Tweet
Android apps: top picks so far
Okies. The iPhone app thread has kicked me in the arse to do an Android one. Having only used the phone for a few days my experience is limited... but hopefully there will be something here for everyone.
Edit: I'm slowly adding the QR codes under each app title. Get Barcode Scanner to use them. Then you don't have to search the app store to find them! I didn't embed the images... :\
FeedR (paid)
This is a great RSS reader that can sync with Google Reader. Really nice customisable interface and intuitive "mark as read" taps.
Vignette (paid)
Fantastic instant photo effects. Create really pro looking shots with this extensively featured application. Make settings before taking the photo and it will process a rough to preview then actually reprocess the photo in the background while you're taking more shots. (Those of you who are facebook friends with me, check out my last two album posts). There is a demo available if you want to try it out first.
Quickpedia (free)
Really, really fast Wikipedia lookups.
Urbanspoon (free)
Lists restaurants in your immediate area. Shake to pick at random.
Shazam (free)
Don't know what song's playing? Shazam does.
LED Desire (free)
Tailored specifically for the HTC Desire's LED, this torch will blaze a hole in your eyes.
Aussie Weather Radar (free)
See if there's a storm a comin'.
Astro File Manager (free)
Fully featured file manager for Android.
Wolfraroid (free)
Awesome search app for Wolfram Alpha. Uses Google voice technology - so you just tell it what you're looking for.
Movie Finder (free)
Displays movie times for various cinemas in your area. You can also watch trailers using this app.
Kindle (free)
Read books and stuff. Many free ones at Amazon.
Facebook chat (free)
Chat on facebook. (tbh this was the first app I found. I'm not sure it's one of the better ones. Does the job though.)
Epicurious (free)
Recipes with pictures and shopping lists and shit.
Rock Player (free)
Plays everything I've thrown at it so far including MKVs.
Talk to me (free)
Using Google voice tech, this one translates what you're saying into a gazillion different languages. It shows you in text what you said and also shows the text in the language you're outputting to. It also says it in this crazy robotic voice.
Qik (free)
Stream video live to your Qik account. It's a step up from calling your friends from rock concerts they couldn't make it to.
Barcode Scanner (free)
Cool for looking up products online via their barcode. Also good for scanning those new quick link barcodes you see around the traps these days (square things with little random black squares in them? I might try and find them for these apps and post back).
Google Goggles (free)
This is some impressive shit. Uses image recognition of some description to work out what you've taken a photo of. Take a photo of the McDonalds "M" for example and it will recognise it and smash out some google search results for McDonalds on your phone. Awesome. I took a pic of the Die Hard Bluray and it not only got the right movie in the results, but the right media too. Also took a photo of a 360 controller and it recognised it. Pretty impressive stuff.
Layar (free)
Use it to find pretty much anything in your vicinity... restaurants, servos, bottleshops, whatever. It's an augmented reality app so you basically hold up the phone look around (camera is on) and you can press on places as they come up on the screen. Worst explanation ever. Awesome app though. Google it.
Places directory (free)
Kind of like above but without the augmented reality. Heaps quicker to use though if you're organising, but not out and about yet.
Well that's it for now. Any additions?
Edit: If you want to look at the Android market without an Android phone, go here:
Edit: I'm slowly adding the QR codes under each app title. Get Barcode Scanner to use them. Then you don't have to search the app store to find them! I didn't embed the images... :\
FeedR (paid)
This is a great RSS reader that can sync with Google Reader. Really nice customisable interface and intuitive "mark as read" taps.
Vignette (paid)
Fantastic instant photo effects. Create really pro looking shots with this extensively featured application. Make settings before taking the photo and it will process a rough to preview then actually reprocess the photo in the background while you're taking more shots. (Those of you who are facebook friends with me, check out my last two album posts). There is a demo available if you want to try it out first.
Quickpedia (free)
Really, really fast Wikipedia lookups.
Urbanspoon (free)
Lists restaurants in your immediate area. Shake to pick at random.
Shazam (free)
Don't know what song's playing? Shazam does.
LED Desire (free)
Tailored specifically for the HTC Desire's LED, this torch will blaze a hole in your eyes.
Aussie Weather Radar (free)
See if there's a storm a comin'.
Astro File Manager (free)
Fully featured file manager for Android.
Wolfraroid (free)
Awesome search app for Wolfram Alpha. Uses Google voice technology - so you just tell it what you're looking for.
Movie Finder (free)
Displays movie times for various cinemas in your area. You can also watch trailers using this app.
Kindle (free)
Read books and stuff. Many free ones at Amazon.
Facebook chat (free)
Chat on facebook. (tbh this was the first app I found. I'm not sure it's one of the better ones. Does the job though.)
Epicurious (free)
Recipes with pictures and shopping lists and shit.
Rock Player (free)
Plays everything I've thrown at it so far including MKVs.
Talk to me (free)
Using Google voice tech, this one translates what you're saying into a gazillion different languages. It shows you in text what you said and also shows the text in the language you're outputting to. It also says it in this crazy robotic voice.
Qik (free)
Stream video live to your Qik account. It's a step up from calling your friends from rock concerts they couldn't make it to.
Barcode Scanner (free)
Cool for looking up products online via their barcode. Also good for scanning those new quick link barcodes you see around the traps these days (square things with little random black squares in them? I might try and find them for these apps and post back).
Google Goggles (free)
This is some impressive shit. Uses image recognition of some description to work out what you've taken a photo of. Take a photo of the McDonalds "M" for example and it will recognise it and smash out some google search results for McDonalds on your phone. Awesome. I took a pic of the Die Hard Bluray and it not only got the right movie in the results, but the right media too. Also took a photo of a 360 controller and it recognised it. Pretty impressive stuff.
Layar (free)
Use it to find pretty much anything in your vicinity... restaurants, servos, bottleshops, whatever. It's an augmented reality app so you basically hold up the phone look around (camera is on) and you can press on places as they come up on the screen. Worst explanation ever. Awesome app though. Google it.
Places directory (free)
Kind of like above but without the augmented reality. Heaps quicker to use though if you're organising, but not out and about yet.
Well that's it for now. Any additions?
Edit: If you want to look at the Android market without an Android phone, go here:
Comment