[Adondo]

For lack of where to put this thread, I guess the general discussion area will have to do.

I'm pretty much a power user, with several computers with OS's ranging from Linux to Windows 7. I've had a Hero Android phone for almost a month now, and I like it a lot.

Here's my list of favorite 'Droid apps for those of you who have just bought a Moment or Hero 'Droid phone. NOTE: I am NOT a developer, I do NOT write apps, nobody paid me to review them. This list is just my favorite useful apps. I've tried lots of apps, and uninstalled the lame ones. These are ''keepers''

The Android OS (Operating System) is a baby version of Linux, and is known as ''Cupcake.'' (At least in the Sprint phones of this version 1.5 and 1.6) The Android Market is very similar to Linux's Ubuntu apps installer. You will discover that as you download and add apps, you can check for updates by just going to ''downloaded apps' section of the market app. Anything needed an update (new version of your installed app) will be at the top and labeled. You can also Uninstall apps from the same place. Apps are .apk files, which are Android Package files. The Android Market is safe, apps are tested for viruses etc.

So, here's my list of must haves and essential apps: (Do a search in the Android Market)

If you travel at all with a laptop, you need PDANet. There's a laptop version that resides in the tool bar's tray. A widget installs on the phone's home screen somewhere. You make sure the USB is on in the Moment or Hero's widget, then click the PDANet's icon and click connect. Within 2 seconds, you are connected to the internet at DLS speeds as long as you have a Sprint data connection. The trial stops https (secured) connections after 30 days or so, and it's $25 to register it. Do a Google search for your laptop half of PDANet.

Notes Everything. If you are coming from a Palm phone, such as a Centro or Treo, this app will import Palm notes. The paid version is only $3 or so. If you have a lot of notes, this is about the only way to have them in your new 'Droid phone. Feature packed app for notes and task lists.

GPS Status. It turns your phone into a GPS receiver.

Maverick. A great GPS app, and makes the phone into a high end GPS receiver, complete with tracking, waypoints, and everything else a good expensive GPS receiver does.

Geobeagle. If you're into Geocaching, this app is for you! Imports GPX files from Geocaching.com. Clicking the compass display takes you to GPS Status (if installed) to give you range circles to target etc. Integrates with Google Maps, and adds geocaches everywhere on the map.

Google Sky. This app alone is worth buying an Android phone. Turns your phone into a ''magic window'' to the night sky. Easily ID planets, stars, constellations. You can search for just about anything, and a circle will change colors and show direction arrows to show you where it is. The sky map is shown on the screen just as you see the sky, and it follows movements with the phone's G force sensors.

Meridian. A great replacement for the featureless music player that comes on the phone. Also plays mpeg4 videos. I have full length movies on my phone, and they work great. It's not bad at all watching a movie on the phone.

aContacts. A nice replacement for the phone/contacts/dialer app that comes with the phone.

Dayz. An event and time calculator. Keep track of past and future events. Calculate days between dates.

WikiMobile. A very nice interface for Wikipedia, and it works much better than accessing Wiki directly via the web browser.

Places Directory. GPS based app that roots up restaurants, cleaners, gas stations, etc. etc. from where you are standing. Has little compass arrows that show where everything is, and also has phone numbers, addresses, and user reviews. Great for unfamiliar areas where you want to find something fast.

Yellowbook. Finds whatever you're looking for like Yellowpages, and is GPS based. You can override it by typing in a city, but otherwise it knows where you are and just searches. One click adds the found business to your contacts list.

Aldiko. A great book reader app. Links to many book sites, free or paid, for downloading. The library is stored on your SD card. Remembers where you are in a book when opening it again. Various methods of page turning, including using the Hero's volume control on the side.

Task Panel. Needed to 'kill' unwanted running apps. You can also add apps to the ''add to autokill list'' to kill apps by just turning the power off. Saves battery power by killing running apps that don't need to be running.

Astro. A great file manager. A must have to access your SD card. Also backs up apps.

Bubble. Turns your phone into a level. Shows a yellow bubble just like the carpenter's tool. Depends on how you hold the phone, held flat, it shows a round ''refrigerator'' bubble, sideways vertical or horizontal, bubbles are as needed. You can also turn on degree display.

