A nerd’s must have Android apps
Here is a list of some of the best Android apps that you might be missing. All descriptions are courtesy of AppBrain.com.
Some of the apps are free, some are paid, and many have both versions. They should all be searchable by name in the Android Market.
Adobe Reader
“Adobe Reader is a must-have app for high quality PDF viewing on Android. Key features are: • Open PDF files as email attachments, on the web or on device • Text Reflow • Send PDF files via email • Multi-touch gestures for Navigation & Zoom”
App Protector Pro
“Lock any app on your phone: SMS,Gmail,Photos,Gallery,Setting,Market..Any app u choose”
aLogcat
“View color-coded, scrolling (tailed) Android device (logcat) logs directly from your phone. No USB, adb, or emailing necessary. Set log format / level / buffer, filter logs by regex, clear log file, save to SD, email.”
AndChat
“AndChat is a multi-server internet relay chat (irc) app for Android. ”
AndFTP
“AndFTP is a FTP, FTPS, SCP, SFTP client. It can manage several FTP configurations. It comes with both device and FTP file browser. It provides download, upload and share features with resume support. It can open, rename, delete, cut/copy/paste and more. SSH RSA/DSA keys support. Intents are available for other applications.”
Antennas
“This app monitors the GSM/CDMA cellular network connection; displays a map of approximate cellular antenna locations and their RF signal strength; and can log the data to a text or KML file.”
Astrid Tasks
“Astrid is the much todo list / task manager designed to help you get stuff done. It features reminders, tags, sync, a widget and more.”
Astro File Manager
“Features: File Manager, Backup, Image and text viewers, Networking, SMB, Bluetooth, SFTP, Zip Tar, downloader, thumbnails, search files, application manager, task manager, attachments”
Atarroid
“Ataroid is an Atari-2600 emulator for Android. It emulates every aspect of the original Atari-2600 console.”
Autostarts
“Keep control over your phone: See what applications do behind your back. Shows you what apps run on phone startup, and what other events trigger in the background. Root users can disable unwanted autostarts and speed up their phone boot.”
Chrome to Phone
“Google Chrome to Phone lets you easily share links, maps, and currently selected phone numbers and text between your computer running Chrome and your phone. You also need to install the Chrome browser extension on your computer, which can be found by searching for ‘Chrome to Phone’ at http://chrome.google.com/extensions/”
DiskUsage
“DiskUsage provides a way to find files and directories on storage card which consume a lot of space. Displays diagram with directories/subdirectories proportional to their size.”
Dolphin Browser HD
“Browsing made wonderful. Dolphin Browser™ HD offers you:
*Powerful Add-ons support*Bookmarks Folder support*Multi-touch pinch zoom*Multi Tabs browsing*Powerful Gestures*Smart RSS Detection*Colorful Theme packs support*14 Languages support
*Unexpected Closed Tab Recovery”
Dropbox
“Sync your files between your computers and your mobile device. Now you can browse the files in your Dropbox folder from anywhere! Share links to files, save photos and video from your camera to your computers, and open files using your favorite Android apps.”
Gameboid
“GameBoid is the very famous GameBoy Advance emulator optimized for Android.”
GasBuddy
“Find the cheapest gas on the go – for free! In one click, locate gas stations near you and see their current gas prices. Never overpay for gas again. ”
Google Books
“Build your ebooks library in the cloud with Google Books: jump right into a bestseller or select from nearly 3 million free ebooks. Personalize the reader to your liking, pick up reading where you left off on your phone or computer, and settle down with a great book on your Android phone! ”
Google Gesture Search
“Gesture Search lets you quickly find a contact, a bookmark, an application, or a music track on your device by drawing on the screen. Search results are updated as you add each letter or digit and becomes better by learning from your search history.”
Google Goggles
“Search by taking a picture. Goggles uses image recognition technology to recognize objects and return relevant search results. Identifies products, famous landmarks, storefronts, artwork, and popular images found online. Goggles can translate words in English, French, Italian, German & Spanish. Goggles can extract contact information from business cards.”
Google Sky Maps
“Google Sky Map turns your Android-powered mobile phone into a window on the night sky.”
Google Translate
“Use Google Translate to instantly translate text between more than 50 languages.
* Dictionary results * Text-to-speech * Voice input * Romanization (e.g. Pinyin, Romaji, etc) * History/star favorite translations”
Google Voice
“Place calls and send text messages showing your Google number. Listen to voicemail and read transcripts. Currently only available in the US. ”
Gensoid
“Gensoid is the famous SEGA Genesis/MegaDrive emulator for Android.”
