Every now and again, geek chats turn to favorite Android apps. I've been meaning to make a list of mine. Here is that list, starting with the really useful, non-obvious choices first. If you have a great one that I left out, please let me know!
[Note: a few are labelled as requiring root. For these few, if you are not very technical, you may not want to try to use them.]
- MX Player -- video player that is much more flexible than the built-in player. Versions: free (full, ad-supported); pro.
- RealCalc -- scientific calculator. Has support for Radix modes, RPN, and other nifty features. Versions: free (almost all features); pro.
- OurGroceries -- shared list manager. Has clients for Android, iOS, and generic web. Free, ad-supported.
- PowerToggles -- replacement (up to 8 toggles) for the default power control widget. Free. Note: some functionality requires root, but on Samsung, is worth installing even without root.
- ADW Launcher -- replacement for the main interface that comes with your Android device. Will let you increase the number of columns and rows. Very useful if you have a device that limits you in this department. Free.
- BeyondPodcast -- nice podcast manager. Much nicer than Google's "Listen" app. Versions: trial (limited); pro.
- ES File Explorer File Manager -- browse files directly. Free.
- Call log Backup, APN backup, SMS Backup -- free backup apps.
- Mantano Reader -- ereader app, my current preference.
- WiFi Web Login -- automate login to wifi hotspots. Very useful if your work and/or gym wifi requires a login.
More specialized apps
- Connectbot -- ssh client. Free.
- Hacker's keyboard -- replacement Android virtual keyboard. Includes, control, alt, escape, and other useful keys. Free.
- Stickmount -- replacement for USB mass storage support for devices that don't come with. Free. Note: REQUIRES ROOT.
- Speed Dial -- replacement speed dial call list for phones that have a crappy phone app. Free.
- Battery Indicator (Darshan) -- nice battery widget.
- AutomateIt -- automatically change settings and do other actions based on triggers. Versions: free (limited); pro.
- BusyBox -- linux tools. Free. Note: REQUIRES ROOT.
- DOF Calculator (Aimen) -- for photographers to calculate depth-of-field. Has advanced mode that will let you fill in numbers -- handy for, say, shuttle photography. Free.
- Titanium backup -- lets you backup all your apps and setting, e.g. before an upgrade. NOTE: REQUIRES ROOT. Versions: free (limited); pro.
- Google Authenticator -- lets you build two-factor auth systems.
- Google Goggles -- work with barcodes.
- Hebrew Bible -- for looking things up on the fly.
- Hebrew Calendar Widget
- Karl's Mortgage Calculator -- calculate mortgage under various conditions. Free.
- How to Tie a Tie -- diagrams that include the more obscure tie types
- NASA App -- keep track of NASA
- mythfrontend -- watch TV from your MythTV player
- Periodic Table -- yay for chemistry!
- Presto Sound Library -- a "beta" but it costs money. Will let you play your podcasts in BeyondPodcast at faster than 1x.
- Skymap (google) -- nifty astronomy resource
- Stop Watch & Timer
- SuperSU -- manages root access. Note: requires root.
- Task Manager (Rhythm Software)
- Tivo -- control your tivo. Cannot yet stream content from a tivo. Free.
- The Weather Channel -- widgets to track weather
- traceroute (srcguardian)
- UltraTools Mobile -- traceroute and other tools to troubleshoot networks
- Yaaic -- IRC chat program. Free.
- Go Clock Widget
- Antivirus AVG. Free. Not sure if it's worth it. ;)
- Call Your Folks -- reminder to call parents.
- Nike+ Running
- Runkeeper
- MyBMI
- BMI Calculator
Some app equivalents of popular websites and desktop apps. Also apps that tend to come with your devices
- Google Reader -- keep up with your RSS feeds. Unfortunately, limited to 30-day retention. Still one of my most heavily-used apps.
- Gmail -- keep up with your google mail
- Google Calendar
- Google Earth
- Google Play
- Google Play Books
- Google Play Movies and TV
- Google Play Music
- Google Search
- Google Translate
- Dropbox
- firefox
- IMDB -- search IMDB. Sometimes less useful than the website.
- Maps
- netflix
- Skype
- Street View on Google Maps
- Voice Search (google)
- WinAmp -- yes, it's available for Android.
- Youtube
Toys and games (all free except as indicated)
- AK-47 -- toy gun.
- Android Lightsaber
- Angry Birds
- Angry Birds Seasons
- Bard's Tale
- Binary Time Widget
- BSOD
- Defender II -- free to play. After a certain point, upgrades cost money. :(
- Radiant Defense -- free to play castle defence. After a certain point, upgrades cost money.
- ScreenCrack
- Sonic Screwdriver Gadgets
- Star Wars Light Saber
- Sudoku (Frank and Chase)
- Tricorder (not available from the app store)
- X-sonic Screwdrivers
Some apps I no longer use/need
- Power Control Plus -- can have a whole lot of toggles, but can't set GPS even with root and running as a system app.
- Adobe Reader -- I no longer run Adobe software by choice
- Advanced Task Killer (rechild) -- don't like current permissions
- Aldiko -- eReader app. Has problems rendering the covers of some of my books. I've switched to Moon+ Reader.
- Android Tethering -- prefer wifi tethering
- BarcodeBank -- use google goggles instead
- Battery Widget (GeekyYouUp) -- prefer Darshan
- Brightest Flashlight -- prefer the flashlight that is part of Power Toggles
- Color Flashlight HD -- prefer the flashlight that is part of Power Toggles
- Power Control Widget -- a power control widget that can have an arbitrarily large number of controls/toggles. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on my rooted ICS Samsung S3.
- Moon+ Reader -- ereader app. Doesn't paginate correctly.
- Nook -- implements DRM. No thanks.
- Out of Milk -- shopping app. No easy sharing.
- eReader Prestigio -- ereader app. Put an ad in my notification area.
- Racing Live -- free to play.
- Shop Savvy Barcode scanner
