Posts Tagged ‘Android Market’
7 Ways To Discover Superb New Android Apps
If you are the lucky owner of an Android device, you might struggle from time to time with finding the perfect apps to fit your lifestyle and meet your needs. And often, the Internet at large can be less than helpful when youre searching for Android-specific applications.
As we saw during Google I/O, the company was demonstrating a fuller-featured, web-based version of the Android MarketAndroid Market
. Itll likely be seen by consumers soon, but its always good to have a few more wrenches in your tool belt when it comes to finding and judging apps.
Here are seven websites for your bookmarking pleasure. Each one acts as a directory, a review site, a screenshot gallery and a stats board for the wonderful world of AndroidAndroid
mobile apps. Take a look around these sites, and let us know in the comments if we left out any good resources.
1. The Official Android Site
We first have the official Android Market website. However, rather than being an exhaustive guide to the Android app universe, the site is currently a showcase for some of the featured and top ranked applications and games available, according to its landing page. To get the full, official Android Market experience, youll have to check your mobile device. However, we expect this to change relatively soon, especially as more Android apps become available on devices other than our phones.
The site has a decent list of featured and top apps with brief descriptions and two screenshots each.
2. Androlib
This resource has a listing for just about every Android app known to humankind. Its searchable, thoroughly categorized and contains relatively accurate stats for number of downloads and star rating on Androids 5-star scale. It also contains frank user reviews, screenshots, QR codes for download, and, when available, video demonstrations.
One drawback is that the developer-supplied descriptions are often less than descriptive and, in the case of free trial and subscription apps, can be downright deceptive at times. When in doubt, check the user reviews. The UI is also a bit cluttered, and pages can be relatively slow to load.
The site also contains stats, forums and special sections for games and the top app of the day.
3. Cyrket
For data geeks, Cyrket is the holy grail of Android-related sites. This one-man project uses advanced data analysis and extraction to help users find apps to buy and to allow developers to learn how their applications fit into the extended ecosystem of the mobile application marketplace, or so says the homepage. There are also plans to include a blog with specific, interesting findings and better ways to discover new apps.
With all this advanced analysis comes a highly useful breakdown of apps ratings. For example, would you rather know that an app gets 4 stars in the Android Market, or that 80% of users gave the app 4 stars and 15% gave the app 5 stars?
You can also find QR codes, screenshots, descriptions and user comments for most apps. Apps can also be searched and sorted by popularity, rating, price and other factors. Finally, the interface is simple but clean and useful, with a bare minimum of advertising to interfere with your discovery process.
4. AndroidZoom
AndroidZoom is a straightforward, easy-to-use app directory. Its app pages contain descriptions, screenshots, rating and QR codes, but no user feedback such as reviews or comments. The site does, however, show similar or related apps from the same and other developers. You can also see the most viewed and most downloaded applications, and you can browse apps by category or search term. Apps can be sorted by popularity, rating, date submitted and whether theyre free or paid.
Its a colorful site full of large-text links and friendly-looking icons; this is another site thats simple and gets the app-finding job done.
5. App Store HQ
This site has the usual suspects in features: Search, browsing by category, screenshots, QR codes, etc. A unique factor of App Store HQ is that it aggregates Android app reviews from around the web, including sites such as this one. You can browse through apps that are generating a lot of buzz on the web or apps that are heating up in Twitter mentions.
Posts and tweets are aggregated onto an apps page, so you can get a good idea of real-time activity around an app before you decide to download it. This, we like a lot.
6. AndBOT
AndBOT is probably one of the best-looking sites when it comes to researching Android apps. Its also thoroughly outfitted with a blog and regular app reviews. You can check out the latest apps, browse featured apps or peruse applications and games in a wide variety of categories.
For each apps page, the site pulls in comments from the Android Market proper and includes stats, screenshots and a QR code for instant download. You can also see developer info and app permissions.
7. AppBrain
Finally, we have AppBrain. This site has search, rankings, categories, screenshots, related apps and on-site commenting features. Its also got a fairly simple layout. One of its unique factors is being able to see changelogs for new versions and dates for how quickly an app progresses through the number-of-downloads tiers.
Better yet, users can sign in with a GoogleGoogle account to enjoy site membership, which includes the ability to make lists of apps, install apps with a single click and write reviews. Logged-in users can also see My Apps, a collection of the apps theyve installed already; they simply use the AppBrain free mobile application to sync their AppBrain account to their mobile devices.
More Android resources from Mashable:
– 10 Free Android Apps to Boost Your Productivity
– 60+ Awesome Android Apps
– 8 Best Android Apps for Photo Editing
– Twitter for Android: The Official/Unofficial App Smackdown
– 8 Best Android Apps for Health and Fitness
30 Best Free Android Apps
OK, so the Android Market is more akin to Lidl or Asda than the iPhone’s enormous, indulgent Selfridges-at-Christmas time approach, but the open source nature of Google’s OS means there’s plenty of innovation to be found on its budget shelves.