GPS Status & Toolbox
“Display your GPS and sensor data: position and signal strength of satellites, accuracy, speed, acceleration, bearing.”
GPS Test Plus
“GPS test app. Shows GPS signal, satellite, location and GPS time data. Useful for navigation or geocaching.
All the features of GPS Test, plus:-
Speedometer, Altimeter and Compass dials.
Seven segment display mode.
HUD display mode for windscreens.
Share location.”
gUnit
“A unit conversion tool with support for more than 2000 units in 30+ categories including Length, Temperature, Speed, Volume, Weight, Area, Currency conversions. It also has support for user preferences.”
InkPad Pro
“InkPad NotePad/Notes us a simple NotePad/Notebook/Notes app.”
MochaVNC
“Mocha VNC provides access to VNC Servers. Using your phone, you can connect to a Windows or Mac OS X workstation and see the files, programs, and resources exactly as you would if you were sitting at your desk, just on a smaller screen.”
MyBackup Pro
“Backup (with schedule option) to our online secure servers, or SD card, your Applications, Photos, Contacts, Call log, Browser Bookmarks, SMS (text messages), MMS, Calendar, System Settings, Home Screens (including shortcut positions), Alarms, Dictionary, Music Playlists, and more… Restore your backups on your existing or new phone.”
MyTracks
“My Tracks records your GPS tracks and shows live statistics such as time, speed, distance, and elevation – while hiking, cycling, running or participating in other outdoor activities. Once recorded, you can share your tracks, upload them to Google Spreadsheets, visualize them on Google My Maps and share with friends.”
Nesoid
“Nesoid is the famous NES/FC emulator for Android.”
NetworkMapper
“A very fast scanner for network admins that can scan your network in the office and export as CSV via GMail to give you a map of what devices are on your LAN
Includes a portscanner for security audit scans and a MAC vendor database to identify NIC manufacturers
Can detect firewalled and stealthed computers, quite useful if you are looking for a windows/firewall box that you can’t see on your network!
Useful if you want to find FTP servers, SSH servers, SMB servers etc on your network and would help you to diagnose faults.”
NewsRob
“NewsRob is an RSS/Atom newsreader that auto syncs with Google Reader. ”
Pandora Radio
“Pandora Radio is your own FREE personalized radio now available to stream music on your phone. Start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs or classical composers and Pandora will create a “station” that plays their music and more music like it. Already a Pandora User? Just log in to enjoy your stations.”
Photoshop Express
“Edit and share photos virtually anywhere. Touch to crop, rotate, adjust color, and add artistic effects. Access all your photos and videos directly from your free Photoshop.com account. Quickly share with family and friends. Requires SD card.”
PhoneUsage
“Monitor your phone call, text and network data usage.
Set limits on daily, weekly and monthly usage.”
PhotoVault
“PhotoVault hides pictures behind a password protected wall, hiding them from people and other apps on your phone. It has lots of other great features as well. Check out our website for details. ”
Quadrant Standard
“Quadrant is a CPU, I/O and 3D graphics benchmark. The Standard Edition requires an Internet connection to compute benchmark results and is supported by ads.”
QuickSSHD
“QuickSSHd, based on dropbear sshd, allows you to easily configure and run a Secure Shell/SSH Server. Connect to your phone from your PC and execute commands or transfer files. Similar to “Terminal” or “adb shell” but over the network.
File transfer to sdcard by scp or SFTP (Secure FTP, WinSCP, Cyberduck).”
Ringdroid
“The original open-source ringtone editor for Android, first published in 2008 and downloaded by millions of users worldwide.
Create your own ringtone, alarm, or notification sound from an existing audio file, or record a new one directly on the device.”
Root Explorer
“Root Explorer is the ultimate file manager for root users. Access the whole of android’s file system (including the elusive data folder!).
SQLite database viewer, Text Editor, create/extract zip files, multi-select, execute scripts, search, remount, permissions, bookmarks, send files (via email, bluetooth etc), image thumbnails, APK binary XML viewer.”
Skype
“• Free* Skype-to-Skype calls over 3G or WiFi • Call landlines or mobile phones at great Skype rates • Instant message one or many friends at the same time – * Data plan or WiFi connection required (calling in U.S – WiFi only) – Some handsets may not be supported – You need Android v2.2 to run Skype on a Samsung Galaxy S”
Sketchbook Mobile
“Autodesk SketchBook® Mobile is a professional-grade paint and drawing application offering a full set of sketching tools and a streamlined and intuitive user interface.”
