The Kid Kaos Top Ten Android Applications
Top Ten Android Applications
With Google Android taking off in a big way I thought it was time to post my 10 cents on the subject of which applications (Apps) are in the top ten to have on your phone. First lets state clearly that there are a few Apps that you simply should not be without. Google Maps, Flash 10, The official YouTube App, Adobe Reader, etc. These should be on your phone within the first day. Also there are Apps for things like Facebook, Twitter or Peapod type services that if you use them you should have the official Apps from those services.
The Apps Im listing below are a little less obvious but still in my opinion they are all must haves. I list them roughly in order of importance to me but really as they are all must haves so just think of them as all equally as important.
Last point. All of these are Free Applications. I do not list any of the paid Apps I have because adding the additional factor of cost -v- usefulness is too hard to weigh in on.
(Amendment: There is now one Paid App that I would highly recommend at the end of this blog.)
#1 - Dolphin Browser HD From Dolphin Browser
This is a small fast and highly versatile web browser. Although I do have and use Firefox 4 for Android it simply can not compare to the speed and ease of use that Dolphin Browser can and continues to deliver. Maybe in the future if Firefox can get up to speed I will amend this but for now go get Dolphin Browser HD.
#2 - KeePassDroid From Brian Pellin
KeePass Password Safe is a very good password protection program I have been using for years. In the past I kept it on a SD Flash card that I took with me everywhere now its on my phone which I should have everywhere and does not require me to find a PC to open it. Basically you have one password to open this program where you can then securely store all your user names and passwords in an organized manner. The Droid version of this app will import your old password file so no worries. Bottom line is we all have way too many passwords to remember. KeePassDroid will remember them for you as long as you remember the master password.
#3 - Remote RDP Lite From Yongtao Wang
RDP is touchy under the best of circumstances but add in cross OS issues and it can easily bug out. Remote RDP Lite holds its own well. The paid version offers a few nice functionality features but this free version is a strong application. For those of us who need to RDP often, this is the best free option I have found. Still on a phone the small screen will be an issue no matter what. Even on the Samsung Epic's very large screen.
#4 - AndFTP from LyseSoft
Again this is more for those who use it but I must say it has come in handy on several occasions uploading large files to my server for others to download and for making on the fly changes to my websites it is a must. Although FTP may not be in everyone’s “Need” category, if it isfor you, AndFTP is the best I have found for Android. it looks and feels a lot like Filezilla for those who have used that FTP software.
#5 - Bump from Bump Technologies
Bump is a simple must have App. In fact I would think the phone manufacturers should install this instead of all the useless crap Bloatware games and paid services apps. If your not familiar with Bump its as simple as this. Take any two phones with Bump installed. Open Bump. Select the file(s), Pictures or even (especially) contacts that you want to share from one phone to the other. Hold one phone in each hand. Knock your hands together. (Gently. You don’t want to hurt your Droid) All those files and contacts will now be on the other phone. Fantastic App. Im not sure but this may also be a cross platform App that would allow, for instance, a WinMo 7 Phone to “Bump” with an Android. Not sure so if you know let me know.
What I Want To See - Addition of the option to “Bump” Ringtones.
#6 - Adobe Photoshop Express from Adobe Systems
The camera on my Samsung Epic is remarkably high quality. 5MP max but pixel count is only part of the photo quality story. The lens is really what its all about and the micro lenses on phones are getting much better. However photographers are not and Im no exception. Photoshop Express allows me to make a few basic cropping and imaging corrections before posting that great moment to Facebook for all the masses to see. All three of them. It is limited in scope but does what it can well.
What I Want To See - A basic masking tool and the ability to blur in the mask. For blurring faces, license plates, addresses and such from photos.
#7 - VidTrim - Video Trimmer From Go Seet
Along with the above points about the camera photo quality go the Video Quality. The Samsung Epic boasts a max of 1280 x 720 video resolution. Videos taken with the Epic and brought up on my 48” Sony Bravia are surprisingly sharp and clear when shot in good lighting. Given this and the obsession with Facebooking everything in real(ish) time, a simple video editor is a requirement. VidTrim does a good enough job at trimming the front and back off the video and remains stable throughout the process. It’s the best I have found but is lacking in any real functionality beyond that.
What I Want To See - At the least I would like to see the option to select and delete sections of video. Not just the front and back. The option to insert segments would be great. Even better still would be the ability to add a soundtrack (i.e. mp3 as the audio track) Im still looking for a better more robust video editing App that is also stable. Let me know if you have a good one.For now this will have to do.
#8 - Ringdroid from Ringdroid Team
Simple front and back editor for audio files that will then save them for ringtones or notifications. Great for cutting a small section out of your favorite song and setting it as the ringer. Yes it is my goal to have the most annoying phone on the planet. Ringdroid is helping to get me there.
#9 - Google Goggles From Google Inc
OK there had to be one Google app in the mix. Google Goggles for those who have not seen it in action is a slick picture based search engine. Take a pic of a painting and Google Goggles will identify the painter and give you links to all the info. Take a pic of some foreign text and Google Goggles will identify the language and translate it. Take a picture of a barcode and Google Goggles will show you all the website links for the product including the closest places to buy it and the prices listed at them. Use it like this. You’re at Joe's High Price Electronics Store looking at the 52” Super TV you want. Take a pic of the barcode on the box and Google Goggles will tell you if Ben's Discount Electronics Store 20 minutes down the road has it for half the price. It’s a really seriously kick ass app. Plus it has a fun name to say.
What I Want To See - A little more accuracy especially with barcodes and store locations/prices.
#10 - Tiny Flashlight + LED From Nikolay Ananiev
How did a simple flashlight app get into a top ten list? Simply because I use it all the time. The app does a lot of silly things on the screen but its real use is a simple on off switch for the camera LED. This gives off a massive amount of light and since I have my phone on me all the time I have a light all the time. Door locks at night. Navigating through a dark room. Tracing cables in the back of the TV armoire. Anywhere you need a light you have one and the battery meter is prominently displayed to let you know how much light you have left.
As Promised Below you will find my only pick for a "Must Have" Paid App.
Only Must Have Paid App - ThinkFree Office From ThinkFree Mobile
The reason I added ThinkFree Office to my Must Have Apps for Android is because it may actually be more important than anything else on this list. Here is the thing. Most of the time we will all be using MS Office to make all the various documents that we need day to day. The Smart Phone is supposed to allow you to work away from your desk and even free you from the laptop. ThinkFree Office will open and edit most Microsoft Office documents as well as many others. Without it a very important part of the Smart Phone Office is missing. Well worth the $9.99 price.
Posted by KidKaos at 4/26/2011 2:22 PM 
Categories: Technology and More
Tags: Top Ten Android Applications Android Applications droid App Apps Google Dolphin Browser KeePassDroid KeePass Remote RDP Remote RDP Lite RDP AndFTP FTP Bump Adobe Photoshop Express Adobe Photoshop Photoshop VidTrim Video Ringdroid Ringtone Google Goggles Tiny Flashlight LED Tiny Flashlight LED Tiny Flashlight LED
Categories: Technology and More
Tags: Top Ten Android Applications Android Applications droid App Apps Google Dolphin Browser KeePassDroid KeePass Remote RDP Remote RDP Lite RDP AndFTP FTP Bump Adobe Photoshop Express Adobe Photoshop Photoshop VidTrim Video Ringdroid Ringtone Google Goggles Tiny Flashlight LED Tiny Flashlight LED Tiny Flashlight LED
iPhone kix droid ass.
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