And best of all, most of the good stuff on Android is free, thanks to the work of developers who do it for love alone. These 20 free Android apps should be any Android owner’s Day One installs…
1. Seesmic
There are many Twitter apps on Android – and Twitter itself shook up the scene with the launch of its own-brand app recently – but we’re sticking with Seesmic. Offering support for multiple accounts, a home page widget showing latest tweets and an incredibly slick and professional design, it’s one of the finest examples of app development out there today.
2. Facebook for Android
The app is lacking in features compared to Facebook itself, but a recent update added Inbox support to the Android app, finally allowing its users to communicate in almost real-time. The app’s fast and stable, with a simplicity that reminds you of the old days when using Facebook used to be bearable.
3. ASTRO File Manager
ASTRO is nothing more than a Windows-style file explorer, but if you’re into tinkering and directly installing Android APK files yourself, it’s essential to stick something like this on your phone. Makes your phone feel like a computer, and makes you feel like you’re in charge of it.
4. Job Centre Plus
Hey, times are hard and you’ve got to pay for your oppressive monthly mobile phone contract somehow. Offering a fully searchable database of current UK job vacancies, it’s a slightly cumbersome but useful tool. Some of the spelling’s a bit off and the presentation could be better, but you can’t argue with the chance to browse low-level admin jobs in Plymouth from the comfort of bed.
5. AppBrain Market Sync
You iPhone users won’t believe this, but there’s no official way to install Android apps from a PC. Seriously. You’d think Google of all companies would’ve sorted that out, but no. Which is where the unofficial Appbrain app comes in. Letting users queue up Market downloads via PC and have them sent to mobile, you’re also able to generate an embeddable code that displays your currently installed apps on a web site.
6. Google Sky Map
A stunning app that renders Patrick Moore obsolete, by using your phone’s orientation tools to give you an accurate representation of the stars and planets on your screen. Point phone at sky, then learn what constellations are visible and if that’s a UFO or just Venus. Even works indoors, if you’re not keen on getting cold.
7. Layar
The stunning augmented reality app has recently gone commercial, adding an online shop that allows users to buy AR content, like travel guides, local house price apps and much more. But you’re still able to use the numerous free Layers to pop data up over real-world locations, delivering a satisfying futuristic experience.
8. Foursquare
The social media darling is represented in fine form on Android, with the Google app offering easy one-click check-ins, integrated Google Maps for a seamless Google-branded experience and home page shortcut options to all your favourite places.
9. WordPress for Android
The app started out as independent creation wpToGo, before WordPress decided it liked it so much it bought it up – hiring the maker to develop it in-house. It’s very feature-packed, with the latest version offering full integration with other apps, letting you spin content and send it direct to the app for easy updating. Could do with more image insertion tools, though.
10. Google Goggles
A bit of a novelty, in that it lets you take photos and have Google analyse them and come back with a search results page for what it thinks you’re looking at. However, the app’s main use is as a QR code reader, which lets you scan barcodes for quick access to apps and whatever data people choose to embed in the odd little data squares.
11. AppMonster
The act of monitoring and uninstalling apps on Android is a bit of a clumsy process, to be honest, with numerous sub-screens to navigate – and yet more yes/no/are-you-sure dialogue boxes to get through once you’ve found the ‘bin it’ page. So get a decent app manager. Like AppMonster, which also offers one-click backup of all your apps to SD card, if you’re the type who worries about having copies of everything.
12. AppSaver
The forthcoming Android 2.2 update known as “FroYo” will let users save their Android Market purchases to their phone’s SD card, freeing up valuable in-phone memory. But until then, an app like AppSaver does at least let you save your app install files to the SD card.
13. Skyfire 2.0
The USP of the Skyfire browser is that it supports Flash content, popping up a little window when it detects something like an embedded YouTube video. The actual Flash business is handled by Skyfire’s server, which does all the computery stuff – then sends the file to your handset. A bit clunky on slower Android phones, but works like a dream on models with faster processors.
14. Task Manager
If you come from a bit of a hardcore PC background, you’ll find Android’s lack of a blue X to close apps a bit of a worry, what with the OS handling app closures itself. Which is why you need a good manual override tool to shut any persistent apps. It may help you save battery life, but most important is the feeling of control and empowerment you get from one-click closing apps.
15. RAC Traffic
An official production of the motoring organisation, the app is dead simple – it guesstimates your location via the mobile signal, then pops up the current traffic alerts for your area. Much better than having to listen to the radio for the odd update about arterial blockages.