SNesoid
“SNesoid is the very famous Super Nintendo emulator for Android.”
Spare Parts
“Spare Parts allows you to enable some settings
that are not found in the default setting menu.”
Speedtest
“Use the Speedtest application to evaluate the speed of your 3G, EDGE and Wi-Fi Networks. The test takes a while on EDGE networks.”
SpeedView Pro
“Advanced speedometer application. Features address, compass, HUD mode, speed graph, odometer, maximum and average speed, time traveled, speed warning, 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile times, GPX track export and more. Suitable for running, driving, biking or hiking.”
Swarm
“Swarm is a lightweight bittorrent client that supports multiple simultaneous downloads and integrates with file managers and web browser. Download torrents over Edge/3G/4G or wifi.
Swarm runs as a background service or standard app.”
SwiFTP
“SwiFTP is an open-source FTP server that allows you to connect to your phone over wifi or cellular/3g to upload and download files. Any FTP client can be used.”
SwipePad Beta
“SwipePad is a launcher panel responding to a swipe on the edge of your phone screen, no matter what application you are in.
1. Touch down the bottom edge of the screen;
2. Move your finger towards the center of the screen so the pad will emerge;
3. Release your finger on a specific slot to action.
Hold your finger on a specific slot for 2 seconds before releasing (until it turns orange), then you could change the assignment.”
SystemPanel
“SystemPanel integrates a task manager, app manager (installer/uninstaller with multi-version APK archival), and system monitor.
Solve your battery life problem by enabling the background monitoring service to record long-term CPU usage by individual apps.”
Tasker
“Total Automation, from settings to SMS. ADC2 finalist!
* Triggers: App, Time, Day, Location, Hard/Soft State, Event, Shortcut, Widget, Timer
* Actions: 175+ built-in, any Locale-compatible setting plugin
* Tasks: loops, variables, conditions”
Terminal Emulator
“This application lets you access your Android’s built-in Linux command line shell. It emulates a Digital Equipment Corporation VT-100 terminal. You can use this application to run utility programs on your device.
This application lets you run Linux command line utilities on your Android phone. It is mostly useful for computer programmers. It might also be useful for people who want to explore the Linux internals of their Android phone.
This application works with both unrooted and rooted phones.”
TeslaLED
“Turn your phone into a flashlight!
This is a LED (Camera Flash) based flashlight (or Torch). TeslaLED is the brightest app for the Droid.”
Trillian
“Trillian for Android helps you organize and stay in touch with your IM and social friends while on-the-go. Receive C2DM push notifications, send pictures and messages, and optionally synchronize with Trillian for Mac, Windows, and Web. You can even use Trillian to Trillian messaging to save on SMS costs!”
TV Listing
“TV Listings – fast and easy! This TV guide app covers over-the-air, cable and satellite TV in the USA (over 13 000 channels in total and hundreds of providers). It will show an overview of what’s on right now including all the shows, movies and sports events. Also:
reminders movie ratings filtering search and much more…”
VideoVault
“VideoVault hides private videos behind a password protected wall, hiding them from people and applications on your phone.”
Where’s My Droid
“Ever lost your phone and you go to call it to listen for the ringer and remember its on silent mode? Now when you lose it you can text your phone with the custom set attention word and it will turn silent mode off, the ringer vol up, and start ringing. You can also text a different attention word and get the GPS location of your phone. Features * Find phone by making it ring/vibrate * Find phone using GPS location * Passcode protection to prevent unauthorized app changes * Use computer to email ether attention word.”
WiFi File Explorer
“Featured on Life Hacker! Best and cheapest!
Browse, sync, download, upload, delete, copy, stream and manage files that are on your phone, using a web browser via a WiFi connection.
No more taking your phone apart to get the SD card out or grabbing your cable to access your camera pics or copy across your fave MP3s.”
WiFi Manager
“Find, connect, manage WiFi networks. Improve connection quality with a graphical channel radar.
Includes two home screen widgets: one displays detailed connection info, the other lets you switch among your favorite networks with a single tap.”
Winamp
“Winamp for Android (beta) offers a complete music management solution (2.1 OS & above) featuring wireless desktop sync (Winamp 5.6 required), iTunes library import, & access to thousands of internet radio stations with SHOUTcast. Learn more – http://www.winamp.com/android.”
YouTube Remote
“Turn your Android device into a YouTube remote control! Use the full-featured interface on YouTube Remote to find and queue up videos to watch on the big screen. It’s like having a wireless video cable to your big screen!”