Realcalc. A good scientific calculator that replaces the pathetic one that comes on the phone.

Colordict. Download the main app, then the various dictionaries. All dictionaries store on the SD card. There's various languages, as well as a thesaurus. Do a word search, and all relevant dictionaries show that word at the same time. (And can act as a translator of sorts)

iMap Weather. Shows 5 day forecasts, and overlays radar onto Google Maps.

LastFM. Streaming internet radio. Similar to Pandora, but is not ad based like Pandora. (Nothing flashing on your screen and/or taking up bandwidth)

Lookout. An absolute MUST HAVE. Virus scanning, backing up contacts to their website. Locates and/or disables a lost or stolen phone, and you can do so from their website.

Pkt Auctions eBay. A great eBay app for tracking your auctions, watch lists, etc. Also great for price checking while in a store. FAR BETTER than accessing eBay thru the phone's web browser.

SunMoon. Sunrise, sunset. Moon phases. Neat little app.

WiFi analyzer. Turn your 'Droid phone into an expensive WiFi finder/analyzer.

Rhyme Finder. Ad based, but handy app. The name says it all.

Documents to Go. View Word, Excel, and PDF files. The paid version allows editing of said files.

Decibel. Turn your phone into a sound meter.

[Matt]

I only have one of those and that is PDANet.

Moving this to the Android section.

[Gibsohnn]

Personal Assistant (free version), ShopSavy, HuffPo app, NPR app, and Robo Defender (a game worth every penny of the 3 dollars it costs).

[ned23]

I already have task killer, GPS status, and Astro. I notice that the "free apps" run little ads across the bottom of your phone. I keep getting ads for "The Girls Playboy." (I'm thinking: So, like everyone wants little tiny pictures of naked women on a phone...? )

[diveborg]

Originally Posted by Adondo

For lack of where to put this thread, I guess the general discussion area will have to do.
<snip>

Originally Posted by Matt

I only have one of those and that is PDANet.

Moving this to the Android section.

Lack of what?

[Adondo]

Originally Posted by diveborg

Lack of what?

Ha ha, well the moderator moved it for me. I didn't see the Android based phone area when I first posted it. At least NOW it's where it belongs.

Hopefully, this thread can be built on by others. A LOT of time can be wasted perusing the Market and installing (and uninstalling) useless and lame apps. It's nice to have a list of GOOD and USEFUL apps. There are a few here and there posted on the 'net, but mostly the ''top ten'' or the like, so if you spend enough time Googling, you can eventually fill the phone with cool stuff. And, maybe the moderator can make it a sticky post.

I see others have posted more apps such as Shop Savvy. I haven't played with that one yet, and if I haven't laid my own eyeballs on it, I'm not going to review an app sight unseen.

Here's a few more neat utilities:

Handy Backup. Backup contacts and photos to the SD card.

gStrings. Frequency finding app. Its real purpose is to tune musical instruments, but it will also find test and control tones. (I work on 2-way radio systems) The interface gives you an analog meter with the frequency above it, and musical scale notes at the top. VERY COOL app. Or... you can turn on a tone to use as an output and/or set a bench test tone generator to it.

Frequency. A frequency generator with 3 dial up frequencies, with square, sine, or triangle waves for each one. Turn on two of them at 440 hz and 350 hz with sine wave, and you have a perfect telephone dial tone! Hold it up to your land line to make someone think you've just hung up on 'em!

RTA Analyzer. A broadband frequency ID'er. The free one can do 30 bands from 32 hz to 16 khz. It looks like an equalizer band analyzer when it's running.

Ultimate Stopwatch. A very detailed analog stopwatch. Cool app, and also does multiple laps, and has a countdown timer mode.

Inflation Calc. Enter the 1st year, amount, and 2nd year (can be 2009) to calculate what (for example) $1,000 in 1935 was worth in today's dollars. Wanna know? Download it.