Eight Greatest Android Apps For Health And Health
Spring has sprung, summers around the corner its time to get outside and get in shape. We know your iPhone-owning counterparts have plenty of apps for tracking their calories and kilometers to stay in shape, but there are plenty of health-related apps in the Android Market, too.
Here are eight highly rated free and paid AndroidAndroid apps that will help you get and stay in shape. If youve got recommendations particularly for apps that will help folks get outdoors while the weathers nice please let us know about them in the comments.
1. CardioTrainer + Racing
RatingRating
: 5 stars
Price: $2.99
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
This app combines the free CardioTrainer with a racing application that challenges users to beat their own best times. Motivational features include a virtual race simulator, complete with a voice telling the user exactly how far behind or ahead he is. In addition to the racing module, the free CardioTrainer app can be enhanced with a weight loss module, which will cost you another $2.99 in the Android MarketAndroid Market.
User comments:
This works great since its so motivating! Im easily beating my previous times. Well done on Droid!
The perfect running coach.
2. Fast Food Calorie Counter
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $1.99
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
Even when youre trying to watch your weight, its sometimes impossible to resist the allure of fast food. Whether youre in a hurry or have a sudden craving for a Frosty, this app can help you mitigate the disastrous effects of too many fried, mayonnaise-drenched, delicious snacks. The app tracks and serves data for almost 9,000 items from 72 fast food restaurants. Data includes calories, fat grams, fiber, carbs and protein. Theres also a free version of this app, Fast Food Calorie Counter Lite.
User comments:
Good resource, but needs to be updated more often.
Helps me stick to my diet since I eat out at times.
3. Endomondo Sports Tracker
Rating: 4.5 stars
Price: FREE
Downloads: 10K-50K
This is a great application for runners, cyclists, joggers, rollerskaters/rollerbladers, or folks who simply like to take a walk from time to time. It helps you track your time, distance, speed and altitude, and keeps a history of your workouts. The app integrates with Google MapsGoogle Maps and your audio playlist in addition to the website, to allow for a more detailed analysis of your progress.
User comments:
Works seamlessly. Excellent social integration. Highly recommended.
The best. I have tried so many other apps of this style and none compare to Endomondos accuracy and speed.
4. Calorie Counter by FatSecret
Rating: 4.5 stars
Price: FREE
Downloads: >250K
Heres a simple tool for those whod like to keep track of their calories and other nutrition facts. This app also figures the recommended daily intake for a user to achieve his or her fitness and weight goals, and has a built-in barcode scanner to make finding foods a snap. As they say, The more you know
User comments:
Really helps me stick to my diet, and it has a lot of foods.
So handy, and scanner function rocks.
5. AllSport GPS
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $9.99
Downloads: 500-1,000
This app is on the spendier side of the Android Market, but many users rave about its capabilities. AllSport GPS allows users to track routes, distance, time, speed and calories burned. Users get maps, virtual races, downloadable routes, elevation and speed graphs. The app also lets you share workouts online, including on FacebookFacebook.
User comments:
Great app.
Sometimes you lose GPS signal and it will give you inaccurate data.
6. Beer Gut Fitness
Rating: 4.5 stars
Price: $0.99
Downloads: 100-500
If youre worried about your intake of empty calories from all those frosty beers and caipirinhas you plan to drink this spring and summer, this might be the app for you. It tells you when youre safe to have a drink calorically speaking and when you need to exercise. It even shows you what kinds of exercise you can do and for how long.
User comments:
Walked 3 hours[...] and was happy to see I earned a crap load of beer.
Lovelove finishing a swim and having it tell me how many drinks Ive banked.
7. Absolute Fitness
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $4.99
Downloads: 1,000-5,000
If you want an all-in-one app to track your food intake, exercise regimen and fitness goals, check out Absolute Fitness. It includes features such as stats, charts, food analysis and online backup of your data.
User comments:
I love it! You have to make time to use it, but you will if youre committed to it.
Would be perfect if you could scan in barcodes.
8. Backpacker GPS Trails
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $9.99
Downloads: 100-500
For the true outdoors lover, or for those who need a little mobile support to feel at home in the wild, Backpacker provides a portable trip database and personal navigation device. You can track yourself, geotag pics and vids, share your trips and download maps. Best of all, users can find nearby trails, including thousands of trips endorsed by the readers and editors of Backpacker magazine.
User comments:
All the hikes I read about now I can get on my G1.
Great app, its amazing how you can search for hikes around you, save to the phone and use for navigation!
More Android resources from Mashable:
– HOW TO: Turn Your Android Phone Into a Killer MP3 Player
– 5 Amazing Android Apps for Baseball Fans
– 6 Free Android Apps That Will Make You Drop Your iPhone
– 5 Free Android Apps for Web Developers
– 7 Mind-Blowing Free Android Apps