Is There an App For That?

Yeah - I know that’s the iPhone mantra but hey, more and more it applies to us, too!  Arguably, the best thing about an Android phone is its ability to customize by adding apps.  Apps are “mini” programs written to operate within the phones OS, in this case, Android OS.  Some of these apps are “mini” in size only, as they offer robust features to rival their desktop counterparts.

With more and more people making the Android choice, I keep getting asked, “What apps should I get?”  There is no definitive answer to that as everyone has their own needs and wants.  There are however, some basic uses of the phone that are common to almost every user.  So I decided to list some of the more useful apps I use with a kind of micro-review. Every app I list here has a free version.

Handcent SMS - this should be on every Hero as far as I’m concerned.  Not only is it much more configurable than the stock app, but it also doesn’t pose as bad a battery drain.  In my opinion, it’s the best SMS replacement app on the market.

Bloo – If you use Facebook, you need this app.  Bloo lets you do almost everything you want to do on Facebook, on your phone.  Almost.  Can’t create Inbox messages, chat, or play FB games yet.  No other FB app can either.

Touiteur – Gorgeous looking Twitter app.  Easy to use.  Sometimes seems a little slow to load but not enough to really gripe about.  Spring for the Pro version to get the widgets.  Also, check out Twitdroid.

Dolphin – Web Browser replacement.  The stock browser actually isn’t all that bad.  It gets the job done.  If you want more than “getting the job done”, then you want Dolphin.  My favorite feature is the pinch to zoom. Similar to iPhone gesture. Also, the ability to scale the page to your liking.

TV.com - Great app for watching clips and full episodes of your favorite TV shows!  Lots of free content and some pay.  Some content requires wifi connection.

Barcode Scanner – This is an awesome little app.  Start it up, scan a bar code (any bar code!) with your camera, and it searches it via web!  Raises the coolness factor of the Hero by a factor of 4, LOL.

2 Player Reactor – Lastly, I just had to include a game.  This one is the perfect game to show off your phone.  Or, a fun way to kill time while waiting for a table at Seoul Garden.  2 player action, fast and frantic!

These should get you started.  The best thing to do is download and experiment!  With all the free apps on the market, it will keep you as busy as you want to be.  Don’t be afraid to check something out.  And as always, browse the forums & blogs.  Chances are someone has already reviewed what you’re looking for!

Ciao!

About Me…

I’m Adonis a complete and total card carrying techno-geek and proud of it.  LOL!  I’m also a father of a beautiful young lady who is turning into a techophile in her own right.  I have been into technology ever since I had my first computer, a TRS-80.  It was love at first sight!

I am into everything from computers, game consoles, handheld devices and everything in between. My current passion is wireless tech and cellphones.

So basically, my blog is about technology I find interesting, how it affects my life, and my life in general.  Sound interesting?  I hope so.  Ciao!

My Tech Life

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