)
I currently have a hero and love it. And agreed, more and more iPhone apps will be available for andrid soon enough. Wherever there is a Market there will be developers. I am interested in seeing meego inaction myself.
Anyway cheers.
Nice round up. Thanks for the links to the sites, too many people write about stuff and dont offer the right links.
I’ve put my order in for the desire, and cant wait for it. IMO the nexus has more hype, but HTC Sense appeals to me vastly after the hero. Anyway, this list is good – I am sure some others would have other apps up there but I enjoy the ones shown. Got em’ all on my Hero (soon to be desire).
Thanks everyone for the great comments recieved for my guest post.
@Simon, I agree with thetweetman and to stick it out for the Desire, that is a gorgeous phone
@anoriginaltecher, that is so true! Too many people offer information without any links, and it is a shame, as it depletes the professionalism of posts.
@Danny, be sure to let us all know how it is ;)
Great post :)
Just swapped my IPhone for the Desire, on Orange.
Really great phone but nearly all the standard apps are pretty poor, so I am a quest to find replacements.
The phone book you identify starts to look the part, but it is not a downloadable app, rather it is white base for others.
Any ideas where I can get an app version?
Regards
@Graham
I have absoloutely no idea mate I’m sorry. How is the Desire then? Loving the cuustomisation and accessability of Android?
I will take a look around for you for the App version.
Regards,
Jakk Ogden
not a big fan of chomp sms. they started to incorporate ads on the sms inbox which is rather annoying. i switched over to handscent sms a while back and have yet to be disappointed.
Hi all, anyone know of a good, working unopened SMS audible reminder app for the LG GW620?
It’s driving me nuts having to keep taking the phone out of my pocket to see if i’ve missed anything while away from my desk – tks in advance, Mat.
metal detecter is the best one…
Haven’t got Android phone yet… :( . I may get Experia soon.. so I can try those apps :D
I haven’t got an android phone either, but I am thinking about getting the Google Nexus One as it looked brilliant when it first came out
not a big fan of chomp sms. they started to incorporate ads on the sms inbox which is rather annoying. i switched over to handscent sms a while back and have yet to be disappointed.
i think andorid is not better than iphone because i sold my iphone to get a android mobile and i have regreted it so far
Don’t agree with the above comment. Openness is a key issue for me. As it UI. Androids is better.
Any chance of more articles like this from the same author?
does anybody know of any apps i can download if possible for my LG cookie kp 500 thanx
To: isher
iPhone is better than Android phones? I’m sorry but on iPhone is soo much limits. Like only one file browser I can use is iTunes…
I also had iPhone and it was great phone but with Android phones I have much more fun and options.
Let’s not argue whether the Android or the iPhone is better, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. The Google Skymap and Meebo are definitely my two favorites on the list though!
Found this blog at ask4file file search engine when I was searching for some Android apps. I’m thinking about Android as Google have really done a great work with it.
Just get myself an Android phone, thanks for your post :)
..I Think That If I Wanted To Have A IPhone Messaging Interface, I Wud Have Just Bought An IPhone, I personally dont think there is any need for the messaging application to be on this list. I want android advice not iphone replica’s! I didnt buy the iphone because its user lack of friendly-ness and because anything you want to do, Apple wont let u. E.g putting your own ringtone on the device. Wake up people Stop following corporate business models telling you the iphone is great and find something that genuinely suits you and that you actually decide its great..
Task killer will alwayys become top app whatever its name