Labyrinth Lite. The Hero does include a game called ''Teeter'', but this VERY COOL 3D rolling ball bearing labyrinth game is eye popping compared. It's a great way to show off the phone's tilt and G force sensor capabilities. Uses the vibrator motor to simulate the (virtual) heavy steel ball hitting the barriers and walls. Neat effect. Tilt the phone to see the walls and barriers ''tilt'' as if you're looking at a reality wooden labyrinth.

Pet age calculator. Calcs dogs and cats related age. Note that 7 years = 1 human year is NOT how it really works... ask any vet about that. It's varies with the animal's actual age. Ad based, but still useful.

Lightning. Has two buttons... when you see the flash, and when you hear the thunder. Calculates the distance from the strike.

Frozen Bubbles. The good 'ol Linux game of Frozen Bubbles ported to Android! Need I say more?

[Adondo]

''LastFM. Streaming internet radio. Similar to Pandora, but is not ad based like Pandora. (Nothing flashing on your screen and/or taking up bandwidth)''

I lied... the last update added ads. Now, there's an ad banner across the top. It's still a very worthy app.

You can also download the Scrobbler, which will build your online music listening preference profile from your mp3's on your SD card as you play them. (Integrates with the Meridian player) Google search (or Wiki search) Scrobbling to see exactly what this does.

[VibrantRedGT]

I don't have any of these. I think Docs to Go comes with the phone.

Phonalyzer- Keeps track of minutes and SMS by person.

Ringdroid- Make ringtones of your MP3's right from your phone off the memory card.

MyLite- Turns the screen into a flashlight.

Pandora- By far the best music application.

iMusic- Stream or download music.

Amazon- If you want to shop easily without using your browser.

Photobucket- If you have a photobucket account you can send pics off the phone/memory card to photobucket.

Shazam- Place your phone up to any music source and it will show you the artist and name of song.

FXCamera- For some reason the pictures taken through FXCamera on an HTC Hero in normal mode are clearer than taking a regular picture. Its true though.

PoliceLight- It's hysterical. "Not used for bad!"

AK47- Even funnier than PoliceLight.

[SirRipo]

Photoshop.com Mobile - adjust saturation and some other nice features. Crop photos too.

Uninstaller - uninstall those pesky apps that just won't go away.

Bluetooth File Transfer - powerful file transfer tool.

Ringo Pro - set Individual call and sms tones for peole in you contact list.

[Adondo]

''I think Docs to Go comes with the phone.'' Nope, it's a free download. But, the free version only VIEWS Office docs. The paid version adds editing capabilities. BTW, Docs to Go is/was a good Palm app too. I paid the bux since I need Excel fairly often.

Quick Office does come on the Hero, but it only opens Word version 2003 (or later) docs. If you have Office 97 or 2000, it's worthless. Although... it does open text docs, and that can be handy. (Text docs that you move to the SD card) You can cut 'n' paste notes (text) from there to other Hero apps.

Which reminds me... Copi Pe. Launch it and run it in the notification bar to add often used ''boiler text'' such as email addys into text input windows. Great for logging into websites so you don't have to peck at the on-screen keyboard to re-re-re-re-type the same things.

Thank you VibrantRedGT for FXCamera. Just having a shutter button on the screen helps with the blur problem as using the trackball is kind of hard. I think the phone ends up moving in trying to get it to 'go.' (The trackball/shutter has a slow response) It's a GREAT camera replacement app. I tried a couple before, (can't remember which ones) and tossed both of 'em off the phone. Finally, a worthy one. That makes this thread worthwhile.

I did play with Photoshop mobile, but it's just as easy to drag the photos from the card and work 'em over in Picassa (Or whatever) so I unloaded it. I can see the point if you send them right off the phone though. (Picture mail etc.)

[htcuser]

robot defender its the best

[big_ole_truck]

Nice list of apps.
MyCoupons = great app for finding great deals.

[aceofspades626]

Picked up Lookout and it's great.
As could be expected, it upped my awake time quite a bit. I'm around 40%.

Interestingly, it doesn't seem to have affected my battery life much at all...

[AlphaWolf]

Anybody know if there are any voip apps available for android phones?

[SirRipo]

Google Voice