Android has become a very popular mobile OS because of the wide range of devices that run in this platform. Unlike the iOS, which is exclusive to iPhone and iPads, Android powers a wide range of smartphone brands such as Samsung, Sony, HTC and more. As a result, the OS has become a household name, and more and more android app developers have started creating apps for this platform.
I personally started using Android just last year. I bought a Samsung Galaxy Ace that runs Gingerbread (version 2.3.6) and was really amazed by the user interface experience that it offers. I learned more and more about the OS as time passed by, and was able to appreciate the functionalities and applications available for this platform. Just like any other Android newbies, I started with installing games (a ton of games actually) and then went on to install various applications that have been really useful to me.
Here is a list of my top 10 favorite Android applications in no particular order:
AirDroid
This is one of the most awesome applications in this list. AirDroid enables you to access your Android device straight from your personal/notebook computer through local Wi-Fi. All you need to do is to connect your Android device and computer in the same Wi-Fi network and go to the URL that AirDroid will generate on your device. Enter the auto-generated password, and voila! Your Android tablet/phone can now be accessed from your computer. You can even send messages and upload files from your computer to your Android device. Isn’t that pure awesomeness?
AppInstaller:
AppInstaller is for users who have come to realize that not all the best apps and games can be found in Google Play. However, users will find out that there is no feature that allows for third-party apps installation their Android. This is where AppInstaller coes in handy. This app allows you to install .apk files (Android file extension) from your SD card or internal memory. Cool, right?
Color Touch
This is a great photo editing software for Android because it does not consume large amounts of RAM and is very easy to use. There are also several default photo filters and that you can use if you are too lazy to edit your photo manually.
Chances are you have a Facebook account. Hence, it’s only logical to install this app so you can easily and more conveniently browse your account in your tablet or smartphone.
Instagram:
If you are into taking pictures and love to show it for the world to see, then this app is for you. Instagram is a social networking app that’s all about uploading photos of basically anything you want—from food, to vanity shots, and more.
Link2SD:
This is an app that can be used to its full potential if your Android device is rooted. But that’s an entirely different topic, and it’s still useful even if you don’t have a rooted device. Link2SD allows you to easily transfer files from your internal memory to your SD cards. This helps a lot especially the low-end devices with very small internal memory.
Screenshot UX:
It’s a little weird to know that there are no default applications or methods for Android devices to take screenshots. Screenshot UX allows you to take screenshots (obviously), without having the need to root. The free version allows only limited screenshots so it would be best to get the paid one.
Twitter:
This is the third social networking app in our list. Twitter is all about updating your followers as often as possible. It only makes sense to have one on your Android device.
Juice Defender: There is a high demand for power saving applications in Android because of the OS’ tendency to consume battery fast due to the various pre-installed apps running in the background. Juice Defender does a good job of managing your applications; hence resulting to improved battery performance.
Aldiko Book Reader:
Bookworms will most certainly enjoy having this app in their Android devices. Aldiko enables you to read E-books at the most convenient way possible.
That pretty much rounds up the list of my favorite Android applications. I hope you’d find these Android apps cool too. There are other great apps for this OS. You just need to keep browsing the internet to find the best ones. Happy Android application hunting!